I heard the click before they unlocked the chains around my feet. Sighing, I collapsed on the bed, feeling the emptiness within me, but glad they had the chains removed. Crouching on the bed for a long time did things to my knees, and I knew it would only be a short while before they gave away.

“Get down from the bed,” Blue commanded, keeping his voice as low as he could. It was almost soft, like the caress of the wind on my skin, during an early summer morning.

Gulping, I got down from the ...