Page 67 of Howling
If I had any doubt about the council’s involvement, it’s gone now.
Those chains are a staple in Kyperian, often paraded about on the belts of Orion, clanking ominously as the soldiers patrol the cities.
Bellamy goes rigid, tiny scales slotting together across the back of his knuckles at the thought of surrendering. He only had a tiny taste of freedom before it’s being taken away again. A beast can only take so much before their mind just snaps.
I debate the wisdom of fighting once more, wanting to spare him the psychological strain, but the odds are too far out of our favor.
It’s not a gamble that I’m willing to take.
Not to mention, if Bellamy shifts, we could very well find ourselves at the wrong end of a rampaging dragon. If he’s lost to his rage, he might not even recognize us. I can heal a lot ofthings, but I doubt being stomped on by a dragon, torn apart, or swallowed whole are among them.
“We need to bide our time,” I say, trying to reassure him. “I got you out once. I can do it again. Trust me.”
As our jailors approach, a shudder passes through him, and he clenches his jaw so hard that muscles ripple. I step back, bracing myself. If Bellamy can’t contain his dragon, then we need to be ready to fight. A moment later, he turns to look at me with his silver eyes so light that they appear white, and I swallow a gasp to find his beast staring boldly at me.
Snow lightly falls from the sky, frost creeping across the ground as he struggles to remain human. He slowly holds out his arms, never looking away from me as they place the chains back on his wrists. The instant they lock into place, shadows darken his eyes, and the back of my throat aches. Though he lifts his head high, I don’t miss the defeated slump to his shoulders.
It should be a crime for anyone to lock away such a magnificent beast, and I’m horrified that I ever played a part in his surrender.
Every second must feel like sheer torture.
The other two men swallow their rage and allow themselves to be chained. When the manacles clamp shut over their wrists, their fangs recede, their claws shrink. I don’t miss the way their eyes flare wide in panic before the color dulls and they lose their connection to their beasts.
The cuffs not only block them from shifting, they also silence their alpha abilities.
They are virtually as weak as a human.
I’m not sure if I just saved their lives or doomed them to a hellish existence.
Either way, our course is set.
I just pray I made the right decision.
CHAPTER TWENTY
FRANKIE
The sight of the men draped in chains guts me to my core, an image that will forever haunt my nightmares. I’m not sure how they will ever forgive me, especially when I can’t forgive myself for dragging them into this mess.
I’m so horrified by my actions that I barely notice the cuffs locking around my own wrists. A heavy weight drags on my arms, spreading through my body until a crushing pressure threatens to drop me to my knees. My body feels too tight, like I’m being crammed into a cell that’s too small.
Just when I swear my skull is seconds away from being crushed, my wolf snarls in outrage and lashes out with her teeth and claws, snapping at the magic trying to contain us. My eyes widen when I realize she’s actually devouring the spells, gulping down each bite like she’s been starved.
I’m not even breathing when I spot the runes etched along the outsides of the chains gradually begin to dull and fade. Slowly but surely, the metal deteriorates as the magic is drained away. My wolf chuffs at my awe, dismissing their patheticattempt to restrain us with a flick of her tail. She hunkers down, content to wait for our prey to become complacent before we attack.
It makes our victory all the sweeter.
I quickly duck my head, pretending defeat, not wanting anyone to guess that we are no longer restrained. Her snout curls in amusement, and she snorts at the absurdity of anyone thinking we are meek.
Fools!
The crowd jeers and shouts slurs as we’re shoved and dragged up the steps by the chains. A few brave souls spit on us, a couple more throw rocks, and the guys carefully nudge me into the middle of them, protecting me from the worst of the attack.
They grunt at the blows but refrain from retaliating.
I’m not sure I would be so passive.
When the scent of their blood saturates the air, I nearly lose my resolve.
