The Ashes of Vows (Elara and Damon) novel Chapter 22

22

I woke up, my eyes already blindfolded.

My body felt like mush from the knockout drug, my hands bound tight behind my back.

My mind buzzed, and I frantically tried to figure out who could be behind this.

I was sure it wasn’t Damon. If he wanted to take me, he’d never do it like this.

Moments later, I heard a rustling sound right beside me.“Who’s there?” I called out.

“Elle?”

A familiar, hoarse voice replied, “Is that you, Elle?”

I couldn’t believe it – it was Damon. And we were both in the same boat, tied up and dumped on the ground.

The moment it clicked that we’d both been kidnapped, Damon’s anger flared.“Get out here!

Sloane, is that you?”

No sooner had he spoken than the sharp click–clack of high heels echoed through the open space.

“That’s not the man I’ve liked for so long.”

Her voice was laced with a chilling ruthlessness.

She stepped closer, squatted down, and ripped the coverings from our eyes.

Sloane, who used to be all glamour and poise, now looked sickly and tormented. My gaze must’ve hit a nerve because she instantly lashed out, slapping me hard across the face.

“What are you staring at, you

bitch?!”

Damon, meanwhile, struggled like a madman against his bindings, trying to get to his feet.“Stop it, Sloane! I swear I’ll make you pay for this! Stop, now!”

Sloane just gave a bitter, self–deprecating laugh.“Oh yeah, you really won’t, will you?”

“I bet you’re wondering how I, the person you personally sent to jail and who’s about to face trial, ended up here, right?”

“Ha!”

Her eyes glinted with disdain.“My family’s lawyers told me to try to kill myself in jail. So I did. Then they sent me back to the hospital for treatment. The Ashford Clan is the richest family, you know? And I’m their heiress. Escaping from a hospital? That’s child’s play.”

“Honestly? I’m here today, and I never intended for either of you to walk out of this place alive.”

With that, she pulled a small knife from somewhere and lightly traced it along my chin, then my throat.“Alright, Elara, you tell me. Which one of you gets to live?”

“Seriously, what’s with the theatrics?”

Unfazed, I just smirked.“Sloane, how does it feel to be public enemy number one? Must be real swell, huh?”

Beside me, Damon struggled to sit up.“Sloane, I was the one who had you tortured. Whatever you want, come at me!”

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“Just let Elle go. You can kill me, torture me, whatever I’m yours to command.”

–

Sloane’s cold gaze finally landed on him.“What if I told you I wanted you to cripple yourself, to be my prisoner for life? You’d still be

down for that?”

Damon faltered for a beat, but still answered, “Alright. I’ll do it.”

At Sloane’s silent instruction, the bodyguards behind them untied Damon’s hands and pressed the small knife into his palm.

He knew what this meant – a twisted test to prove his sincerity. And just like that, he gripped the knife and brutally plunged it deep into his own hand.

The moment blood gushed out, Sloane’s expression twisted, as if she’d just mainlined pure adrenaline.

She gestured to the bodyguards, pinning me to the floor.“Yeah, I said I’d spare her life, but I never said I’d let her off the hook.

Right here. You guys can have your fun with her. No limits.”

A flicker of predatory excitement gleamed in the men’s eyes.

“Sloane, stop this right now!”

Damon couldn’t take it anymore. He lunged up, ripping the knife from his palm, and threw himself forward…

“Aargh!”

Sloane shrieked, dodging, but the blade still caught her shoulder.

Just then, the main door of the abandoned warehouse burst open from the outside. The bodyguard who’d been on watch rushed

in.“Miss Ashford, we’re out of time! Surveillance shows the cops are almost here!”

Sloane’s face was chalk–white as she gestured for her goons to kick Damon back to the ground.“I was going to give you a pass, Damon. But you just threw it all away!”

“You’ve got five minutes. This warehouse will be flooded with toxic gas, and I’m sending both of you straight to your graves.”

Just then, Sloane and her goons bolted out of the warehouse, activating the toxic gas cannisters as they went.