Page 20 of His to Break
AZRAEL
I lie on the bed, fingers digging into the coarse fabric as I stare at the ceiling, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me.
Thoughts of Kara swirl in my mind like a tempest. Her power grows by the day, and with it, her recklessness.
I can feel it—she’s teetering on the edge of something dangerous.
If she pushes too far, she could attract attention we can’t afford.
The door bursts open, slamming against the wall with a deafening crash. Before I can react, dark figures storm into my chamber, their hands gripping my arms and dragging me to my feet. I don’t resist; I know better than to provoke them. Not now—not when I need to find out what’s happening.
They haul me through dimly lit corridors, each step echoing like a funeral march in my ears. Shadows flicker against stone walls as we pass under the faint glow of magical sconces. The oppressive silence stretches between us like a taut wire ready to snap.
I scan my surroundings, adrenaline coursing through me as we approach the great hall where dark elves gather to plot and scheme. My gut twists; something isn’t right.
They shove me through the door, and I stumble forward, catching myself just in time to avoid crashing into the floor. My gaze locks onto Kara, who kneels before a group of dark elves with another human by her side—a female, thin and nervous-looking.
What is this? My heart drops as realization strikes me like a thunderbolt: they’re betraying us.
I push myself to my feet, fists clenched as I take in the scene before me. Kara kneels with her head bowed, a mask of submission painted on her face, but I see through it. The human beside her speaks rapidly, her words spilling out like a broken dam.
“she said we can’t keep living like this! She wants us to come together, to fight back!”
Every word she utters cuts through me like a blade. My heart races, rage bubbling beneath my skin. How could she betray us like this? How could Kara—my ally, my… desire—put herself in such danger?
I step forward, breaking through the ranks of dark elves that surround me. “Stop!” I roar, voice shaking the walls. But they don’t listen; their attention is locked on the human.
“She’s been telling us about plans to escape,” the dark elf leader sneers, eyes narrowing with malicious interest. “Plans for rebellion against our rule.”
The room pulses with tension as whispers ripple through the gathered elves. My breath hitches in my throat. This is not how it was supposed to go. Not when we’ve only just begun to harness her power.
My blood runs cold at the prospect of them acting without understanding their true power—or lack thereof. These humans are pawns in a game far larger than they realize.
“Foolish girl,” I hiss under my breath as anger wells within me, turning into something darker—something primal.
They lean closer to Kara, scrutinizing her with sharpened gazes that seem to strip away every ounce of pretense she had clung to moments ago.
“Is this true?” one asks sharply, venom dripping from his words as he stares down at her kneeling form.
Kara shifts uncomfortably under their gaze, and that flicker of defiance dims into uncertainty. My heart sinks; this could end poorly for all of us if we don’t act fast.
“Are you so foolish?” I growl as I take a step closer, fighting against the urge to lash out at the dark elves surrounding me. “What do you think you’re doing?”
Kara looks up at me, her expression unreadable—there's no hint of fear or remorse on her face. “Azrael,” she breathes as if my presence is unexpected yet welcome.
“What have you told them?” My voice drips with anger and concern as I struggle against my captors’ hold.
The dark elves smirk at my fury but remain silent
“Do you think they’ll let you walk free once they’ve used you?” I demand sharply.
The slave straightens slightly—her determination shining through but tinged with an edge of stubbornness that sends alarm bells ringing in my mind.
“Shut up, demon!” the silver-haired elf snaps, his voice sharp as a blade. “None of this was happening until you arrived. Strange deaths and behaviors, rebellion. This is your fault.”
The accusation strikes like a hammer against my chest, igniting a blaze of fury within me. I can’t let them twist the narrative—Kara’s awakening is not my doing. I may be bound by this wretched contract, but I won’t let them turn me into a scapegoat.
Hagaruz steps forward, eyes glinting with malice.
“You will answer for the chaos you’ve brought upon us.
” His fingers twitch, and I feel it—the oppressive weight of the contract binding me tighten around my chest like iron chains.
Pain lances through my body, a sudden jolt that knocks the breath from my lungs.
I gasp, teeth grinding together as I struggle to remain standing. The dark elf revels in my suffering, pushing deeper into the magical bond between us. “Tell me everything you know,” he demands, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure.
My mind races as I fight against the pain. I can feel their probing eyes on me, waiting for any sign of weakness, any confession that could be twisted to serve their agenda. But there are truths that must remain buried—Kara’s powers are one of them. They’re too dangerous to reveal.
“No,” I manage to grit out through clenched teeth. My voice is hoarse but defiant.
Hagaruz’s smile widens as he increases the intensity of the magic flowing through our connection. The pain sharpens to a piercing agony, burning like fire in my veins. My knees buckle slightly; I force myself to stand tall despite it all.
“You think you can escape?” he taunts. “Break the contract?”
I won’t give in to his taunts; my loyalty to Kara runs deeper than they understand. She has power beyond their grasp—power that even she doesn’t yet comprehend.
“Stop!” Kara’s voice cuts through the haze of pain, fierce and demanding.
I cast a glance at her; her defiance lights something in me—a flicker of hope amidst this chaos. But Hagaruz isn’t finished with me yet.
“Speak!” he commands again, and I feel another wave of pain surging through me like molten lava threatening to consume everything in its path.
“Everything,” he insists through gritted teeth, leaning closer as if trying to unearth secrets from deep within me.
But I remain silent on what truly matters: her potential and our bond—a connection that cannot be severed by these chains or threats alone.