Bright light blinded me and I curled up on my side. Preparing myself for Dran to start dragging that knife over my back. The only place that he hadn't touched yet.
"Aslin," The deep voice of my mate echoed in my ears and tears slipped from my eyes.
I was closer to death than I had thought. My body began to tremble and shake from the force of my sobs. I didn't want to die yet. I wanted to spend the rest of my life wrapped up in my mate's arms and listening to his laugh.
"What did he do to you?" That sinfully deep voice breathed.
I cried harder, wrapping my arms around myself as tightly as I was able. The cuts on my body reopened, but I didn't care. The sharp pain kept me awake, helped me hold on to reality. A large hand gently stroked my back and I screamed, the hand instantly pulling away.
"Aslin," The pained voice of my mate said softly.
I refused to turn, knowing that if I did I would only find Dran, grinning at me with his knife ready to dig into my spine. Chains clinked together and metal was removed from my ankles. What game was he playing now? Is it because I asked him about his mate? Maybe if I ask nicely enough he'll let me die in the sunshine.
"Dran," I called out softly, choking on my tears, "Please, let me see the sunshine before I die. I don't want to die in the dark. Please."
Dran didn't answer, but strong arms wrapped around me. I was lifted into the air and pressed against a naked chest. I smiled slightly, he was going to let me see the sun.
"Thank you," I whispered, relaxing in the warm rays that heated my frozen skin.
~~~
Warmth surrounded me, along with stifling darkness. I let out a choked sob, my muscles aching with every movement. I wrapped my arms around myself, rocking my tired body back and forth in an effort to comfort myself.
The door swung open, bright light temporarily blinding me. I let out a startled shriek, hiding my face behind my hands. Footsteps pounded towards me and I trembled.
"Please," I begged, "Not yet, I don't want to go yet. Just let me live a little longer. I'm not done with my memories."
Large arms wrapped around me, pulling my body into a firm chest. I gasped in surprise, looking up expecting to find Dran sneering down at me. Instead I found Killian's worried frown and green eyes brimming with emotion.
"Calm down, Aslin," Killian soothed, "You're safe now. Azrael found you." "Where is he?" I asked, my voice rasping out of me.
"He was cleaning up," He replied, "Az has spent the last four days looking for you and when he found you he wouldn't leave your side. I just convinced him that it was his stink keeping you unconscious."
I could only nod in response, my hand going to my parched throat. My bones ached, and most of my body had been wrapped up in clean white cloth. We were in a large room similar to the one Az and I were staying in, but the windows were on the wrong side.
"Water?" Killian offered me a small glass filled with the goddess's most wonderful creation.
I tried to take the glass from him, but my hands were too shaky. Killian ended up having to lift the water to my lips, allowing me to take small sips. Slow footsteps sounded from outside the door and I instinctively curled up into him. Hiding my face from whatever dangers were coming closer.
"Aslin?" The gravelly voice of my mate called.
"Az," I whispered, pulling away from Killian, leaning towards my mate despite my aching belly.
He took a step towards me, his hand reaching out behind him and pulling the door shut so we could have privacy. My body started shaking before I even registered the fear flooding my body. Curtains had been pulled shut, and now my only source of light had been taken away.
"Please," I cried, wrapping my arms around myself as the memories of being trapped, waiting for the light to shine flooded my mind, "No more darkness."
I could hear the worried words and rushed movements, but I was no longer in the room with those males. I was with another one, who had just plunged my world into darkness and was about to extinguish the light inside of me.
Light quickly flooded the room again, and male bodies crowded over me. I lashed out, my lycan taking over and trying to protect my frailer human form. Hands wrapped around my wrists and ankles. New shackles keeping me chained in a softer prison.
"Aslin," A voice called from far away, as if I was underwater. "Aslin."
Azrael POV~
"Make sure this room is lit at all times," Ranar was saying, "She clearly has PTSD triggered by darkness. Try to keep her calm..."
I stopped listening, trusting that my brother would be able to focus on what he was saying. My sweet mate was lying on her back, her brows drawing together as she dreamed. I held her hand in mine, the difference in our size so apparent when she was so drained of life. All her usual interest and passion for the world had disappeared.
Aslin wouldn't be the same after she went through. I knew that, but a small part of me had expected her to curl up in my arms and let me hold her. Nothing would have prepared me for her panicked cries and thrashing limbs when the light went out. A heavy hand dropped to my shoulder.
"Az," My brother sighed, "You have to get some sleep. You look like you're about to fall over."
"Can't." I grunted, remaining focused on the slow rise and fall of her chest.
"Why don't you relax?" Killian growled, "She's right there. You killed Dran, you got the bad guy."
