29. Chapter 29
twenty-nine
Rodi
M y stomach grumbles, and I walk down the corridor, heading to the kitchen, greeted by nods from those I pass. I soon reach the end of the hall and see Ethan leaning against the grey stone wall with a smile tugging on his lips.
“Good morning.” I chuckle nervously.
“Hello, little rider,” he says, his voice a low tease.
My cheeks flush as he pushes himself off the wall, closing the distance between us. With his fingers, he gently brushes my cheek as I freeze under his touch.
I shouldn’t let this happen, and yet here I stand, unable to get away.
“Can I show you something?” he whispers.
Placing my hands on his chest, trying to push him away. My words falter. “I–I…”
He stares down at me, a crooked smile on his lips as his other hand grazes over my hip, and this warmth spreads inside me.
How’s he doing this? I shouldn’t respond to another dragon shifter. I’ve already found mine.
I close my eyes, shaking my head as my strength comes back, and I push him off me.
“You shouldn’t touch me like that,” I grit as my eyes wander around the hall, afraid someone has seen us.
He shrugs his shoulders, the playfulness in his gaze not leaving. “You’re not marked yet.”
My jaw tenses and my arms cross. “I will be tomorrow, once we go back.”
“Maybe, but before you go with him, I need you to listen.” His gaze grips mine as goosebumps trail over my skin.
“What?”
“This place.” His gaze travels as his jaw ticks. “It isn’t real. It’s created by Cedric, to keep you from your true mates. From Ares… and me.”
My brows draw together as I huff. “Right, because that doesn’t sound made up.”
He takes my hands, peeling them from my body as he steps closer. The heat from his body caresses my skin, and confusion rises again.
“This is real. We are real. He isn’t.”
I shake my head and push him away, torn by his words.
“How dare you touch what is mine.” Cedric’s voice cuts through the cold air as he steps closer.
“She’s not yours, Cedric. She’s my mate. You may have trapped her here, but we will get her out,” Ethan grits .
Cedric moves quickly, his body blurring in the air as he curls behind Ethan, grabbing his head in a single blink. And then, he twists with such force that I hear the bones break. A deafening scream leaves me as the sight burns into my soul. Ethan’s head is turned in a way that shouldn’t be possible as his body slowly slumps to the ground.
Frozen in panic, cold fingers wrap around my throat. Fury edges on Cedric’s face as he spits, “You’re mine!”
He drags me with him. My words die in the back of my throat as all I hear are Ethan’s words. This place, it isn’t real…
My scalp prickles as every step Cedric takes hurts me more. The rocky ground cuts into my skin, scratching me and leaving marks.
The room spins as he tosses me forward. My body aches as I scamper up and meet his icy stare.
“You aren’t my mate,” I whisper as the coldness of his touch won’t leave me. I remember how warm and familiar Ethan’s hands felt on my skin.
Cedric’s eyes stare me down. His once-loving gaze is now filled with malice.
“You are,” he snaps.
I shake my head as I swallow the lump in my throat. “A mate of mine would never hurt me.”
He stalks closer as I edge back. His hand collars my throat again, his fingers digging into my skin as I struggle in his hold. My nails cut into his skin. My feet kick his legs. I try to hurt him in any way possible, but his grip only tightens.
“You’re mine, Aphrodite,” he spits at me as my vision blurs, then dots, until there’s nothing but darkness.
A darkness I felt before, one I believe started this all.
Gasping for air, I awake to the harsh reality of my surroundings, my throat raw from Cedric’s grasp.
I scan around me, realizing I’m in the same room I’ve been in with Cedric for the last few days.
With fear gripping my bones, I get off the bed and walk to the window. Tugging on the handle, I wiggle it open. I take a deep breath as the night air moves past me.
I have no idea where I’m going or how to get out of this place, but I know one thing for sure. I have to get away from Cedric, so all I can do is try. I’ll follow my first plan and get out of this place and never look back.
I worm myself through the opening and lower myself as I keep a strong grip on the edge, grateful that we aren’t too high up as I let go. I grunt. My knees hurt as my feet hit the ground.
I run without looking back, running toward the forest behind the castle, never daring to slow my pace until the trees brush past me, shielding me from prying eyes.
My muscles burn and my breathing shallows as I don’t know how long I can keep this up. My pace slows, but as light shimmers in the distance, a sense of relief comes over me. Maybe I can hide there, find someone who can help me.
The forest changes, showing where the lights are coming from.
My feet dig into the ground as I stagger. How is this possible? Am I running in circles?
I’m back where I started. The Slatebane estate .
No, no, this can’t be right. I turn quickly and run once more, keeping in a straight line as my body is on the verge of giving up.
It happens again.
The lights.
The stone structure.
Confusion and fear grip me as I question my reality and the forces at play.
Where am I? And why can’t I escape?