TRIGGER WARNINGS: Gory, graphic depictions of violence. Graphic scenes, mentions of blood, pain and suffering. Mention of SA.
The rewrite will have 100 chapters in total and but will be removed in February, completed or not due to publication issues.
On REAM - the Kindle version will be uploaded with all of the changes, upgrades and additions to the story.
I am no longer on Patreon.
If you're not familiar with Ream - go to my BIO. There you will find step by step instructions on how to join and how to get the app on your phone ( if you have an IPhone )
The Kindle version will be uploaded to Kindle on February 14, 2024. . . And this book will be split up into 3 seperate books. So the first book, Chapters 1-33 will be posted to Kindle on the release date listed above.
I have 5 books coming to Kindle between the months of January & April 2024❤️
Until tonight, my love has already been posted to Kindle. The formatting is awful but it's there lmao!
———————————————
RAIDEN ||
With one hand wrapped firmly around the back of my neck, Dax drags me through the castle and towards the hidden rooms of the Lab, claiming he'd imprisoned two very important people to me.
Each square foot of the castle is like walking a mile with the way my heart was in my throat.
We have to make it from the third floor, stoned walls and floors, hallways lined with pictures of the Kalawaii and Varexium Covens.
Spirits and shadows of the past - both gentle and quite literally insane line the hallways and everywhere you stepped, eyes locked on our every movement.
They weren't happy with Dax nor anyone in the Vareixum Coven but with dragon's blood on his side, Dax and his Coven were safe from the Kalawaii shadowed spirits rage.
My eyes take in each section of the castle that we pass. Everything was still covered in red and black, vines lining the walls, lanterns floating, firepits in the stone floors and whispers of the Kalawaii ghosts.
My heart lurches in my chest with each step. I couldn't shake the feeling that it could possibly be Dylan or Roman or Reland.
Had they found me? Had they tried to rescue me and failed? Had Dax actually captured them? Would he kill my blessing now that I'm not technically connected to Dylan anymore?
Dax had no reason to keep him alive but to torture me. If he wanted, he could easily snatch the soul from my love's body and never return it.
And if he wanted my baby brother or my bestfriend, he could have them. He could take them, imprison them here and never let them go until he either got what he wanted from them. . . or killed them after getting what he wanted.
I stifle a shivered whimper as we round the stone corner and move towards the shifting staircases. Carefully stepping on the first one, it moves us down to the second level that Dax shoves me onto. I have to breathe deep to keep the nausea from bubbling up and over that threshold at the shifting and twisting of the staircases.
Once we've descended down to the very bottom floor of the castle - the floor that held the Lab and hallway of cells - Dax grabs my arm and leads me towards the dungeons with one way mirrors.
These were designed for the worst form of torture. Stone walls, lined with various forms of weapons meant to cause the worst harm, no windows, no doors - because these rooms were meant for the Varexium Coven to get in and no other creatures to get out - and completely soundproof, these weren't the places you wanted to find yourself in.
My anxiety shoots through the roof, swallowing nervously as Dax brings me over to the very first room to look through the one way mirror. My heart sinks when I see who's in the first room.
"Dylan," I breathe out, body giving out as I stumble forward and place my hands against the mirror.
A yelps escapes my blessing when Theron brings the blades whip down, the weapon slicing through his flesh with a ferocity. I watch with a sinking mind and pounding heart as he struggles against his bindings, chained to the metal table inside the dungeon.
"That's right, Kitten," Dax replies harshly, hand still on the back of my neck. "Your beloved wolf. . . and we have someone else for you too."
I tear my eyes away from Dylan to see Dax smirking at me before he tugs me to the right and shoves me into the mirror a few feet from the first.
"Roman," I whimper, eyes glued to my baby brother who was chained to the wall, shirt ripped off, chest exposed as Craven brings the searing heat to his flesh.
Roman roars, crying out for me as tears pour down his face. My chest threatens to collapse into itself just playing witness to my brother's agony.
I shake Dax's hands off me to rush back to the left and see Dylan's chest heaving, his body covered in wounds that slowly heal but not nearly fast enough before he's enduring another painful strike.
"Dax, please," I beg, eyes quickly filling with tears as I pull myself away from the mirror leading to Dylan to look through the one leading to Roman. "Please don't do this. Let them go."