Memories flashed in my mind.
Dran's evil smile when he saw me approaching that small house that smelled like nothing. As soon as I got close enough the smell of her blood was stifling. Dran had put those flowers around the entire house, blocking her scent from me.
"What have you done?" I asked softly, my eyes flicking around the house for any sign of my female.
"You're early," Dran laughed, "It's okay. I'll still be able to watch your face as she dies."
"Az," Killian shook my shoulder, pulling me back to the present. "Are you going to be okay?"
"Yeah," I sighed, running a hand over my face to try and rid myself of the suffocating feeling. "Damn it. I should have known the dark would trigger her. He kept her in a fucking cellar. She was bleeding out in the dark and when- when-"
"You don't need to tell me," Killian growled, "I was there too, remember?"
"I picked her up and she asked me to let her die in the sunlight." I wiped my eyes, letting out a frustrated growl.
"Fuck," Killian sat down on the edge of the bed. "What are you going to do?"
I growled, "When she recovers we are going back to the mountain. It isn't safe for her here. Too many people."
"Okay," He agreed, his voice rough with emotion, "If that is what you want."
The thought of having to leave my family again was painful, but Aslin was my family now and she came first. "It's what is best for her. I can't risk her safety Killian."
Darkness flickered in my brother's gaze, but he quickly blinked it away. Taking a deep shuddering breath to calm the brewing storm inside of him. This conversation felt like I was having part of me ripped away, but it had to happen.
"I'll be back in a few hours to make sure you're doing alright," Killian growled, quickly exiting the room.
Aslin POV~
Slowly I stretched, keeping my eyes closed and slowly moving each of my limbs. Testing my mobility as memories slowly came back to me. Killian wrapped around me, Az shutting the door and plunging me back into the darkness I had been trapped in.
"Aslin," The growly voice of my mate called.
I was suddenly aware of his hand wrapped around mine. Opening my eyes slowly I squinted, my eyes slowly adjusted to the comforting light in the room. Looking to my right I saw my mate, hunched over in a chair with dark circles under his tired eyes. He lifted a glass to my lips and I took a grateful sip, my eyes continuing to scan the room.
"How do you feel?" My mate asked softly, "The healer left some tea for me to make you."
I frowned, "What happened?"
"The bond led me to you," Az gritted his teeth, "Killian took care of Dran while I found you."
"The duke," I gasped, memories of Dran's confession echoing in my mind, "He had your mother killed. He wasn't involved in this though, the count was the one that sent the assassin. Dran just wanted revenge and the count was encouraging him and helping him."
"Okay," Az nodded, his eyes had turned into pools of inky darkness, but he didn't move, "I'll let Killian know later."
"Az," I huffed, wincing as I pushed myself into a seated position against the fluffy pillows, "Go. Take care of what needs to be done. I'll be here waiting for you."
Azrael huffed, his eyes flicking between the doors and my sliced up body. Warring with the need for revenge and the need to help me.
Thinking quickly I said the only thing that was sure to make him leave, "Make it safe for me."
With those words Azrael shifted, his hulking form tearing out of the room without so much as a goodbye. It was better for me to be alone anyways. I needed time to sort out my thoughts. Forcing my stiffened limbs to relax I attempted to think through my experience, watching the sunlight and reminding myself that I was safe now.
"Aslin,"Maeve's smooth voice met my ears, "I brought you some broth."
"Thank you," I muttered, "Can you just leave it on the table?"
"Sure," She frowned, green eyes scanning my face, "Azrael will hopefully be back in a few hours. Garner and Chersan are in the city for the ball."
"Oh," I had forgotten about it, "Did you still have it?"
"No," She scoffed, sitting down on the chair next to the bed with a sigh, "My father postponed it for a week, but he is determined to still have it. He doesn't want to show any weakness to the other nobles."
"Okay," I reached my shaky hands towards the broth, but before I could grab it Maeve had already taken it, standing so she could lift it to my lips.
"Do you need anything?" She asked once I had finished taking a few sips, "Ranar the healer here said that your wounds will be healed in a few days. Tomorrow you can start walking around if you'd like?"
"That sounds good," I muttered, my eyes meeting hers, "Are you alright? You seem upset."
"Aslin," Maeve huffed, shaking her head, "You just went through something horrible. You should be concerned about yourself, not me."
I frowned, narrowing my eyes at her, "Is he okay then? I don't want to have to focus on myself."
"Az will be fine," She replied, setting down the broth and settling back into the chair, "I wanted to apologise for how I acted when you first-"
"Don't," I held up a hand, "I understand. You needed to make sure I wasn't using him. That isn't something to apologise for."