"Jaxon? You still awake?"

"Unfortunately."

"Do you know what's going on?"

"No," he sighs. "But I have a feeling these cells were built for us."

My gaze snaps to the bars. "It's cold iron, isn't it?"

"Yeah, the collar is too."

I frown. "You're wearing a collar?"

He growls. "Yeah. I feel like a fucking dog," he mutters.

I scoot closer to the wall, hugging my knees to my chest. The pain and frustration in my mate's voice makes my blood run cold. "Who the hell did this?" I ask.

He sighs heavily. "I have no idea."

********

48 hours earlier . . .

"Be nice Zahra," I say with a warning growl.

She peers at me for a moment before creeping closer, more cautiously this time. She tentatively touches her nose to the baby's cheek, chirping a little.

The baby lets out a tiny giggle and waves her arms around making Zahra leap back, her fur standing on end. I shake my head in amusement when she hides behind me, her tail swishing as she pokes her head up to look over my leg.

Angel scoops up the baby into her arms, smiling when Zahra starts to move out from behind me. "I think Sera might have scared her a little," she comments.

"I don't blame her. Babies are terrifying," I hear Fara mutter.

"Oh don't pretend you weren't just making faces at Ruelle and Blaise to try to make them laugh," Angel scoffs making Fara scowl and return to her breakfast.

"Well hopefully she'll get a little tougher as she gets older," Jaxon says, reaching over me to scratch the leopard's head.

"Can you imagine a full grown dæmon that's afraid of babies?" I laugh.

He chuckles, shaking his head. "That would be an interesting sight."

"I think he's done, babe can you bring me one of the girls?" Zella calls from the couch.

Angel nods and trades babies with her mate so she can breastfeed.

"Does that feel weird?" Fara asks.

"A little," she admits with a small laugh before turning to Jaxon and I. "So are you guys heading back tonight?"

"Yeah, we need to get back to make sure everything's okay. My mom is going to stay for a few more days though to help you guys out," Jaxon says.

"Well you should visit more often. We love having you around—and that includes you two," she says with a pointed glance at Fara and I.

"Really?" I ask with a hopeful smile.

"You're our family too now," she replies.

I can't help the stupid grin on my face as I look over at Jaxon. "We'll make sure to visit more often from now on," he tells his aunt.

"You promise?" She asks, raising her eyebrow in a challenge.

He chuckles. "We promise."

***

"Are you really leaving again?"

"Yeah we need to make sure things back home haven't gone to shit."

"You know there was a time when you called this your home," she mumbles under her breath.

He sighs. "Tay can you please try to understand that it hurts to come back here? It makes me nauseous to be in the house I grew up in—I feel like slitting my wrists as soon as I step foot in the forest. I can't even look at a fucking video game without wishing I could take my sister's place and the only thing that helps is my mate."

I clench my jaw when his voice cracks. I want to go out into the hall and kiss him more than anything.

But then he'd know you were listening, Cassie reminds me.

He has to know I'm listening. I'm more afraid of what Taylor would do, she scares me.

How can she scare you? She's smaller than you and she's a wolf and she's Jaxon's friend. She's not going to do anything, my dragon scoffs.

I shrug, staring at my hands. Pretty girls scare me.

"—if I came to the circle? Would that be easier?"

"That's a very dangerous trip, I'd feel a lot better if you just stayed here," he says.

"You're my best friend Jaxon, I'm not gonna just let you move away and never talk to me again."

"Okay fine, if I can't come here then I will send a few warriors to bring you to the circle. It'll be safer that way and much faster, deal?"

"Deal!"

It's silent for a few moments and I can only assume they're hugging.

"I love you Tay," I hear Jaxon say and frown a little.

Don't freak out, Cassie growls at me.

"Love you too, bye Jax."

"I'll see you soon."

I hear the door start to open and quickly lay down on the bed, shoving my face into a pillow.

"Don't even bother I know you were listening," Jaxon chuckles.

I lift my head with a sheepish grin. "Sorry."

He shrugs. "It's fine. If I didn't want you to hear I wouldn't have stayed in the hall," he says, sitting down on the bed.