"I can't do that, Kitten," Dax admits, my body turning around to face his. "You see these two attempted to attack my Coven about two hours ago," he pauses to look into the mirror that showed my blessing. "Unfortunately for them, they had no idea what they were dealing with," his eyes find mine again. "And all in the name of trying to get to you. This," he gestures towards both mirrors. "This is your fault, Raiden."
I don't respond to that. I can't with the way my eyes are shifting wilding between both mirrors, watching my blessing and my baby brother be subjected to Dax's cruelty.
"All of this will stop if you can promise me you'll behave yourself," Dax whispers into my ear, breath fanning against my skin sending a wracking chill up my spine. "But if you keep acting up, this continues."
They call out for me, scream for me, beg for me to help them, to make all of this stop. My heart can't take it.
Clutching my chest, I take a step back and plead for Dax to make this stop. I beg over and over and over before trying to open the familial link to Roman now that he was this close.
I try to open it and speak to him, to let him know that I'm right here, that I'll get him out, that everything will be ok, but he never answers back.
He doesn't even blink or register that I'm reaching out to him. He just continues to scream from the torture he's enduring.
I call out to him again, I call out to his beast, Asad. I knew if anyone would answer me, it was Asad. His love for me knew no bounds, but not even he answers my call.
"So what will it be, Kitten?" Dax asks quietly, my eyes never leaving the mirrors. "Will you behave? Will you consent to holding my Coven's mark?"
A deep frown etches onto my face as I creep forward, eyes locked onto Roman as I open the familial link again. I didn't need Onyx for that, I could speak to my brother without him, but Roman doesn't answer.
He still doesn't answer.
My head tilts to one side as he continues to scream for me, tears still pouring down his face. I creep closer, hands going to the mirror as I watch him cry and thrash for me, but something was wrong.
Roman wasn't answering my call for him. He always answered my call. I tug on my familial bond again, feeling for his tether this time instead of the link and my blood runs cold when I don't feel the threads to his tether reach for mine.
His tether was too far, too distant for mine to reach. I try again, frown deepening as I do my best to grab hold of his fibers but I just can't reach him.
Roman was out of my reach.
That could only mean one thing.
. . . That's not my brother.
My eyes drag to the first mirror on the left. Which only could mean that the person in that room wasn't Dylan.
I huff a frustrated breath, annoyed that he'd tried this again but unbelievably happy that I'd caught onto a lot faster this time.
Slowly I turn to face Dax, my tears still streaming down my face. I don't bother wiping them as my fists ball at my sides.
"Enjoying the show?" He asks with a devious smirk. "Does it hurt to watch those you love scream for you? I know it hurt me to watch you in pain like this, but you know what to do to make it stop," he shrugs then. "Just submit properly and carry the Varexium mark."
I nod. . . I nod because it did hurt to watch those you love in pain. I nod because Dax didn't know about familial bonds because Warlocks and Witches didn't have them.
Shifters did though but of course, Dax didn't know that and he didn't know the way they worked. Hence why he thought this would work and didn't think to make sure I wouldn't try to confirm my link with my baby brother.
I couldn't confirm my bond with Dylan because of the rejection, but with Roman - yeah, the bond was still there, would be for life - and Dax just screwed up with this phony.
"I won't carry your mark," I inform him with a growl. "And I will not submit to you anymore."
Dax's top lip turns up. "Oh really? And what choice do you think you actually have?" he asks, eyes dragging to the mirrors behind me. "If you won't accept me, maybe one of them will. The wolf is quite adorable and the Lion is a rare specimen."
I chuckle at that.
"That's not my brother," I nod towards the mirrors behind me. "And that's not Dylan."
Dax eyes me suspiciously and tries to smile, he tries to laugh to make me feel like I was stupid. Like I was wrong but I knew better.
I wasn't going to fall for this twice.
Rage quickly building, I get the courage to do something I should have done the first time Dax laid his hands on me.
I snap.
Cocking my arm back, I slam my fist into the side of his jaw. Dax grunts, stumbling backwards, holding his jaw and falling into the table behind him.
I rush forward, grabbing his shoulders and kneeing him in the crotch. He groans, falling to his knees. I grab hold of his collar, bringing my fist down on my face as hard and as much as I can before Dax gets the better of me. Throwing me off with a blast of magic, he gets to his feet, spitting out a mouthful of blood as he holds his crotch.
