CHAPTER SEVEN

Trever

“You.”

My stomach dropped as I heard the gasp escape from Ophelia’s mouth.

The attack made sense. They were singling out Ophelia and trying to take her away to their hideout. The expectation that only Oxwell would make it to carry on the Celik name.

A cold sweat dripped down my back. I would never let such monsters take Ophelia.

I dared not approach but kept my eyes locked with her’s. It didn’t matter what they said in this room, so long as she was with me and I with her.

“And to think Prince Hun wanted to bed her before giving her away to the monsters! She has nothing to say! What a perfect little doll she is!” Duke Warlington slapped the back of Ophelia’s head.

The force pushed her face forward and into the surface of the table.

I glared at the Duke who looked at his hand. I feel so helpless. Fury making everything have a red tint. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of Ophelia. I tightened my grip around both my sword hilt and dagger, ready to slice anyone who dared too close to me at this moment. My ears were buzzing with my heartbeat. I can’t stand this. I can’t stand not being able to do anything.

I have seen Ophelia mistreated before, sure. But it was always due to her Father. I was stupid for being hopeful her mistreatment would end due to the death of that monster. But it seems, poor Ophelia’s exposure to monsters is just beginning.

“My bad my dear, it seems I have missed your back and hit you in the head. No matter. I am sure some head damage will help with your future sinking before you!” Duke Warlington and the two counts stood up from their chairs and walked out of the room, towards the dining hall once again.

Their laughter and stupid chatter ringing in my ears. As soon as the door shut and I could hear them no more, I rushed to Ophelia.

“My sweet Ophelia, are you alright?”

She rolled her face to the side. I could see some blood trickling down her nose where her face hit the table. I pulled the chair out and helped Ophelia out of the seat.

My heart began to race. We needed to get out of here. We need to leave right now before anything else happens. I grabbed her hand and pulled her out of that horrible room.

We stumbled together out of the other doors and got hopelessly lost in the palace.

“Why do all of these halls all look the same!” I glared around as if my eyes could see through doors to find our suite.

Each wall was as detailed as the last. It almost appears as though the dining hall and map room were made at a different time than the rest of the palace whose ivory walls and carved archways leave a more bright and positive vibe.

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“Trever…” Ophelia smiled weakly at me. I refused to meet her eyes.

“I know it has to be somewhere, do these halls keep moving around?”

“Trever, look at me.” Ophelia whimpered. I stopped and stared at the ground until she lifted my face with her hands.

“Trever, please. Please promise me that you will not let anything happen to Oxwell.” Her voice caught as the words came out with tears.

My heart broke. Even when she is faced with a sentence of death, her main concern is that of her younger brother. I nodded.

“I won’t let this happen to you.” leaning forward, I kissed her. I kissed her partially opened lips and put my weight into it. She reciprocated. Kissing me as if she was starving. Her hands wrapped around my neck and I lifted her into my arms against the wall.

Her breathing was getting heavy and I proceeded to kiss down her neck and atop her breasts. She let out a soft moan that drove me wild. Her fingers tangled into my hair and I leaned back to appreciate her body.

I stopped though. Her face one of not pleasure but deep sadness.

Setting her back down on her feet, I grabbed her hand and continued to search for our room.

“I am sorry,” my words coming out of a clenched jaw.

Ophelia was silent. Simply following me as I dragged her around.

As I hurriedly searched for our escape route, Ophelia's silent presence weighed heavily on my heart. The walls seemed to close in around us, suffocating me with a sense of helplessness. The echoes of her unspoken pain reverberated through the labyrinthine corridors of the palace.

"I am sorry," I muttered through gritted teeth, the frustration building within me. Ophelia remained silent, her expression a mixture of resignation and sorrow. The palace, once a symbol of grandeur, now felt like a prison closing in on us.

Draven

Under the shroud of darkness, I moved with the agility of a shadow, scaling the castle walls with calculated precision. The emotional turmoil emanating from my mate spurred me on, every pang of her distress intensifying my determination to reach her.

As I stealthily navigated the castle's interior, my heightened senses picked up on the faint scent of Ophelia's blood, a stark reminder of her vulnerability. Anger simmered within me, a primal instinct to protect my mate from harm. The connection between us, the invisible thread that bound our souls, pulsed with urgency.

A sudden encounter with a maid posed a minor obstacle, swiftly dealt with to maintain the element of surprise. Corsets and tight dresses made for inconspicuous maneuvers, and I pressed on, driven by the need to find Her.

Trever

The castle's intricate design continued to confound me, each hallway indistinguishable from the last. Frustration and anxiety coiled within me, mirroring the maze of corridors that seemed to lead nowhere.

Finally, a familiar door appeared, and I pulled Ophelia into the safety of our suite. The relief was short-lived as the weight of the impending danger loomed over us.

"Ophelia, we need to leave. I can't protect you here," I urged, my voice a low growl. Every second felt crucial, and the urgency to escape the clutches of the castle gripped me like a vice.

Draven

My senses heightened as I drew closer to the source of my mate’s distress. The pull of our connection intensified, a magnetic force guiding me through the labyrinth of the castle. The scent of her blood lingered in the air, igniting the protective instincts within me.

A distant sound of hurried footsteps caught my attention. I concealed myself in the shadows as a man led my mate into a suite. The seconds ticked away, and I knew I had to act swiftly to ensure our escape.

I gently tried the door to see if I could get in but it was locked. As they exchanged urgent words, I remained hidden, biding my time. My clan, cloaked in the guise of beggars, awaited my signal at the castle gates. The mission to retrieve my mate from the clutches of the castle was underway.