Page 56 of Her Possessive Minotaurs

I raise a hand, signaling for silence as we approach the edge of the clearing. The sight before us makes my blood boil. Dark elves are packing up. It seems they got what they needed from them.

“Laia’s not here, but there’s traces of her. They passed by.” Irix grits his teeth, and so is Thalos. If Eryndor has his way, they’ll probably never see her again.

“We kill them,” Kael delcares.

“Now,” I whisper, my voice low and deadly.

We move as one—a force of nature descending upon our enemies with silent fury. Irix’s axe swings in a deadly arc, cutting down the first dark elf before he can react. Kael’s blade finds its mark with precise efficiency, each strike driven by cold determination.

I look for the leader, as Eryndor isn’t here. I find the dark elf captain. I grab the dark elf’s head and smash him on a metal box at a corner, forcing him to speak.

“Tell me, where did Eryndor bring his women?” The captain doesn’t reply, so I grab the ax and smash the back of it onto his leg. The sickening crunch of bones echoes in the night, followed by a scream of agony.

“Let me tell you,” he sobs. “He brings the women back to his estate and plays with them.”

“Good, let’s leave!” Irix declares, leaving me with the captain. With cold precision, I stab my dagger into his throat, blood bubbling out of his mouth, and I let him go.

Then, I turn on my heels, following after my brothers. Under my breath, I vow, “I’ll save you, Laia. I’m coming!”

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41

LAIA

The chains bite into my wrists, each step sending a fresh wave of pain through my battered body. The dark elves drag me down the stone steps, their laughter echoing in the narrow corridors. The dungeon reeks of blood and decay, the air thick with a stench that makes my stomach churn.

We reach a large chamber, dimly lit by torches flickering in the damp air. My breath catches in my throat. Humans hang from chains, their bodies broken and bloodied. Their eyes are hollow, and their lips cracked from dehydration. The sight is a grotesque reminder of what Eryndor’s cruelty knows no bounds.

Eryndor stands in the center, watching with sick satisfaction as a dark elf slashes a human’s back with a whip. Each crack sends a fresh spray of blood across the floor. I flinch with every lash, my heart pounding in my chest.

Eryndor’s gaze shifts to me, his smile widening. “Ah, Laia,” he purrs, stepping closer. “Welcome back to your rightful place.” His hand grips my chin, forcing me to look at the scene before me. “This is what happens to those who defy me.”

The chains clink as I struggle against his hold, but it’s useless. The dark elf holding the whip sneers at me before deliveringanother brutal lash to the human’s back. The man’s scream echoes through the chamber, searing into my soul.

“Stop it!” I shout, my voice breaking. “Please… stop.”

Eryndor chuckles, his breath hot against my ear. “Oh, Laia,” he whispers. “This is just the beginning.”

My stomach churns, my heart pounding against my ribs. "You're a monster," I spit, my voice trembling with fury. "Worse than anything this world has to offer."

Eryndor turns to me, his lips curling into a slow, predatory smile. "Oh, little Laia. You wound me with your words." He gestures toward the humans hanging from chains. "You should be used to this by now. After all, this is how the strong thrive in Protheka."

My fingers curl into fists, my body trembling with rage. "You're nothing but a coward," I bite out, my voice raw.

Eryndor's smile fades, his eyes darkening. "Perhaps you need a reminder of your place." He steps forward, his voice a low, menacing growl. "Watch."

Eryndor's eyes gleam with sadistic delight as he waves a hand. "Kill them," he orders, his voice as cold as the dungeon's stone walls.

"No!" The scream tears from my throat, raw and desperate. I pull against the chains, feeling them dig deeper into my flesh. One by one, the dark elves move to the hanging humans, their blades glinting ominously in the dim light.

The first man's eyes widen in terror as the blade presses against his neck. "Please, no!" he begs, his voice a choked whisper. The dark elf's expression remains impassive as he draws the blade across the man's throat. Blood spurts out, painting the floor crimson as the man's body crumples.

"Stop it! Please, stop!" My voice is hoarse, my sobs echoing through the chamber. The next victim—a woman—meets myeyes for a brief moment before her life is snuffed out with a swift slash. Her body falls like a broken doll.

Each death is a fresh wound to my soul. My knees buckle, but the chains hold me upright, forcing me to witness every horror. Tears blur my vision as another life is taken, and another, until the chamber is littered with lifeless bodies.

Eryndor watches me, his smile widening with every sob that escapes my lips. "I never tire of watching you cry, Laia," he says, his voice dripping with cruelty. He steps closer, his hand gripping my chin again, forcing me to look at him through my tears.

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