The vile place he'd used to violate me so many times.
He gets to his feet with a snarl, but I don't let him lunge for me before I lunge for him. Wrapping my hands around his throat, I knee him again, he groans, my elbow coming down on his nose, a crack bouncing off the stoned walls.
Dax grunts when I land another hit, not giving him a chance to focus and gather enough magic to hurt me. He reaches for me, throwing my body into the wall behind it, but I don't let go of him, so he comes with me.
We both slam into it, knowing over a chair behind us and a smaller table full of devices I wished I didn't recognize but I've been down in this dungeon more times than I could count.
Falling to the stone floor, the stones scrape across my body as we roll, wrestling the entire way. When I manage to get the upper hand, my hands wrap around his throat again, bringing his head up just enough to slam it down onto the stoned pavement.
Dax has never been a fighter. Never. His son was, but not Dax. This was the one thing he was weak in. The one thing his magic , his power, his size and strength couldn't get him out of once you got the better of him.
Rage maintains, images of the five years I'd lost since being captured at 18 flash before me, the two years of safety flash between 23 and now, images of Dylan, Roman, Reland, my family - new friends - flash before me.
My freedom outside of this castle, this Realm pulls at my heart and fuels that fire to ignite that needed flame.
With a newfound strength, I slam his head into the stones beneath it over and over and over until Dax's eyes roll a little bit, blood pooling beneath it. I don't stop, I can't, not even when my hands are coated in his blood because the moment I let up, he'd focus, pull at his magic and most likely kill me.
As Dax groans weakly, his head lolls to one side and I take the chance to rip his shadowed necklace from his neck and quickly scan the area.
With my weight off of him, Dax blows out a breath and cups his head, his magic quickly building.
I glance over my shoulder to see him pulling himself off the floor, the pool of blood on the ground showing off what I'd done. What I should be proud of.
My eyes find the jar of dragon's blood on the table behind him. I don't think about it anymore than I have to. Reaching forward, I grab it, twist the cap off and throw it straight into Dax's face.
A raw and visceral scream leaves him as he claws at his face, the dragon's blood immediately doing what it's meant to do, leaving wounded exposed flesh.
Seeing my moment, I turn around and rush towards the back hallway, one set of the shifting staircases awaited for its next host.
I jump on and immediately it begins ascending up the thin concrete tunnel.
"Raiden!" Dax roars my name, my heart pounding so hard, I feel it in my ears.
Jumping off the staircase on the floor I knew led to the hallway of cells, I suck in a shaky breath, hands bracing myself against the wall as I move through the castle.
"Seizra!" I call out for the woman I love, the woman I refused to leave behind again. "Seizra!"
Running through the hallway of cells, I check each and every one, illuminating them with a lantern I'd torn from the wall.
One by one, I search, hearing the whirring of the staircase behind me descending back down. My body stiffens knowing Dax had called it down.
"Seizra!" I call for the third time, checking each cell I pass. My heart nearly drops when I don't find her, but then I hear him voice.
"Raiden!"
My head snaps up, eyes looking towards the darkest part of the hallway. The cells meant for creatures who lacked training. I rush forward, feet pounding against the stone floors.
I sigh a huge breath of relief when I lay eyes on Seizra in one of the tougher cells. Pulling the keys from my pocket, I try each and every key, heart pounding even harder as the whirring of the staircase grows closer.
"Come on, come on," I beg, hands shaking as they put each key into the lock, praying that it was the one.
An explosion of power below us shakes the castle. My eyes widen as I meet Seizra's gaze, both of us terrified with what that meant.
When I finally get the key right, I unlock the padded lock to her cell and grab her body out, hugging her to me.
"What's the plan?" She asks when we part but I shake my head, not really having one. "My son, if we're escaping, I won't leave him."
I didn't expect her to. We were going to get her son if need be.
Glass shatters from somewhere to our right, inside the Lab, dark magic growing near. The lanterns lining the hallway blows out, a chill filling the air.
"Fuck," I curse, Dax was near and he was pissed. "Go, go!" I tell Seizra, pushing her body in front of me and towards the Lab that I knew we had to go through in order to make our way off this floor.
Once out of the Lab, I look to my left and then to my right, trying to decide which hallway we needed to take.
"My son is in the back rooms," Seizra tells me, a growl bubbling up knowing those were to our left and we definitely needed to go to the right to escape.
