Fighting Fate (16 page)

vortex—or whatever the fuck this was—soon, they’d die.

He couldn’t lose her just when he’d finally found her.

Just when he thought they’d never get out of the tunnel of wind and pain, they slammed into the

ground. He’d rolled in the air, taking the brunt of the pain, but Cailin had still hit as well.

They were both on their bare feet, bleeding and ready to fight in the next breath. Cailin pressed

her back into his, covering him.

They were fighters then.

Pack.

His wolf growled, trying to take over again, that dark magic in his blood ready to fight any

threat. Again, he pushed it away. Cailin’s safety was priority.

“Where are we?” Cailin asked. He knew she was looking around the room just as he was.

They were in a cement room with no doors. No windows. He had no idea how they’d gotten

there. Not really. And he had no idea how to get his mate out of there. His wolf rebelled, growling,

clawing. It wanted out. It wanted blood. The darkness that seeped into his blood and his soul,

threatened to overcome him, but he held it back. He’d let it out to defend his mate and himself against

the demon, but not in front of his mate.

Not alone.

He didn’t trust himself enough.

He reached back and squeezed her hand. She clutched it tightly before letting go. They would

both need their hands to fight.

If that was what this was to be.

Logan inhaled deep, scenting Centrals and cursing. “Central land. Or at least we’re near some of

the bastards.”

“I’ve got that much. Fuck. I didn’t know Caym could do that. Bring us here.”

He could sense the rising fear in her words, but then she pushed it away. This was his mate—

strong and fierce. They could succumb to their fear later.

Right then they needed to find out exactly where they were and devise a plan to get the fuck out

of there.

“I don’t see an exit, do you?” she breathed.

The air in the room shifted, and Logan growled.

Ready.

Caym appeared in front of them as if sliding through smoke. “Welcome.” The demon smiled, all

sharp teeth and evil temptation.

Cailin growled near him, low, deadly. But she didn’t move. Neither did he. This was the man,

the demon, who’d killed her parents. They hadn’t yet finished grieving, yet here the damn thing was.

And yet they were all ready to fight again.

Though the elders of the Redwood Pack were trying to find a way to take down Caym, they

hadn’t succeeded yet leaving Logan and Cailin shit out of luck.

He’d just have to pray Caym was merely toying with them. Showing them his power before

letting them go.

At least that’s what he hoped.

“Fuck you,” he spat. The demon could kill them in an instant—even as they pleaded. There was

no use playing nice.

Not anymore.

“Tut tut, little wolf.” Caym licked his lips, his gaze on Cailin. “Don’t anger me too much, or I’ll

have to see how tasty your sweet mate is. Oh yes, love the markings. You bit her hard, did you? Like

the taste of her blood in your mouth? The power that comes from tearing into her flesh as you pound

into her? Maybe you’re a little more demon than I thought.”

Logan growled, not letting the demon bait him into attacking first. Not when there wasn’t an exit.

“Now, you’re probably wondering why you’re here. That’s easy. You need to die.”

Caym smiled, and Logan gripped Cailin’s arm. She didn’t move, but he could feel the pain

through the bond. She was ready to add more scars to Caym’s face like Lexi had done or even remove

the bastard’s head altogether.

But without the magic of the moon goddess—more light than he possessed—they wouldn’t stand

a chance.

And they all knew it.

“I’ve already tried to kill the two of you before, and we know how that ended up. Don’t we?”

Logan growled again as a wave of fresh pain slammed into the bond. Cailin was holding on by a

thread and he wasn’t doing much better.

“You two are such hard wolves to kill, what with people dying for you left and right.”

Why was Caym focused so much on him and Cailin? That would be something he’d think about

once they were safe.

If they ever were safe again.

He needed to get Cailin out of there, or he wouldn’t be responsible for what his wolf did. He

wasn’t strong enough to save her in this room—maybe in any room—and the failure plaguing him

enraged his wolf even more.

