Page 126 of Taming the Kraken

The nycrops began to laugh and clap her hands. “You think you can kill me? Think again, guardian.” The words dripped from her lips venomously. “You’re still breathing only because I want you alive.”

“So, you’re Meryl.” Mikah snarled at the disgusting creature in front of him.

“Oh, I see the demigod told you about me. Such a shame you’re stuck here instead of by her side, protecting her. You know Erebus plans to chain her to his bedpost where he can take her anytime he pleases.” Meryl’s lips curled up poisonously as Mikah attacked the bars in front of him, shaking them forcefully.

“If anyone touches her⁠—"

“You’ll what? Those bars are magically reinforced. You aren’t getting out of here.”

“What do you want with me?” Mikah growled as the old woman laughed loudly.

“I’m. Going. To. Break. You.” She hissed out each word through her curled lips. “I’m going to mentally break you down until … pop! You snap and let that darkness inside of you out.” Meryl cackled quietly. “And you will break. I have all the time in the world to break you. This will be fun.”

Mikah glared at her as he paced back and forth in front of the bar doors. He wouldn’t be kept in here. He was going to get out and rip her undead throat out. He suddenly slammed his body into the door, making it groan and hiss in protest.

“Hmm … perhaps it is best to weaken you first. That will be quite fun in itself …” Meryl lifted a bony finger and pointed it at Mikah. A dark purple mist appeared around him and began to blacken his skin. Mikah doubled over as his body began to shake violently. The purple smoke crept into his pores and sent an excruciating, burning pain across his skin. He clenched his jaw tightly. He wasn’t going to give in. He wouldn’t give this bitch the satisfaction she was seeking.

"Shall we begin your mental breakdown? We start simple, but we’ll get more complex as your mind weakens. And for your mind to weaken, we will weaken your body too.”

Mikah was a prisoner. Meryl was going to torture him until he broke. The pain was unbearable. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to be made to live in this excruciating pain for days. Weeks. Months. He wasn't sure how long he could hold out against this torture. But he was going to try … he couldn’t let that crazy bitch break him. But the darkness inside him caressed him, as if beckoning for him to let go.

Suddenly a bright light erupted from Mikah and smashed through the enchanting bars. It belted against Meryl, sending the purple smoke back into her.

Meryl was slammed to the ground. Her body trembled as drops of black blood pooled from her body onto the stone floor beneath her. Very few things shocked her, but that did. She was not prepared for something like that. And she was fascinated by this connection. She wondered if it would work both ways. Perhaps she should send a message of her own.

She slowly lifted her head, revealing an ugly grin.

“So, your princess likes to play rough?” Her black eyes glowed as they looked at Mikah. Black droplets of blood dripped from her mouth. Had that magic not gone through the enchanted bars, she wouldn’t be standing right now. Luckily, it mitigated the effects of the attack. “Okay, princess … let’s play.”

CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE

“So that’s what happened.” Sitting in her office, Wendy sighed as she looked across her desk at Ryker. “We can’t act on this yet. We need to find out how deep this goes. We need to know how many traitors we have. And I don’t know who I can trust now.” She tapped her fingers on the table. “I’m going to need your help on this, Ryker.”

“I’ll have to talk this over with Brian. And I need to see my mate. I need to talk with her and explain everything. I just left without an explanation.”

Wendy smiled. “What’s it like?” she asked quietly. “As you know, I rejected my mate ages ago … but I often wonder what it would have been like.”

“I wish I could tell you that you aren’t missing out and that it isn’t amazing. But it is, and you are. And to think, if I hadn’t lost my memories, I wouldn’t have claimed her.” Ryker shook his head. “My life is her life. There is no point without her. I love her so much.” He let out an airy chuckle. “She’s probably so mad at me.”

“I’m happy for you, Ryker. I’m disappointed that you’re leaving our group, but it is also reassuring to have you at our prince’s side.”

“Mates aren’t just a weakness. They’re also a form of strength.” Ryker watched Wendy smile and nod her head.

“But they are an incredible weakness. If I took your mate and held her hostage, you would do anything for her safety. And that is why we don’t allow mates.” Wendy watched as Ryker shrugged.

“You don’t allow traitors either, and yet here we are.”

“A grave error on our part. In the future, we will make dragons bind themselves to the Thunders. We never wanted to do this before, but perhaps we should have all along.” Wendy looked down at the table. “I’ve been too trusting. I’m sorry, Ryker. I should have looked for you immediately after you disappeared.”

“Maybe it’s a good thing I was mistaken for dead at first. If I was brought back here without my memories, I probably would have been poisoned by Fisher, and he would have said I succumbed to my injuries.”

Wendy exhaled angrily. “No wonder he kept insisting we keep you drugged. I bet he was just waiting for his opportunity to poison you.” She shook her head and a low growl rumbled from her throat. “I wish I could scorch him now.”

There was a knock at the door, and Wendy rose to answer it. Her office was soundproof, so telling them to enter wouldn’t do any good. She opened the door and arched her brow. “Yes?”

“The prince has returned.”

“Bring him to me. I’d like to speak with him.” Wendy shut her door and turned to Ryker. “Let’s formulate a plan. Then you can go back to see your mate.”