It was a no brainer. Seizra had to get her son. We weren't leaving without him, there was just no way but the terrifying truth was we wouldn't get away with all three of us in one group.
Someone had to be the bait. Someone had to split away and drag Dax's attention away for the other to make it to the one place he wouldn't go in this Realm.
"I'll lead him that way," I nod towards the straight away, the one hallway that I knew led towards the open space where we could filter through the many floors here in the castle. "And you go and get your son."
Seizra's shaking her head then, lavender eyes locking onto mine. "No way. I'm not leaving you again. I'm not," her head's shaking harder, faster as he reaches out for me. "No, we split up once. We're not doing it again."
I shush her, placing a kiss to her fingertips. "We can't stay together for this," we flinch, ducking down when another explosion of magic hits the castle. "You go and get your son and meet me outside the castle. I promise I'll find you, there's only one place we can go that Dax won't."
Her eyes widen knowingly. "The Dark Forest." She breathes out.
I nod. "The Dark Forest," I jump back with a hiss as the Lab door flies clear across the hallway we were in. I grab Seizra and shield her body with mine as the ceiling begins to collapse. "Trust me, ok? I'll meet you there. Stay on the outskirts, I'll find you."
Pulling back, I seal my words with a kiss that's not meant to harm, but one that's meant for the past years I'd left her here to deal with this alone.
"I promise," I whisper against her lips, breaking free from our kiss. "I'll find you. Now go," I suck in sharp breath when I hear Dax roar my name again before shoving Seizra towards the left. "Go!"
"I love you." She whispers to me, running towards the hallway she needed to in order to find her son.
I love you too. . . The words are unspoken but I mean them with all my heart and I knew Seizra knew that too.
Watching her disappear to the left, I run forward, drawing Dax towards me. I can feel him growing closer, his magic molding into something that only his rage would be proud of.
Racing down the hallway, each lantern blowing out with the wind that follows me, each whisper of the Kalawaii ghosts filling the space sends a shiver down my spine, but I don't stop. I will my feet to keep going, my body to keep pushing.
"Raiden!" Dax roars again, the picture frames falling from the walls with the force of his fury. I dodge and cover my head with each new shattered frame as I weave through the hallway of antiques and hidden gems. "You can't run from me! We're connected! I'll always find you!"
I knew that. I knew that until I could shred his magic from my soul, Dax would always find me but that just spurs me on. Pushing me to draw him through the castle long enough for Seizra to make it to her son, get out and then go to the Dark Forest.
Dax wouldn't go there, he couldn't. That Forest belonged to the Dark Fae and if it's one creature that all creatures of dark magic feared, including Dark Elves - it was the Dark Fae.
They held the strongest dark magic known to all Realms. No creature would dare try them or they definitely wouldn't enter that Forest that lined the entry of their region from this one.
A blast of magic hits the wall in front of me, forcing me to jump back. I glance behind me to see Dax stumbling down the hallway, holding his brutally scarred face.
"Raiden!" He screams for me, gathering enough magic to throw my way. I dodge it, his aim thrown off from the way he painfully held his face. "Get back here now!"
I don't. Of course I don't. With tired muscles and weak breaths, I keep pushing myself, dipping to the right and moving down another section of hallway that glowed with a green hue.
Stopping at one of the doors I recognized to be a hidden compartment, I slide the vase aside and wave the shadow shield of Dax's necklace across the space, revealing the space to the naked eye.
These were built by the Kalawaii Coven, only being accessed by their shadow magic - a piece of Nyali Kalawaii's trapped within the necklace Dax wore faithfully around his neck.
When the room shows itself, I crawl into the small dark space, Dax right behind him. He reaches in, grabbing my ankle. I yelp when his magic sinks in. Twisting my body, I use my free leg to kick as hard as I can until he's forced to let go.
Turning back to my belly, I crawl on my hands and knees through the tunneled space that lacked adequate airflow. I suck in a breath when the ground beneath me begins to give way, the walls closing in on me even further.
Heart pounding, I move faster on my hands and knees, my back scarping the top of the tunnel.
"Ahh!" I scream from the searing of flesh that hits my hands and legs, the bottom of the tunnel now becoming a scorching field of flame laced dirt.
