Chapter TwoThe Captive
849 Words
Pain bloomed at the back of Elara’s skull as she came to disoriented and cold. The first thing she noticed was the smellearth smoke and something rawer wilder. A heavy scent that pressed against her senses and made her stomach twist.
She was underground.
A dim fire crackled somewhere nearby casting shifting shadows across rough stone walls. Chains clinked softly as she movedand froze.
Her wrists were shackled the cuffs etched with strange runes that pulsed faintly against her skin.
She jerked against them testing their strength. Ironand something more. They held fast.
Footsteps echoed slow and deliberate.
She looked upand met the wolf’s eyes.
He was human now. Mostly.
His frame filled the narrow cave opening broad-shouldered and deadly. Black hair hung in damp strands around his face. His shirt clung to his body torn and bloodstained revealing cuts that were already knitting closed.
His eyes weren’t human though.
They gleamed with an unnatural light a fierce hunger she didn’t understandand didn’t want to.
"Let me go " she rasped her voice hoarse.
He crouched before her movements fluid predatory. His head tilted slightly studying her like a puzzle he wasn’t sure whether to solve or devour.
"You felt it too " he said voice low. "When the Stone cracked."
Elara said nothing. She refused to give him more than he already had.
He smiled thena slow grim curve of his mouth that sent a chill through her.
"You don't know what you are do you?"
"I'm human " she snapped yanking against the chains.
"No " he said softly almost kindly. "You're not."
The fire popped sending a shower of sparks into the dark. For a moment Elara thought she saw something in his expressionpity maybe. Or regret.
But then it was gone replaced by the cold certainty of a predator with his prey.
"You carry old blood " he said. "Blood that can bind... or break."
Her stomach twisted harder. She thought of her mother dead and buried beyond the Ravencross borders. Thought of the warnings she'd whispered as she died.
Stay away from the ruins.
Stay away from the wolves.
"You've made a mistake " Elara said forcing her voice steady. "If you let me go now no one will come after you."
The man chuckleda deep broken sound.
"No one’s coming " he said. "They wouldn’t dare."
His hand moved thenswift and suregrasping her chin and tilting her face up. His touch burned not from heat but from something older. A pull that tugged at the edges of her mind.
Her heart hammered against her ribs.
"I don't need your permission " he said. "The bond is already starting."
Elara’s blood ran cold.
Bond?
She slammed her head forward catching him off guard. His nose cracked under the impact and he staggered back snarling. Blood dripped from his nostrils.
The chains rattled as she surged to her feet ignoring the pain in her wrists.
But before she could run he was on her again.
Faster than a man should move. Stronger than any beast.
He pinned her against the stone wall one arm braced against her throatnot choking but caging.
"You’re fire " he said his voice rough almost reverent. "I should have known."
She struggled kicking out but he absorbed the blows like they were nothing.
"You can fight me all you want " he said his forehead pressing against hers. "But it's too late."
Elara’s vision blurred at the edges. Magic coiled in the air between them thick and humming. It crawled along her skin seeped into her bones.
Her mark was awakeningthe hidden birthright she had spent her life denying.
He saw it too.
A thin jagged line of silver light flared along her collarbone forming an ancient sigil.
The wolf smileda real smile this time full of something dangerous and alive.
"You were made for this " he whispered.
"No " she choked out. "I won't be yours."
He stepped back then releasing her so suddenly she almost fell.
"You already are."
She backed away until the chains jerked her short.
He wiped the blood from his nose watching her with an unreadable expression.
"My name is Asher Vale " he said. "I am your king."
"And you " he added voice dropping to a growl "are the only thing standing between me and death."
Elara's mind raced pieces clicking into place.
The cracked Stone. The cursed heir.
The blood vow.
He needed a mate.
He needed her.
The ground beneath her shivered as distant howls echoed through the tunnels.
Asher's eyes darkened.
"They’ve found us " he said.
"Who?" Elara demanded.
Asher reached for her snapping the chains with a brutal tug that sent shards of metal flying.
"Enemies " he said. "Rivals who want your blood spilled before the bond can seal."
He caught her as she stumbled lifting her effortlessly over his shoulder.
Elara kicked and punched but it was useless.
"Put me down!" she shouted.
"No " Asher said grimly. "You’re mine now. And I’ll kill every damn thing in this forest before I lose you."
- Writer
