Elle POV
Every step, every scrape of my palm across stone, felt like a countdown.
Danger was coming.
Something—not Blake, not Jason—was searching.
The fortress itself felt tighter, like it was holding its breath.
Move. Now.
My fingers brushed the floor, then the wall again—cold stone, then rough brick. I followed the seams with shaking hands, heart pounding so loud I feared whoever was outside the room could hear it.
A faint vibration hummed through the collar again, a warning pulse.
I froze.
Had Blake sensed I escaped the restraints?
Would he know I left the room?
Keep going.
The distant footsteps returned—muffled by layers of stone but unmistakable.
Not Blake’s.
Not heavy enough.
Not controlled enough.
I reached a corner and felt—nothing.
Empty space.
A corridor branchi