“Watching the mighty Alpha of the Redwood Pack fall for the little brat was mighty satisfying.

Even if that wasn’t my intended purpose. Killing his mate? Oh, that was a two-for-one deal.”

Cailin whimpered, and Logan cursed. He knew she had to be kicking herself for showing that

weakness, but at this point, there was no denying it.

They
were
weaker than the demon.

Fuck it all.

“Funny how dear old Patricia died
before
you mated.” Caym tilted his head. “Makes you

wonder if you two only mated to make sure her death meant something. Or whatever other sentimental

babbling bullshit you need to sprout. Do you two even
like
each other? Or is all the sex just guilt?

Something to think about.”

“Fuck off, Caym. You’re reaching here for words to hurt us.” Sure, they were working, but he’d

be damned if he’d let Cailin think he didn’t want her. He’d already done that once trying to protect

her. He wouldn’t let the demon do it to her again.

Caym’s smile vanished, and he snarled. “Watch your tone, wolf of darkness. You might think

your secrets are yours alone, but you can’t hide them from me.”

He felt Cailin’s curiosity along the bond, but she’d have to stay curious a bit longer. He’d

explain everything to her once they got of there.

If
they got out of there.

“Now, where was I?” Caym asked then snapped his fingers. “Ah yes.” He opened his hand, and

a long whip covered in razor blades and crushed glass appeared in his hand.

Holy fuck, how much power did this demon have now that he was the Alpha of the Central Pack

with their life forces connected to him?

Logan had a feeling he was about to find out.

“Ready?” Caym grinned.

Logan turned, flinging himself over Cailin as they hit the ground. The first flare of the whip dug

into his skin, flaying his back.

Cailin screamed under him, and he ground his teeth, blood seeping down his back, soaking their

sides.

“We’ll get out of here,” he whispered through clenched teeth.

“Logan,” she breathed.

The next sting of the whip cut into his shoulder near the mating mark, and he howled.

They had to get out of there.

Soon.

Or all would be lost.

He wasn’t strong enough to protect his mate, and now she would know that.

She would see his weakness.

The next slash cut deeper, and he met her gaze.

He’d protect her. Not matter what.

He had to.

Chapter Ten

Cailin clutched at Logan, holding back her screams at the pain on his face. Damn him for taking

the brunt of the pain, for protecting her. Her wolf howled, clawing at her. Their mate was in pain, and

the only way to stop it was to take the pain herself.

She’d do that in a heartbeat, but Logan wouldn’t be budged.

He was stronger than her, even as he bled.

Her Logan.

Her poor, sweet, Logan.

“Oh look, little princess, another wolf is bleeding for you,” Caym taunted as he cracked the whip

again. Each time it hit Logan’s skin, her mate flinched but didn’t let his gaze leave hers. Blood seeped

into her clothes, and a tear slid down her cheek.

“Your parents died for you, and now you’re letting your mate do it too? No wonder you’re

nothing in the Pack. You’re weak. Useless. Unwanted. People die for you, but you’re not worth it, and

you know it. You’ll die soon. Alone. Unworthy. Never remembered because the people who would

care are already dead because of your selfishness.”

Each word slapped at her, but it was nothing compared to the pain Logan must be feeling. The

pain she felt through the bond alone made her want to weep—or claw the fucking demon’s face off.

Yes, the latter would help.

She could cry later when she and Logan were safe and warm. Because they would be. They

wouldn’t end like this, damn it.

“Fuck you, Caym,” Logan grunted.

She cupped his cheek and licked her lips. “Let me take some, Logan. Move.”

“Never, mate of mine. Never.”

She shook her head. “You don’t have a choice, love.” Love. Yes. That’s what she felt. But she’d

tell him properly when he wasn’t bleeding on her. Bleeding
for
her.

With one last look, she kissed him softly then pushed.

Hard.

