Chapter 23
S hannon
It was impossible to stop shivering. Even rubbing my arms and legs didn’t make a difference. I’d lost all track of time, only grabbing a few minutes of sleep when I was too exhausted to keep my eyes open.
My limbs and bones ached as I straightened them out, forced to move from my curled-up position by my need to pee. Inky darkness pressed in on me, so suffocating it was hard to suck air into my lungs or think past the terror in my head. I was just glad I wasn’t still such a mess that my father’s ghost taunted me every waking moment. I couldn’t imagine dealing with that and the shitty situation I’d found myself in. Silently, I thanked Stone for freeing me from my father’s ghost. Now I was going to find a way to free him from his father.
Feeling along the wall, I crawled to the furthest point to my right. Lifting my hand, I felt over my head to see if I had enough room to stand. I did. Just. I quickly dropped my jeans and, pulling them forward as much as possible, squatted, hoping I didn’t piss all over my shoes, but too desperate to really care that much. Done, I straightened my clothes, then carefully felt my way away from the wet patch. Judging I was about where I started, I sank to the dirt and hugged my knees, trying to keep as much warmth in my body as possible. It didn’t work. My fingers were almost as numb as my feet. I could have shifted, but I didn’t want to squander my energy, not when I needed every bit of strength to get out of here.
My wolf had come far more easily since she'd submitted to the force of Stone’s. The day I’d followed his command to shift had taken everything out of me, but I’d been left with a sense of peace as he’d curled around me and I’d slept. Yet, despite my shifts coming easier, I was hungry and already exhausted from today’s stress, summoning my wolf would just deplete whatever energy I had left. My brain spun at a hundred miles an hour as I tried to process everything that had happened.
The pale yet stunning face and dark eyes of the stranger in the corner came to me. They were stunningly beautiful in a deadly way, almost more vampire than Fae. They even had the same ancient kind of energy an Original Vampire as old as Balthazar Rossi exuded. Yet, whatever creature they were was out of place in the borderlands of Winter.
I had no idea why such an ancient being would be interested in the workings of Vilderon’s house, but Vilderon was a fool if he believed himself in control of them. Shaking my head, I sat up straighter. Wasting time thinking about the stranger wasn’t helpful. I needed to find a way out of here. There was no way I’d let Vilderon grope me while being compelled to watch Stone being forced to fuck another woman. No. Fucking. Way. I growled and tried to calm myself enough to think.
Straining my eyes, I tried to see something, anything, through the blackness. It was impossible. Yet being down in this silent void was better than suffering that bastard’s disgusting touch. Memories of Vilderon’s fingers combing through my hair made me shudder harder than my freezing body. His fingers had grabbed my neck hard enough to leave bruises, his voice grating on my psyche as he made me his puppet. The bruises were healed now, thanks to my wolf, but his cruel grasp had made my eyes water, leaving the feel of his touch branded to my skin.
It had been hard not to look at Stone through that whole sordid exchange, but I hadn’t wanted to let his father know how close we actually were, that we were soul mates. He was the sort of person who’d use that to his advantage in even worse ways than he already was. He thought we were just lovers and that I was human. He had no idea I was a shifter. That had been obvious from his words. I was sure if he knew, I’d be shackled, even in this Motherforsaken dungeon.
I pushed away from the wall, wondering why my father had kept that I was a shifter from him. But I stopped myself from going down that path. I didn’t want to think about the wanker who’d sired me. Keeping away from the corner where I’d relieved myself, I patted along the dirt floor from wall to wall for anything I could use as a weapon. My wolf whined, and I felt her desire to help. Using a small amount of energy so she could, didn’t seem like such a sacrifice if it meant I escaped quicker, so I let her push forward enough so I could see better. There was no light at all, but with her help, I could make out the faint outline of the large stone blocks that made up the walls. I mapped out a space about six feet square, realising it must be domed when I couldn’t reach the roof in the centre.
By the time I was done with the floor and the ceiling, dirt covered my skin, and scratches peppered my hands and knees from the broken stone slabs that made up the floor.
Fusty air and dust tickled my nose like there’d been no fresh air down here for years. This place felt more ancient than anywhere I’d ever been, which didn’t do anything for the anxiety coiling in my belly. What if I was left here to rot? I might not get a chance to use a weapon even if I found one. Panic clawed at my insides. No. Vilderon was coming back. He said I’d have to be there at the wedding. That meant I stood at least a slight chance of escape even if I couldn’t find a way out of my cell.
