– Chapter 183

Bastien

It’s dark when I wake – the pitch black of a windowless cell, the air cold and damp. I know I’m underground without being told, and even before I remember the events that led me to this place, I know something is horribly wrong.

Slowly the details filter back into my mind, and before I can even process my turbulent feelings Axel bursts out of me. I circle the cell, smelling every corner of the space and trying to gain my bearings. It’s a cramped space lined with bars of pure silver, boasting nothing whatsoever to support human life. There are no objects present – no furniture, not a bucket for waste or vessel for water, nothing.

I can see other cells through the dim light, and the shadows of other shifters lurking in the peripheries. I’ve never been in a cage like this, but it makes my wolf feel as feral as a rabid dog. I don’t know how Selene survived living in such conditions for a week, let alone eight years. Of course it doesn’t help that I know she’s in horrible danger right now.

The desire to kill Blaise if a bloodlust unlike anything I’ve ever known. I’m so overwhelmed with violent energy that I can’t help but charge back and forth before the bars, snarling viciously. I don’t know what to do – I’ve got to find a way out of here. Every second that I’m trapped in this dismal cell is going to cost Selene dearly.

As unfair as I know it is, I’m also beyond angry with my mate. I know in her shoes I would have done exactly the same thing. In fact, I already did when I agreed to marry Arabella to protect her. Still, I would rather die a thousand deaths than lose her and the baby, or make them suffer this way. I know Selene was worried about Blaise discovering Lila, but Drake and I had emergency plans in place in case the worst happened. She could have run and gone on without me.

Axel howls with pain just imagining where Selene is in this moment, and what she’s already been forced to survive in my honor. How much time has even passed since the events at the church? Horrible, unwelcome picture flood my mind, of Blaise torturing and abusing my mate, and her allowing him in order to protect me. It isn’t right. I have to help her.

My entire body is shaking with wrath, a seething craze of outrage and despair. Just as I feel I might spontaneously combust, an irritated voice floats through the darkness towards me. “Would you shut up! You’re not going to get out of here by ranting and raving that way.”

“Give him a break, Grayson. You were like this too at first.” The second voice is rugged, mature and sounds very tired. “They all are.”

“That doesn’t make it any less unbearable.” The first man gripes. “It’s giving me a headache and it’s not as if it will do any damned good.”

“Who are you?” I call out in answer, “Where are we?”

“I’m James,” the second voice sighs, “And your cheerleader here is Grayson. We’re in Blaise’s dungeon – though if it helps to know he must think you’re something special. This is the high security wing – he only puts the most dangerous prisoners down here.”

“It doesn’t help.” I hiss, “The only thing that will help is getting out of here.”

“Well that’s not going to happen.” The first voice snipes. “Take it from me, it’s better to just accept it now rather than holding onto false hope.”

“I can’t give up.” I snap. “I have people counting on me.”

“You hear that James?” Grayson scoffs, “This one thinks he’s the only man ever to have people he cares about.”

“Give the pup a break Grayson,” James advises patiently.

“How long have you two been here?” I ask, feeling my heart sink amidst their cynicism. I may be determined, but I also know the first rule of planning any operation is mapping out the lay of the land, and no one knows the challenges better than the people on the ground – or in this case, in the ground. If they feel it’s impossible, they probably have a damned good reason for thinking that.

“25 years for me.” James announces bleakly. “And Grayson –”

“10 years.” Grayson interrupts the other man, “and trust me, we’ve tried everything possible to escape during our combined decades here. If there was a way, we would have found it.”

My mind is reeling with this information. I never imagined they would give me such devastating answers, and I suddenly understand every ounce of Grayson’s nihilism. “Why hasn’t he just killed you?” I ask bluntly, knowing that softening my words won’t do a damn bit of good with men as hardened as these. “I just watched him snap a woman’s neck like she was nothing, why would he keep you alive so long?”

“The same reason you’re probably here.” James surmises, “He needs us for something. We have information he wants.”

“So every few days he brings out the interrogators to rip off our fingernails and jab us with spikes.” Grayson contributes blithely. “Just one more thing for you to look forward to. Normally he gives you just enough time to heal before pulling you back out.”

“And you’ve never given in?” I murmur, feeling a rush of admiration for the strength these two beings must possess. “

“We’d be dead if we had.” Grayson answers, “Blaise only keeps you around as long as you’re useful and as miserable as living out the rest of our lives in cages is, I’d far rather defy him and suffer than submit. He’s taken everything from me, I’ll never give him what he wants.”

“And I don’t even have the information he thinks I possess. I made sure I would never be able to answer his questions, even if I wanted to break.” James adds grimly.

“What is it, what is it he wants to know from you two?” I ask, truly curious now.

“You first, pup.” Grayson derides.

“I’m just leverage.” I admit, feeling suddenly like I want to cry. “He has my pregnant mate, and he’s using me to make her obey him.”

“Bastard.” Grayson spits, “I at least earned my time here – in part at least. I was the leader of an underground movement to overthrow him, he wants to know the names of my co-conspirators. In truth, my days are probably limited. We’ve been completely cut off from the outside world so I’m as out of touch with the movement as anyone. Part of me thinks he just keeps up the torture to punish me for daring to defy him.”

Suddenly I understand how the man has such an iron will – only the strongest of wolves could hope to stand against him, and leading a rebellion in a city like this would require incredible courage. “And you, James?” I press.

“Not so different from yourself really.” He remarks thoughtfully. “In fact it’s strange, he wants to know where my mate and child are. Of course she wouldn’t be a pup anymore, by now she’ll be all grown up.”

“But you don’t know where they are?” I clarify.

“Actually I do know where my mate is. I felt her die almost fifteen years ago now.” James explained, sounding truly hollow now. “I told Blaise as much, but it didn’t matter, he still wants my daughter, and he still thinks I know where my mate hid her. But that’s why I made sure I couldn’t lead him to them – we were on the run while she was pregnant and we had to split up. I sent her off in one direction, and then I ran in another.”

My instincts are going haywire. There’s only one reason I know of that Blaise hunts women, and I also know of one woman with a twenty-five year old daughter, who died fifteen years ago.Leaning close towards the bars, I inquire, “why did he want her?”

“I shouldn’t tell you really.” James utters softly, “but since we’re never getting out of here: She was a Volana, and Blaise discovered her bloodline had magic he wanted to harness.”

“James,” I say urgently, feeling my pulse speed up. “Was your mate’s name Corinne?”

“How did you know that?” He replies sharply.

“Because my mate Selene is a Volana, and she was orphaned when her, mother – Corinne – died fifteen years ago. At least, we thought she was orphaned.” I explain, having a hard time speaking slowly enough to be understood.

“Are you saying…?” James trails off, even as Grayson mutters, “Holy shit.”

“I’m saying that I think my mate is your daughter.” I declare firmly. “And Blaise has her. He’s going to do horrible things to her and kill your grandchild unless we stop him.” I grit my teeth, “So let me ask you? Do you still think trying to escape is useless?”