Chapter 83

shudders involuntarily the cold leeching in through the dirtied denim pants I on and the thin shirt I pulled my to retain whatever heat I .

Mom breathes heavily just on the other side of the bars as close she can be without being too affected by the silver. I expected them to come back for me, but as my mom expected, are letting me heal before they start up again.

It seems they want it last long possible. No doubt a of enjoyment out of our pain. But maybe that is how the dragons , maybe instead of living fire they others suffering.

“Are you still awake….”

to my mother. I hear her before she clears her throat.

“There is no such thing as sleep in this She back, her voice hoarse from dehydration.

“How your pain?

I ask not really knowing what else to .

There are hundreds if not thousands, of questions running through my head. Questions I have pondered for , I had convinced myself that if them, maybe I could be happier. But now when I have her here, can’t think of a damn one.

She chuckles before breaking into coughing fit. My chest aches with every chest rattling expelling of dust she lets out and I press my head to the cement, holding back tears. After moment, she clears her throat and I hear a heavy sigh.

and these the questions you ask me?”

seemed polite to have little small talk first,” I joke, and she chuckles lightly.

, at least my brother enough to teach you manners.” She muses. I don’t have the heart to tell her he taught me a lot more than that but that it quick learning at the end of his whip or the whim of her niece.

What they want from you?”

ask, deciding skirt around the familial problems she may not know we even have with her brother.

The silent, then there is an exhale and the sound of shuffling. When she speaks again, her voice is closer, more hushed.

“At first, they wanted to know where you Alpha Bentley didn’t come for me.”

say slowly, “I was left in the pack for him to find.”

“No, you mistaken. He promised me he would come for you. I couldn’t reach Caspian and-” She trails off, going silent again.

Melody…?

whisper and I soft, quiet sob in the darkness.

“I need a minute,” she murmurs and I hear her shift from me.

There is a clatter as the door opens, echoing through the damp prison, lights flickering on as my eyes, waiting for them to adjust to the sudden change. There is a shuffling and I can sizzle to my right I blink and look at my mother clutching the bars.

“Do the video.” She whispers, her eyes darting toward the entrance of my cage with fear written all over her face “What I hiss, ashamed she would down so easily, though pain has been a constant for her for many years.

“The sooner your mate knows you missing, the sooner they will come for you.” She mutters “

can handle torture, but you need to out of here This place will kill , my . I need you to promise me you will say they want you to, but don’t you dare show an ounce of or ? Otherwise they storm the mountain and it will be their death She recoils as footsteps echo closer and the same dragon man from before in front of me, a permanent on his . He plays with the keys in his hands for a moment, his eyes trained me in thought before he exhales and unlocks the door. As if to mock me, he holds it open and gives me fake bow showing I should exit the door.

My heart skins a beat my eyes sliding to my mother who stands now, watching me , and shakes her she seems to read the thought in my mind. Panic rises as she touches the silver that burns her, but she never seems to react to.

Everything in my body is telling me to run. I know I won’t get far. How I when he is so close and we are on a mountain?

doubt this guy has wings when he needs them. One more glance him small smirk on his , and realize that what he wants, wants me 1/3 +5 forward stumbling for a steps before catching myself on the silver bars, the metal sizzling as pain zips through my hand. I it, hissing as I hug it to my chest and glare up at his all too pleased .

You enjoy hurting innocent people?”

grumble at him and he chuckles.

Innocent? No. But you aren’t innocent are you hybrid?” He , tilting his while I try to understand what the hell he talking about.

*Just existing makes me guilty bullshit you decide I did?”

scoff.

He doesn’t respond, and I roll my . “Of course the evil ones to dictate who they kill and make up lies to why.”

“You aren’t supposed to .” He flatly.

whip around, glaring up at him.

“I didn’t myself. A mate bond me. To you dragons mates may mean nothing, but to us, to my kind, a mate is everything. It is a gift from our and a refusal of that is the grave sin.” I hiss at him.

He steps into me, forcing me to keep moving back as he glares down at me.

Why would a mangy and fish be given the gift hybrid?” He goads me. “A species who only fights and one that only hides. You were as weapon to be used against us. Our only weakness is now walking the earth instead of remaining where you belong, in the sea.”

again, my mind whirling I take in his words and digest them. Me being isn’t just because of their desire to kill off the werewolves and lycans. Though clearly there is some tension between our species, but they are using me to lure out Caspian well. Fire and water mix, they can’t.

with the sirens restrained to their respective habitat and the dragons to theirs…everyone was safe. Until me, though, what that last bitch said is true, then I’m not the first or only hybrid. So why do I get to be treated like a problem and not the other supposed hybrids?

“Turn left,” He grunts and I follow his instructions.

“Where we going?

curiously as the hallway grows warmer with every step, the air dry and suffocating until break into massive room.

“The king wants look at you,” he murmurs, sounding displeased by this command.

he continues to shove me along The ceiling is light up with fire, providing a flickering light along the lava rock floors. Sweat beads at my brow and drips down my back and I see the walls lined with warriors all standing at attention, to strike at a moment’s notice.

There is fountain in front of me, not of the water I desperately find myself in need of, but of bubbling magma in the center of the long walkway. He pushes me to the right, and I trip on a protruding rock crashing to my knees.

Heat burns through my erupts “Help the pitiful creature up,” a man sighs in boredom. “Clearly, she has no taste for our preferred level of heat.

“What is want from my clenching from the throbbing in my hands and knee. I am struck in the back and groan.

“He is the king. Address him as such.” He growls in my .

What do I want from ” The Dragon King , sitting forward and out of the shadows. “That is a curious question to for a spy. I believe it is more appropriate to ask is you want from us I furrow brows and scoff in .

Me? A spy ask him, Is that what Giselle told you

“Why else would you be here He asks me curiously as he stands and moves toward me with slow and stiff movements. It is clear he is suffering some type of injury his eyes filled with pain with he takes.

“Do you honestly think I came here wanted to?”

scoff.

Spies go where they ordered, not because they want to somewhere shrugs.

Your kind ambushed me and killed my gamma ”

taking a limp toward him. “Giselle attacked first at the council meeting.

the way around “So that is why you are here then, on my mate?

He asks, arching a .

realize now that the pain in his is not from any physical ailment, but mental. The way he seems to beg for freedom while doing something he has no control over. He is under control of Lily and Giselle, and whoever else is in on their little shitty plan.

“There is no talking to you.” I whisper to myself in shock. “You are as free as I am.”

“Take her back.” He flicks his wrist at the man escorting me, who grumbles as he drags me out of the room.

After a few moments, he stops walking and allows me to stand on my own, his eyes scanning the area before he steps close and looks down at me with a look of determination.

“What did you see in his eyes that made you that?” he asks.

“He is a prisoner just as much as I am,” I scoff. “Can you not tell?”

“I can, but no one else seems to…” he says, glancing around like he is paranoid that someone may be listening. “Well, Princess, I think we may be able to help each other…”

narrow my eyes and click my tongue. “Oh, and what makes you think that?”

“I can get you out of here, if you help me first,” he offers, and I bite my lip warily.

“What do you need from me?” I ask, feeling hopeful for the first time in days.

B