From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 108

Chapter 108

The white–furred wolf sheds his animal form, and in his place stands a naked man with a beauty almost painful to behold. I see his eyes are white, and one of them is crossed by a grotesque scar. He’s blind. His cheekbones are high and sharp as blades, and his hair is a bluish black, I avoid looking below his face, and he ignores me entirely, as if I’m not even in the room.

“It’s true,” he confirms.

“At first I didn’t know what was happening, however, I had a feeling this was what my grandfather spoke of. I sent my men again, and the surprise was greater when one of them returned unharmed after facing Cassian’s powers directly. We analyzed every lule detail from that night and came – lo one conclusion: your blood. That night my man slashed your neck and licked the blood from his claws. After that, Cassian’s powers had no effect

on him

“You’re speaking nonsense,” I growl. “You’re raving just like your grandfather. Let me go!”

I’m afraid that’s impossible. I can’t let you fall into his hands agam.”

I’m not going to be in anyone’s hands, especially not yours!”

You never had another choice, Elara. You’ve always been a pawn in this game–your birth was already marked” She lets out a laugh that chills my blood.. “Only you weren’t a gift for us, but for them. Too bad no creation is perfect,”

“You’re inune

“Don’t play the raive one.” She taps my chin. “A little bird told me what you did recently at the camp” I feel the sting of betrayal in my chest. “You are death. Flara, but also life, and I can’t let them have you precisely because of that. You’re the key to the perpetuation of their race. That’s why Lilith bore you–for her sons. A perfected version of what she already made”

Her expression darkens and takes on a different tone. Her hands slide down my arms, as if trying to console me.

“I know you have them, surely you don’t want to help them by being their breeding bitch” She spits the words. “Think about it. With me, together. we could eliminate what has always haunted you

life. You’d finally be free.”–

Now it’s me who laughs. I can’t control the hysterical laughter that bursts from my throat and echoes through the high ceilings of the hall 1 sound deranged, and I don’t think I’m far off

“You think I’m stupid enough to believe that things would change with you? I’d just be a means to an end. Don’t make me believe I have a choice when I clearly don’t I unile debantly. “You may think you’re so different from them, but I think you’re the same–a monster in different skin”

Our staring contest is brief. She slaps me hard, knocking me to the ground again, and though she looks down on me, I refuse to be crushed. I don’t lower my gaze. I’m certain of what I said. The shapeshifters haven’t given me any reason to think they’re different from the vampires. In fact, I believe no supernatural being would hesitate to kill humans. After all, we are the lowest rung on the pyramid. We’re sheep waiting for the slaughterhouse.

“You’ll do it the easy way, or the hard way–and I assure you, death will feel like a gift: She looks to the shapeshifter from before who, to my surprise, is now clothed. “Take her. Maybe in a little while, she’ll be more reasonable.

The man obeys immediately. He grabs my arms behind my back and secures them with heavy, cold shackles. He shoves me forward, and deciding this isn’t a battle worth fighting, I comply and walk ahead. The doors to the chamber open and I see two men stationed outside. They seem like guards, and they’re not the only ones I spot as we walk. Several others are positioned throughout the hallways we traverse. We pass through a wide Toyer with a staircase in the center that splits into two I glance up and see that the ceiling isait intact—there are collapsed sections, and that’s not all As we move farther in, we pass crumbling walls and shattered windows

Wasteland is a place where life has no place, and this building doesn’t seem like it can survive here either.

Rhory’s heavy hand presses down on my neck, forcing my head to bow as we descend a stergadaircase into a dump, poorly ventilated area. I know it’s the dungeons even before we pass several cells from which skeletal men with dead eyes stare out. Someone is already waiting in the last one, and as soon as I recognize him, I feel the sting of betrayal in my chest.

Khory steps away a few paces, giving us privacy with an expressionless face.

“It’s not what you think, Elara.”

everyone–even you. I was

“You sold me,” I say, voice dripping with disdain. I guess it’s my fault. I’m always so naive, always expecting good from everyon wrong. You’re not different. You’re wore thn Cassian.”

Tm nothing like

Eleazar snaps

“You’re right—at least he doesn’t pretend to be something he’s not.

1/2

Chapter 108

“I had to do it.” He clenches his fists at his sides, “There was no other way to keep us safe. If it weren’t for the help they’ve given us all this time, both the Diluted and the humans escaping would be dead. The shapeshifters are the ones keeping us safe when our limitations don’t allow us to

The memory of the map spread across his table returns to my mind. The marked points, the conviction in his voice when I asked how they stayed safe during the day. I had no way of knowing the reason behind that confidence was that he had shapeshifters on his side. Or maybe I just wasn’t observant enomight

“If you do exactly what they ask, they won’t hurt you. Please, Elara, comply. They’ve promised you’ll be safe, but if your stubbornness blinds you, I don’t know how much I’ll be able to do.”

*Promises mean nothing”

“Ragna is a woman of honor. She gave me her word she won’t hurt you, but you have to cooperate.”

“What does she want from me?” I ask warily.

“We still don’t know the full extent of your powers. However, Ragna is certain you’re the key to killing them.” He tries to grab my hands and I pull away before he can. “Killing a Pure is difficult, not impossible–but we believe with you it would be much easier. If you are life, you are also death. and we both know you can kill without elfon,”

As if those words were a signal, Khory steps forward, and when I see what he’s holding, my eyes widen in fear and I try to back away, pressing my back to the cell bars. The little door opens and I retreat fully into the wall’s mouth–and the only place where I can take refuge.

“It’s just for safety. You don’t have control over your power and might do something you regret”

Rhory’s hands reach me and he handles me roughly, giving me no chance to resist. The tension in his jaw and the coldness in his eyes promise he’ll kill me without hesitation if I become a threat. He lifts a kind of muzzle, and I try to fight it, scratching every bit of skin I can reach in hopes that something so simple might stop him. One of Rhory’s arms pins me against the wall while the other holds the muzzle, which, once near my mouth, comes alive and sticks to my skin. This is magic. I almost release the air trapped in my lungs when I feel a searing pain. Whatever is happening. it burns the skin of my mouth,

Your physiological needs will be covered intravenously. We can’t be sure you won’t try one of your tricks on us.”

With hot tears in my eyes. I touch the muzzle. The material radiates heat. It’s hard to breathe, and the effort not to sob makes everything worse.

I watch Rhory walk out of the cell and lock the door behind him. I don’t follow, I know with absolute certainty that I won’t escape. I fled from what thought was the worst monster only because I had help–but I won’t escape this one.

Eleazar seems like he wants to say something, but the pain and contempt in my eyes silence him. He turns around and leaves me alone in this cold, damp hole. The magic sealing my lips burns, making me want to cry from sheer pain. I pull my knees to my chest and curl into a bull, rocking back and forth. I look at the torch outside, watch its flame, and rage only makes me think about how happy I’d be setting all this on fire.

The pain–not just in my mouth but in my temples–is draining my energy, I feel it in every fiber of my body as I go limp with each passing secund, my eyes begging to close. Maybe it’s a delirium, or maybe the tiny eyes I think I see in the fire are real.

Whatever it is, it’s not enough to keep me awake,