“He’ll take me away. It’s no use.”
“Then I’ll find you,” his little bird said, stubbornly determined. “Just hold out and I’ll come.”
Teddy was chilled to the bone, feeling clawed hands pull at him, but the boy in front of him felt like a light in the dark.
“DAMIR!”
Teddy held on to that warmth and light as he felt himself being dragged backward through the locked door that had been broken, back to the pain that awaited him.
He just needed to hold out.
He woke up screaming in agony.
“There you are,” Kellan said, pleased. “Much as I love your magic pulsing with contentment, I’d like you awake for this.”
Teddy watched him through slitted eyes, hatred growing with each moment he was hooked to the torture device. He could feel it pulling from every cell, trying to drain him into a husk.
“Contentment?” he spat at the lunatic. “What about any of this is supposed to make me content?”
Kellan chuckled with a shake of his head. “Oh, nothing in here.” He approached Teddy and held up one bony finger, tapping his head. “But in here.”
Teddy jerked back, refusing to let Kellan touch even the space close to where his memories of Wren were. He’d desecrate them. Infect them with his evil. He tugged at the restraints again.
There had to be a way to get out. Wren would have figured it out. He would have found a way to ruin the whole operation.
He wished Wren were here.
He hoped Wren was safe.
He closed his eyes and thought of those stunning eyes. That soft lock of white hair he loved touching. Those lips on his own and that small, strong body glued to his. If he were to go, he’d be going with nothing but Wren on his mind. It was the best way.
“The magic levels are climbing again,” he heard someone else speaking to Kellan, sitting at the computer and monitoring the changes.
Kellan walked to the computer and leaned over the man to inspect the information.
“Quite curious. Somehow you managed to control the venom’s effects momentarily. I suppose you’re not going to tell me how you did that?” Kellan said conversationally to Teddy as he prepped another dose. He walked back to Teddy’s side and held the needle up.
“Screw you,” Teddy said, the room spinning around him, his body on fire. “I’m not telling you a single thing anymore.”
“Oh, how brave we got,” Kellan taunted. “How courageous that little tick made you.”
“He is the best thing on this planet,” Teddy said. “Nothing you do will taint that.”
“Oh, I don’t plan on tainting it. You misunderstand. I plan on destroying it and everything tied to it. I don’t need the pathetic love you feel for him, Damir. I don’t need to love. I need to BE loved. Everything else can go.”
“I hope this kills you!” Teddy screamed, spitting in his face. “I hope you burn from the inside out trying to use magic that was never meant for you!”
Kellan reared back in shock before drawing out a handkerchief and wiping his face. “If I die, you’re going with me, my dear boy.”
“Worth it,” Teddy said, completely exhausted. “At least he’ll be safe.”
“Hush now,” Kellan said, reaching for Teddy’s arm. “Time to get this over with.”
The door behind Kellan opened just before the needle touched skin, and a harried-looking woman entered, short hair frazzled, green eyes full of fear. “Sir, the perimeter alarms and curses have all been disabled. I think someone’s entered the bunker.”
Wren.
His little bird was here, just like he’d promised.
