Page 45 of Shadowlands Sector 3

Chapter 14

Meira

Aclick from the door into the dungeon wrenches my attention away from Dušan. With it, I stiffen, grasping on to the metal bars, straining to see who’s entering.

Mad storms inside, his gaze sweeping from Dušan to me, then he lets out a loud exhale. His smirk infuriates me. “My men told me they caught you, but I didn’t believe them. I had to come and see you for myself.” The tight curl of his mouth covers me in goosebumps—and not the good kind.

I shuffle backward in my cell, terrified of what this crazy man has in store for me. The look in his eyes belongs to someone who cares about only one thing: himself. And I am merely a stepping stone to him, a way to get an upper hand in this twisted world.

“You’re a fucking monster,” I cry out. “Let us go!”

He ignores me and steers over to stand outside Dušan’s prison, three guards following closely.

As one of them opens his prison door, a flare of panic spikes through me like razor blades. I suck in each racing breath and drag myself to my feet.

I stare at them, my eyes pricking, because I’m not stupid and know exactly what’s happening here.

Mad has me, so what need does he have of Dušan? Leaving the Alpha alive is a danger that will have Mad looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life.

Two guards approach my soulmate and take an arm each. Dušan doesn’t fight them… four against one, he won’t win. So he willingly stands up, holding his chin high, his lips tight.

I choke on a desperate breath, drawing their attention. But I only have time for Dušan. I look into his eyes, trying to remember how to speak while terror climbs through me, building slowly like a tempest. It comes faster and faster, my chin trembling. All I see in return is a man swallowed up by a destiny forced upon him. The struggle on his face to be brave for me shatters me.

Now I see why he doesn’t put up a fight. So the last thing I see of him isn’t a panicked man, but the fated mate I fell in love with.

Someone strong.

Confident.

Stubborn.

But beneath the layers is a man who’s dying to keep it together.

A tear slides down my cheek. “You can’t do this.” I gasp each word, glaring at Mad.

“And why is that?” Mad asks, like he has every intention to of giving a chance to convince him to save my soulmate. But he’s placating me, humiliating me.

I wipe the shedding tears with the heel of my hands and square my shoulders. “Because you are a piece of shit, and you’ll never be anything else compared to Dušan. You use bribery and fear. You’re weak, and I will murder you the second I get a chance.”

Rage bubbles through me. My wolf sits in my chest, pushing and pushing for release. But not yet. When the time is right, I will slaughter him.

Mad rolls his eyes at me, half-chortling. “Big words from someone who will soon be nothing but a rat in an experiment.”

I shudder at the thought, at the inferno burning through my veins at this asshole who doesn’t deserve to live.

“It’ll be all right,” Dušan reassures me. He always puts me first. Except today, that’s the last thing I want.

Death has walked into his cell to collect him, and all he cares about is my wellbeing. “Mad,” he says. “If you still retain a thread of brotherly love for me, then you will promise me to not hurt Meira. Give me that as my last wish.”

My knees buckle under me, my chest cleaving in half. This can’t be happening.

Mad responds to Dušan with a threatening growl. “Did you show me mercy when you tossed me into the dungeon, when you stripped my title in front of others? You deserve death, and I’m going to make sure you suffer while I watch. And as you take your last dying breath, it will be my face you see smiling.”

Dušan’s expression darkens, his shoulders curving forward, and his wolf growls through his chest.

“You fucking asshole!” I cry out.

Mad simply laughs, and he makes me so mad, I want to scream. Fury battles inside me, an explosion of heartache and frustration at the thought of being stuck in here.

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