Serena lay motionless on the cold floor of the dungeon. The darkness had given her a chance to collect herself, to organize her thoughts and calm her breathing. She had heard Nathan, his desperate call echoing through the darkness. But she knew that she had to stay calm first to survive and perhaps find a way to save them both. The pain in her head throbbed relentlessly and her body felt heavy and dizzy, as if she were wading through a thick fog.

When the lights came on and she heard the voices, she forced herself to stay still, even though her heart beat faster at the sound of Nathan's...