The dark color to it begins to morph into a bright shade of orange, the smell of burnt flesh filling the tunnel as I scream and scream, gritting my teeth and pushing myself to get through and towards the piece of light that sat on the other end of the tunnel.
Placing my fist against the encased metal, I grit my teeth, trying not to scream as smoke fills the hidden tunnel, my flesh burning, pain rearing up at an alarming rate. I use the strength I have left to push the door off with a weakened growl, stumbling out the other side, my body rolling out into another hallway on what looked like the second floor of the castle.
I'm not sure how I got here, how that tunnel that was straight in its path led me up a whole different floor, but I don't have time to question it.
I can hear Dax storming towards me, yelling for the rest of the Varexium Coven to come to his aid.
I dart towards the library on this floor that I knew had an accessible compartment that led down to the basement.
The basement was where I needed to get to in order to get outside undetected by the rest of the Coven.
Sliding across the floors, I groan when my body slams into the doorframe of the library. I run inside, pulling all of the books from the shelves as fast as I can, finally finding the one that hid the switch to the shelf itself.
I flick it and the structure starts to move - too slow for my liking - so I step to the side and begin pushing it even faster, breaking the mechanism.
I panic when I see a pad that takes a code and a handprint to open the latch on the other side. So I use the shadow shield of Dax's necklace again, using the Kalawaii's magic and praying it would work.
It does and I thank the Higher Realm for it. When the latch opens, I climb in and close it behind me, grabbing the chain and sliding down the long length of it until I drop in the basement of the castle. The dirt upturning at the impact of my weight hitting it.
But I stumble backwards when a portal opens in the basement, Dax walking out of it with a rage filled gaze that wanted nothing more than to find me.
"Raiden!" He snarls when his eyes land on me, but I take off through the darkness of the basement.
I groan when his magic connects, my body rolls across the dirt, hitting a nearby concrete wall. My head slams against it, my vision blurring for a moment before I shake it off and I'm on my feet again.
The darkness lights up with a shocking tremble as I stiffen when the voltage of Dax's elemental magic hits me. My body falls to the dirt, convulsing until the electric shock dies out and I gasp a harsh breath, eyes wide with the pain.
I want to scream. Cry out so bad from the agony rippling through me but I can't. I know I can't because that will give away my position and Dax will have me the moment he gets his hands on me.
Dax didn't have night vision like I did, so being down here was easier for me. I use my hands to feel where I am, pushing my body up from the dirt, my intuned vision of the darkness making everything easier as I make my way towards the staircase I knew led to the back door that led to the back side of the castle.
"Damn it!" Dax shouts, bumping into something in the blackened basement and stumbling around something that falls and shatters to the floor. "Raiden! Come here now!"
My feet beat through the dirt, hands feeling as fast as they can until my eyes widen when I see a shine to the doorknob I was looking for.
I grab it, quickly opening it and closing it behind me before Dax could reach me. His magic slams against the door frame, trying to figure out where it was so that he could also open it.
But I don't stay around to find out, I'm forcing my battered and bruised body to move faster, climbing the spiral staircase, using the walls to balance myself. My free hand holds my ribs, surely broken, my body raging with the pain of the burns I've already endured.
When I hear a clicking sound, I look to my left and my right, heart sinking as I see the walls beginning to open in multiple spots, revealing some kind of contraptions that then tick and then-
I scream when a dart hits my thigh, acid quickly flooding my veins. I reach down and pull it out as fast as I can, my blood pouring down my leg.
Another hits my back, another to my forearm. I move, climbing as fast as I can, ducking when a pendulum comes down and tries to take me down with it. Who or what did the Kalawaii Coven think would come down here? This is ridiculous.
I trip on the next step when another dart hits my ankle. With a harsh breath, I pull it out and push myself my body up with my hands, going around the last corner of the spiral staircase.
When I find the black door, I grab the handle, opening it to finally reveal outdoors. . . freedom.
I release a loud scream mixed with joy and relief, grabbing hold of the metal rail and descending down the multitude of stairs that opened up to the outer portions of the castle.
"Raiden!" Dax screams again, his voice closer than I wanted to imagine.
Jumping down the rest of the stairs, I push and push, dodging the many Warlocks and Witches, evading their magic as it targets to capture me again.
My eyes find the Dark Forest once I'm out of the front gates, I rush towards it, holding my side, my left leg threatening to give out on me as my blood continues to pour from that wound.
