The Rejected True Heiress (Liora and Callum) novel Chapter 501

Liora’s POV

“Callum’s waiting in the woods past the east fence,” Zane explained quietly. “Shirley’s on the nearest road, about a mile out. We just have to get there.”

“Just,” I repeated wryly, shooting him a withering look—and yet I was smiling, and couldn’t seem to stop smiling.

“I didn’t say it was going to be easy.” He stood and slid the key into my cell lock. The mechanism turned with a click that sounded enormous in the quiet corridor. Glancing both ways first, he pulled the door open, then moved across the way to Mia’s cell without pause.

Mia was on her feet before he had the key in the lock, her fingers already wrapped around the bars. The moment the door swung open she stepped out and threw her arms around his neck. I looked away, giving them a moment of privacy before she stepped back and lowered her arms.

Zane pocketed the key. “Guards rotate every eight minutes on this level. We’ve got about four left.” He glanced down the corridor toward the far exit. “Stay close and don’t run until I run.”

Mia nodded, lacing her fingers with mine, and we moved.

The corridor was empty, lit by widely spaced wall sconces that left long stretches of shadow between them. Zane led us through the shadow rather than the light, staying close to the wall, his stolen uniform doing just enough work at a distance in case anyone glanced our way. Mia and I stayed pressed closely behind him, prepared to dart into the shadows at a single gesture from Zane.

The exit at the end of the corridor opened into a stairwell. We went up one level, then through a heavy door that Zane held with both hands to keep it from making noise as it closed. We hurried down the hallway to the left, moving quicker now. Zane stopped at the corner and checked, then waved for us to follow.

The door to the outside was unlocked, propped open just enough by a small stone Zane had positioned there on his way in. We slipped out into the night air. Mia pressed herself against my side, looking worriedly up at me.

I offered her a smile, even though my own heart was pounding.

“Don’t worry,” I said. “Zane’s here.”

The right spotlight swept toward us, slowed, then moved past without catching us.

We ran again.

The fence rattled when we hit it, and I heard Zane curse under his breath. He helped Mia up, then me before he followed. The chain-link metal bit at my fingers, all of my injuries screaming in protest, but I kept my eyes on Mia’s feet just above my head and I didn’t look down or give myself a moment to think about the pain.

I made it to the top and dropped down the other side, landing hard on both feet. The impact jarred my knees, making me gasp, but I didn’t hesitate. Mia was on her hands and knees in the grasp, sucking in air. I rushed over to her and helped her to her feet just as Zane dropped silently behind us.

We began to run again. Twenty feet to the tree line. Fifteen. Ten.

Mia began to lag. I felt her fingers slipping in mine, her breath coming out in short gasps.