Page 104 of Chosen Destiny

Dina threw back her head and screamed, the sound of pain slicing through us.

“Dina,” I said, unsure what to do. I reached out to touch her, but Bodey pushed my hand down.

You can’t risk it.Bodey’s jaw twitched.She isn’t using magic. This is painful for her.

The glowing stopped, and Dina slumped against the door, which opened. Bodey caught her as she collapsed.

When I looked inside the open doorway, the sight and stench froze me.

This was a hell I’d never imagined, and again, Kel had proved she was one sick bitch.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

The smellof piss and feces hit my nose, and vomit lodged in my throat. It burned like hell, but I swallowed, not wanting to add to the horrendous stench.

The garage had cement walls, and two barred cells stood across from us with a solid wall between them. One was vacant, but the other one held someone. A figure crouched in the corner, hiding its face. The only evidence that it was human was the clothes I could see and the lack of hair on the arms.

Bodey gasped and gagged. “This is where they held me.”

The cells’ floors were covered in straw, but it was soiled and, from what I could tell, had been for a while.

White-hot rage boiled in my veins.Thiswas where she’d kept Bodey the entire time he was away from me. I had a hard time believing Kel ever set foot in this place.I’m going to kill her.

Dina straightened and stepped back outside as she placed a shaky hand over her nose as if that would filter the air. “Witches spelled this place so tightly that no one could’ve breached it.”

“Then how did you get us in?” I stepped inside, though my wolf whimpered. My eyes locked on the person in the cell, who I thought was a man. Kel wouldn’t keep just anyone alive in here. He had to have a purpose, if only to use against her enemies.

“I… I don’tknow.” Dina’s voice shook. “I touched it, and the magic funneled into me.”

What are you doing?Bodey linked as he snagged my arm, tugging me back toward him.We need to find Kel.

I know.I stared into his eyes.But we can’t leave without freeing this prisoner. If someone had stumbled onto you like this, I’d have wanted them to help you.

His face softened.Fine, but I have no fucking clue where the keys are.He prowled across the room and stopped at the cell door.

The man’s head lifted, and I froze. His long, dark, greasy hair clung to him, the frayed ends hitting past his butt. Dirt and blood coated the exposed part of his skin, which looked unnaturally pale. His beard hung past his stomach and had sticks, dirt, and blood stuck and crusted in it. There was no question he’d been here for a long time.

You didn’t mention him before,I linked to Bodey.

I didn’t know he was here. Most of the time in here, I was unconscious, and when they moved me, they put something over my head.He shivered.And the stench—I couldn’t smell anything but piss and shit.

I’m so sorry you went through that.I tore my gaze from the man. The room held nothing beyond the two cells. No table, no keys hanging anywhere. It was like no one but this man was ever in this room, except for Bodey’s small stint.I was hoping there’d be an obvious way to let him out.

It’s not your fault.Bodey reached for the cell door and yanked on the bars.Don’t feel guilty for a second.

The man inside hunkered down even more, his bottom lip quivering. “I haven’t done anything. Please, don’t take me to her.” His voice was gravelly, like he hadn’t spoken in forever.

My heart clenched. Whoever this poor man was, he had suffered for far too long. We had to get him out of there.

I studied the cell door and noticed something odd. “There’s no lock.” I pointed to the smooth place where there was merely a handle. “It has to be open.”

“Magic,” Dina rasped, the sound odd.

I spun around and saw the glazed look in her eyes. It wasn’t as intense as when she’d run past the guards who were shooting at her, but there was a spark in her eyes, and her skin shimmered like when she’d had magic.

“I didn’t realize that was possible, but it makes sense.” Bodey pulled on the door again with all his strength. “I never saw anyone with a key, but they always knocked me out before unlocking the door.”

Dina came to the door, her hands outstretched like before, and murmured, “I need to touch it.”

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