Limping as best I could, I focus on making it to the edges of the forest. If I can just make it there, I'll be safe. I'll be free. Then me, Seizra and her son can find a way out of this Realm.
"Terror stop him!"
When I hear that, my heart drops, eyes scanning the open field of darkness and despair for any signs of Dax's son.
My eyes lock onto Seizra when she emerges out of the treeline but doesn't come out too far, she's clutching her son to her chest, my heart filling with something unknown when I lay eyes on them.
It draws me to them, protection, love, tenderness filling me - helping to push past the pain even more.
I just need to make it there. Get to the treeline and I'll be safe. I'll be safe.
"Raiden, behind you!" Seizra shrieks, her lavender eyes wide with horror.
I glance over my shoulder to see Terror rushing towards me, his magic gathering quickly. He's fast, just as sadistic as his father, magic more powerful than his father's.
And that scared me. That pushed me harder.
Another screech, one that I don't place immediately pulls my attention as I look up to see the dragon shifters circling above, fire coming down at a speed that frightens me.
The field ignites, flames blocking me from the edge of the Dark Forest. I skid to a stop, chest heaving, heart pounding, eyes scanning wildly for a way around it.
The dragon shifters continue to set the field ablaze, coating every inch between me and the Dark Forest in flames.
"No," I breathe out, groaning from the pain I find everywhere I can focus on that screamed to every rational part to give up. "No, no, no!"
Eyes frantically scanning the flames that danced all around me, I try to find a way around them, screaming for Seizra to calm down and that I would make it to her.
Before I can panic any further, I'm knocked to the ground, a body I know doesn't belong to Dax clings to me as we roll across the dead grass.
Landing on my back, Terror hovering over me, he brings a blade down. My eyes widen, hands going up to block it. It slices through my palm, a shrill scream fills the air as he pulls the knife back, my hand shaking from the pain I find there.
The knife connects with my forearm this time as I twist and elbow Terror in the jaw. His head snaps back but his magic locks itself around my throat.
I reach up, clawing at nothing as I gasp for air. His magic wraps itself around my chest too, squeezing until I can no longer breathe, air completely deprived.
He throws a punch, fist connecting with my jaw, my head snapping to the right before another and another rain down on my face, causing my head to whip from side to side, blood spurting with each one.
With the strength I have left, I reach up and sink my claws into Terror's eyes, pushing deep until he's forced to pull away from me, taking his magic with him.
I grab my throat, sucking greedy breath after greedy breath as I roll to my side and just focus on that. My eyes clench shut, body screaming in pain, mind damn near giving up with the knowledge of freedom no longer being a thing for me.
We wrestle for a while longer, me gasping for air, trying everything I can to get him off of me and Terror expertly using his magic and hand-eye coordination to keep me pinned. My body works overtime to gain an upper hand. I suck in a breath as best as I can and grab Terror's throat, forcing my legs from underneath him and I roll us until I'm the one above his frame.
Lungs begging for air, I cock my fist back and rain hellfire down across his skull, beating his face in until he's a bloody mess. Terror's magic grips me, tightening around my body until I'm forced to fall backwards, clawing at whatever I can to loosen its hold.
Terror uses that to his advantage and wipes a hand down his bloody face, scrambling towards me. His magic slips for a moment and I'm offered a breath that I take greedily. Flipping when he grabs my ankle, I kick him right in the face with my left foot, connecting with his nose as I hear a sickening crack.
He shakes his head, grabbing hold of his broken nose as he stumbles backwards. I make a break for it, scrambling to my feet, almost falling at the pain I find in my right leg before I'm knocked down again. This time by a force of magic I know all too well. My body hits the blackened grass, flames dancing around me. I roll until I come to abrupt stop mere inches away from the dragon's flames
My eyes widen, breath catching as the warmth of the flames are felt against my skin before I'm pulled back by an invisible force. I swallow harshly, biting my tongue in the process when I land on my back, footsteps stopping beside me.
"That's enough," I hear Dax comment, my eyes forcing themselves open when I feel his hands pulling me from the ground. "Did you really think I would let you escape me again? That I would allow this kind of defiance without repercussions?"
I don't respond to that. I can't, not with the way my body is screaming for me to just be still. Broken, bleeding, shattered.
