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But the connection to Adrian snaps like a cheap wire, and I'm empty again. Stranded without my girl’s comfort—it's like being kicked in the teeth, rage, and desperation at this bullshit helplessness eating at me. Every damn second without her is like a blade gutting me. Powerless to protect her with danger breathing down her neck.

Can she sense the hell I'm going through to get back? Or is she cursing me out, thinking I bailed by choice? That shit cuts deeper than any prison they could shove me into.

But soon, angel, I'll be feeling that warm skin of yours shaking under me again. Not a snowball’s chance in hell—a legion of demons is gonna keep us apart! And when I get back to you, when I look into those beautiful eyes, we're sealing our damned fate for good.

My resolve's solid as steel, my purpose clear as crystal. Doesn't matter if it's tooth and nail or by burning them to the ground, we're claiming our revenge and seizing our destiny!

In the crushing silence, I'm calling out Dani’s name, throwing out a silent prayer for her to keep her strength, to hang in there. If we could just lock in that mating bond, she’d hear me in her mind and know I'm still here.

Consciousness is a bitch—coming and going. But I’m aware enough to know Erik, and I have been in this shithole for too long. I turn to my brother, barely holding on, and holler, “Erik… say something, goddamn it!”

He struggles against the binds. “I’m still alive, brother.”

Trying to shift for even a damn inch of comfort against these restraints is useless. The Brotherhood fuckers make their rounds, doling out their brand of torture before leaving us to marinate in pain."I tried to get through to Adrian," I grit out to Erik, "but I'm running on fumes here."

He nods grimly, saying he hit the same damn brick wall.

Then, out of nowhere, gunfire cracks through the silence, bouncing off the stone like a death knell. Rough voices cut through the chaos, and as the heavy door creaks open, a bright light stabs into the dark. Standing there, like some ghost, is a shape I know – Lucian.

I squint against the light that's like a punch to the face, hardly believing what I'm seeing after being buried in this pitch-black pit. "Lucian?" I croak out, voice all torn up and my throat drier than a desert. Is this shit for real, or just some cruel trick my screwed-up brain's playing on me?

Lucian cuts through the chains like they're nothing, quickly busting the iron that's been eating into our skin. As the last shackle snaps open, I crash to the dirty floor, the sound of those heavy chains hitting the ground ringing in my ears. It's like I can feel the weight dropping off my heart, too—our shot at making it out alive just got a hell of a lot brighter.

Lucian sneers down at my pitiful state. "Heard you dumbshits got nabbed. Had to haul ass and play the cavalry." He snorts derisively. "Adrian sent out the bat signal loud and clear, so I've been scouring every piss-soaked gutter looking for you dumb bastards," Lucian rasps.

My guts twist, realizing I've wasted precious energy on failed telepathic SOS signals, knowing Adrian had already given one out to Lucian. The sounds of clashing steel and men's agonized howls intensify outside. Adrian must be unleashing unholy hell against the compound guards even now.

Erik sags against his restraints, rasping relief as Lucian grips his bruised arm to haul him upright. Fresh motivation floods my cells when Lucian extends a steadying hand to me next—the cavalry has arrived at last!

I stagger on unsteady legs, snarling with renewed vengeance. "We were jumped and dumped down in this festering shithole." My fists clench, outrage overpowering weakness.

"We gotta bounce fast," Lucian urges, glancing around warily. "Those Brotherhood roaches will come skittering back to play anytime." His lip curls with disgust. "So haul ass now unless you ladies wanna become their personal cock garages."

We emerge from the fetid bunker into utter chaos. The acrid smell of smoke and charred flesh hangs heavy in the air. Adrian is deep in ferocious combat already, wielding deadly magic with ruthless accuracy. His hands glow an unearthly icy blue as he chants guttural words in a lost ancient tongue, his voice rumbling ominously.

All around him, enemies shriek in agony as his magic reduces them to smoldering husks. The sizzling and crackling of burning flesh assaults my ears while wisps of inky black smoke curl into the night sky. Corpses and dismembered limbs litter the muddy ground. Adrian's face is a mask of relentless determination, his glowing gaze fixed on the next target.

With an otherworldly howl, he extends his palms, and bolts of crackling blue energy lance outward, piercing through armor and searing through bone and sinew. Another arched bolt splits the air with an electric sizzle before blowing an attacker's head apart in a gruesome spray of gore. The stench of charred flesh assaults my senses, bile rising in my throat.

Adrian's magic whirls and screams around us like a deadly storm as we fight our way through. "Move, goddammit! Reach the car!" Adrian roars furiously over the chaos.

Nearby, two more robed guards notice our breakout and charge forth, curved blades glinting.

Without hesitation, Lucian's Glock pistol flares, spitting out two rounds in rapid succession. The bullets scream through the chill night air with an ominous metallic whistle before punching brutally through both targets' skulls. Their heads snap back with a visceral cracking of bone before they crumple limply to join the growing carpet of corpses.

Lucian grips me fiercely, half-dragging my faltering body toward our idling escape vehicle at unnatural speed. We've nearly made it when thunderous footfalls signal a swarm of enraged reinforcements closing in.

I fling myself heavily into the back seat, ragged breath searing my lungs. Erik collapses beside me, the doors barely slamming shut before Adrian vaults into the passenger seat up front. Face still washed in the icy magic's glow, Lucian guns the protesting engine menacingly.

The vehicle lurches forward with a roar. Mangled bodies and enraged shouts disappear rapidly behind us. But a quick glance back reveals the hornet's nest we've stirred up. Over a dozen Brotherhood fanatics racing close behind, weapons waving furiously in the darkness as they scramble to their vehicles for pursuit…

Tires squealing, Lucian drives onto the dark mountain road, the sedan's powerful engine growling fiercely. In the side mirror, two black SUVs scream around the compound's curve after us, headlights cutting through the night.

"Fuck, they're gaining fast!" Lucian snarls, mashing the gas pedal flat. The car surges forward, but my battered state dulls my preternatural reflexes. Weaving dangerously, one SUV pulls alongside armed passengers, taking aim.

"Oh no, you fucking don't!" Lucian roars, veering the sedan to smash our attacker's vehicle. Metal screams as both cars careen wildly. Lucian fights the wheel while grabbing his Glock. Rolled-down windows give clear shots—he relentlessly fires three rounds straight into the driver's contorted face.

The SUV lurches and strikes the guardrail. It flips brutally, skidding in a maelstrom of sparks. "One down, you Brotherhood shitstains!" Lucian crows.