Cailin rolled on top of him then screamed as the lash of the whip cut through her shirt and into

her skin, marking her back, left shoulder to right hip. She would be marked for life, but she didn’t

care. Logan didn’t deserve to take all the pain.

She could bear it for him.

Logan gripped her hips and tried to move her. “Cailin! Don’t you dare.”

“You don’t get to bleed for me alone, Logan.”

Caym laughed behind them. “So sweet. Fighting over who shall take my whip. That makes it a

little more fun for me in some respects, but don’t worry. I have enough pain for each of you.”

It felt like hands clutched at her, but she knew it was Caym’s magic. The force threw her into the

wall, and she grunted. Logan reached for her, but he couldn’t touch her. The magic threw him into the

opposite wall, and she blinked, her head aching from the impact.

Chains slid out from the wall and locked Logan into place, the pressure so tight she could see

them digging into his skin. One chain wrapped around his neck, forcing his gaze in one place.

Hers.

Oh, God.

What did Caym have planned?

She tried to move, but invisible hands held her back. Caym took the few steps needed so he was

in her line of sight, the whip in his hand, a menacing grin on his face.

“It’s always the same with you mates,” the demon drawled. “I hurt you, you bleed. But you don’t

feel nearly the amount of pain I need until I hurt someone you love. It happened with every single one

of you, and now I suppose you and your fucking precious dark wolf are the same. You didn’t scream

until I hurt Logan. So, now, in order to make sure Logan feels what I want him to, what I need him to,

I’ll make you bleed, dear princess. I’ll make you bleed while he watches, helpless to do anything

knowing that he wasn’t strong enough to protect you. Yes, I do believe that will be perfect.”

Cailin swallowed the bile in her throat.

Yes, the pain would be excruciating, but goddess, she didn’t want Logan to see this. Not when he

couldn’t do anything but watch.

This demon needed to die.

Now.

But she wasn’t strong enough.

No one was.

Caym grinned then flicked his wrist. The tail of the whip barely touched her skin, but goddess, it

hurt. The blades dug into her skin and tugged along the wounds before the demon drew the whip back

for another strike.

She held back her tears, her screams.

She’d do that for Logan.

Forcing herself to stay as calm as possible, she met Logan’s gaze. His eyes glowed gold, his

wolf fully at the surface. He growled, his need for her to be safe so powerful over the bond. If she

hadn’t been held up by magic, she surely would have fallen to her knees under the weight of it.

Caym hit her again, this time the side of the whip marking her chest. The glass shards cut into her

skin, and she held back another scream. Blood seeped from her wounds, dripping down to the floor.

Goddess, make it be over.

Soon.

She couldn’t bear to have Logan watch it.

Caym hit her again. Then again. Each time the numbness surrounding her gained strength, but not

enough that she couldn’t feel the whip. No, she felt every strike, but the ongoing torture of it burned to

a sweet numbness that she knew was all Logan.

Oh yes, her mate was taking her pain along the bond.

She didn’t know how she could do it, but she’d get on him later for helping her when he needed

to worry for himself.

Then she’d learn to take his pain as well.

Logan screamed from his side of the room. Blood seeped from his wrists and ankles where

manacles and chains bound him to the wall. She tried to speak, tell him she’d be okay and to close his

eyes, but she couldn’t get her throat to work over the pain.

Or the numbness.

The damn wolf was taking her pain, and she hated it. He wasn’t a Healer or an Omega who had

been trained to dampen some of it so it didn’t hurt as much. He was her damn mate, and he didn’t

deserve what he was doing to himself.

Caym hit her again then stepped back. She opened her one good eye, the other swollen from the

edge of the whip. If she lived through this, she’d end up with a scar—or four.

Not that she cared. She just needed to get her mind off of what was happening…what
could
be

happening.

“It was always you two, you know,” Caym whispered, and her wolf perked up.

“What?” she rasped out, her tongue thick.