Page 30 of When Roses Burn

I exchanged a look with Devnair before the elf jerked his head toward the doorway and sauntered out of the room. For a man just entrapped by vines, he had a lot of confidence about traversing the harem.

I lingered in the room as I recalled Seth’s words about my heart. It hadn’t been something he’d just said; he meant it.

The one eternal who’d always believed in me, who’d loved me unconditionally and cherished me above all others, believed I was a monster. Not only that, but he believed I was worse than my mother.

I didn’t think I could hurt any more, but tremors wracked through me as my heart broke all over again. Tears burned my eyes as I tried not to give in to the grief threatening to consume me.

What was I going to do now? Where would I go? And how could I live without him?

Yes, I’d made it through these past ten years, but I’d always hoped we’d one day be together again. That hope lay with the shattered remnants of my heart.

When a shadow fell across the doorway, I looked up through tear-filled eyes to discover Seth there. My vision blurred, and I tried to blink away the tears, but one slid free. I couldn’t cry in front of this man; he’d probably enjoy it.

“I will drag you out of here,” he said. “Now move.”

When he vanished again, I hastily wiped away my tears. I’d never give him the satisfaction of seeing another one fall.

I’d prefer not to go anywhere with this new Seth and the elf, but I couldn’t stay here. Once I was free, I could try to figure things out, but first I had to leave.

As I strode toward the door, my gaze drifted to the side room with all the sex toys tucked inside. The numerous whips, chains, ball gags, spiked things that I couldn’t name, and other assorted objects didn’t look at all comfortable or satisfying.

My stomach churned at the idea of how often they’d been used against the elf… or Seth. I was certain the elf wasn’t the only one with such devices in his room, as they were all mostly identical.

Of course he hated me; I’d been a moron to think he wouldn’t after this place.

You’re still his mate. That bond couldn’t be denied or broken, but I wasn’t sure how it would work if a shifter loathed their chosen one.

With a shudder, I scurried from the room and back into the main sitting area. Seth was already all the way across the room and heading for the back hallway with Devnair close behind.

As I scurried around the sunken couches with all their numerous pillows, a cyclops smashed his hands off the door nearest me. “Hey!” he bellowed. “Don’t leave us here! Let me out!”

I cringed at the torment in the man’s voice as his door rattled violently only a few feet away from me. There was no way for him to escape; I was sure all of them had battered their doors until their hands were bloody when they first entered their cells, but apprehension still coiled in my gut.

His screams rattled me more than the quaking door. They also drew others to their windows.

From behind the glass, frantic, fevered eyes followed our every move. I felt the hatred in those eyes, but more so, I sensed their desperation to be free so they could return home to their loved ones.

“Don’t leave us here!” a gorgon pleaded as I hurried to catch up with the others. “Please, don’t leave us here!”

The torment in her voice halted me in front of her door. Her brilliant green eyes burned into me as she pressed her palm against the glass. Like all her kind, she was beautiful, but she could become a hideous creature whose hair turned into snakes that stunned their prey.

Right now, her hair was a pretty shade of golden blonde, but the things churning within it caused it to shift and sway around her. The night and day casters must have created a spell to keep her snakes suppressed while she was here.

“Please,” she pleaded. “Please don’t leave me here.”

When I stepped toward her door, a powerful hand locked around my upper arm. A jolt of familiarity and warmth ran through me as his fingers brushed my bare skin.

It had been ten torturous years since I’d experienced Seth’s touch, and now my skin drank it up like a thirsty plant with rain. And just like that plant, whose leaves would come back to life, something within me surged back to life as his touch filled the empty parts of me.

My mouth went dry; I’d never forgotten the way he could make me feel electrified yet strangely calm. Breathing deep, I inhaled his familiar scent of woods and fresh air into my lungs and held it there to keep this small piece of him with me.

His orange eyes narrowed on my face as I released my breath. I’d once known this man more intimately than anyone and loved him more than I’d ever believed possible. I missed being able to see his love for me in his gaze, but there was only wrath there.

“Keep moving,” he said gruffly.

When he tugged my arm, he pulled me forward a few steps before releasing me and walking away again. I glanced down at the bloody palm print he’d left on my arm from where the thorns had cut him.

Without thinking, I rested my bloody fingertips over the ones he’d left. With unwavering certainty, I knew the marks those thorns left on him were nothing compared to the ones marring his soul.