.Chapter 33-3
Finally, blessed night air caressed our faces as we approached the exit.
“We’re almost there!” I said, running toward the exit door and kicking it open.
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The shouts could be heard louder outside, another explosion going off in the distance that lit up the sky with orange light. Guards were knocked unconscious everywhere in the backyard, their
bodies scattered across the ground. Good. My pack had done their job.
“Irene!” The sob came from the darkness, and Jensen ran toward us at full speed, his face a mask
of relief.
Damien and Rosie were right behind him, both looking grim but determined.
“She’s here, she’s fine. Give me your back, Jensen,” I commanded, waiting until he turned around to
settle Irene on his back with Rosie’s help.
His hands shook as he adjusted her position, and I could see tears streaming down his face. “Is
she hurt? What did they do to her?”
“Drugged, but alive. Get her to Saul,” I said firmly.
“Damien, take Kenzi,” I ordered next.
“Fucking hell,” Kenzi grunted as she settled onto Damien’s back. “You all better forget this.”
“Not a damn chance,” Damien said as he started running toward the tree line.
“Simone?” Rosie asked when I didn’t follow them toward the forest.
“Go,” I said, already turning back toward the castle. “I’ll meet you in the woods: I want to check on
Kane. He should’ve been here by now.”
The plan had been for him to excuse himself from dinner when the explosions started, claim he
needed to check on me. He should have been at the rendezvous point already.
“They’ll have my damn head if I leave you here,” Rosie shook her head.
“I’ll come back safely,” I answered over her shoulder, already running through the door again.
I knew I was breaking my promise to Kane, but I couldn’t help myself. The man I loved was still in
there somewhere, possibly in danger, and I wasn’t leaving without him. My wolf was pushing at me, demanding we find our mate and make sure he was safe.
I made it about ten steps into the corridor before a fist connected with my cheek, sending me tumbling toward the stone floor. Stars exploded across my vision, and before I could recover, a
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Chapter 31 1
hand clamped around my mouth.
“Did you really think we wouldn’t catch you?” a voice sneered above me.
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There were three of them, and unlike the brainwashed servants, these men had clear, calculating
eyes. They moved with purpose, coordinating their attacks with military precision. These were
Kellan’s elite guards, the ones he kept free of magical influence because he needed them to think.
Someone kicked my shoulders, my back, and I curled into a ball instinctively to protect my belly
and the baby growing inside me. The kicks kept coming, aimed at my ribs and spine, and I fought
back the only way I could.
“Get the hell off me!” I tried to scream, but the hand over my mouth muffled the sound.
I managed to get one arm free and raked my claws across the nearest attacker’s face, drawing four parallel lines of blood from his temple to his jaw. He cursed and backhanded me across the
face, making my head ring.
“Feisty little bitch,” one of them laughed. “No wonder the prince wants her brought back alive.”
I was gathering my strength to shift, my wolf pushing close to the surface and ready to tear these bastards apart, when I felt the blow that reverberated through my skull. Pain exploded behind my eyes, white-hot and devastating, and the world went dark.
I’m sorry, Kane.
I’d broken my promise to him, and now I was going to pay the price. I just hoped he’d forgive me for being too stubborn to leave him behind.
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