Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 165

She pauses, examining her reflection critically, and dabs a finger against the edge of her lip to smooth it out. The entire time, her expression remains cold, detached, as if she’s in her own little world. There’s no trace of worry, no sign that she’s aware of the stakes at hand, of the twisted plan Rhett has laid out. To her, this is routine–a quick touch–up before

continuing with whatever dark role she plays in this nightmare.

As I watch, a chill runs down my spine. The casualness, the vanity of it–it’s unsettling. It makes her seem less human, as though she’s wearing a mask, painting herself into a character she’s decided to play. My skin prickles with unease. Here I am, fighting to survive, and she’s concerned with her appearance, with maintaining her facade of control and poise.

But then I realize–this is my chance. Bianca punches a code into a small keypad on the wall, and with a beep, I hear the heavy thunk of a lock releasing. My heart leaps as I see a door at the far end of the hallway shudder open, just an inch, barely enough to slip through. The door groans and stops, wide enough for a desperate escape but clearly heavy, reinforced. Bianca, oblivious to me, takes her time with her lipstick, smoothing it on in precise strokes, her back turned.

“Well, while you deal with her, I am going to visit my mother. I am not watching you claim another!” she snaps at Rhett, venom lacing her words. Her reflection is the only thing she’s focused on, her attention fully absorbed by the mirror.

The door is right there, mere steps away. The path to

Chapter 165

freedom.

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me to run, to seize this fleeting opportunity. My heart pounds as I calculate the distance, my mind racing through all the ways this could go wrong. What if I’m not fast enough? What if she turns around before I reach it? What if Rhett is waiting just on the other side? Doubt gnaws at me, whispering that one mistake could mean the end. But I shake it off, steeling

Now or never.

my feet barely touching the ground as I race past Bianca, feeling the rush of air as I dart by her. She startles, her lipstick slipping, leaving a crimson smear across her cheek. Her gasp cuts through the air, sharp and indignant, but I don’t

moment, my fingers fumble with the edge, slipping against the cold steel. Come on, come on! I grit my teeth, forcing the door open another inch, just enough to squeeze through. The hinges screech in protest,

breath coming in ragged gasps as I stumble into the hallway beyond. It’s dimly lit, bathed in a sickly yellow glow from the flickering fluorescent lights overhead. My bare feet slap against the cold floor, sending shocks up my legs with every step. I barely register the rough concrete beneath me or the sting of the air against the raw skin of my wrists. All that matters is moving,

away.

behind me, a mixture

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Chapter 165