Chapter <b>88</b>
<b>*</b><b>Colette</b>
<b>Every </b>part of me is stiff as I sit in the dark<b>, </b><b>stuck </b>in my chair for heaven knows how long. It feels like <b>days</b>, but with no sun to measure time<b>, </b>it could be hours or even weeks. All I do know is I hurt and <b>I </b><b>am </b>utterly alone. After filming what they asked me to, they tortured mom for fun and made me watch.
<b>Every </b>whip, <b>every </b>strike <b>felt </b>like it was <b>to </b>my own flesh as <b>I </b>sobbed and <b>begged </b>for them to stop. I would have happily taken those painfully hits for her<b>, </b>but they <b>weren’t </b>torturing <b>her </b>because she disobeyed.
They <b>were </b>doing <b>it </b><b>to </b>show me they <b>have </b>all the control, all the power<b>, </b>and it has only lit a fire in my chest. One of anger and hatred. A burning for revenge<b>, </b>not freedom.
<b>There </b>is a sound of clinking and <b>steps </b>outside the darkroom I’ve been left in. But noises don’t mean anything here. It could be a guard passing by <b>or </b><b>even </b>a new victim being dragged to their demise. The dungeon makes plenty of noise, and more often than not, it even screams.
<b>It’s </b>not until light <b>filters </b>in <b>over </b>me that I realize I may not have beenpletely forgotten and I’m not sure which is worse. Being remembered in this hellhole, or being left for dead. I wince, turning away from the bright light as it burns my eyes. A shadow falls over me and hurried footsteps rush <b>toward </b>me<b>.</b>
“<b>It’s </b>time <b>to </b><b>go </b>upstairs,” Teiran whispers in my ear. I open my mouth to speak, but my voice gets caught in my throat. “Can you walk?”
I nod my head <b>yes </b><b>as </b>he helps me up, and then I promptly crumble to my feet, a pained whine escaping my parched lips. Hisrge hands catch me by the elbow<b>.</b>
“Woah,” He mutters<b>, </b>with a sigh. <b>“</b>Let me help you.”
I <b>p </b>him <b>away </b>weakly and he chuckles to himself.
“Stubborn hybrid.” He mutters before he bends down and lifts me up. I try to squirm, but exhaustion overwhelms me and I give up.
<b>“</b>Where <b>are </b>you taking me<b>?</b>” <b>I </b>croak, my throat searing in pain.
<b>“</b><b>I </b><b>was </b>able to convince the king to treat you like a guest, rather than a prisoner.” He murmurs.
<b>“</b>Can I leave<b>?</b><b>” </b><b>I </b>ask. It’s not like I don’t know what the answer will be, it will be ‘no‘, but <i>a </i>girl can try.
He snorts <b>a </bugh and doesn’t respond, which only confirms exactly what I figured as he steps out of the room and down the hall.
We pass cells, some empty and others with old and grungy looking prisoners who must have been here for ages. Teiran deftly moves toward a <b>spiral </b><b>staircase </b>and takes <b>two </b><b>steps </b>at a time.
The <b>stairs </b>seem to go on for an eternity <b>as </b>I fall in and out of consciousness for small spurts of time. When we finally ascend to the top, he walks about <b>a </b>hundred feet before a massive iron d door opens. I watch as we exit it, Teiran looking dwarfed by the massive frame.
“Woah…” I <b>mutter</b><b>, </b>unable to keep my <b>awe </b>to myself.
<b>“</b>It is <b>for </b>when <b>we </b><b>are </b>in dragon form.” He <b>says </b>simply.
I notice as we <b>exit </b>it looks nothing like the <b>area </b>he had taken me before meeting the king. Instead of <b>far </b>too hot and dry, <b>I </b>can hear bird tweeting, <b>feel </b><b>a </b><b>gentle </b><b>breeze </b>through the
hallway<b>. </b><b>As </b>he turns, I notice a loud rumbling noise that grows clearer with <b>every </b><b>step </b>and the air <b>wetter </b>and so <b>nice</b><b>.</b>
<b>That’s </b>when I <b>feel </b><b>it </b><b>in </b>my bones, the way the <b>water </b>moves with a furious rage. I know what <b>is </bing before we <b>get </b><b>closer </b>and it <b>stirs </b>my wolf and feeds my <b>soul</b>. My <b>eyes </b><b>fall </b>closed as <b>I </b>inhale the damp air and, <b>ever </b><b>so </b>slightly, I begin to <b>feel </b>more alive again.
