Shane
Every step I took was painful. I could barely think; my thoughts weren’t forming. The only thing that kept me moving was Adea. The need to see her forced me forward.
Two young guards ran up to me with worried expressions. The guards I killed must not have been found yet. This was the calm before the storm. No one knew I escaped yet; no one was aware that I was on my way to the celebration.
I didn’t hesitate when they reached out to check on me. I snapped one’s neck and the other started to scream as I reached for him and snapped his too. Their crumpled forms lay on the ground as I stepped past them and into the hall. It was packed, but I didn’t bother looking at anyone, I looked for the area meant for the ranked members.
I watched as the love of my life locked arms with another. I took a deep breath to keep myself from falling over. I reached out and grabbed the nearest thing to steady myself. A gasp alerted me to the fact that I’d used a person to hold myself up. I let go as muffled words left her lips.
I wanted to see Adea and now I have. She sat in her seat and her pathetic excuse of a father prattled on about something I had no interest in hearing.
Adea was beautiful as she sat in her seat like the Queen she was. Maximus wanted to push forward and take her far from here. I’d already explained to him why we couldn’t, but seeing her tonight like this, I wanted to take her from here for another reason. When she stood, I realized how short her dress was.
The rumble in my chest scared the girl by my side and her yelp alerted the man by her side. I didn’t care about them or anyone else here. I was determined to come to see her, and now that I have, I don’t know what to do. I can’t just leave her now. She walked forward and thanked everyone for attending, but I saw red when he walked up and placed his filthy hand on her.
It wasn’t until she announced her union to him that my heart dropped before anger flooded my mind, body, and soul. The words were soul-shattering. I fought the urge to flinch as the pain in my chest numbed the pain all over my body. What had happened to make her do this? What was driving her to pick him? We locked eyes and I loved that despite having his hands on her, she was staring at me. It gave me a sick sense of satisfaction.
Mine.
Mine.
Mine.
He pulled her into his embrace and for a minute all I could think about was if Ethan was a screamer or a crier. How many fingers would it take for him to cry? How many bones did I need to break before he started begging? I wanted to kill him, rip him apart, and stand over his body as it burned.
Adea was mine and announcing whatever she was announcing meant nothing to me. Standing by his side changed absolutely nothing. Whether they’d forced her to say these words or she’d made this decision herself… She was mine and would always be mine.
***
Adea
Mate, Adea. Mate.
What is he doing here?
My heart almost stopped as the man to his right took in Shane’s appearance. Looking back at my mate, I could see his eyes were filled with pain. I died inside knowing it wasn’t the physical wounds that had given him that look. Ethan’s lips pressed against my cheek and I bit down on my lip as I fought the need to push him off of me.
It was not what it looked like.
…
Shane?
He didn’t say anything as I looked over at him. How was he even here? How did he escape? I looked behind him and didn't see the guards that were in the dungeons with him. If he got away from them, why did he come here? This was the most dangerous place for him to be.
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause. Ethan’s arm around my waist pulled me closer and his scent enveloped me as I was pressed against him.
Shane’s eyes were no longer on me. Instead, his gaze was on Ethan’s lips on me. He took a step forward, and my eyes widened. There was no way he was about to do what I thought he was. I shook my head slightly as I tried to plead with my eyes for him not to come any closer.
Don’t come any closer. Why are you here?
…
You’re going to be caught! You can’t be here. They’ll see you!
…
Please. I can’t let them catch you.
…
DAMN IT SHANE. ANSWER ME!
He took another step closer and I forgot how to breathe. More people had noticed him and the numbers kept growing. If he didn’t leave now, my father would see him and I wouldn’t be able to help him.
If he’d escaped, why would he come here for this? What was the point of getting away?
Unless he came here for me.
Goddess. Don’t. Please, Shane. Hide and find me before the end of the celebration.
Have you really chosen him?
Give me a chance to explain. Please.
That wasn’t a no, Princess.
Shane, please. I can explain.