Chapter 3-Thechains
1301 Words
The fire in the hearth had burned down to embers, casting flickering shadows across the room. I lay on the narrow cot in the corner, my body tense and my mind racing. Evander was asleep on the massive bed, his breathing deep and even. This was my chance.
He had fallen asleep, I had to take the chance to run, or else I might never be free.
I had waited hours for him to fall asleep, every second stretching into an eternity. I was unchained and free enough to move, but the room was large and Evander was a werewolf, he would hear every sound, I had to make sure I made it to the door without making a single sound. I moved slowly, carefully, every sound magnified in the silence of the room.
The door was only a few steps away. If I could just reach it, I could disappear into the labyrinth of the fortress and find a way out. I was dressed as a slave already, I didn't think anyone would want to stop me or believe that I was a fae unless they looked too closely. Besides, I didn't care how dangerous it was—anything was better than being his slave.
My bare feet touched the cold stone floor, and I winced at the chill. I crept toward the door, my eyes fixed on Evander's still form. He didn't stir.
My hand closed around the door handle, and I turned it slowly, praying it wouldn't creak. The door opened a fraction, and a rush of cold air hit my face. I slipped through the gap, my heart racing with hope.
But that hope was short-lived.
A hand clamped down on my arm, yanking me back into the room. I stumbled, my back hitting the wall as Evander loomed over me, his blue eyes blazing with fury. How? How did he get in front of me so fast?! How was he right in front of me?
"Did you really think you could escape?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
My breath came in ragged gasps, my chest heaving with fear and anger. "Let me go!"
His grip tightened, his fingers digging into my arm. "You're even more foolish than I thought. Do you have any idea how dangerous it is out there? The lycans in this fortress would tear you apart before you made it ten steps."
"I'd rather die than stay here with you!" I spat, my eyes blazing with defiance.
Evander's lips curled into a cruel smile. "You're not going anywhere, princess." He dragged me back to the bed and shoved me onto it. "I warned you what would happen if you disobeyed me."
I scrambled to my feet, my hands balled into fists. "You are a wicked evil man," I said, my voice trembling with rage. "I was given to you as a bride, and you treat me like a slave!"
Evander laughed, the sound harsh and mocking. "A bride? You think I would ever marry fae scum like you?"
The words cut deeper than any blade. My vision blurred with tears, but I refused to let them fall. Instead, I lunged at him, my hand flying out to slap him across the face. I had slapped him before I realised the consequences of my actions, before I remembered that I was not slapping any ordinary man, but an alpha. A ruthless one at that.
The sound echoed through the room, and for a moment, there was stunned silence. Evander's head snapped to the side, and when he turned back to me, his expression was dark with anger.
"You've got spirit, I'll give you that," he said, his voice dangerously calm. He grabbed me by the shoulders and pushed me down onto the bed, pinning me beneath him. "But don't mistake my restraint for weakness. I don't beat women, but you're testing my patience."
I struggled beneath him, my fists pounding against his chest, but he was immovable, his chest felt like it was made from steel. "Let me go!" I screamed.
Evander leaned down, his face inches from mine, I could feel his hot breath on mine. That close to him, I realised he was very handsome, the only problem was that he was ruthless. "You brought this on yourself," he said. He released me and stood, crossing the room to a chest in the corner. He returned with a length of chain, the metal glinting in the dim light.
My eyes widened in fear. "No," I whispered, shaking my head. "You can't—"
But Evander didn't listen. He grabbed my wrist and fastened the chain around it, the other end secured to the bedpost. "You'll stay here until you learn to behave," he said, his tone final.
I yanked at the chain, but it was no use. I was trapped. Maybe I shouldn't have tried to escape then, it was foolish of me to think I could escape from him, from such beast of a man. He was too strong, too fast and I had no powers and I was no match for him.
Evander stepped back, his expression unreadable. "Sleep well, princess."
He left the room, the door slamming shut behind him. I collapsed onto his bed, my body trembling with rage and despair. I pulled at the chain until my wrist was raw, but it didn't budge.
Hours passed, and the room grew colder. I curled into a ball, my mind racing with thoughts of revenge. I would kill him. I would find a way to make him pay for everything he had done to me.
The door creaked open, and Evander returned. He didn't speak, simply lay down on the bed and closed his eyes. Within minutes, his breathing deepened, and he was asleep.
I watched him, my eyes burning with hatred. I vowed silently that I would see him dead, no matter what it took.
Exhaustion finally claimed me, and I fell into a dreamless slumber, the chain still heavy around my wrist.
............
I woke to the sound of a woman's voice, sharp and commanding. I blinked, my vision blurry as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. The chain around my wrist were still there, a heavy reminder of my captivity.
"Evander," the woman said, her tone dripping with familiarity. "You're still as reckless as ever."
I turned my head and saw a tall, striking woman standing by the bed. She had dark hair that fell in waves over her shoulders, and her eyes were a piercing amber. She leaned down, her lips brushing against Evander's in a kiss that was far too intimate for my comfort.
Evander stirred, his eyes opening slowly. "Maeve," he said, his voice rough with sleep. "What are you doing here?"
Maeve straightened, her gaze flicking to me. "I heard you had a new pet. I had to come and see her," she said, her lips curling into a smirk. "Is this the fae princess they brought you?"
Evander sat up, running a hand through his hair. "She is."
Maeve laughed, the sound cold and mocking. "And you've got her chained up like a dog? How dramatic."
I glared at her, my cheeks burning with humiliation. "I'm not a dog," I snapped.
Maeve's smirk widened. "Oh, she's got fire. I like that. We should put it out soon. We don't want her getting the wrong idea." She turned back to Evander. "Why don't you let her loose? Let her mingle with the other slaves. She'll learn how to behave soon enough."
Evander considered this for a moment, his silver eyes narrowing as he looked at me. "You think that's a good idea?"
"Of course," Maeve said, her tone light. "What's the worst that could happen? She's powerless here."
- Writer