"You've cost Terror his prize," Dax whispers menacingly as his eyes bore into mine. I turn my lip up at him, done with his shit. "Without that succubus bitch, I have no leverage with the Incubi clans!"
I knew that much. I was the one who helped Dax capture Seizra all those years ago. After being with Dax for a year, I'd turned 19 and somehow I'd gained his favor - his attention - then he'd placed me as his lead on all missions.
Including the capture of Seizra Ellany, princess of the Incubi Clans.
"After all I've done for you - for us - you ungrateful little shit," Dax snarls as he grabs the front of my shirt, aggressively pulling my body toward him until we're face to face. "Didn't I tell you the next time you tried to run from me, I would break you?"
I stifle a whimper, remembering those exact words. I just didn't think he would hold himself to that little threat. To be fair, Dax made a lot of threats when it came to his control over me, but he rarely held himself up to those threats when it came down to it.
So naturally I hadn't believed that one.
Until he throws me to the ground, my head hitting a rock with a sickening crack that has my entire body stiffening from the sudden impact, my vision blurring for a few moments before it returns to me and my body weakens once again.
Dax kneels down with me, one of his hands coming to my right leg, just below the knee.
His rage filled eyes find mine with a snarl to his next words, "I've tried to be nice but now," he leans forward, eyes darkening. "My kindness has worn thin with you, Kitten."
I suck in a breath, my mouth falling open with a silent scream as he presses into the bone right below my knee, the weight of his fury breaking it with the harshest of touches.
Pain skyrockets through me, my head thrashing side to side, voice unable to be heard as my mind traps me in this never ending loop of agony.
"That should suffice," Dax growls, grabbing me by the throat and lifting my body from the ground.
I finally cry out when my leg dangles beneath me as Dax throws me over his shoulder. My vision dances with freedom lost, my eyes immediately finding Seizra who was still screaming for me, tears pouring down her face on the other side of the flames.
Terror slowly makes his way towards the flames, promising to find a way to get Seizra back to him and his cruelty.
"Run and don't come back." I whisper to her, knowing she would hear me.
Her eyes are heavy with sadness, her arms still caged around her son as she mouths to me that she loves me and then takes off into the Dark Forest.
Terror screams for her, the flames never dying out, never allowing him to get to the edge of the Dark Forest. He wouldn't enter either way but maybe he thought he could still grab her if he was close enough.
Despite my pain, I smile softly knowing Seizra and her son were free. Knowing I didn't fail them again. This time they were the ones to get their freedom and I hadn't left them behind. I granted them permission to leave me.
Once back inside the castle, Dax throws my mangled body back into the dungeon room inside his bedroom, hidden behind the bookshelf that was concealed by one of those enchantments.
He makes quick work of chaining me to the wall, leaving me to my own devices as he promises to be back for me and teach me a lesson I'd not soon forget.
When he closes both of the heavy Kronyght doors, I find myself closing my eyes, willing myself through the pain I still find whenever I focus on.
Sighing heavily, I hang my head, hating how the moment went but appreciating the fact that I was the one to help Seizra and her son escape.
At least they were safe. At least they were free.
____
I'm forced awake, my body shifting painfully in the Kornyght chains as another explosion of power - a much larger one this time that shakes the entire castle - booms through the night sky.
I feel a sudden warmth flooding me, hoping that wasn't Seizra coming back for me. My body sways in my chains when another explosion hits the castle. The alarms blare, screams fill the air, dragons screech and heavy footsteps pound throughout the castle.
Chaos ensues somewhere outside of this room, that much I know. I'm not sure what's happening but I'm sure it has something to do with me pissing Dax off with my attempt at escaping him for a second time.
So I chose not to do much else but close my eyes again, body stewing in agony, waiting for the moment that he came back for me and made good on that promise.
____________________________________
Chile, the fight, the escape, the anxiety. My heart was pounding the whole time while I was writing this.
Next chapter, it's going down! Our babies are reuniting and Dylan is going to leave up to that "redemption" part of the book title.
I just need them to come on. Hurry up and get to Raiden! Save my baby from these sick fucks please!
Thoughts on this one??
Predictions? Hopes? Fears? Emotions?
Share them all and don't forget to leave a comment and a like if you enjoyed this one!
Thanks so much for reading,
Until next chapter,
Byeeeeeee Bestiessssssssssss!!