The small building loomed ahead, devoid of any personality or warmth. Its dark, imposing presence sent shivers down my spine as the guards dragged me closer, their cold grips bruising my arms. Christian and the other man followed closely behind, their faces etched with a mix of guilt and concern.
"Get in there," one of the guards grunted, forcing me through the door.
"Watch it!" Christian snapped, trying to assert some authority over the situation, but his words fell flat. As I was hauled down a set of dimly lit stairs, each step echoed off the barren walls, amplifying my growing sense of dread. The hallway we entered was damp and cold, like a tomb, leaving me feeling more isolated than ever.
"Enjoy your new home," a guard sneered as they shoved me into a cell that looked as unwelcoming as the rest of the building. The bleakness of the room, with its basic amenities, a hole in the ground for a toilet and a thin, stained mattress, made me shudder. Christian growled at the guard and I shot him a glare.
"Give it a rest, Grant," the other man warned, shooting him a piercing glare that left no room for argument. “She’s told she doesn’t want you defending her.”
"Fine," Christian muttered, looking away from me as if unable to face the consequences of his betrayal. He turned and stalked out of the room with a huff. The other guy turned to me and shrugged.
“He’s just trying to protect you,” he said in a thick Irish accent. Something about him seemed familiar but my head was still cloudy with the drugs.
“Well, maybe he should have thought about that before kidnapping me,” I snapped.
“True,” he replied and then nodded to the guards. They both headed out of the room and the man nodded at me before following them out. Then with a heavy thud, the cell door slammed shut, extinguishing what little light had managed to seep into my dismal surroundings. The finality of the sound deepened my sense of isolation, and I couldn't help but think of all the people who'd been locked away in this very cell before me. What had become of them? Would I suffer the same fate?
I tried to walk to the filthy mattress but my movements were still clumsy and I crashed to my knees.I knelt there for a long moment, letting the darkness and despair wash over me. This was really happening. I was Jasper's prisoner now. A tiny flicker of hope remained that Liam would come for me. He had to, right? We were mates, even if we hadn't completed the bond yet. But even as the thought crossed my mind, doubt crept in. After everything that had happened...my inability to shift, the growing distance between us...would he really risk a war with Jasper to save me? I hugged my arms around myself, shivering. The cold from the concrete floor seeped into my bones. Maybe Liam would be relieved that I was gone. One less problem for him to deal with. Tears burned in my eyes. How could I have been so stupid, letting myself get kidnapped like this? I should have known better than to trust Christian, I should have listened to Liam. And now here I was, at the mercy of a ruthless Alpha.
Fear and despair threatened to crush me. I had to cling to that fragile sliver of hope that Liam still cared enough to come for me. Because if he didn't...I wasn't sure I could survive this. With great effort, I dragged myself over to the sad excuse for a bed. The lumpy mattress provided little comfort, but at least it wasn’t the bare stone floor. I curled into a ball, willing myself not to cry. I refused to show weakness here, even if there was no one to see it. Somehow, some way, I would endure this. I had to believe that tomorrow would bring a chance to fight back, to escape, to see Liam again. The alternative was too terrible to contemplate. Exhaustion finally claimed me, dragging me down into a fitful sleep filled with nightmares. But even those were preferable to the stark reality of where I was.
Chapter 2
Damon
Therainlashedagainstthe windshield as I navigated the twisting roads, Liam's agitated energy palpable in the cramped confines of the car. I couldn't blame him; he was worried about Erica and angry with Kaitlyn for helping her leave the pack house when danger loomed so close. Yet, I couldn't help the small thrill of anticipation curling in my gut at the thought of seeing Audrey again.
"Kaitlyn's got no sense of responsibility," Liam grumbled beside me, grip tightening on the door handle. "I should've stayed behind, sorted things out with Erica."
"Sometimes we can't control everything that happens around us," I replied, trying to impart some wisdom without sounding preachy. The truth was that Liam's overprotective nature often clouded his judgement, and since he had fucked up royally with Erica, he probably felt a lot worse, but now wasn't the time to delve into that conversation.
"Easy for you to say," he muttered, casting me a sidelong glare. "You're more excited about seeing your witch friend again."
I couldn't deny it. It had been almost six years since I'd last seen Audrey, and our shared history still haunted the corners of my heart. Our connection had been complicated from the start, but there was something truly special about her that I couldn't quite shake.
"Things aren't always as simple as they seem," I said cryptically, eyes fixed on the road ahead. "But right now, we need to focus on why we're really going to see Audrey. Remember, she might have answers that could help both Erica and the pack."
"Fine," Liam huffed, crossing his arms tightly across his chest. He fell silent, but the tension in the car didn't dissipate.
The rain was no longer a steady drumbeat on the roof of the car, but a muted whisper against the glass as the storm began to subside. I stared out at the dark road ahead, my thoughts racing even as Liam's anger seemed to have temporarily burnt itself out.
"Dammit, Damon," Liam suddenly snapped, frustration coursing through his voice like a live wire. "We're going in the wrong fucking direction if we want to go to Cornwall. Do you even know what you're doing?"
I sighed, knowing that explaining the complexities of our destination wouldn't be easy, especially with Liam already on edge. Willowvane Coven was one of the most powerful covens in the world and it also housed Willowvane Academy, the most coveted and prestigious magic schools for witches. Not to mention that it also happened to be on top of a particularly potent gateway to a hell dimension or something. All that considered it was heavily magically guarded. One of those guards was an invisible dome type thing, so you can be right on top of it and not even know. To gain access, you have to go through a magical screening portal. This alerts agents within the Academy that company is on the way and they are instructed to meet the intruders at key checkpoints with armed guards, usually powerful witches capable of summoning magical creatures. Three hundred miles away from the coven, in Norwich of all places, there was a portal gate house with two specialists to work the portal. It was amazing security but pretty much doubled our drive time.
"Trust me, Liam," I said, trying to keep my voice calm and steady. "Audrey's coven is not your average witch gathering. The Willowvane coven is the high coven for the UK witches, so they have a lot of security to deal with."
"Security?" Liam scoffed. "They're witches, not a bloody military base."
"Exactly," I agreed. "Which means their security measures are unlike anything you've ever seen before." Liam frowned, clearly struggling to understand.
"So Audrey is, what, the general of this secret witch army?"
"Close enough," I replied, unable to suppress a small grin. "As High Priestess, she's responsible for the safety of her coven. And thanks to some of her more... special abilities, she was able to create a whole magic security system for them."
"Special abilities?" Liam repeated, curiosity momentarily replacing his irritation. "Like what?"
"Let's just say she has a knack for illusion and enchantment," I explained vaguely, not wanting to reveal too much about Audrey's gifts. "It's part of what makes her such an exceptional witch."
