But I heard every fucking word.
I knew it wouldn't do anything, but I still attacked the containment cell's door with everything I had. Every ounce of my magic. When I'd exhausted my power, I tried to physically ram the door, pain be damned.
It was useless, but it was better than nothing.
"You're not going to be any good to her after heat if you break your shoulder, moron." Liv's voice came through the intercom we'd set up decades earlier.
The room was made to contain any of us, in case the need ever arose. It hadn't before, but having a backup was always wise. We'd used it to hold a particularly powerful monster at one point. Otherwise, all it had done was give Merrily a place to exert her magic without killing anyone.
"Let me out," I snarled. "I can hear her sobs in my mind. She needs help. She needsme. This is not what this fucking cell is for."
"This isexactlywhat this cell is for. Kat doesn't want you to change your mind just because she's in pain. If you want to fuck her, you have to decide to take the risk."
"I've decided."
"You both made your choices before the craze set in. This sucks for us too, but you don't get to change your mind now that she's hurting."
"She can't even hear my voice, Liv. She doesn't know I'm here. That I'm listening."
"It wouldn't matter if you were there at all if you weren't willing to fuck her."
"I would fuck her. I'd do anything." My voice grew desperate. "Please."
"Would you have given in if she begged you before she was hurting?" Liv asked.
I didn't respond.
We both knew I wouldn't have.
I shoved a hand through my hair. The movement hurt, but every fucking movement hurt when I wasn't touching her.
"You made your choice. She did too. If you wanted her to make a different decision, you should've given her a reason to."
"Maybe she would've if you hadn't fuckingabductedme for her."
"You know I love a good abduction."
"Please."
"I'm sorry. I wish I could. I braided her hair and tried to make her as comfortable as I could before I left her, and we hacked the doors so she can't leave. Don't break your arm."
Livbraided her hair.
Livtried to make her more comfortable.
Iwas the reason she was suffering alone.
She'd told me she loved me, before they took me, and I hadn't even fucking said the words back.
I lowered my forehead to rest against the door and tried to breathe through the agony of my mate's pleas. The mark on my arm that represented our bond fucking burned.
I'd always thought my magic's cost was the worst pain I would ever feel.
I was wrong.
My body was coveredin a layer of ice when her cries finally started to quiet, but the cold couldn't kill me or take my limbs. My head was in my hands as I sat in the corner of the room, my eyes closed.
The physical pain was tremendous, but the emotions were so fucking much worse.
