Page 21 of His to Break
I can’t let this continue; I need to rein her in before it spirals beyond control.
“Follow my lead,” I murmur just above a whisper before slipping out into view as casually as possible while maintaining our cover in shadow.
The two dark elves stroll past us without noticing our presence—yet—but every moment is fraught with tension; their laughter echoes around us like knives slicing through darkness. Once they're out of earshot, I turn to Kara.
“We’re not murderers,” I remind her sternly but quietly enough not to attract attention again.
She smirks at me then—fiery defiance shining in those wild eyes—as if she’s testing whether my words hold any weight against this new hunger for power brewing within her.
“Not yet.”
This isn’t just reckless ambition anymore; it feels like an awakening—and one that could spell doom for both of us if we aren’t careful about where we tread next.
It doesn't take long for them to come knocking.
The dark elves drag us into a dimly lit chamber, their expressions cold and calculating. Shadows dance across the walls, flickering like the dying embers of a fire. My heart races, tension coiling in my gut as I scan the room for potential escape routes.
A dark elf with silver hair steps forward, his eyes narrowing at Kara. I can see it—the flicker of recognition mixed with suspicion. He takes in her glowing skin and the unsettling confidence radiating from her like an aura. The dead dark elf lies forgotten in the hallway, but his presence lingers, thickening the air between us.
“What happened here?” he demands, voice dripping with authority.
Kara opens her mouth, but I can’t let her speak. I step in front of her, my face impassive as I meet the leader’s gaze head-on. “I killed him,” I declare firmly, channeling all my resolve into my words. “The dark elf attacked her first. I was there.”
His eyes narrow further, skepticism playing across his features as he studies me. A brief silence stretches out like a taut string ready to snap.
“Do you think you can fool me?” he sneers.
I hold my ground despite the creeping pain that begins to radiate from my chest—a cruel reminder of the contract binding me to this fate. “Do you really think a slave could do that to one of your kind?” My voice cuts through the air. “Even without my power, my strength is unmatched.”
The leader's gaze flickers over to Kara again before settling back on me, doubt warring with his arrogance. Behind him, other dark elves exchange glances filled with uncertainty; they’ve never seen a human so empowered or audacious.
He raises his hand slowly—invoking the contract’s magic—and pain lances through me like white-hot fire. I drop to one knee, gritting my teeth against the urge to scream. It feels as though chains are tightening around my chest; it’s both familiar and infuriating.
Kara gasps beside me but doesn't reach for me—perhaps sensing that any show of weakness might lead them to pounce on our vulnerability.
“I swear,” I grunt through clenched teeth, pushing against the searing agony coursing through my body. “I killed that dark elf.” Each word becomes an effort, but they’re laced with truth; there's no way she could’ve done this alone—not yet.
“Do you think I would lie? You’ve seen what I'm capable of.” My breath hitches as another wave of pain hits me like a punch to the gut—but I force myself to keep speaking. “You don’t need proof; look at her! She's a human!"
The dark elf leader's expression shifts—surprise dances in his eyes before he forces it down into contempt once more. Yet there's hesitation now among his followers; they know better than to disregard strength when it’s standing right before them.
He lowers his hand slowly but doesn’t dismiss us entirely just yet. The tension remains taut as bowstring while he weighs our fates against one another—a mix of concern and intrigue playing out across their faces.
“Release them,” he finally commands, albeit reluctantly.
I feel weight lift slightly from my chest as they let us go but know we’re still caught in this web—every glance exchanged tells me that our window is closing fast. They watch us closely now; Kara's reckless actions have drawn far too much attention for comfort.
As we exit into another corridor—the air heavier now—I turn to Kara who stands rigid beside me. “You need to be more careful,” I hiss under my breath while keeping an eye on our surroundings.
Her expression flickers between defiance and confusion—an intoxicating mix that only heightens my frustration. “They wouldn’t have believed you if they thought it was all on me,” she argues quietly but fiercely.
“Perhaps not,” I say sharply, leaning closer so only she can hear me over our footsteps echoing against stone walls. “But they’re looking at you now—at what you’re becoming—and if we don’t move quickly…”
Kara nods slightly, determination hardening her features—but there’s still an ember of recklessness burning behind those fierce eyes. She looks alive in a way that frightens and fascinates me all at once—a double-edged sword ready to cut deep if wielded carelessly.
“We need a plan.”
18
