I struggled against his grip, clawing at his hand and kicking at his legs, but he was too strong. His other hand came down hard against my stomach, knocking the wind out of me and sending me to my knees.
“Stay down,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
But I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.
“Mily,” I croaked, reaching out toward her.
Her face was pale, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she stared at me helplessly. “Don’t,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Please, don’t.”
The man yanked me back by my hair, dragging me across the forest floor. My scalp burned, and I bit back a scream, refusing to give him the satisfaction.
“Should’ve stayed where you were, Omega,” he said coldly. “Now you’ll learn your place.”
He threw me forward, and I hit the ground hard, the impact jarring my already battered body. My vision swam as I tried to push myself up, only for a boot to press down on my back, pinning me in place.
I heard chains clinking and felt cold metal around my wrists. The man wrenched my arms behind my back and secured the shackles tightly before yanking me to my feet.
“Move,” he barked, shoving me forward.
I stumbled as he marched me deeper into the woods. My head swam from the back-to-back blows as I tried to focus my thoughts. In the deep recess of my mind, I heard my name, shouted with such desperation it broke my heart. But there wasn’t anything I could do except move forward.
It wasn’t long before I saw the faint glow of lanterns and the outline of a crude structure—a makeshift jail with barred windows.
The man threw me to the ground beside Mily, and I immediately scrambled toward her and pulled her into my arms, ignoring the pain in my body.
“Are you okay?” I whispered hoarsely. She nodded weakly, her small hands clutching at my shirt.
“Why did you come?” she whispered back.
“Because you’re my sister, Mily, and I’ll never leave you.”
The man laughed again, his gaze filled with mockery as he watched us. “How touching,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “But don’t get too comfortable. This is only the beginning.”
He turned and left, slamming the door shut behind him.
I held Mily close as she sobbed quietly in the silence, and my heart pounded as I tried to think of a way to get her out of here alive.
36
August
I kept fighting, my body instinctively responding to the chaos around me. I felt detached, like I was watching myself fight from above. My every move was automatic, and I wasn’t concerned about anything except the desire to take Raol down.
If I could kill him, I could end this. I would pay whatever cost was required—even my own life.
Especially my own life.
I already knew that I didn’t deserve to survive. After what I’d done to Elisabed and all my actions as a tool for the council...the mistakes I’d made, and the pain I’d caused...it would be better for everyone if I died here today.
I was ready for death, so I focused on the task at hand without worrying about the possibility of dying.
I had one goal and one mission: kill Raol. I would end this today, and I fought alone with a single-minded determination.
Then I saw them—Finn and Marshall—fighting by my side.
I knew they weren’t just here to help me. They were here for a larger purpose, more important and deeper than the fight itself. They fought almost as one, their focus, power and strategy combining as if they shared a single heartbeat.
I’d never seen anything like it.