“Don’t even think about <b>using </b><b>your </b><b>water </b><b>powers</b>, hybrid.” Teiran <b>says </b>like he <b>is </b>bored.
<b>“</b><b>I </b>am too weak <b>to </b>use it <b>now</b><b>. </b><b>Instead</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>am <b>just </b>enjoying it, how it <b>feels</b><b>.</b>” I murmur. He doesn’t respond <b>as </b>we <b>grow </b><b>closer </b>and I open my <b>eyes</b>, watching in wonder as we walk behind the <b>waterfall </b>that hammers <b>past us</b>, singing its song of nature<b>.</b>
<b>I </b>relish every damn second, my body shivering at the <b>desire </b>to be in the <b>water</b><b>, </b><b>to </b><b>just </b>submerge myself and <b>feel </b>the way it would heal me <b>if </b><b>I </b>was allowed to touch it. But just as <b>quickly </b>as I <b>see </b><b>it</b>, it <b>fades </b>into the <b>distance </b><b>as </b>I am carried away.
“There will be rules to your <b>stay</b><b>,” </b>He says.
<b>“</b><b>And </b>if I break the <b>rules</b><b>?</b><b>” </b><b>I </b>ask. He snorts and shakes his head.
<b>“</b><b>You </b><b>will </b>find yourself <b>back </b>in the dungeon <b>at </b>the whims <b>of </b>Jennifer<b>, </b>the <b>torture </b>junky.”
1/3
Chapter <b>88</b>
I press my lips <b>together in </b>thought, <b>wondering </b>what his rtionship with her is and why he <b>doesn’t </b><b>try </b><b>to </b>work with her<b>. </b><b>It </b><b>is </b><b>very </b>clear that they both <b>dislike </b>Giselle and know she is up <b>to </b>something, <b>yet </b><b>there </b>is <b>no </b>trust between them.
<b>“</b>You <b>mean </b><b>I </b>find myself <b>back </b>with my mother<b>?</b><b>” </b><b>I </b><b>say</b><b>, </b>and he looks at me with a frown.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
<b>“</b>Your mother has been <b>there </b><b>for </b>many <b>years</b>, and you being up <b>here </b>means she will be tortured less. They kicked up her torture to get a rise out of <b>you</b>. Your mother is safer with you up here.”
I think about his words, hating that he is probably right.
<b>“</b>What <b>ensures </b><b>I </b>stay <b>here</b><b>?</b><b>” </b><b>I </b><b>ask </b>as he <b>slows </b>and <b>ces </b>me down. I press my hand to the wall, steadying myself as he unlocks the door.
<b>“</b><b>Aside </b>from this lock and <b>key</b>?” He <b>asks </b>and I nod.
“That <b>I </b>will not <b>hesitate </b>to kill your mom.” Jennifer’s voice echoes down the hall behind me. I turn to look at her and she gives me a fake smile. “I have <b>been </b><b>begging </b><b>to </b>kill the bitch for <b>years</b><b>, </b>so I would love the chance to finally do it.”
<b>“</b><b>You </b>will die before she does<b>.</b><b>” </b>I grit out and she throws her <b>head </b>back inughter.
<b>“</b><b>Sure</b><b>.” </b>She <b>nods </b>like she believes me, but her demeanor <b>says </b>otherwise.
“Why <b>are </b><b>you </b>here<b>, </b>Jennifer? I <b>was </b>told you <b>were </b>on a mission,” Teiran asks.
<b>“</b>Oh, <b>don’t </b>you worry about me. I’m on my way out. I was just making sure our esteemed guest makes it to her room.” She shrugs.
Teiran arches a brow before taking an intimidating step toward her.
“Is there a reason you would think the king’s own son would you to verify he can do a simple room change?” He asks, and she pales, her lips twitching <b>as </b>she hisses and steps back.
“Of course not.” She grumbles<b>. </b>“In truth, I <b>was </b>just passing by on my way out.”
