Page 22 of Beginnings

“Ember?” I tried not to choke on my fury.

Her green eyes widened, tears lining her eyes, the expression on her face something I’d never forget.

“Connor?” she whispered, her voice breaking. She swallowed hard and deep furrows creased her brow. As if it was too painful to look at me, she dragged her gaze to Rawson instead.

Perversion chuckled. “Looks like you’re in the doghouse, Maxwell. Did you fuck this one and leave her? She looks pissed at you.” He sneered and swung her towards Rawson then back to me. Ember whimpered. I growled. That movement must have jarred her damaged shoulder, but she bit her lip. She’d never scream for him.

“Let’s see. Who shall we put her with? Maybe the fae would like a taste. I hear they like to take the will of human females and use them as slaves. I wonder what he’d do with a shifter?” He licked his lips in anticipation. “I’d like to see him in action. Is your dick blue too?” Walker stared at Ember implacably before that cold gaze lifted to Perversion. Something feral flashed in Walker's eyes. Perversion quickly stepped back. It was apparent he wasn’t sure he could take on this fae and win. “Nah, you’re right.” He grinned at Walker. “You’re too important to let escape. I’ll keep her with me.” And with that, he swung her against the wall beside my cell and shoved his groin into hers. The pig was tall enough he needed to bend his knees for positioning. He licked up the side of her face. “Mmm, she tastes so good. I can see why she’s driving you mad.” He slid a look my way before he grunted, pulled his pelvis back, and slammed into her again.

“Finish what you’re doing with the she-wolf, and get your arse back upstairs. I’m taking the car. Transfer is tonight, so I’ll be back in an hour.” Misery jogged up the steps.

Perversion didn’t even react. He just kept looking at me the whole time he ground on Ember. My blood boiled. “I’ll kill you.” My growling rattled the bars of each cell, sending dust cascading from the roof. He grinned and bit her neck, pushing on her injured shoulder as he did.

Ember cried out then went lax, drooping in his arms.

I roared, my fingers curling around the bars. I strained, pulling at them, desperate to get to her. There was a cracking sound the harder I pulled.

“Fuck me, you really do want some of this don’t you?” Perversion crooned, eyeing the bars with glee.

Vice stood with his arms crossed, watching. The fucker wasn’t going to stop this anytime soon. Did he get off on watching rape, too? Occasionally the other guards stopped Perversion from going too far—but not always.

I forced myself to release the bars and prowled to the ones nearest to him. An icy void filled my chest. I knew precisely what it meant. If I had to break these walls down with my bare hands, he was gonna die. “You gonna stand for that, Firecracker?” I stared at her face, which he’d turned towards me. Her scrunched up eyes snapped open, and she glared at me, fire sparking in their emerald depths. “That’s it.” I willed her to fight.

Perversion pulled back and then thrust against her again. Ember waited until he pulled away, and shifted sideways. When he drove forward once more, she rammed her knee skillfully into his groin, then slammed her forehead into his face. Perversion yelped and sagged forward. With a yell, Ember rammed him with her good shoulder, hooking a foot behind his ankles and sending him toppling towards me. He fell at my feet, only the cell bars separating us. Without hesitation, I reached through and grabbed his neck. He was still stunned, but wouldn’t be for long. Damn, it was good to get my hands around his throat. I squeezed, helpless to do anything to aid Ember other than stop this bastard ever touching her again. All the frustration and anger at what these men had done centered in my grip. I squeezed even harder, a guttural roar escaping my throat.

Walker watched unblinkingly.

Vice leaped forward, his hands outstretched to grab Ember, but she was quicker. She spun around him and landed a kick in his kidneys. An agonised cry escaped her. Her chest rose and fell hard, and her eyes watered as she gripped her injured shoulder.

“Firecracker!”

Vice twisted and caught her with a punch to her belly. She fell to her knees, coughing and spluttering. The next kick slammed into her chest, and she doubled over. For the first time in my life I froze. Her gasping breaths echoed through me and blood surged through my veins, roaring in my ears. It blinded me to anything but getting to her. My wolf snarled and ripped at my insides, caged by the silver collar. His howls fuelled my own wrath to the point where I snapped. My fingers clenched tighter around Perversion's throat. A wet sound bubbled from him as I ripped his flesh apart with my bare hands.

Vice prowled behind Ember staring right at me as he took out a knife. He moved up quietly, a grin on his face, and raised the knife. The heat in my blood turned to ice. “Don’t you do it!”

Vice grinned wider and wound Ember’s hair gently around his fist, forcing her head up and exposing the creamy length of her throat. Her eyes were closed, breath blowing from her nose and between her clenched teeth.

I shook Perversion’s blood from my hand and rattled the bars again. “No! You kill her, and I will destroy you!”

“What the fuck is happening!?” Owen roared. The other alphas were baying, demanding to know, too. Walker stared at me in that dead way of his. I ignored them all, my attention fixed on Ember. I’d failed her. And right now, I realised how much. She was mine; my mate and now I had to watch her die because I’d failed…

Vice pressed the blade to Ember’s throat. Blood bloomed where he cut into her skin.

I swallowed, pain tearing at my heart.

Then her beautiful eyes opened. Flames.

I almost sobbed. I knew Ember was different; so did she. The silver collar had imprisoned her wolf, but Doherty had no idea about Ember’s other gift. She was scared of it; I knew she was. She had no influence over it, and it only ever surfaced when her emotions were out of control. I had no idea what it was, but, right now I didn’t care, not if it could help her escape this hell hole.

Her burning gaze held mine. But then the flames stuttered, and she blinked rapidly, shaking her head, her eyes gleaming with moisture.

“Use it. Save yourself and get out of here.” I had no idea what damage her fire could bring down on us all, but I was willing to bet she would survive it. To me that was all that mattered.

Vice pushed the blade into Ember’s neck. Her soft creamy skin split open, her blood spilling; enough that I was sure she would die. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. She stared directly at me, those flames reappearing.

“Do it!” I yelled.

She screamed, and yanked her arms from behind her back. She’d melted the cuffs. Her hands glowed like hot coals. She grabbed one of his wrists and pushed against his face with her other hand. Vice screamed and dropped the blade. It clattered to the ground. She twisted, opening the wound on her neck further, but it didn’t seem to bother her. Vice’s skin sizzled, the stench of burning flesh filling the air. She grabbed his clothes, and they ignited, flames licking over his body and setting his hair alight.

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