For a person they didn’t even know?
Or maybe for a greater purpose than they’d ever been a part of.
“It’s just in there,” Timber pointed to a large oak door. “His office, and behind his office, the ten are chained to the wall, their blood slowly draining from their bodies, though every so often the process is stopped so that they retain their power.”
I shivered as Timber opened the door to Bannik’s office.
It looked… normal. With leather chairs, a large desk and dark velvet curtains.
Once I stepped over the threshold, I was hit with a surge of Alex’s scent, his power. I wanted him so badly.
But I wanted all of him.
His body was beautiful yes —but it was nothing compared to the heart that it kept within.
“Poetic.” Bannik’s voice sounded, and then a wall turned, revealing a basement-like setting. Ten huge men were chained to a cement wall. They had black and red hair just like Bannik.
And they looked pissed.
Like so pissed I was afraid to look at any one of them since the sheer power of what they were was like getting hit over the head with a blunt object.
Each of them was in armor with a tree etched in the middle.
And each man had a sword at his side that was just out of reach.
“Let them go,” I heard myself saying.
One of the men, the middle one, smiled weakly at me and whispered in a language I didn’t understand, the rest of the men laughed loudly.
Bannik swore. “She is weak. Humans and elves alike — so weak compared to those who watch.”
Cassius stepped forward, his wings spread in vivid color, each feather standing at attention, ready to strike. “Bannik, stop this now.”
“I see my brother left a parting gift. I hope it doesn’t hurt too badly when Alex rips them from your body
.”
“He won’t,” I said in a strong voice.
“Oh, my dear, but he will.” Bannik smiled. “Alex, come here, would you?”
A crack sounded as Alex dropped from the ceiling, like literally fell from wherever he’d been perched, watching, waiting. His eyes flashed between black and his normal blue, his hair was still on fire. It burned my eyes to look at him.
He was sheer beauty.
“They all want you.” Bannik sniffed the air. “Every being that has breath in its body — wants you.”
Alex took a step toward me.
I held out my hand.
He frowned while Bannik snorted in disgust.
“The Alex you knew is long gone.” Bannik’s low voice cut through the air like a sword. I hated that I didn’t recognize the look on Alex’s face, that the man I’d loved all those years ago was trapped behind whatever surge of power had overtaken him. “And once he’s finished killing all of you — he’ll give me his blood, blood that can shape shift into anything — and I’ll drain my brothers. Once and for all.”
“So dramatic,” Mason whispered.
Ethan let out a low chuckle.