Page 57 of Her Possessive Minotaurs

"But you know how this works," he continues, his breath hot against my face. "Beg me, and perhaps I'll spare you."

I choke on my sobs, my body trembling with rage and despair. The weight of his words presses down on me like a suffocating shroud. My voice is barely a whisper as I speak, "You're a monster."

Eryndor's smile only widens at my defiance. "Perhaps," he murmurs, his eyes gleaming with malice. "But I'm your monster."

The chamber falls silent except for my ragged breaths and the drip of blood from the lifeless bodies around us.

I meet Eryndor’s gaze, my chest heaving, but I don’t bow. I don’t beg. My mind flashes to Thalos, Irix, and Kael—their fierce eyes, their strong hands that have pulled me from the darkness. Their faces give me strength. I’m not a slave anymore. I’ve learned to fight. I’m a warrior now.

Eryndor’s expression hardens, his smile fading. “You’ve grown defiant,” he sneers, his eyes narrowing. “I made a mistake letting you go. I should’ve broken you completely when I had the chance.”

His words sting, but they only fuel my resolve. The dark elves drag me outside, the sudden burst of sunlight blinding me afterthe dim dungeon. My heart pounds as they lead me into the courtyard, the rough stone under my bare feet a harsh reminder of my captivity.

They string me up, my arms pulled taut above my head, the chains biting into my wrists once more. The position is agonizing, but I grind my teeth against the pain.

Eryndor’s voice cuts through the air like a blade. “No food. No water. Let her hang here as an example.”

My heart races, fear clawing at my chest—but not for myself. It’s for Thalos, Irix and Kael. They’ll come for me; they have to. But Eryndor’s words echo in my mind, a chilling reminder of his cunning nature. What if he’s ready for them? What if they never make it?

The thought sends a shiver down my spine, but I push it away. They’re strong—stronger than Eryndor knows. And so am I.

As the hours drag on, the sun beats down on me, every second stretching into an eternity of pain and thirst. My vision blurs at the edges, but I hold onto the image of my minotaurs—their fierce loyalty and strength—clinging to it like a lifeline.

I won’t give up on them.

And I know they won’t give up on me.

___________

42

THALOS

The night is thick with tension as we crouch outside Eryndor’s estate, the moon casting long shadows over the heavily guarded walls. The place crawls with dark elves, but we know how to navigate it—we’ve been here before.

This isn’t our first time coming into this place.

My jaw tightens, my mind racing. We’d had dealings with Eryndor in the past, and we’d been fools to trust him. The memory of our last encounter gnaws at me, a bitter reminder of our naivety.

Kael’s voice is a low growl beside me. “He never intended to keep his promise to us, his end of the bargain.”

I nod, my eyes scanning the estate. “We should have known.” The words taste like ash in my mouth. Eryndor’s betrayal was inevitable, yet we walked right into his trap.

Irix shifts beside me, his eyes gleaming with barely restrained fury. “What’s the plan?” His fingers twitch on the hilt of his axe, eager for action.

I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus. “We split up. Irix, you take the left flank and create a distraction if necessary. Kael and I will go through the main gate and check on the mainentrance. I’ll signal you once we find it.” My voice is steady, but inside, I’m a storm of worry and determination.

Kael nods, his jaw set in grim resolve. “And Laia?”

“We find her,” I say, my voice hardening. “No matter what it takes.”

Irix’s lips curl into a fierce grin. “Then let’s get this done.”

We move silently through the shadows, each step bringing us closer to the estate. The dark elves patrol the grounds with a practiced vigilance, but they’re no match for our combined stealth and strength.

As Irix slips away to be on the lookout, Kael and I approach the main gate. My every sense is heightened by the imminent danger. We’ve fought battles before—faced death more times than I can count—but this is different. This is for Laia.

The gate looms ahead, guarded by two dark elves. Kael signals me, and we move as one—silent and deadly. In a blur of motion, we take them down before they can raise an alarm.

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