Breaking the Ice by Esme Taylor

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Hettie

Where am I? I wondered, my body sore and heavy.

I opened my eyes to examine my surroundings and was struck by a searing pain that shot straight to my head. Closing my eyes tightly, desperate for relief, I welcomed the darkness again.

Trying to focus on anything but the pain in my head, I mentally went over each area of my body while trying to work out if I was injured. But, it was hard to concentrate with the sound of my pulse echoing in my ears.

Forcing myself to open my eyes again, I found myself sitting in the cold, damp corner of a dimly lit room, a small beam of light streaming in from a narrow window above me. My kidnapper had bound my wrists and ankles with what appeared to be zip ties, tucking my knees in close to my chest.

My head began to spin. I closed my eyes, overwhelmed by the sensation that I was being pulled underwater. My stomach roiled, threatening to empty all of its contents where I sat. That’s when I heard it. A voice calling my name.

Viking? I thought, hopeful he had gotten my message and come to save me.

“Hettie? Good morning, sleepyhead,” a man’s voice whispered as something cold and metal ran along my jaw sending a shiver down my spine.

A sinking feeling filled me when I realized it wasn't Reid.

“Open your eyes for me, Hettie. It’s time for us to finally be together. I’ve been waiting for this day for so long. And now that you’re here with me, it's time to play princess.”

My skin prickled and my breath hitched in my chest, but the pull had become too much. Before I could figure out who had kidnapped me and what he wanted, I slipped back into unconsciousness.