"So," I murmur, fiddling with the blankets, "were you two ever a thing?"

He raises his eyebrow at me. "Are you jealous of Taylor?"

"What? No! I just—" I close my mouth as the words flee from my mind.

Jaxon grins and leans down to plant a firm kiss on my lips. "Tay is just a friend. She used to date my brother, so that would be really weird for several reasons," he laughs.

"Oh," I murmur, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

He takes my hand and makes me sit up. "Still jealous?" He teases.

I bite my cheek. "Well yeah."

"Why?"

"Cause she's really pretty," I mumble and he shakes his head.

"Don't tell her I said this—she'll kill me if she finds out—but you are a dozen times prettier than she is," he whispers and I blush harder.

"You're lying."

"I'm very shallow so if she was prettier I would have chosen her as my mate instead of you."

I make a face. "That was definitely a lie."

"Maybe but the first one was the truth," he grins.

I purse my lips. "I still think you're lying but I do believe that she's just a friend, she's kinda missing something that she would need if she wanted to be your mate."

He frowns. "And what's that?"

"A dick."

He laughs, shaking his head. "Gods I love you," he says with a massive grin as he presses his lips against mine.

"Am I wrong?"

He smirks. "No."

I lean forward with a small smile. "You know you never actually told me why you chose me to be your mate."

"I shouldn't have to tell you why," he says, tucking my hair behind my ears.

"Please?"

He lets out a heavy breath, his hands finding mine. "I chose you the first time because you deserved to be protected and I knew I could protect you.

"I chose you again because in spite of all the pain you have already suffered, you still tried to take mine so I wouldn't have to.

"And everyday I choose you because I need someone to remind me why life is worth living."

I can't breathe.

I stare into his golden gaze, my heart pounding in my ears. I open my mouth to say something, to say I love you—but then I stop. It's not enough.

"I—" I stop again, swallowing hard as I carefully piece together the words in my head. His fingers curl tighter around mine in a reassuring squeeze.

My hands start to tremble as the words leave my lips. "My soul is yours, forever and always."

***

My jaw drops and my eyes widen. "Woah," I breathe.

"Perks of living in the palace," Jaxon drawls, kissing my neck and sliding his arms around my waist so that my back is flush against his chest.

"I didn't even know we had a dining room," I say as I look over the food laid out on the table. There's even a plush sofa against the wall with an amazing view of the volcanoes.

"The Hall is where everyone else eats, but this is only for the royal family and distinguished guests," he says.

"Is anyone going to come in here?" I ask when I feel his hands start to move lower.

He lets out a deep chuckle, his chest rumbling. "No," he growls.

I turn around in his arms and close my eyes when he kisses me hard. My hands snake around his neck while his travel down to grip my thighs.

He growls against my lips as he lifts me up, making me grin as I wrap my legs around his waist. I tug on his hair, smirking at the groan it elicits.

My back hits something soft and he hovers over me, pressing his hips into mine. He pulls away and leaves me laying breathless beneath him.

He gently tilts my head to the side and I gasp at the warm sensation of his mouth on my neck. He sucks on the skin, no doubt leaving a mark.

We both freeze at the sound of a dish clattering to the floor. I crane my head to see around Jax and immediately growl in annoyance.

Fara throws us a sheepish smile. "Just pretend I'm not here," she says, motioning for us to continue.

Jax raises his eyebrow. "What are you doing?"

"I'm eating. This food is way better than the stuff they have in the Hall. You guys can keep having fun, I'll try to keep it down," she tells us, picking up the bowl she knocked off the table.

I frown at her tone. She sounded completely serious. "Please be kidding," I mumble, my face burning.

"This food is worth the mental scarring you two will give me," she replies.

I cringe. "Oh gods she's not kidding."

"Fara who let you in here?" Jax asks as he sits back.

"What do you mean? There's no one out there," she says, motioning to the door. "Gods you guys should try this stuff it's amazing."

She's not going anywhere is she?

Not likely, Jax sighs.

He stands and tugs me to my feet. We sit down at the table across from Fara who can't seem to hide her smirk. "How long have you two been together?" She suddenly asks.

"Why?"

