Chapter 100: Used as bait

Chapter 100: Used as bait
The growling increased as the creature scratched at the door.

Gwendolyn tried to scoot away, but movement was impossible. She couldn't even find something to defend herself. And with the Khaldron, she couldn't shift.

She kept her gaze pinned on the door, her heart pounding within her in terror. If this was the end, she wouldn't go down without a fight, even though she was tied down.

The creature pounded the door suddenly, making her jump in fright. It could smell her, and it was trying to get in. Where was Julian?

The pounding continued, accompanied by low growls and snarls. A part of the wood broke, sending splinters everywhere.

Gwendolyn recoiled when the creature looked into the room with one yellow eye, glowing eerily. The growls turned deeper, and with one final pound, the door fell away.

The creature stepped in. It was a mountain lion, the kind that attacked her that first time when Kieran saved her. Only this time, there was no one to save her, and she couldn't save herself.

The creature growled deep in its throat as it moved into the room, its movement slow and stealthy. It stalked her, moving from side to side.

Gwendolyn tried to be completely still. She followed the creature with her eyes, watching its movement carefully. Sweat coated her upper lip and crawled down the side of her face, and the creature seemed to sense her fear.

It crouched suddenly, preparing to lunge. Gwendolyn prepared to kick out. It wouldn't save her, but she'd be damned if she sat back and did nothing.

As the creature lunged, an arrow whizzed through the air and struck its side. It roared and crashed to the ground, howling from pain.

Loud footsteps approached and Julian appeared, casually stepping into the room. There was a smug smile on his face, and he held a bow.

He pulled out a dagger from his boots and stabbed into the creature's throat. Blood splattered everywhere as the creature's eyes turned lifeless.

Gwendolyn looked away, feeling bile rise up to her throat.

"I'm getting really good at my aim, aren't I Gwen?" Julian called to her.

He picked up the fallen door and fixed it against the doorframe, then he crouched before the dead creature again.

Gwendolyn looked back at him, watching as he gutted the creature. The sight of so much blood and raw flesh churned her stomach, making her nauseous.

"Could you do that outside?" She protested.

"You know that's impossible." Julian replied casually. "I can't reveal our hideout. That bastard hybrid will be searching the entire forest for you. This is the best hiding place for now."

He looked up at her and grinned. "Don't worry. I'll wipe away the blood if you want. You know I'll do anything for you."

"Yet you left me to die here."

He chuckled and shook his head. "I didn't leave you. The creature was nearby. I just had to find a way to lure it here."

She frowned. "So you used me as bait?"

He grinned and nodded, smearing blood on his cheek as he wiped off sweat.

"Pretty smart, right? Those creatures are drawn to you as the Onyx. What better way than to use you to get some food?"

Gwendolyn couldn't believe this was the same Julian she had grown up with. This man who now looked at her with sick obsession.

She had to find a way to distract him. Maybe if she proved she could be trusted, he would untie her. Getting the key to the Khaldron would be easy. She could easily overpower him in combat.

It was worth a shot.

"How did you find out what I am?" She asked after a while. "The black fog and all."

"Ragnar told me everything."

Her frown deepened. "How did you meet Ragnar? Don't tell me you joined forces with him."

"Of course I did." He stuck a thick stick into the gutted animal, dragged it towards the side of the room and proceeded to roast it over an open flame.

Gwendolyn watched him silently, contemplating the best way to get him to talk.

"What happened after you left, Julian? Tell me everything. Where is Lilithia?"

"Dead." Was his terse answer. "I didn't want to be weighed down by the mate bond."

Gwendolyn gasped. "She was your mate?"

Julian nodded. "That's why she helped me escape. But she also had her own selfish plans."

"Why did you kill her?"

"It was the only way to be with you." He looked up then, and she saw the madness in his eyes. "That proves how willing I am to do anything to be with you. I killed my mate for you. Pity you couldn't do the same. You became a slave to the mate bond. You let that bastard put his hands on you."

He looked away and took a deep breath. Then he smiled, a strange, psychotic smile.

"Well, that's all in the past. You're mine now. You were always meant to be mine. Ragnar wanted you too, and I planned to kill him when he least expected it. But I'm sure the hybrid got to him first."

Gwendolyn looked away, trying to hide the tears in her eyes. This wasn't Julian anymore. Something had taken over him. And it made him more terrifying.

She took a deep breath and smiled at him. "You know, you were always right. I never should have stayed with Kieran."

"If you really felt that way, you would have rejected him." Julian snapped.

"You know I did. Countless times." Gwendolyn replied. "He refused it. He made me stay with him. I think I was brainwashed, Julian."

Julian looked up sharply. His eyes searched hers, wary, distrustful.

"What do you mean brainwashed?"

"That night of the Moon Ceremony, Cae gave me something to drink." Gwendolyn continued, spinning a web of lies. "She said it was from Kieran. Everything changed after I drank it, and now that I think about it, I realize I was brainwashed. It's why I let Kieran touch me, why I turned my back on you."

She sat up further, noticing she had gotten his attention.

"Think about it, Julian. Why would I choose him over you? You're my best friend. We grew up together, did everything together. Why would I choose a Wilding hybrid over my own best friend?"

Julian lowered the roasted carcass and moved closer to her.

"Go on." He said.

"I never would have done that." Gwendolyn went on. "And now that I'm with you, my eyes are open. I never should have hurt you, Julian. I was scared of my feelings for you."

His eyes widened. "You had feelings for me?"

Gwendolyn smiled. "Of course I did. I still do. And I just feel it's too late because you don't trust me anymore."

"Of course I trust you." He moved closer to her and cupped her face. "I was so hurt. I wanted to hurt you too, make you feel what I felt those times I saw you with him."

"If you really trust me, Julian, you'd untie me. My hands hurt. I want to touch you."

He moved suddenly, pulling out the dagger from his boots.

As he stretched out his hand to cut off the rope, the door barged open again and someone stormed into the room.