“Then, <b>pass </b>by already.” He growls<b>, </b>and she scowls at him before taking a few steps back and turning and scurrying away. Then he turns to me and pushes the door open. “Get in.”
I <b>ease </b>myself into the room. The lightsing on and showing a beautiful room carved out of stone. nts line the <b>wall</b><b>, </b>moss and flowers nted in <b>crevices </b>of the rock.
To my right there is a bed, covered in white linens and in the far corner<b>, </b>a small trickling fountain of water. I rush to it, cupping my hands and slurping <b>as </b>much as I can.
<b>It </b>is heavenly cool and crisp<b>, </b>easing my pains <b>as </b><b>if </b>a tonic to my aching body. <b>I </b>ssh it on my <b>face</b>, my mouth falling open as it feels like it caresses <b>my </b>skin, and I stand upright, looking at Teiran, who watches me with curious eyes.
“We need to talk.” He <b>says</b>, the door closing behind him.
“Then talk, <b>dragon </b>prince<b>.” </b><b>I </b><b>say</b><b>, </b>crossing my arms <b>over </b>my <b>chest</b>.
“<b>I </b>want Giselle dead.” <b>He </b><b>says</b><b>, </b><b>quietly</b>. “And I want my father freed from her hold she has <b>over </b>him.”
“<b>What </b><b>do </b><b>you </b><b>expect </b>me to do?<b>” </b><b>I </b><b>ask </b>with a frown.
“I need <b>your </b>word,” he <b>says</b>.
“My <b>word</b>? What good does my word do?” <b>I </b>scoff.
<b>“</b><b>You </b><b>are </b>both the <b>queen </b><b>of </b>the <b>Lycans </b>and <b>werewolves </b>and <b>a </b><b>princess </b>of the sirens<b>.</b><b>” </b>He <b>scoffs</b>. <b>“</b>You have more power than anyone born <b>of </b>one world.”
<b>“</b><b>What </b>makes <b>you </b>think <b>they </b><b>will </b><b>listen </b>to me<b>?</b><b>”</b>
<b>I </b><b>am </b>not sure he understands how the <b>hierarchy </b>works. I am a Luna<b>, </b>not the alpha and I may be a princess to the sirens, but it is not a title <b>I </b>can <b>im </b>as a <b>half</b>–breed. <b>Hell</b><b>, </b><b>I’m </b>not <b>even </b>entirely sure I can be underwater without drowning for more than a minute.
“Your King, he is <b>already </b>on his <b>way </b><b>to </b>us. With the <b>help </b><b>of </b>someone who <b>knows </b><b>their </b>way around here. And Caspian…<b>well</b>, he won’t <b>give </b>up on you, not now that he has finally got his <b>daughter </b><b>back</b>.”
I see his point, but <b>it </b>doesn’t <b>mean </b>his demand <b>makes </b>any sense <b>to </b><b>me</b><b>.</b>
<b>“</b><b>What </b>is it <b>you </b><b>want </b>from me<b>, </b><b>exactly</b><b>?</b><b>” </b><b>I </b>ask<b>, </b><b>trying </b><b>to </b>understand.
<b>2/3</b>
<b>Chapter </b><b>88</b>
<b>His </b>eyes <b>grow </b>dark and he licks his lips.
“<b>I </b>want <b>you </b>to bring <b>a </b><b>war </b><b>here </b>and I want you to promise my father will live<b>.</b><b>”</b>
I shake my <b>head</b><b>, </b>chuckling. “War is alreadying. If Merikh is on his way-”
“<b>No</b><b>, </b>you don’t understand. We already know they are on their way and which way they will use to sneak in. I didn’te by this information on my own. Giselle knows their n. Where is <b>it </b>you think Jennifer is going?”
Panic <b>grows </b>in my throat and I swallow roughly, trying to fucking understand what he wants and how to warn Merikh.
“<b>I </b>will help <b>you </b>escape tonight.” He whispers.
“But you said if I escape, Jennifer will kill my mother,” <b>I </b>scoff. “I just got her back. I won’t let her die.”
He drags <b>a </b>hand over his <b>face</b>.
“There is nothing <b>I </b>can do for your mother. Right now, you need to choose her or your mate. You have twenty–four hours to decide.”
<b>3/3</b>