ETHAN“Well, well, well.” He says, his voice dripping with malice. “If it isn’t the mighty kings come to rescue their precious queen.” I grit my teeth as my grip tightens around my sword. “Where is she, Hunter? We know you have her.” I demand, my voice steady in spite of the anger burning inside me. Hunter laughs, a cold, mocking sound that sends shivers down my spine. “Oh, she’s here.” He says, gesturing to a door at the far end of the chamber. “But whether you’ll ever see her again depends on how cooperative you are.” I exchange a glance with Arnold, a silent understanding passing between us. We’re in this together, no matter what. And we’ll do whatever it takes to save Hazel. There is a lot of bad blood in the room as Hunter's guards surround us, their weapons drawn and ready for a fight. Arnold and I exchange a nod, silently communicating our readiness to take on whatever they send our way. They have no idea who they’re dealing with. Without hesitation, the guards charg
ARNOLDI can feel the anger burning inside me as Ethan and I storm back to our motel room. We're both fuming, and our minds are racing with thoughts of how to rescue Hazel from Hunter's clutches. How did he think to pull that trick on us? And we went through all that stress for a random person. "We can't let him get away with this. I will end him!" Ethan mutters, pacing back and forth. "We have to find a way to get her back." I nod in agreement, my fists clenched at my sides. "That was the main goal from the beginning. But how?" I ask, frustration lacing my voice. "We don't even know where to start looking." Ethan stops pacing and turns to me, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Wait a minute." He says, his eyes narrowing in concentration. "I think I might have an idea." I raise an eyebrow, curious to hear what he's thinking. "What is it?" I ask, leaning in closer. "Remember that piece of land behind Hunter's palace?" Ethan says, excitement creeping into his voice
HUNTERI'm pacing back and forth in my office, my fists clenched so tight I can feel my nails digging into my palms. The humiliation from last night still burns in my veins. Hazel, that infuriating woman, dared to embarrass me in front of everyone. No one disrespects me like that. No one. I need to teach her a lesson she won't forget. "Find Queen Hazel!" I snap at my beta, Ryan. He nods, eyes wide with a mix of fear and respect, and rushes out of the room. Good. I need her brought to me as soon as possible. The more I think about it, the more my anger grows, twisting into a dark desire for revenge. And just as it felt good, my spies had reported to me that Hazel was being taken away to a safe house. More like being delivered to me, because Ryan would make sure that they are intercepted regardless of what might happen next. Days feel like years, but finally, Ethan returns, dragging Hazel with him. She looks angry, her chin raised in that infuriating way she always does, even thou
HAZELPain. That's all I feel as I lie on the cold, unforgiving floor of my cell. Every inch of my body aches, a relentless reminder of Hunter's brutality. The darkness of unconsciousness envelops me as soon as my head hits the ground. In the world of shadows and the darkness, I’m still in the fog of my unconsciousness, and I start having more dreams. More like visions, actually, more vivid than reality, and they sweep me into a place filled with light, and where hope clashes with despair. A faceless figure comes out from the mist, and its presence is both ominous and comforting. "Hazel," The voice says, and the vibration is resonating within me like a distant thunder. "You have strength within you, untapped potential waiting to be unleashed." Of course, this has been happening for a while, and all I do is dig and listen. Confusion mingles with the pain as I struggle to grasp the significance of these visions. Yet, with each passing moment, clarity dawns upon me like the first
ETHANThe towering walls that separate us from our destination still stand tall, but my brother and I are ready, adrenaline courses through my veins, mingling with a sense of nervousness. This is our chance to uncover the truth, to reveal the secrets that Hunter has been keeping hidden, and to save our mate. With practiced ease, Arnold and I scale the walls, and it’s easier than it looks, because our movements are swift and sure. That, or we are just really good at things like this. The cold stone presses against my palms as I haul myself up, my muscles straining with the effort. But the exhilaration of the climb outweighs the physical discomfort, driving me forward with renewed determination. Finally, we reach the other side, and what we see leaves us speechless. Structures rise up from the ground like specters in the night, their dark silhouettes casting long shadows across the barren landscape. At the far end, we spot a series of short pillars arranged in a mysterious pattern
ETHANIn spite of their numbers, we hold our ground, our determination unwavering as we fight tooth and nail to gain the upper hand. Finally, with a well timed blow, Arnold manages to disarm one of the guards, sending him crashing to the ground with a resounding thud and then fights the others. Seizing the opportunity, I grab the keys from the table and rush over to Hazel's side, my hands shaking with adrenaline as I unlock her chains. The lock clicks open, and with a sigh of relief, Hazel gets up to leave, her eyes filled with relief as she looks at us. "Thank you." She whispers, her voice weak. But before we can take another step, the sound of footsteps echoes down the corridor once more, and Hunter's men burst into the room, their weapons drawn and ready for battle. With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I realize that we're outnumbered, our chances of escape growing slimmer by the second. Thinking quickly, Arnold pushes Hazel back into her cell, shielding her from the impend
ARNOLDI watch from across the dimly lit corridor as Hazel writhes in agony, her cries echoing off the damp stone walls. Every scream tears through me like a jagged blade, twisting in my gut, a relentless reminder of our powerlessness. Ethan and I are trapped in this wretched cell, our only view of Hazel's torment through the narrow bars that separate us. It's a cruel spectacle, one that haunts our every moment. The sight of her suffering ignites a fire within me, a burning fury that threatens to consume everything in its path. Hunter, that insufferable tyrant, revels in his cruelty. He saunters by our cell with a twisted smirk, taunting us with his vile promises. He speaks of domination, of seizing control over the kingdoms, as if it were his birthright. But we know the truth. His rule would be built upon a foundation of pain and suffering, a kingdom of ashes and despair. Hazel pleads with us, her voice raw with desperation. She begs us not to give in to Hunter's demands, not to s
HAZELThe guards roughly escort us down the narrow, dimly lit corridor. Ethan and Arnold walk beside me, and on their faces, their expressions are grim and u can’t point out any other emotion save for anger. We're being taken to a new part of the castle, a place Hunter has reserved for those he wishes to break. That’s what he told us, at least. Nothing will break me, however. The air is heavy with despair, and the sounds of distant cries echo off the stone walls. I shudder, wanting to clutch one of my men’s arms for support, but I can’t, as I’m in shackles. The realization sinks in that we're not just prisoners, we're going to be deliberately placed where we can witness the suffering of different people. “They're trying to break us.” Arnold says in a low voice, muttering under his breath, his voice tight with anger. “They won't succeed. As far as we are concerned, brute better off forcing the walls to speak.” Ethan replies through gritted teeth, his gaze fixed ahead. The g