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Chapter 28

Devon

I’ve never hated anyone in my life the way I hate Orvak. My face is killing me. As are my back, my arms, my legs, and most definitely my ass. I’ve been tied to this fucking chair for at least a day. I’ve passed out from exhaustion more than once, but sleep doesn’t hold me for long. Nightmares wake me. Pain wakes me. The fact that I’ve almost pissed myself more than once wakes me.

Until now, I didn’t truly understand how awful it must have been for Alik to be locked away in the pit. At least he had the bioluminescent plants inside the walls of the room he was kept in for some light. The place Orvak has me kept is pitch black and silent, other than the sound of my own breathing.

A crash comes out of nowhere and the door slams open scaring the shit out of me I let loose a short scream. I’m blinded by the sudden appearance of light, I blink away the darkness as my eyes adjust. Orvak storms in.

“He was supposed to kill Janik,” he shouts.

He keeps mumbling something, growing more agitated with each pacing step he takes. I keep quiet so I don’t draw his attention. I’ve tasted his anger more than once since being his captive. I’m good on that for the rest of my life thanks very much.

His hand wraps around my throat, choking me. My eyes water, and I fight for every breath, thrashing in my seat, trying to loosen his hold. Nothing works. His hold tightens and in his eyes is pure evil. I’m going to die and never see Alik again. Never see my sisters again. Life is so fucking unfair.

An inhuman roar splits the air. Every hair on the back of my neck stands on end. The sound is the most terrifying thing I’ve ever heard. Orvak releases me as quickly as he’d grabbed me and whips around in a circle, his head twisting one way and the other, searching for the source of whatever creature makes it.

Glass shatters nearby and a shadow flashes past me. I turn and my eyes widen. Orvak is pinned against the wall by the largest Bohnari I’ve ever seen. The male’s muscles have shredded the shirt and pants he wears and bulge from the tears they made to accommodate their size. Holy shit he’s huge…and familiar.

The teal hair is sex-mussed and brushes his shoulders. His longer than most Bohnari’s horns curl back from the top of his head. The dragon-like scales across his shoulders are so dark in color they’re almost black, but they shine with a glossy finish. He snaps his fangs at Orvak, grazing the flesh of his cheek and drawing blood.

“Devon.”

I jerk my head to the left to find Janik running toward me. On his heels is Horek. Which means…I turn back to the Bohnari who still holds a sneering Orvak in his grip. Holy fucking shit. Alik. As though he can hear me, he glances over his shoulder and meets my stare. His eyes glow a fiery red with only a small amount of black visible around the outer edges.

“De-von,” he rasps.

My gasp is loud. This is the male from the pit. The one affected by the madness. I cock my head and study him more closely. Wait, it’s not only that male, but also him. It’s also Alik. It’s as if the two parts of him have come together as one. He cries out suddenly and throws his head back with a mighty roar filled with pain. His hold on Orvak loosens and he stumbles back from him at the same time Janik and Horek reach me.

“Alik!” I scream as they work at my restraints, but I can’t look away from the scene playing out in front of me.

My mate clutches at his side and when he pulls his hand away, it’s covered in blood. Orvak lunges and slashes at Alik, catching him across the chest. Blood sprays from the wound, and I cry out. I fight to get the restraints loose.

Alik recovers and this time it’s he who lashes out. His claws strike Orvak’s stomach, shredding his shirt and drawing lines of blood. Back and forth they parry, sometimes reaching their target causing more blood to flow, but other times missing. They dance around each other in a deadly game whose only winner will be determined by who loses the least amount of blood and is still standing at the end.

Finally, the two Bohnari are able to free me. Janik wraps his arms around me and tries to drag me out of the room.

“We need to get you to safety,” he says.

I resist his hold. “No! You have to save Alik.”

Janik glances over at his brother who still spars with Orvak. Horek steps in my line of sight.

“Alik is merely toying with him. When he grows bored, you do not want to be here to see how it ends,” my mate’s cousin says.

I shake my head. “I’m not leaving until Alik’s safe.”

The two males look at each other, then me. Janik sighs. “At least let’s move a safer distance away.”

It’s a compromise I’m willing to make. They guide me over to the farthest spot in the large room from where Alik and Orvak fight. I can’t take my eyes off my mate. The more I watch, the more I realize Horek was right. Alik is toying with the other male. While my mate’s moves are sure and confident, Orvak’s are erratic. Out of control, like he is.

“How did you find me?”

“Alik did. He followed your scent,” Janik says.

My scent? I know I’ve been kept prisoner for a day at least, but I don’t think I smell that bad yet. Just then, Alik takes a nasty strike to his side. It must catch him off guard, because he stumbles backward.

“No,” I rush forward, away from Horek and Janik to do…something.