Page 40 of Kept By Her Obsessed Minotaurs

I press my back against the unyielding stone wall, my body shaking as much from fear as from the aftershocks of the blast. Hot tears carve a path down my cheeks, each one a silent testament to the terror that grips my heart. "Please... please be okay," I whisper, my voice lost in the chaos that engulfs the estate.

The air is thick with smoke and ash, turning the moonlight into a hazy, surreal glow. The scent of burning wood and molten metal fills my nostrils. My mind conjures up horrific images of Garron, Lazir and Calo caught in the maelstrom, their bodies broken and lifeless among the debris.

"Stop it, Mara,"I scold myself, my voice barely audible over the roar of the flames. I can't allow fear to cloud my judgment. They're strong, capable—they've faced worse and come out victorious. But the rational part of my brain wars with the raw, primal panic that threatens to consume me.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to steady my ragged breathing. The sound of my heart pounding in my ears is a frantic drumbeat that echoes the turmoil within my soul. I cling to the hope that they'll emerge from this nightmare unscathed, that we'll be reunited and find a way to put an end to this madness.

Another explosion rocks the estate, closer this time. The force of it sends me sprawling onto the damp earth, the impact knocking the breath from my lungs. I lay there stunnedmomentarily, the world around me a symphony of destruction and despair.

I push myself up onto my hands and knees, my body trembling with a combination of fear and cold. The ground beneath me is littered with fragments of stone and shattered glass.

"I should have gone with them," I murmur, my voice choked with regret. The weight of my promise to Calo sits heavy on my conscience, a vow of inaction that feels like a betrayal of my own heart.

As I struggle to regain my composure, I realize that the future I'd envisioned for myself—a future filled with vengeance and solitude—has been irrevocably altered. Garron, Lazir, and Calo have become an integral part of my existence now. The thought of losing them, of returning to a life devoid of their presence, is a pain I cannot even contemplate.

"I need you," I whisper into the darkness, the words a fervent plea to whatever higher power might be listening. "Come back to me. All of you."

35

CALO

The night air is thick with the stench of charred wood and the metallic tang of blood. My heart thunders in my chest as I sprint toward the Murdok estate, the once majestic structure now a blazing inferno. The ground beneath my boots is a treacherous landscape of debris and fallen bodies, each step a testament to the chaos unfolding before me.

A dark elf bursts from the smoke, his blade arcing toward me with lethal intent. I sidestep his attack, my body moving with the fluid grace of a predator. My fist connects with his chest, the impact sending him sprawling. I snatch up his fallen weapon. It feels right in my hand, an extension of my will.

The courtyard is a maelstrom of violence—screams rend the air, and the clash of steel on steel is a grim symphony to my ears. I move through the carnage, my eyes scanning the chaos for any sign of Garron and Lazir. Where are they?

"What the hell is going on?" The words slip from my lips, swallowed by the roar of the flames. I dodge a spear thrust, driving my stolen blade into an attacker's side. He falls with a gurgled cry, and I'm already moving, my senses heightened by the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

I'm an alpha male, a minotaur born and bred for battle, and yet the sight of the estate in ruins sends a chill through me. This wasn't part of the plan. We were supposed to slip in and out unseen, not be caught in the middle of a full-scale assault.

The smoke stings my eyes, but I refuse to blink, to miss even a moment of what's happening around me. My mind races with possibilities, each more dire than the last. Are Garron and Lazir trapped inside? Are they even still alive?

A group of dark elves charges me, their expressions twisted with fury. I meet them head-on, my blade a blur as I cut through their ranks. They fall before me, but for every one I defeat, another seems to take their place.

"You'll haveto do better than that," I growl. I parry a sword strike, then kick the offending elf square in the chest. He stumbles backward, tripping over a fallen comrade and disappearing into the smoke.

I fight my way closer to the estate, each step a battle against the tide of dark elves. My muscles ache and my breath comes in ragged gasps, but I push on. I have to find them. I have to get Mara's evidence to General Draun, to expose Wlloza for the traitor he is.

The heat of the inferno outside is nothing compared to the rage boiling within me as I burst through the shattered doors of the main hall. The grandeur of the estate is marred by battle, and in the heart of the chaos, my brothers, Garron and Lazir, are locked in a desperate struggle against a dark elf clad in gleaming silver armor—General Draun. His presence here is no coincidence.

"General Draun..." I mutter under my breath, taking in the scene with a sinking heart.

Lazir spots me first, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he parries a strike from Draun's massive sword. His eyes meet mine, filled with a panic that chills me to the core. "Calo! Where’s Mara?!" he shouts.

The question hits me like a physical blow, and I freeze, the weight of my failure pressing down on me. Lazir ducks another of Draun's attacks, his movements a blur as he fights his way to my side. "I told you to keep her safe!" he roars.

His words are a dagger in my chest, twisting with the realization of what's happening. Lazir's voice is low, urgent, as he leans in close. "This is a trap. Draun and Wlloza have teamed up. They're planning a rebellion. The fight—it's just a ploy."

Draun's blade swings wide, forcing us to scatter. I roll to the side, coming up in a crouch with my weapon at the ready. Garron stumbles toward us, a hand clutched to his side where blood seeps through his fingers. His voice is a low growl, filled with anger and betrayal. "Why did you leave Mara?! Where is she?!" he yells.

My mind races,my thoughts a whirlwind of guilt and fear. "She's hiding," I manage to say. "She wouldn't leave. We have to finish this, or she's in danger."

Garron's gaze meets mine, a silent understanding passing between us. We're not just fighting for our lives now—we're fighting for Mara's. She's out there, alone and vulnerable, and it's up to us to ensure her safety.

The alpha male in me roars to life, my determination solidifying into an unbreakable resolve. I won't let Mara down. I can't. She's more than just our mission; she's become a part of us, a beacon of hope in a world that's been nothing but cruel.

"Let's end this," I say, my voice a low growl.

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