Page 24 of Unbroken Magic

She licked her lips, and I pulled a bottle of water from our bag, sliding it through the bars.

Her eyes lit up, and she grabbed for it.

“Be careful,” Nathaniel said. “Drink slowly.”

She obeyed him, taking small sips. The way she relished the water made me want to kill Taraghlan even more desperately.

“My name is Hellaphine.”

“I’m Evie, and this is Nathaniel.”

She shot Nathaniel a wary look. I couldn’t blame her. That muscle was ticking in his jaw, and his arm muscles bulged as he gripped the bars to her cage.

“He won’t hurt you. His wolf is upset to see you treated like this. He wants to protect you.”

Surprise flashed through her eyes, and she got to her knees, placing the water bottle next to her.

“How did you end up here?” I asked.

Hellaphine pushed her long, tangled blond hair over one shoulder. “I was part of the rebellion. His Majesty’s spies caught me distributing information about his betrayal of our allies, and I was immediately arrested.” Her lower lip trembled, and she bit down on it. “I’ll be moved soon.”

“Moved where?”

“I don’t know exactly. But I’m the last one left. There were others here, and they were taken, one by one. The guard said I’ll be tortured, experimented on.”

My body went hot and cold all at once. “Experimented on?”

She twisted her mouth. “The king has anarrangementwith humans. Anyone who annoys him is sent to their laboratory. It’s a fate no one wants to risk, and it’s how he keeps his advisers in line. I’ll be going to the main lab, apparently. Because I’m powerful enough.” Desolation was written all over her face.

My breath caught in my throat.

Holy shit.

I turned my head, meeting Nathaniel’s eyes. His expression was grim, but he nodded. The seelie king was working with Humans for Equality. Handing over his own people to be experimented on.

“What does he get out of it?” I asked.

Hellaphine shrugged, reaching for her bottle of water again. She took small sips, as if to savor it, and I handed her another one. The gratitude in her eyes made my throat burn.

“I don’t know. He gets to make his enemies suffer.”

“There will be something else in it for him. He could have you tortured by his own guards,” I mused aloud. Hellaphine flinched, and I winced.

“Sorry. We’re currently looking for the labs. We’re going to shut them down.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. “My sister. She was taken to them. Months ago. I didn’t know she’d been sent away until one of the guards told me. Please, find her.”

My gut twisted. I had a sister of my own, no matter how pissed I currently was at her. And the thought of her being taken away and experimented on while I was stuck in this dungeon…

Nathaniel placed his hand on the back of my neck and squeezed lightly, bringing me back to the present. I took a deep breath and examined the bars. “We’re getting you out of here.”

Hellaphine’s eyes widened. She shook her head. “No.”

“No?” My voice was incredulous. From the way Nathaniel’s hand had tensed where it rested against the back of my neck, he didn’t understand either.

“I know you’re planning to stop these humans, but I can’t risk my sister. I have to find her. If they take me to her, at least we’ll be together.”

“You can’t help her if you’re caught.”

---