AllFreeNovel
Share Us
With a surge of determination, I try to free myself from them, but they are too tight, while calling for Lexa to wake up. Just when I thought all hope was lost, one of the cuffs suddenly snaps when Lexa shoves forward abruptly, feeling our mate. My entire body jerks forward, and we nearly fall face forward off the chair, my hand slapping the ground is the only thing that stops us. Lexa forces my arms and wrists to break, allowing my other wrist to slip free of the cuff.
“Where is Axton?” she panics.
“I don't know!” I tell her through gritted teeth as I fall on my side. My legs are still strapped, twisted awkwardly, and my claws slip free, cutting through the rope that binds my legs to the chair.
“I've finally managed to get a hold of my pack. They've just got here. I finally opened the mind-link. They're working on blocking the tunnel exits with your pack.”
Dazedly, I crawl toward Soyer. “Where did Cane go?” I ask, and he looks at a camera mounted on the wall of the tunnel we are in. Looking at the cameras, I can see the council chambers and the streets where pack members are searching for us.
“How long until your pack finds us?” I ask.
“Not sure, I know they just got here. I don't know what tunnel we're in,” he tells me, then nods toward the screens covering the walls. Turning, I see cars racing into the council chambers while Axton's men race toward them.
Suddenly, there is a loud thud in the distance, followed by shouts and yelling from somewhere deeper within the tunnel. This makes me glance over my shoulder.
“Quick, use that crowbar over there,” Soyer says, nodding toward a bench filled with tools and miscellaneous crap. Staggering, I get to my feet, trying to find something, when pain rips through my side, making me clutch the counter.
Opening the mindlink I feel for Axton, but can't hold it long due to my head pounding, making me unable to focus. Grabbing the crowbar, I try to bend the metal arm of the chair he is strapped to. Then I attempt to pry it under the cuff. It doesn't work. His hands are purple from how tight the handcuffs are that are cutting off his circulation.
“Just do it!” Soyer tells me. I blink at him, wondering what he means. “Now! We haven't got time. My mate is dying. Do it!” Soyer yells at me, and I hear the savage sounds of men fighting, growling, and banging coming from somewhere in the tunnel. Clenching my teeth, I turn back to Soyer and lift the crowbar before bringing it down on his wrist. He lets out a pained groan and tries to pull his hand out, but nothing.
“Again!” he demands, and I bring it down, breaking his hand and wrist more. The sound is sickening when suddenly the fighting stops, making me pause to look down the tunnel. I hear cursing, recognizing the voice as Cane's, and my eyes widen.
Soyer rocks back in his chair, and I turn back to face him and lift the crowbar. “No, go take my mate and get out of here,” Soyer says, and I glance down at his mate on the ground.
“Go!” He hisses at me, but I know I won't be able to carry her fast enough. Hearing footsteps, I race back to my chair, setting it back in place. Leaning the crowbar against the back of the chair, I can hear Cane getting closer and quickly take my seat, pretending to be still knocked out.
Dropping my head forward, and resting my arms along the armrests while praying he doesn't notice the cuffs aren't attached. Seconds later, he enters this part of the tunnel. His footsteps seem loud when I hear a thud, and something hits my foot. I don't dare lift my head to see who it is until I hear Cane muttering to himself as he leaves. Lifting my head, I find it is Axton's body. I lurch out of my seat, tapping his face. He groans, and I clamp my hand over his mouth while glancing over my shoulder.
“Set me free before he returns,” Soyer whispers, and I lift my head. I don't want to leave Axton, but we'd need two people to help get him up. Rushing over with the crowbar, I break his other hand, and Soyer grits his teeth.
Chapter Eighty-One
I hear his bones cracking as he slips free and starts undoing the restraints on his legs when the sound of footsteps returning reaches me.
Soyer looks at me in panic, and I race back to my seat again. Osiris is dumped on the ground this time, and I hold my breath, watching Axton's face near my feet when Soyer talks.
“Water, please.” Soyer chokes out. Cane mutters something and wanders off, and I hear rustling before lifting my head slightly when I feel a flicker of something through the bond. My eyes drift back to Axton to find him looking at me. His eyes are pitch black, and I know Khan is forward with him. “When I say to, you fucking run,” he mindlinks, and I realize he is just pretending to be knocked out.
“Do you hear me?” My eyes widen as I peer down at him.
“I'm not leaving you,” I reply.
“Yes, you are. You run and don't come back, promise me.” I shake my head when I hear Cane.
“Wait…what have…” I hear Cane begin to say when Soyer tackles him, and they fall and hit the ground at the same time. Axton lurches to his feet when Soyer is thrown off. Soyer's body slams against the wall with startling force and speed before he hits the ground. Cane gets to his feet, and just before Axton reaches him, Cane spins with inhuman speed and kicks him. Axton's body flies past me down the tunnel, and Cane roars. Stomping past me, he heads for Axton, and I grab the crowbar leaning against the chair and come up behind him.
The crowbar slices through his flesh like butter, and the sound of metal-piercing flesh echoes through the air as I drive it into his back. The entirety of Cane's body goes rigid. Then slowly, he turns to face me. In the distance, I see Axton getting up, but my attention is fixed on Cane, whose eyes are locked on mine. The crowbar — now coated in blood — punctured straight through him, but he doesn’t seem to care. With an almost feral snarl, he pulls the crowbar out of his body and flings it aside.
I back up, feeling the intensity of his gaze upon me like a physical weight. His eyes bore into mine, and his lips curl back into a snarl as he stalks toward me and goes to grab me when I am shoved out of the way from behind.
I land next to Soyer's mate and see Osiris is the one that shoved me, and Axton is once again attacking Alpha Cane. Axton and Cane both lunge at each other with a ferocity that rivals wild animals. Axton delivers a swift kick to Cane's chest, sending him flying back, and Cane retaliates when he gets up, blocking Axton’s next blow before returning a punch that sends Axton to the ground. Cane then grabs the crowbar and swings it at Axton, but Osiris pushes Cane, making him miss his target. Everything happening with blurring speed in such tight confines makes everyone almost impossible to track.
Axton then lunges at Cane, tackling him to the ground and pummeling him with his fists. The two of them fight fiercely, with neither gaining the upper hand. The fight is brutal, with both men grunting and hissing as they exchange blows while Osiris is trying to get back to his feet, looking rather dazed.
The walls of the tunnel copping a beating in the tight space, when Axton is flung against another wall like a rag-doll. I can see why strigoi are so feared. They are unmatched rivals. Something not meant for this world. My scream is deafening when I see Axton crawling to get to his feet.
My scream rings out loudly, echoing off the walls, when I see Cane pick up the crowbar to deliver a lethal blow. However, Soyer suddenly blocks it with his shoulder, throwing his body over Axton’s head. I hear a sickening crack that would have been Axton's head had Soyer not used his body to shield him.
