Lycan King’s Captives novel Chapter 14

Days in the dungeon meld together into an endless, torturous nightmare, punctuated only by the gnawing hunger that twists my insides into knots, the thirst that burns my dry throat. By the third day, my body screams for sustenance, my throat parched, and my lips cracked and bleeding. I’m filthy and freezing. While the pain from the mate bond is like a thousand knives stabbing into my heart, only adding to the agony I am already in.

My thoughts swirl around me like a tornado, a storm of fear and confusion. Is Xandros truly going to let me waste a way down here? Has he forgotten me already? Does his bond not scream out in agony, as mine does? Each moment stretches into an eternity, despair wrapping its icy fingers around my soul, choking me with its suffocating grip.

Suddenly, the sound of the door creaking open shatters the silence I’ve been trapped in for days and I scramble to the far corner of the cell, trembling with fear, wondering if this is when I die. Panic grips me like a vice, and I brace myself for whatever fresh horror awaits. Then, Xandros’s scent reaches me, and my heart lurches in my chest. My bond crying out in relief. He’s come to release me; he’s finally seen reason.

He steps into the dungeon, carrying a tray laden with food and a jug of water. His eyes once filled with warmth, now look upon me with disbelief and horror at my pitiful state as I stare up at him. His gaze sweeps around the cell, taking in the squalor, and he turns to the guard who accompanied him.

“No blankets?” he asks, his voice tight with anger. The guard takes a hesitant step away from him, Xandros’s deadly aura filling the cold space, making the air chillier than it was a second ago.

“Your mother said no one was allowed in or out,” the guard explains, his voice quivering.

“What about feeding her?” Xandros questions, his frustration boiling over, and the veins in his neck press under his skin as his eyes blaze.

The guard shakes his head, unable to meet his gaze. “You mean she hasn’t eaten?” Xandros’s eyes narrow, and the guard shakes his head once more. Xandros growls, snatching the keys from the guard and passing him the tray.

As Xandros steps into the cell, I rush toward him, desperate for the comfort of his touch, his scent, anything to stop the burning cold ache of the bond. Like frostbite, it burns my soul.

As the day turns to night, sleep eludes me once again, my body aching from the cold unforgiving floor, and sores taint my skin from the abrasiveness of the rough ground. My face, though thankfully no longer burning from the slashes, is still marred and rough around the edges. Staring at the barred window, I can tell it’s snowing outside because a small pile of snow has gathered on the floor under the window. Desperate for water, I grab my jug and crawl to it. I scoop some of the snow into my jug, praying it will melt and provide me with a few sips.

I huddle in the corner, my teeth chattering, and I’m shivering uncontrollably from the freezing cold. My heart aches with the pain of betrayal, and the overwhelming feeling of helplessness washes over me like a tidal wave. The abandonment of my mate, the harsh treatment from his family, and the uncertainty of my future all weigh heavily on my mind, crushing me painfully.

My thoughts drift to Xandros, and I wonder if he feels any guilt about leaving me like this. Does the bond between him and me not cause him pain, as it does me? The unanswered questions and the lack of connection to him leave me feeling even more lost and alone.

As I curl up tighter, trying to preserve any remaining warmth, the cold seeps into my bones, leaving me shivering and weak. My soul feels shattered, and the depressing darkness of the dungeon only heightens the misery that has settled over me like a blanket.