She leaned into me as we made our way forward. “This is horrible,” she whispered. “They’ll kill us.”
“No. Don’t say that.”
One of us had to be hopeful, although her despair wasn’t unfounded.
It was night outside, but no stars lit the sky. Light orbs floated above us as we were led to a very imposing, dark building, several stories tall, out in the middle of nowhere. It looked like a prison made of stone, black and gray. We walked through thick, double doors into the stone building, and it wasn’t any brighter inside. Just a mixture of various dark hallways in all directions with closed doors down all sides. We were separated indiscriminately and shoved in different directions, although I held on to Melina so we could remain together.
A guard squeezed her ass, and she yelped, jumping forward. I growled and kicked him in the balls. It wasn’t the wisest thing to do, but if these fuckers thought they would use us as some sort of sex slaves, I was going to shut that down right now.
Naturally, the ugly giant cursed and back-handed me across the face. I felt the iron taste of blood trickle in my mouth for the second time that day and spat it out, glaring at him. It hurt, but I wouldn’t let him know. I was not a weak bitch, and I wouldn’t be going down without a fight. Whatever muted our powers couldn’t be long-lasting. At least, I hoped. As soon as my magic returned, I was going to freeze his dick off.
Melina placed a hand on my shoulder, assessing me. “I can see why my cousin likes you. But that wasn’t smart.”
I shrugged. “We have to have each other’s backs.”
Our walk continued down a staircase at the end of a hallway we’d been turned down. In the basement were rows of large cells. It smelled like a barnyard and looked like some medieval holding cells. There were the same dark gray stone walls, dirty cement floor, and mats scattered about for people to sleep. In the corner of each cell was a toilet and sink to wash up.
Oh, hell no.
Melina was shoved into a cell across from me with some women and teenage girls, while I was shoved into a cell with a bunch of rough male lounging about. Well, that didn’t seem right.
I looked up at the guard as he unshackled my hands. “You have me in the wrong cell.”
He straightened up and gave a snort. “No, I have you in the right one.”
He then slammed the bars shut.
This asshole.
I stayed near the bars, not looking behind me. Instead, I focused on Melina, who clung to the bars in her cell, looking at me with wide, fearful eyes.
“It’s going to be okay.”
She shook her head and pointed behind me. “Lila!”
A heavy arm fell across my shoulders, and I could feel the hot breath of some ogre breathing against my neck.
“I can help protect you, beautiful,” said a husky-voiced fae.
I growled and twirled away from him, crossing my arms in front of me. The fae was definitely more ogre-like, as I suspected. He was tall and furry. Actually, he looked like a walking bison with brown fur, tusks protruding from his mouth, and yellow eyes. He still was humanoid, standing erect. However, he had hooves instead of feet. He was massive.
I looked around the cell. Most of the males in there were huge. Had I got thrown into the badass cell? Did that guard think he was shoving me into a wolves’ den? He was probably right, and this would not end well for me.
I eyed the hairy fae with a grimace. “Thanks, but no thanks. I can take care of myself.”
He chuckled. “I seriously doubt that. I think you need our help. Right, fellas?”
Other males stood up and slowly approached us.
Nope, no. I was not going to be gang raped. I still had my combat training. I also had my magic, and it was possible it would come back. Maybe if I let them believe I could kill them, they’d fall back, and no one would have to get hurt.
“I am an ice faerie. I will freeze you all and break you into a million pieces. So, fall back. We’re on the same side here. Prisoners of our enemies.”
Another fae male shook his head. He was equally large with pale, alabaster skin and bright green eyes. “I’m only on my side. And you just arrived today, so your powers are still muted. When they put the shackles back on, you won’t have any powers again if they come back.”
Wonderful. I guess combat it was. Except, I knew my limits. This wasn’t some movie where each attacker would come at me one at a time to fight. They’d pile on me, and I’d be down for the count. Still, I was going to go out fighting.
“Leave her alone!” Melina cried.
