Page 174 of Moonlit Fate

The words ignited something fierce within me. I twisted against his hold, pivoting on my heel and throwing my elbow back hard. It connected with his jaw with a solid crack that echoed in the small space. His head snapped to the side, and for a second, his grip loosened.

I sprinted for the door. The cold stone floor was cut into my bare feet, but I barely noticed. All I saw was the light creeping through the cracks, the promise of freedom, so close I could almost feel the forest air on my skin.

The door was just ahead. I was close, so close. But the guard was on me in a second, his vise-like grip on my waist. I kicked back with my free leg, trying to break his hold. It was no use.

He dragged me away from my only chance at freedom, each pull a crushing weight on my spirit. Struggle as I might, the guard’s grasp was iron-tight, unyielding. The stone floor scraped against my skin, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the despair that gripped my heart.

“Stop!”

When the door slammed shut, the cold, hard reality set in. I was trapped once more. My magic sparked feebly, and I yearned for the wild storm of it in my blood. I pressed my back against the cold stone, trying to ground myself, to find some semblance of stability.

“Focus,” I muttered, closing my eyes. “Shield.”

My hands shook as I placed them palm-down on the floor. Energy surged, but the familiar pathways to my memories, to the mental cabinets where I stored my knowledge, were blocked.

“Come on,” I whispered. “You can do this.”

I envisioned a bubble around me, a shield to keep out the fear and despair. It wavered, translucent and fragile, but it was there. For a moment, I allowed myself to believe that I could regain control, that I wasn’t completely powerless.

I focused on the rise and fall of my chest. The trembling in my limbs subsided slightly, the frantic pounding in my chest easing into a steadier rhythm.

“Control,” I repeated over and over, like a mantra. It was all I had left in the suffocating darkness of my cell.

The chill that crept into my bones matched the hollow dread inside me. My breaths came out in shallow gasps that frosted the air. I had been so close to freedom, but it was ripped away, leaving me with nothing but these four walls that made up my prison.

“Damn it.” The darkness felt alive, a silent observer to my misery. I could almost hear it mocking me, whispering of my helplessness.

I wiped my eyes, angry at the tears that betrayed my resolve. I thought of Atticus then, the way his presence alone could make me feel like I wasn’t just some caged creature.

He didn’t know where I was and what had happened to me. Our plans, our dreams, all those whispered promises, seemed so far away now.

The sobs came hard and fast, choking me. Atticus’s face filled my mind, and I felt the ghost of his strong arms around me, saw the tattoos that told the tale of his history. I had pushed away the one person who saw me for who I truly was, and we were just reconnecting. Now, the biting loneliness reminded me of my foolishness.

“Stupid,” I gasped out between cries. “I’m so stupid.”

I curled up tighter against the wall, knees to my chest. Every moment without Atticus was a lesson in pain, proving thatthings were worse off when we were apart. I wasn’t any stronger alone; I was just emptier.

The darkness didn’t answer, didn’t comfort. It was just there, like the truth I couldn’t escape. I thought about Atticus’s fight, his defiance against any chains that tried to hold him. Here I was, breaking under the weight of my own choices.

“Atticus, I’m so sorry,” I whispered into the void, but he wasn’t there to hear it.

My heart ached for more than myself. For the family I wanted to protect, for the pack that depended on us both. Their suffering added to my guilt.

“Forgive me,” I sobbed, the cold stones swallowing the words. Alone in the dark, with only my regrets for company, I cried until my tears ran dry.

The door swung open, and I squinted at the opening. What fresh hell was coming for me now? It didn’t take long for me to make out the familiar form and dread pooled in the pit of my stomach.

Caius.

The shadows in the cellar seemed to curl around him as he stepped inside. A chill crept up my spine. Caius had that effect—cold, dark, and too close for comfort. The weak light from the lantern he carried wavered, like it was scared of him.

“Did you enjoy your little exercise in futility?” His amused voice slithered through the darkness. I didn’t respond, but met his gaze with a glare that I hoped conveyed my hatred.

“Don’t worry, dear. That guard will no longer be servicing you. He has met his most unfortunate end at the hand of my shadows.” A cruel smile played on his lips. “Piece of shit was of no use to me. Now, I get to see your pretty little face more often.”

I kept my mouth shut. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“Perhaps, if you behave yourself, I’ll upgrade your room to my personal quarters.” He looked around, his lip curling in disgust as if the dirt on the floor offended him.

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