45. Rhyson

45

Rhyson

Juniper was strung up in chains. Dante was bleeding out in the corner. Jenson was in a cage next to mine, but it was empty after they'd dragged his unconscious body out. Electricity ran through the bars of my own cage.

Sitting in the middle, I tried to calm my rage. The fact that Nash wasn't here bothered me, but I could still feel my bond with him. He was alive. Having no connection with Jenson, I had no idea what had happened to him, but I could feel myself losing Dante.

We'd been betrayed. That was the only explanation. They were waiting for us by the river. Even as the drugs took me over, I could hear their conversation. They knew exactly how many of us there were, and they were looking for Maya and Anna.

I thanked the stars that Anna had left us as soon as we were out of the spell traps and Maya had stayed behind.

Gideon approached the cage and smirked. "King of the wolves. I felt your power when you were with us, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It never occurred to me that the king would come here. Not if he didn't come for Maeve, but here you are, in a cage of my own making. My alpha didn't think I was good enough. She tried to have me killed right before her ascension. Who's laughing now, though? That bitch is dead, I'm well on my way to owning this mountain, and now the king is mine."

Throwing back his head, he howled and sighed in satisfaction. "What to do with you? First I'm going to find that pregnant bitch of yours and use her and that pup to make you do whatever I want. Did she really think I would believe her lie that the cub isn't yours? Please. Not with the way you look at her. How far along is she? I gotta wait six months for that babe to be born? Five? Oh, then I am going to rule the fucking world."

I continued to sit in the middle of my cage and stare at him, which seemed to enrage him. "What? Don't have anything to say to that? Why don't you shift and tell me just how scary you are? Use your kingly power on me, whatever the fuck that means."

Eventually, I would. I'd already tried to persuade one of the shifters to free me, but that just ended up in an electrocuted man. I couldn't be specific enough in this form, but freeing me from the cage wasn't enough. I needed an exit plan.

Gideon walked over to Juniper. She and the rest of the wolves had shifted to human. I suspected it had something to do with the drugs, but I'd been able to stave off the effects. Slowly and steadily, I fed them some of my power through the bond to keep them alive.

Reaching out, he touched her naked body. Eyes glowing green, Juniper kicked him hard in the knee, making him fall as she spat on him.

Unfortunately, I didn't hear anything snap, so he'd no doubt be able to get back up again. He did, and laughed. "Don't worry, darling. As beautiful as you are, I prefer my females younger. Much younger. Oh, but you'll make a wonderful bitch for breeding, and I've got a few men who will do just about anything I say to spend the night fucking you."

"Why wait? Invite them in right now," she said seductively. "I'll show them just what a good time I'll be."

"Oh, I have no doubt," Gideon laughed. "They might like 'em spirited, but I reckon they don't want their balls ripped off. We'll break you down first. Beat that fighting spirit right out from under you."

Next, he walked over to Dante and kicked him hard in the side. "Still alive? Must be a powerful bond you share with your king. Tell me, Your Majesty, just how would it feel if I stabbed your man in the heart right now?"

Juniper raised her leg to give him another kick when Gideon suddenly stumbled back. I knew that look in his face. He had bonded with his men, and they were in trouble.

"Get to the shed. Now. Now!" he barked.

Five men raced out of the building, and Gideon walked to the window and stared out. "Jax," he snarled. "That little asshole ratted me out. Now he'll learn the consequences of his actions."

He picked up the radio and turned it on. "Kill Darla, and film it. I want Paisley to know what happens when he betrays me."

Silence filled the room, and he stared down at the radio. "Daniels, come in."

Still, nothing.

"Borson? Ratter? Someone fucking answer me," he screamed.

This time there was an answer, but it didn't come over the radio. Screams of pain were heard outside, and I tensed. If Jax was outside, I would give him one hell of a thank-you gift.

When the door broke down, it wasn't Jax who ran inside. It was Jenson, with Maya right on his heels.

Maya? What the hell?

She took one look at me, snarled, and ran for the cage. I bellowed for her to stop, but the minute she rammed into the cage, her wolf shuddered and the most horrible screaming noise filled the room before she fell to the floor.

Furious and afraid, I began ramming the cage on my end. Pain filled every atom of my wolf, but I ignored it as I hit it over and over again before the cage finally broke open. "Stop," Gideon shouted. "Stop, or I slit her throat."

Turning, I saw the sword he held to Juniper. Jenson stopped, only a few feet from him, and growled.

"Good." Gideon smiled. "And looky here. I don't even have to go find your bitch. She came right to me, although she and that cub are probably extra crispy right about now. Excellent display of breaking through the cage. I'll have to make that current a little bit stronger next time, won't I?"

He was so busy crowing that he didn't see Dante stirring behind him. Slowly, and painfully, Dante pushed himself up on his elbows, drew his leg back, and slammed it into Gideon's knee. The man fell forward, and I lashed out with my power, holding Jenson at bay, while I raced over and slammed my paw into Gideon's head. He fell, his neck at a horrible award angle, and even knowing that he was already dead, I still ripped into him.

"Oh my God," a woman whispered behind me. I turned, roaring, and raced over to Maya, standing over her to protect her body.

"Rhyson, it's me. Irene. I can help her," she said in a soothing voice. "I can help her, but you have to let me. Jenson, no. It's okay. He's not going to hurt me. He's just protecting his mate."

Jenson growled low as he prowled between us, his head low. Later, I would be impressed with how he fought through my power to take control and protect his witch. For now, I was furious that there were so many people I did not trust standing close to Maya's prone body.

"There's a young teenager hiding outside by the name of Darla. She's been brutalized for God knows how long to keep Paisley in line. He betrayed you to save her. He's just a kid, but so is she. If you walk out of this place right now like that, she will likely bolt and run, and we both know she won't survive a week out here on her own. Get ahold of your wolf and let me see to Maya and your cub."

My cub.

My wolf howled in agony, and I shook my head and crept back. When Irene tried to step forward, Jenson growled, but she bopped him on the head. "Stop that. He's no threat to me, now."

Kneeling next to Maya, she reached down and placed a hand on her chest. Was it rising? Was that just my imagination? "Electricity. She got hit with a lot of electricity," Juniper said weakly.

"Okay. She's in wolf form, so that's good. Her wolf magic is protecting her. Her heart hasn't stopped. Neither has her breathing. We just need to send the residual energy elsewhere so it'll stop cooking her from the inside out."

I shot forward, and Jenson immediately checked me. Juniper, still hanging from her chains, cleared her throat. "Maybe keep that narrative internal, witch."

Knowing there was nothing I could do for Maya, I shifted and hurried to Juniper's side. The keys were in Gideon's pocket, so I grabbed them and released her. She practically fell into my arms and started to shift as I lowered her. Next, I checked on Dante. He was awake but still not shifting.

"Sorry, boss. I don't know why, but I can't call my wolf," he said hoarsely.

"That's all right. I can." Placing a hand on his chest, I sought out his wolf and gently brought him forward. "Nash and Anna?"

"At the witch's compound. Lunessa was going to work on him," Irene said.

Taking a deep breath, I finally turned to see her standing over Maya's body as she started to shift. Alarmed, I raced toward her. "Should she be shifting?"

"The danger to her is gone. I won't know about…"

"Baby," Maya whispered as she lay panting on the floor. Tears filled her eyes as she put a hand on her belly. "Did I kill my baby?"