40

Forty
*Freya*
I peeled my eyes open slowly, wishing all that happened for the past two days had just been a silly dream. That I was still at the crimson palace, flirting with Rafe and playing with Addy. I wouldn’t even mind Kelly’s bitchiness.
But as my eyes got accustomed to the dark cellar room, I knew quite well that it was not a dream as I had hoped. I’d stupidly fled the crimson palace and ventured out into the evil forest where I’d been caught by these horrible people. The guards will be here any minute now. It was either die or allow myself to be taken by an evil Alpha.
I had thought that Rafe was ruthless, maybe even wicked sometimes, but now that I saw what another ruler was like, I appreciated Rafe. I realized that he was actually a good man who cared about his people. He also cared for outsiders too. The hunt was proof of that. I couldn’t believe how much I missed seeing his handsome face.
I needed to get out of here as soon as possible.
As I wandered around the cellar room that looked much like a prison, the scent of damp stone and stale air filling my nostrils. The walls were cold and the floor even colder. I shifted to the corner, shivering from the chill that seeped through my clothes. My hands were as cold as ice, making it hard to wrap my arms around myself for warmth.
The only light came from a small window high up on the wall. It was barely big enough to let in any sunlight, but it was enough to illuminate the pathetic excuse of a bed – the thin wooden thing on the floor, covered in a blanket so threadbare it might as well have been see-through.
As I sat there, the thought of Rafe filled my mind again. He had to come for me. He had to save me from this hellhole before they threw me into the pit of snakes.
I closed my eyes and tried to steady my breathing. I wouldn’t give up. I couldn’t. But as time ticked by, my confidence began to wane. What if he didn’t come? What if he never even knew I was here?
My thoughts turned to our last kiss. The memory of his lips against mine sent a jolt of electricity through my body. His touch had been gentle, yet firm. It had left me wanting more. But that wasn’t all there was to Rafe. He was strong, determined, and fiercely protective of those closest to him. He was an alpha, after all. And while I may not have been at the top of his priority list, surely he would come for me eventually. Right? Except of course he had no single idea of where I had ran to.
My mind kept replaying that kiss over and over again. It was so vivid, so real, that it felt like he was right there with me. And then I thought about what came next: the other girls vying for his attention. How could I have possibly compete with them? My heart ached at the thought of him choosing someone else over me. But I couldn’t let myself dwell on that. Not now. I needed to focus on surviving this ordeal.
Suddenly, I heard hushed footsteps outside my cell door. My heart rate picked up, hope sneaking its way back into my mind. Was this it? Was Rafe finally here to rescue me?
The door creaked open, revealing not Rafe, but one of Zephyr’s guards. He stood there, his expression unreadable. “It’s time,” he said simply, gesturing towards the hallway outside my cell.
I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the fear that was building inside me. This was it. There was no turning back now. Slowly, I got to my feet, my legs shaky beneath me.
The guard led me down a long corridor, torches flickering on the walls casting eerie shadows all around us. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat feeling louder than the last.
Finally, we reached a large wooden door at the end of the hall. The guard paused, his hand resting on the handle. “Are you ready?” he asked, his tone softening ever so slightly.
I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come. “Yes,” I replied, my voice wavering only slightly.
With that, he opened the door, revealing Zephyr’s throne room. The massive space was lit by dozens of candles, their flames dancing in the darkness. A large throne sat at the far end of the room, Zephyr himself perched upon it, his piercing gaze fixed on me. I forced myself to walk forward, my steps measured and deliberate. I refused to let him see how terrified I really was.
As I approached the throne, Zephyr smiled, a cruel look in his eyes. “Welcome, Freya,” he said, his voice smooth and velvety. “I trust your accommodations have been to your liking?”
“If you are talking about the cold lowly cell you dumped me in, no. It has been far from my liking.” I responded with so much contempt.
He threw his head back and laughed out loud. The sound making my blood boil. “Well that is what you get for refusing me, beautiful damsel.”
“You mean refusing to be sexually abused by you?”
The laughter in his eyes died. He glared at me vehemently. I felt good inwardly that I had annoyed the bastard. “You must think you are all that huh?” He taunted. I kept my mouth shut. Answering him would mean giving him an edge over me.
“I am the Alpha of this realm. No one talks to me anyhow.”
I glared at him, my eyes narrowed in defiance. “Let me go,” I spat, my voice laced with venom. “You know I won’t willingly become your woman.”
Zephyr laughed again, the sound jarring and unsettling. “Oh, Freya,” he said, shaking his head. “You are so naive. You think you have a choice in this matter?”
“I’ll never give myself to you,” I retorted, my chin held high. “I’d rather die first.”
That seemed to amuse him even more. “We’ll see about that,” he said, his tone ominous. “Now, tell me, who is this man you’re so in love with?” The guards hadn’t told him I was a candidate of the girls competing to be Rafe’s Queen.
I bit my lip, considering my options. If I told him, he might use that information against me. But if I didn’t, he could easily find out on his own. It was a lose-lose situation. In the end, I decided to hold my tongue. “It’s none of your business,” I replied, my voice steady.
Zephyr’s smile turned predatory. “Ah, but it is,” he insisted. “Because once I find out who he is, I’ll make sure he knows exactly what happened to you.”
I felt a surge of anger course through me. How dare he threaten Rafe like that? But I knew better than to lash out. I had to be smart, to play this game carefully.
“He’ll come for me,” I said, my voice calm and confident. “And when he does, he’ll destroy you and everything you stand for.”
Zephyr scoffed, but there was a hint of doubt in his eyes. “We’ll see about that,” he said again. Then, with a snap of his fingers, two guards appeared behind me.
They grabbed my arms, dragging me backwards towards the door. “No!” I cried out, panic setting in. “You can’t do this! Please!”
The guards continued to pull me away, my struggles growing weaker with each passing second.
As they dragged me out of the throne room, I caught one last glimpse of Zephyr, still seated on his throne, a smug look on his face. And in that moment, I knew I had to find a way out of this. I had to escape, and I had to do it soon.
*****