Aldric knew something was wrong the moment the heavy door to his cell creaked open. He tensed, his instincts screaming that danger was near.
The air was full of tension, footsteps
echoing ominously off the stone walls. Five Fae males, their expressions hard as granite, strode in with purpose. Aldric’s heart began to race. These weren’t mere guards—they were warriors, battle-hardened and dangerous.
What has my father agreed to? The thought flashed through his mind like lightning, leaving him momentarily stunned.
King Oberon had kept him alive despite everything, and Aldric had taken some comfort in the fact that his father wouldn’t execute him. He had even begun to relax, confident that his cell was the safest place in the kingdom with the ongoing chaos. But now, seeing the determined looks on these warriors’ faces, doubt crept in.
If there was anyone he truly worried about, it was Islinda. But he had reassured himself that Andre, his brother, would take care of her, even if that meant keeping her far away from him. The isolation was maddening; he missed Islinda more than he could express. Had he known this was coming, he would have marked her —bound her to him in a way that would allow him to feel her presence, to know she was okay, wherever she was. Regret churned within him, but it was too late for that now.
The warriors advanced toward him, their silence more menacing than any words. Aldric’s heart pounded, adrenaline flooding his system. "What are you doing?" His voice was low, edged with suspicion and growing fear.
They didn’t answer him. Their silence was more menacing than any words could have been. They just kept advancing, their movements coordinated, precise. It was clear they were under strict orders.
Aldric’s instincts screamed at him to act, and in a flash, he lunged at the nearest Fae. Aldric attacked with all his might, but it quickly became apparent that he was at a severe disadvantage.
His winter powers and shadow abilities had been suppressed by Oberon, leaving him with nothing but brute strength. Normally, that would have been enough. But not against five seasoned warriors, all of whom knew exactly how dangerous he was and were prepared for him.
Despite this, Aldric fought with the ferocity of a cornered animal. He managed to land a few solid blows, but the warriors were relentless. They overwhelmed him with sheer numbers, their planned attacks exploiting his every weakness. Still, Aldric refused to go down easily. He struggled, clawed, and struck out with all his strength, even as they started to beat and manhandle him into submission.
One of them, the leader by the looks of it, stepped forward and pulled out a baton. With a press of a button, the baton crackled with electricity, the sound filling the small cell with an ominous hum. Aldric’s eyes widened in horror, but before he could react, the baton was driven into his side.
A scream tore from his throat as thousands of volts of electricity surged through his body. His muscles seized, paralyzing him, and he collapsed to the floor, convulsing. The pain was unbearable, a searing agony that burned through his veins like liquid fire, the fight drained from him in an instant.
He tried to focus on the sounds around him, the sounds of footsteps, the creak of doors, anything that might give him a clue about where they were taking him. But it was no use. The cloth over his head was too thick, the disorientation too complete.
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