still distant.
Sebastian could work with that, as long as he managed to get out of here. He needed a plan. But with this terrible darkness, he couldn’t even tell if his prison had any weaknesses at all.
He strained against the cuffs, uselessly trying to break them. The silver hurt his wrists, and still, he could not free himself. He didn’t know how long he continued to do so, but at one point, he collapsed against the wall, exhausted.
In that moment, Sebastian felt it, the terror, the anger, the shock, and misery. It didn’t come from him, or Marcus. The feelings 82
Scarlet Hyacinth
swamping him originated from Paulie. For a few minutes, Sebastian dared to hope Paulie merely figured out the investigating crew had been attacked, but the dim spark vanished when he experienced physical pain through their connection. He sensed the moment Marcus regained consciousness, his alarm flooding their connection.
Because they’d claimed each other, Sebastian could feel Marcus stronger than he did Paulie. Even so, the bond with the young human already seemed quite strong. Sebastian began to have trouble breathing, and he realized someone was trying to choke the life out of Paulie.
Savage panic coursed through him, and he pulled at the chains holding him with a strength he didn’t know he had. His arms hurt like a son of a bitch, and still the manacles held. But the wall behind them yielded, and Sebastian found himself falling forward, his wrists still encased in heavy silver, while rock flew all around him.
At the same time, he began to breathe a bit easier. At first, he felt confused, but then a sense of relief filled him. Somehow, Sebastian knew Paulie had narrowly escaped being killed by his attacker.
Still, that didn’t mean they were safe. Whoever engineered this—
because it was clearly a well-crafted plan—could very well attack Paulie again. Not to mention Sebastian himself, his mate, and all the others who’d been in the brigade.
Ignoring the burn of the silver, Sebastian made his way to the cracked wall and stole a look through. He noticed a very distant light, barely there, but casting away some of the acute darkness regardless.
He didn’t have to think too much about it. Putting the force of his fear and desire to be with his loved ones, Sebastian began to work at the wall, struggling to make a hole big enough for him to slip through.
The process sent rumbling noises through the silent blackness, and as much as Sebastian tried to keep the sound as low as possible, it didn’t surprise him when he heard footsteps approach. Sebastian didn’t even try to hide. He’d already figured out he had nowhere to go, and his efforts would just be useless, especially with the heavy Three Mates, One Destiny
83
chains dragging him down. At least this way, he’d find out who’d imprisoned him. He already suspected the identity of his captor. Who else could it be but Joseph? The ferals had never been organized before Joseph showed up, and no one he knew of could have an interest in keeping them prisoner.
The seconds seemed to turn into hours as he waited, but it couldn’t have been long afterward that two silhouettes shrouded the dim light. “Well, well,” a male voice said. “Looks like someone’s awoken in a bad mood.”
Sebastian frowned. He didn’t recognize the voice, but judging by the tone, he’d have guessed this person must be a high-ranking officer in this group. More importantly, his visitors didn’t smell like feral.
They were pure, one hundred percent human. How could this be?
“Even in this gloom, I can see you’re confused.” The man laughed at his own joke. His tone changed as he addressed his companion.
“Bring us some light.”
The second human somehow came up with a huge lantern. A few moments later, pale, yellow light sent eerie rays through the darkness.
Sebastian could at last spot the faces of his jailors.
There was nothing particularly wicked about them. Had Sebastian
Sebastian could work with that, as long as he managed to get out of here. He needed a plan. But with this terrible darkness, he couldn’t even tell if his prison had any weaknesses at all.
He strained against the cuffs, uselessly trying to break them. The silver hurt his wrists, and still, he could not free himself. He didn’t know how long he continued to do so, but at one point, he collapsed against the wall, exhausted.
In that moment, Sebastian felt it, the terror, the anger, the shock, and misery. It didn’t come from him, or Marcus. The feelings 82
Scarlet Hyacinth
swamping him originated from Paulie. For a few minutes, Sebastian dared to hope Paulie merely figured out the investigating crew had been attacked, but the dim spark vanished when he experienced physical pain through their connection. He sensed the moment Marcus regained consciousness, his alarm flooding their connection.
Because they’d claimed each other, Sebastian could feel Marcus stronger than he did Paulie. Even so, the bond with the young human already seemed quite strong. Sebastian began to have trouble breathing, and he realized someone was trying to choke the life out of Paulie.
Savage panic coursed through him, and he pulled at the chains holding him with a strength he didn’t know he had. His arms hurt like a son of a bitch, and still the manacles held. But the wall behind them yielded, and Sebastian found himself falling forward, his wrists still encased in heavy silver, while rock flew all around him.
At the same time, he began to breathe a bit easier. At first, he felt confused, but then a sense of relief filled him. Somehow, Sebastian knew Paulie had narrowly escaped being killed by his attacker.
Still, that didn’t mean they were safe. Whoever engineered this—
because it was clearly a well-crafted plan—could very well attack Paulie again. Not to mention Sebastian himself, his mate, and all the others who’d been in the brigade.
Ignoring the burn of the silver, Sebastian made his way to the cracked wall and stole a look through. He noticed a very distant light, barely there, but casting away some of the acute darkness regardless.
He didn’t have to think too much about it. Putting the force of his fear and desire to be with his loved ones, Sebastian began to work at the wall, struggling to make a hole big enough for him to slip through.
The process sent rumbling noises through the silent blackness, and as much as Sebastian tried to keep the sound as low as possible, it didn’t surprise him when he heard footsteps approach. Sebastian didn’t even try to hide. He’d already figured out he had nowhere to go, and his efforts would just be useless, especially with the heavy Three Mates, One Destiny
83
chains dragging him down. At least this way, he’d find out who’d imprisoned him. He already suspected the identity of his captor. Who else could it be but Joseph? The ferals had never been organized before Joseph showed up, and no one he knew of could have an interest in keeping them prisoner.
The seconds seemed to turn into hours as he waited, but it couldn’t have been long afterward that two silhouettes shrouded the dim light. “Well, well,” a male voice said. “Looks like someone’s awoken in a bad mood.”
Sebastian frowned. He didn’t recognize the voice, but judging by the tone, he’d have guessed this person must be a high-ranking officer in this group. More importantly, his visitors didn’t smell like feral.
They were pure, one hundred percent human. How could this be?
“Even in this gloom, I can see you’re confused.” The man laughed at his own joke. His tone changed as he addressed his companion.
“Bring us some light.”
The second human somehow came up with a huge lantern. A few moments later, pale, yellow light sent eerie rays through the darkness.
Sebastian could at last spot the faces of his jailors.
There was nothing particularly wicked about them. Had Sebastian
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