Ember of Hope
Chapter 43

Tears burned the backs of Raegan’s eyes but she refused to let them fall in front of the asshole who was carving her up like a fish. The cuts he sliced into her flesh were being made by a small sharp blade. They stung like a bitch. She breathed through her nose, trying hard not to look at Sarah whose face was awashed with tears. They had learned their lesson fast; if Sarah made a sound, he slapped Raegan so hard she saw starts. And they knew what would happen if Raegan cried aloud. She shuddered.

In that instant, she promised herself she would break free and save both their lives and she will one day come back for her retribution. One day when she was ready… one day when she had her mate by her side… because no way in hell was she going to deny him his revenge.

Only if she’d completed their blood bond when Valiance had asked her, she cursed herself; he would’ve been able to replace them both. Now both hers and Sarah’s lives were in peril.

“There love. It’s all done” Titan Varamont grinned delightedly; his eyes fixed on her bare stomach “My name on your skin looks beautiful” he skimmed his fingers over her bloodied, carved flesh. Raegan squeezed her eyes shut tightly at the stinging pain his fingers caused. She didn’t think he was going to carve so deep but the blood loss was now making her dizzy.

Titan stood back and admired his cruelty like he’d just made the greatest piece of art. “What do you think boys? Doesn’t she look more pretty now?” he turned to his goons standing above Sarah. One of them stroked his beard with a disturbing smirk on his face and agreed, “Yeah boss, she does”.

It was becoming hard not to snap at the bastard when it was all she wanted to do. So Raegan made herself look at her friend’s pained eyes and her resolve strengthened.

“Hmm. I think I’m done for the day. Let the lady down boys” he turned on his heel and left the room. His cronies let Raegan down from the chains and did nothing to break her fall. She fell hard on her knees and palms and felt more blood gushing out of her wounds. They laughed on their way out and she committed their faces to memory.

“Ray oh my God” Sarah helped her get steady and pulled her back against her chest. “It’s all happening because of me. Only if I hadn’t made you go to that stupid shack in the middle of nowhere” Sarah sniffled.

“No Sarah” Raegan shook her pounding head to stop her friend from blaming herself, “Don’t do this. It was meant to happen so it did. It’s neither your fault nor mine. If anybody is to be blamed it’s that rat bastard”.

“Are you okay?” Sarah smoothed her hair back from her sweaty forehead.

Just then the door opened again. Raegan had closed her eyes and couldn’t make herself open them again. There was only so much she could do to not scream in pain. She felt Sarah whip her head towards the door. She could imagine the poisonous stare of her friend. But then a soft female voice sounded; “I’m a healer. I’m here to check on her” she must have pointed towards Raegan because even though Sarah growled lightly in her throat, she shifted slightly under her, “Ray… Babe?” She murmured near her ear, running her fingers gently through her hair. She opened her eyes a little and gingerly nodded a little at her friend to let her know she was okay.

“May I?” the healer asked softly and sat beside them on the floor.

“Lay her flat please” she asked Sarah and they helped Raegan to lie down on the floor with only her head propped on Sarah’s knee.

The healer pushed her shirt up and Raegan saw her jaw clench at the state of her abdomen. She placed her faintly glowing hands on her stomach and her cat like eyes shone brighter.

“What’s your name?” Raegan asked the healer while she applied a green gel like substance to her now healed but red skin with the raw outline of that bastard’s name like a grotesque tattoo.

“I’m Cara” her eyes were downcast still with delicate fingers fiddling with the hem of her dress.

“He has my family working in one of his friend’s house. They are human and they can’t defend themselves. If I misbehave…” she let the sentence incomplete as her voice waivered a little. She’d answered her thoughts before she could’ve voiced them.

“I still replace it really hard to believe the healers can’t read minds” she smiled at Cara to make her feel at ease and the healer let out a small smile.

“Thank you Cara” Raegan squeezed the healer’s hand in reassurance.

“This gel is for the itching and burning. Apply it whenever you feel the need”.

“The scars… will they ever fade?” her voice broke despite all the bravado she was displaying for Sarah’s sake.

“Yes, yes don’t worry about the scars. They’ll fade in a few days. I should take my leave now” She left with one backward glance towards the girls.

………………………………

Alex stormed out of the house through the back door and cloaked himself before summoning his wings and flying away into the night. His head was still splitting with pain and he couldn’t decide if the headache was worse or the pain of his now shredded heart.

How was he supposed to go back to his people now? How was he supposed to face them knowing it was his mate who had caused such misery to them for so long. He thought about his best friend and wondered if he remembered him fondly… if he might forgive him… if he still considered him a brother.

Memories of his time in this foreign world with Katherine kept spinning in his mind overlapping with those of his true home.

Katie was writing something in a journal. It was odd. He had never seen her write before. So naturally his curiosity won. He walked behind her and grabbed her shoulder, making her jump in her seat.

“Someone’s jumpy this morning” he chuckled at her horrified expression.

Katie had a hand on her chest, trying to calm her breathing. She’d immediately closed the journal.

“Alex how many times do I have to tell you; don’t you ever sneak up on me like this”.

“I didn’t sneak up. I just came and found you sitting here”.

“You don’t even make a sound while walking; it’s like you just pop out of thin air behind people”. She was still breathing fast.

“I’m a predator honey... a warrior. What else do you expect from me? It’s in my nature. What were you writing anyway?”

“Nothing”. She lied.

“Well you clearly were writing something”. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s just some ideas about our home”. She replied “I think I want to redecorate”.

“Oh? Well if that makes you happy love”. He kissed her forehead and just like that he accepted her lie. He snapped out of the memory with a hurting heart, ‘and you’re the biggest damn fool for it Alexander Vasilis, you trusted a witch’.

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