My stomach churned, my blood boiling at the thought of Stone being forced to bind himself to another Fae because of me. He’d do it, too. I knew he would. My eyes burned. He’d go through with it in the hope that I’d remain safe and untouched by his father. Yet, we both knew that was utter bullshit. I’d be used against him at every opportunity.
I’d seen the self-loathing on Stone’s face, the way his silver eyes were even more stormy than usual. He’d wiped the emotion off his face, but his eyes? He hadn’t been able to hide his horror at what he was being asked to do. I wasn’t stupid. I knew enough about Fae culture to know that if Stone entered into a marriage deal with the Unseelie, there would be no escaping it. Even Ventry couldn’t do anything about it, not when such a deal was binding.
My heart battered against my ribs, emotions churning in my gut, making a mockery of my ability to think straight. Fuck, who was I kidding? It had been months since I’d been the objective SBI agent I should have been. My throat worked over and over at the thought of seeing Stone touch another, but more than that, it would break him to be cowed by his father, to be controlled because of his feelings for me. He’d spent years using his outward calm and Alpha side to be a warrior. One who was cold and vicious when he needed to be.
But he wasn’t that person, not really.
Getting to know Stone as a person and seeing beneath his reserved and detached facade had been something beautiful. He was far more emotionally invested in our friends and family—in me than I’d ever noticed. I remembered all the times he’d returned home exhausted with blood on his clothes and skin, only to take on his responsibilities in the compound without complaint or resentment.
He’d tried to ensure I was safe and cared for whenever he was near me, and I’d thrown it in his face. Every single time. My cheeks burned with shame, no matter that he understood my reasons. He’d stood by me for years, so regardless of what happened at that damned wedding, even if we both had to suffer through him fucking another female, I would not give up on getting him back. Ever.
My wolf’s howl of agreement almost escaped my lips. Stone had given me a new reality where I wasn’t alone or so broken that I’d given up. Faceless fucks, alcohol-induced memory loss, avoiding the pain of my past, it would never happen again. Stone had saved me, both emotionally and physically. He’d given me a reason to live. He’d accepted me, even after everything I’d done, how I’d hurt him, and he’d given me the best gift of all—himself. I swallowed hard. I loved him. So much.
I wanted to scream and rage at the unfairness of finding my soul mate, of letting myself trust him, and having the opportunity to prove to us both that I wasn’t a total waste of space, only to have him enslaved because of me.
My body was painfully stiff and cold, but I forced myself to my feet. I wouldn’t give up on finding a way out. The scratches on my fingers stung as I felt along the walls, searching for old metal rings, hooks, or anything else that might give me the edge when they came for me. My exploring fingers dropped off the corner of the wall and hit cold metal. The door. I inhaled sharply, my heart hammering as I tried to stay calm and felt across its width. And top to bottom. It was solid, but if I dug into the dry earth, I could get my fingers under it. It was about two inches thick, and after a bit more exploring, I discovered the hinges were an old pin design. If I could somehow lift the door, maybe I could dislodge it and move it enough to get out.
I didn’t acknowledge that the door would weigh a ton, and even with my shifter strength, it would be impossible to lift enough to unseat the hinges. Instead, I curled my fingers under the door and heaved. Nothing. I did it again and again until my fingers were bleeding.
Fuck!
I sank down onto the ground, my frustrated scream echoing in the deathly silence of the cell. I couldn’t stay here. I couldn't watch my mate promise himself to another female and then see his beautiful body ripple, hear his breathing and grunts as he took her.
No!
Vilderon’s face swam in my mind. I wouldn’t let another powerful bastard rip my life apart like my father had. Claws grew from my nail beds and sank through the cracks in the ancient, broken stone floor, dislodging bits of stone and into the ground beneath. Sucking in a lungful of air, I grabbed a handful of dirt, throwing it across the room as I screamed again, panting hard—until the realisation of what I’d done hit me and I froze.
Holy fuck!
I felt around the cracks in the floor, a desperate, almost manic chuckle escaping me. The stone was so old that it had split where the heavy metal door had worn it away a little bit every time it had been pushed open. It was eroded—and thin.
With a half sob, half laugh, I threw myself onto my knees and, ignoring my bleeding hands and frozen body, started to dig.