Chapter 27: The Walls are Closing In

Shaye

Nelos' kiss and vague warning haunts me the entire next day.

I'm so furious, I can't stop seething when I think of him. He left me, so why should I feel anything but anger? Still, my stomach explodes with butterflies, beating their wings frantically at the thought of seeing him. How can my body betray me in such a way?

And he pretends he's warning me? Is that a lie too, just so he has an excuse to taunt me further? I can't do this with Nelos because every time I see him, my heart cries for him. I hate that he affects me so much.

I march to Rowan's cell and heave a sigh of relief that it's empty and unlocked. In case his cellmates return quickly, I hurry to the bottom bunk and feel along the stone wall until I find one that wiggles when I push against it. I remove a packet of Red Vines and tuck the stone back in place. My heart races as I stuff the package into the waistband of my pants.

"Lookie, lookie what we found," a deep male voice sounds behind me.