Chapter 64
SIXTY-FOUR
The chapter ahead contains a graphic description of non-consensual violence (and sadism) involving the infliction of a knife wound. If you’d just rather not, fair enough. I will include a summary at the start of the next chapter so you still know what happened.
LAUREL
Madison’s meaty hand grabbed my upper arm, and Dax unlocked the door that led to the fight cage. I was dragged along as we made our way toward the ring itself.
I was desperate to get away, frantically trying to think of a way out, but I came up with nothing.
I struggled, trying to dig my heels in and slow us down, but Madison merely grunted and pulled me harder.
“Right there,” Dax said, nodding at the chain-link fence—the closest we could get to the fight without entering the cage itself.
I could see Ocean and the other alpha now, just a couple of feet away. Ocean’s curly hair was tied back, and he was grappling with his opponent with a snarl.
“Look, I’m sorry—please let me go.” My desperation was leaking into my voice, and I couldn’t stop it.
I winced as Ocean took a hit, staggering to the side and just managing to defend himself against his out-of-control opponent.
“Against the side,” Dax said, ignoring me and talking to Madison. I was shoved face-first against the mesh and bars that separated us from the fighters. I held back a whine as Ocean’s smell hit me, his smooth black coral and salt marred by sweat and blood.
My bond mark flared painfully. I was shaking, a terrified purr rippling through my body. We were so close to him, and if he turned, then he’d see us. It was inevitable he’d scent me, and what would happen when he did?
“You know what I’ve been wondering about, Prince?” Dax asked.
Prince merely responded with, “hmm,” and I craned my neck around to give him a pleading look.
My brief hope that he might help fizzled into oblivion as I saw he had his phone held up, the light blinking as he recorded me. Bile rose in my throat, and I looked away, eyes burning.
“It’s a bit odd, isn’t it, for an alpha to step in to help an omega who they haven’t claimed,” Dax said, cold eyes meeting mine. “I looked him up, and it was only his second visit to the suite. He must have been quite taken with you.”
He pulled a knife from his belt, and I couldn’t look away from it as he handed it to Madison.
Dread built in my stomach as he took it, the blade shifting in the light so it glittered as it moved.
With the familiar threat of pain, my protests shut down as survival kicked in. Even my purr died in my chest.
Be still.
Be silent.
Be small.
My world narrowed to the mesh pressed against my face, the way my breathing was hard enough to move my whole body. The cold of the metal. The dust in the air.
“You’re lucky that you can make this all better, sweetheart,” Dax said. “Lucky that there’s more than one way to rut an alpha, especially when they’re already close to the edge.”
My gaze flickered up to a grinning Madison, then back to Dax.
This anticipation was its own torture as the cold sweat on my skin, the memories of past pain, came back to haunt me.
But I could bear this.
I’d lived through worse.
Hadn’t I?
“No? Nothing smart to say?” Dax asked, and when I didn’t answer, he gave a single nod.
Madison tugged me closer. He stuck his knee between my legs, hoisting me higher on the fence before pinning my back with his forearm. I gasped as his elbow dug painfully into my bond mark.
He gently moved my hair, tucking it behind my shoulder.
There was a shearing sound as he sliced away my favourite soft cardigan.
A shiver ran across him as he pressed the knife against my shoulder, a rippling wave of disgust and humiliation washing over me as I felt the proof of his excitement pressing against my back.
“Didn’t think I’d get to mark you so soon, my pretty.”
Madison’s breath was rotten warmth on my ear as he dragged the blunt edge of the knife across my skin. Every muscle in my body was tense, trying to shy away from him, but I was stuck fast.
“I’ve been dreaming of your screams, Duchess.” His voice was melodic, almost reverent. “What you’ll sound like when you let go.”
Excruciating pain flared as Madison dug his sharp blade into my skin.
Though I couldn’t stop my flinch, I gritted my teeth and only let out a hiss.
He wouldn't get screams from me that easily. The pressure on my back eased, and I felt Madison’s weight shift away from me as he leaned back to examine his work.
I was abruptly left to cling to the mesh myself, else I moved and disturbed the knife.
The coppery tang of blood was filling the air, and I felt Madison drag his fingers through the warm, sticky liquid as it ran down my shoulder, soaking into my tank top.
I choked back another sob. I never thought I’d find myself wishing for my father’s punishments, but I’d enter his office a hundred times over to avoid this.
Madison gave that soft, dry chuckle that I’m sure would be haunting my nightmares from now on. “He needs to hear you, Laurel,” he crooned, leaning his body in to press against my blood-soaked back again.
My eyes were watering, and I opened them slightly, unable to resist seeing Ocean. He was trapped under his opponent, close to losing.
Madison grabbed the blade again, and a sob escaped me as he pressed it deeper.
He snarled in frustration and twisted it deep into my flesh.
I wasn’t sure if I was just imagining that I could feel it scrape my shoulder blade, but it didn’t seem to matter either way.
I couldn’t hold back this time, a desperate scream tearing from my lips.
Madison yanked the blade free, and I heard the wet splatter as my blood hit the floor.
I saw Ocean flinch, saw him whip around at the sound. I saw the moment the scent of my blood and pain reached him, his lips pulling back into a snarl, his pupils blowing wide.
Madison was crowding me closer, his huge hand pressing against my shoulder. The wire of the mesh fence was pushing into my face hard enough that I was sure it would leave marks.
I felt Ocean’s aura shatter, and his eyes went wild. The match changed, Ocean now fighting with a desperate frenzy as he tried to throw his opponent off. From here, I could scent his rage, and the bond was pouring it into me, my bond mark burning like fire.
Madison’s breaths were coming in heavy pants, and I squeezed my eyes shut as I saw his face inches from my broken flesh.
My vision blurred as I cried out again at the feel of teeth sinking into me, and it felt like my skin was ripping clean off.
Madison pressed himself harder into me as I writhed and screamed beneath him.
“You scream just as sweetly as he does,” Madison’s wet voice murmured into my ear.
All my control broke, my instincts taking over as I screamed and snarled. I bucked, desperately trying to get the monster off my back, but it was useless. I was trapped, and I was going to be stuck here forever while Madison tortured me.
Then I heard Dax curse. I looked over to find him staring at his phone, his lip curling in annoyance. “Thaddeus needs us, apparently,” he said, looking up at Prince. “Madison, let her go. We got what we wanted, anyway.”
Madison growled but stepped away, and I found myself standing on trembling legs. I clung to the chain-link fence, panting, unsure if I was going to pass out.
“Later, Duchess. Don’t get into too much trouble without us,” I heard Prince say, but I ignored him.
I breathed in gulps of air as the sound of their footsteps receded.
In front of me, Ocean had finished off his opponent, and his head snapped up, eyes meeting mine.
He left his opponent on the floor and rushed over until he was pressed against the bars of the cage, trying to reach through the chain link separating us.
A keening whine was coming from him as he struggled.
“I’m okay,” I hiccupped, finding his hand and stroking his fingers. “It’s okay.”
“Miss?” I jumped as an unfamiliar voice sounded in my ear. Ocean snarled as I pulled away.
One of the medics had approached, his lined face looking vaguely annoyed as he placed a fold-out chair behind me. “I was told to see to your shoulder,” he said, and I nodded numbly, sinking down into the chair.
It took four alpha guards to drag Ocean out of the Sink and away from me.