The Secret He Left Behind

Chapter 9 — Don't Leave Me

Elena POV

I woke up in a dark room, my head pounding. I tried to sit up, but a voice slipped out from somewhere in the shadows.

"Don't be afraid."

I let out a harsh laugh. "Easy for you to say."

A man stepped forward, letting the light find his face. He looked older, and his eyes had this weird, washed-out color that sent a chill through me.

"You have something very valuable," he said.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He just stared. "Yeah, you do."

I pressed my hand to my stomach without thinking. He followed the movement. Something in his eyes shifted.

"So you finally understand," he said.

"Who are you?"

"Someone who knew your mother."

My heart lurched. I barely got the words out. "My mother?"

"She knew exactly what you are."

I shook my head. "This doesn’t make any sense."

He smiled, and I hated it. "She spent years hiding you."

"From who?"

"From the Vale family," he answered, his voice calm, like he was reciting a grocery list.

A cold shiver ran through me. "But why?"

"They wanted your bloodline."

"What for?"

He smiled faintly. "Your child carries both."

"Both what?"

He just stared, silent.

A loud noise crashed from outside the room, making us both jump. The door swung open, and there Adrian was—alone.

My heart just about leaped out of my chest. "You came."

He met my eyes. "Of course I came."

The stranger just grinned, like he was enjoying a private joke. "Well, that was easy."

Adrian didn't smile. His whole face closed off, icy. "Let her go."

"You know what'll happen if I do."

"I know."

I glanced between them, trying to piece things together. "You know each other?"

Neither one said anything.

"Adrian?" My voice shook.

He finally looked at me. "I'll explain everything."

"When?" I pressed.

"When you're safe," he said.

The stranger laughed, shaking his head. "You still think you can keep her safe?"

Adrian stepped closer. "I'm not guessing."

Something crashed outside—louder this time. The stranger spun toward the sound. Adrian grabbed my hand.

"Run."

"What?"

"Now."

I hesitated, just for a second, but he pulled me with him. We ran together. For once, I wasn't fleeing Adrian. I was running with him.

We hit the stairs, but this sudden pain stabbed through me and I stopped cold. I clutched Adrian's arm.

He turned, panic sharp in his voice. "Elena?"

I looked down. There, on my skin, the mark glowed bright.

Adrian's face went pale. "No."

"What is it?"

He stared at the mark, then toward the darkness below. "They found us."

"Who?" The word felt too small for the fear in my chest.

He didn't answer, just looked into the shadow. "The people who killed the child's father."

And then, echoing from the stairwell, a voice called out.

"Adrian."

We both froze. I knew that voice. Adrian once told me if I ever heard it—not to trust it.