She shrugs. "I'm just curious about how much longer you two will be this handsy. I mean you go at it as soon as you're left alone for more than a few minutes."

My cheeks are on fire at this point but Jaxon just grows more annoyed. "I thought you were going to stay with mom?" He asks.

"Yeah I was but she said I could come back early. I think she just wanted some time alone."

"She's not the only one," I growl under my breath.

Fara scowls. "Stop being a whiny little piss baby. You don't have to pout, you can go fuck each other later."

Jaxon rolls his eyes with a low growl. "Fine but next time you have to ask if you want to join us for dinner in here."

"Yeah yeah whatever—shit you have to try this wine," Fara laughs, staring with wide eyes at her cup.

"I'm not a big fan of wine," Jax says, holding his hand up when she starts to pour some into his glass.

"I'll try some," I mutter.

She fills my glass with a tiny smirk. "Are you a lightweight Ash?" She asks.

"I don't know what that means," I murmur, glancing down at the blood red liquid.

"I'm gonna take that as a yes," she chuckles.

I take a tentative sip, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "It's sweet."

"What?" Jaxon asks.

"Here try it," I say, offering him the wine.

He hesitates for a moment before tipping the glass to his lips. "Huh. Where did you get this?" He asks Fara who proceeds to fill both of our glasses.

"I may or may not have stolen it from witch territory," she says with a tiny smirk.

I find myself downing the rest of my wine and asking for more in only a few minutes. It's addicting. It fills my chest with a strange warmth and the exceptionally sweet taste lingers on my tongue.

"Fara are you sure you got this from witch territory?" I hear Jaxon ask. I glance over to see him frowning at his empty glass.

"Yeah, why?" She asks, her words slurring a little.

"Something's wrong with it," Jax says.

"What are you talking about?"

"Something is wrong with this wine," he growls.

That's when everything starts to spin. Suddenly it's all flashing lights and colors as my body starts to go numb.

I hear Jaxon shout for the guards but it sounds distant and muffled. My limbs throb but I can't move them; it's only seconds later that I feel the ice in my chest.

I can't breathe. My body trembles violently and suddenly I'm on the floor.

I see Luka's face above mine for a second before he disappears from view. There's shouting and growling and flashes of red and white and then there's just . . . nothing.

***

I slowly peel my eyes open with a groan. The light is dim but it still takes a moment to adjust.

What's going on? I ask my dragon but she is silent.

I sit up and try to look around but all I can see are the walls and bars of a prison cell.

My chest tightens and I start to panic. I wrap my arms around my knees and squeeze my eyes shut but it doesn't help. I can still feel the cold stone beneath me. I can still hear the dripping water. I can still smell the wet rock.

I dig my nails into my palms until it hurts and bite my cheek until I can taste blood. It doesn't help.

A hoarse scream escapes my lips and I slam my head against the wall again and again until it goes blank.

***

It hurts. It hurts and I don't know how to make it stop.

There is blood everywhere and it keeps flowing from the self-inflicted wounds on my body. I clench my jaw as I run the pads of my fingers over the binding scars on my hand: the only scars on my body not borne from malice.

My head snaps up at the sound of my mate's voice. "Ash?"

"Jaxon? Are you really there?" I gasp, scrambling towards the bars. I get a low groan in response. "Are you okay?"

"I guess," he murmurs with a sharp wince. "Where are we?"

"It looks like a prison."

"A prison? How long have we been here?"

"I don't know. I woke up a while ago but I'm not sure if that was days or hours," I mutter.

"Have you seen anyone?"

"No. I thought I was alone," I say.

"So did you bash your own head in then?"

My eyes fly wide and I slap a hand over my mouth. "Oh gods Jax I'm so sorry," I breathe, tears streaming down my face.

"It's fine, I just want to make sure no one hurt you while I was unconscious—directly anyway," he sighs.

"Do you think anyone knows where we are?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

He doesn't say anything and I collapse against the wall with a harsh sob. "I can't do this again Jax," I choke out.

"I know baby, we'll find a way to get out of here. I promise I won't let anyone hurt you," he tells me firmly.

I shake my head, my vision blurring. "I can't do this again."