Claire

As soon as the cuffs were off of me, I pulled my hands down and rubbed my sore wrists, eyeing the red, irritated skin. I realized that I suddenly felt stronger. I could feel myself healing, breathing easier. I moved my foot slightly and it followed my command much easier than before. The silver must have had a much greater effect on me than the man realized, but I didn't want to give away my growing strength. I didn't want him to put the cuffs back on or to kill me faster. This was a chance to take him off guard. I tried to mind link again, but it still wasn't working. I rested my eyes, allowing myself a moment to relax and felt the spark of hope in me grow.

"Still can't move, sweetie? Oh darn. This won't be nearly as fun as I had hoped." The man says with an overexaggerated pout.

"Sorry to disappoint you." I murmur quietly, pretending to try and move but not being able to. My limbs were quickly going back to my normal. I considered trying to run, but I know this wolf could catch me with little effort.

My only option is to fight back.

"Well, I suppose we should get this started. Can you imagine the look on Rowan's face when he sees what I've sent him? His precious heir." He laughs cruelly and I narrow my eyes at him.

"You're really fucked up, you know that?" I spit at him and his boisterous laughter fills the otherwise quiet room.

"Yes. I know. But when everything you've loved and worked for has been stolen from you, you don't have much choice anymore. I've lived out here in relative isolation since Atticus defeated me, the shame too great for me to show my face among other supernaturals. Wolves aren't meant to live alone. We are meant to be with a pack, a family. But all that was left for me was Damon. I thought I was doing a favor, getting him a high ranking position with Atticus. I had no idea a tempermental dragon would be his death." The man says sadly and I can't help but scoff.

"Damon was an asshole. He pissed Rowan off on purpose. Touching me, saying inappropriate things to me. He should have known better." I say firmly and the man growls at me.

"That's no reason to fucking murder him!" He yells at me but I just shrug.

"Rowan made an example out of him. I got the impression he had been a problem for years. Treating me that way was the final straw. Rowan made clear anyone who touches me would die. Nobody fucks with his mates." I say, trying to stall for time for my strength to increase.

"Except me. Rowan will feel the agony of your loss for eternity. To lose a marked mate, it's a special form of torture. One I am all too happy to share with him. He will never forget, he will never be whole again. A part of his soul will die with you." He says, taking a step towards me. I begin to panic, my heart racing.

"And what about Bennett? Our other mate. Why does he deserve this? He's done nothing wrong." I say desperately trying to keep him away from me, but he only shrugs.

"I don't care about him. He and Rowan can suffer together. Or perhaps your loss and your child's loss will be too great that their bond breaks, that they can't stand to be together any longer. Wouldn't that just be the sweetest cherry on top." He says with a joyful laugh that makes my stomach curl.

"Now, let's get that baby out of you. Please fight back. Make this even more fun for me." He says with a smirk before he leaps across the room in my direction, the blade poised and aimed at my stomach.

I shriek and roll away from him, but wait until he gets close enough that I can reach him. Before he can realize what's happening, I reach out and grip the dagger. His eyes widen in surprise at how much energy I have. I tilt the blade back and his jaw clenches. I scream again and he tries to use his other hand to peel my fingers away from the handle of the dagger. I push myself up to kneeling on the bed and push myself forward, my teeth sinking into his hand.

He roars out in pain and I feel the coppery taste of his blood in my mouth. It nearly makes me gag, but I don't let go. I only push them deeper until I can feel the bones in his hand. He finally lets go and pulls his hand from my mouth. I use the opportunity to tilt the blade further and use what little strength I have left the thrust it forward. I meet a sickening resistance, but I don't stop exerting pressure until I feel the blade sink into his belly. He cries out in agony and tries to pull away from me, but I give one last good push until the blade is deep within his abdomen. He cries out again and falls to the ground on his back, flailing and trying to pull the blade out. I watch him in horror for a few short moments before I leap from the bed and grab the silver cuffs. I hiss a little as the metal stings my fingertips, but I ignore the pain as I wrap it around one of his wrists, then attach it to the bed. He continues to scream, but his movements become more jerky and uncoordinated. I collapse onto the floor a few feet away from him, my strength waning and my legs becoming weak. I take a few deep breaths as I watch the man sink into unconciousness. I think I may have killed him, but I can see the ragged rise and fall of his chest as he takes in incoordinated breaths. The bitter smell of blood and sweat fills the air and my body gags on impulse, but I try to swallow back the acid climbing up my throat, just wanting to get out of this place.

I crawl across the floor until I get to the door, and propel myself into the hallway, pulling the door closed behind me. No longer in the same room as that monster I'm able to truly breathe, sobs pouring from me from both relief and fear. I rest my hands on my belly, rubbing it gently.

"We're gonna be ok, baby boy. Your daddies will come for us." I reassure him and myself quietly.

I sit like that for I'm not sure how long. I watch the sun start to sink into the sky as my strength builds. I hear the man jostle himself a few times, but never more than a second or two at a time. Between the dagger in his stomach and the cuff around his wrist I'm confident he can't get up and find me.

It takes a long time, but I eventually feel the tether linking me to my mates and sob again out of relief.

'Bennett! Rowan!' I cry into our link and feel them accept the link immediately.

'Claire! Where the fuck are you?' Rowan asks and I can feel his fear and relief flood through our bond.

'Damon's father. He kidnapped me. I don't know where I am.' I say my voice choking on a sob. I push a mental image of what I can see through the window and Rowan answers immediately.

'That fucker. I know exactly where you are. Stay there we are on our way.' He says and I begin to cry more.

'Are you ok?' Bennett asks.

'Yes. I'm alright. Just please hurry.' I plead and Bennett's wolf whines in my mind.

'We'll be there soon. Where is he?' Bennett asks.

'In the other room with a silver blade in his stomach.' I say, rage dripping from my words. I feel a spark of pride from both of my mates and let it keep me calm as I wait for them.

It doesn't take long for me to hear the whooshing of wings. I look out the window to see Rowan's huge dragon as it descends to the ground. I let out a sigh of relief and push myself off of the ground. I make it outside just as Rowans shifts. Bennett runs to me and I collapse into his arms. He holds me tight against his chest and I cry into him, gripping his shirt in my fists just to prove to myself that he's real. He lets me go so I can hug Rowan, but my legs give out and I nearly fall until Bennett catches me.

"What happened, baby? Why are you so weak?" Bennett asks, looking my body over for injuries.

"He injected me with gold." I say, holding onto him so I don't fall. Bennett looks at me with horror while Rowan roars loudly, his face contorting into fury. I gasp at the sight and pull away from him.

"That's what he said? That he injected you with gold?" Rowan asks and I nod, tears streaming down my face.

"No, no, no, no." Rowan repeats over and over as he drops to his knees in front of me, gripping my waist and pulling me towards him until he can press his ear against my belly.