Chapter 18 The Rescue

Chapter 18 The Rescue

Serena's POV

I had never been so happy to see anyone in my entire life.

When that door broke open and Cassian stood there, I thought I was dreaming. That my mind had finally snapped from being locked in that cell for so long.

But then Kael appeared behind him, and I knew it was real.

They came for me.

After everything I said. After pushing them away and telling them I wanted nothing to do with them. They still came.

I threw myself into Cassian's arms first. His body was cold, but it didn't matter. I clung to him like he was the only solid thing in a world that kept falling apart.

Then I turned to Kael. His warmth was different from Cassian's coldness, but just as comforting. When I wrapped my arms around him, something inside me settled. Like a piece of a puzzle finally clicking into place.

I never thought I'd feel this way about two men at the same time. Never imagined I could be drawn to both of them equally. But standing there between them, I felt safe. Complete.

"Thank you," I whispered against Kael's chest. "Thank you for coming back."

"We were never going to leave you here," he said, his voice rumbling through me.

I pulled back and looked at both of them. "Please. Get me out of here. I can't stay in this place anymore."

Cassian nodded. "Let's go."

We moved toward the door, but we didn't make it far.

The hallway was filled with witches. More than before. They blocked every exit, their hands already glowing with magic.

Helena stood at the front. Her neck was healed, but her face was twisted with rage.

"You're not taking her anywhere," she said. "She's too dangerous. We can't let her roam free in the world."

"She isn't yours to control," Cassian said coldly.

"She killed five of my witches. Five. Do you understand what that means? She's unstable. A threat to everyone around her."

"Then maybe you shouldn't have locked her in a cell and treated her like an animal," Kael growled.

Helena ignored him. She looked directly at me. "You're a danger, Serena. To yourself and everyone else. The kindest thing we can do is remove your powers before you hurt anyone else."

"The kindest thing?" I felt my hands start to shake. "You locked me in a dark room. You were going to drain me. That's not kindness. That's torture."

"It's survival. For everyone."

More witches appeared. They surrounded us completely now. There had to be at least thirty of them.

Kael looked at Cassian. "Take her out of here. I'll handle this."

"No," Cassian said immediately. "I'm not leaving you alone with this many witches."

"I'm the Lycan King. A group of witches isn't going to stop me." Kael's voice was firm. "She needs to get out now. Before they try something else."

Cassian hesitated. I could see the conflict on his face.

"Go," Kael said again. "I'll be right behind you."

Finally, Cassian nodded. He turned to me. "Hold on tight."

Before I could ask what he meant, he swept me up into his arms like I weighed nothing.

And then he moved.

The world blurred around us. Wind whipped through my hair. I buried my face in his chest and held on as tight as I could.

Behind us, I heard shouting. Magic crackling. Kael's roar.

But we were already gone.

Cassian didn't stop until we reached his car parked outside the gates. He set me down gently and opened the passenger door.

"Get in."

I climbed inside. My hands were still shaking. My whole body was shaking.

Cassian got in the driver's seat and started the engine. He pulled away from the compound so fast the tires screeched.

Neither of us spoke. We just sat there, breathing hard, as the coven disappeared behind us.

I couldn't believe it. I was out. I was actually out.

For days, I'd thought I'd die in that cell. Thought I'd never see daylight again. Never feel anything except cold stone and darkness.

But I was here. In this car. Alive.

Because of him. Because of them.

I looked at Cassian. His jaw was tight. His hands gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles were white.

Something inside me shifted. That pull I'd been fighting for so long. That bond.

I didn't want to fight it anymore.

I leaned across the console and grabbed his face. Turned it toward me.

"Serena, what—"

I kissed him.

I pressed my lips against his and poured everything into it. All the fear. All the relief. All the gratitude and need and something else I didn't have a name for. His cold lips sent a shiver down my spine, but it only made me press harder, tasting the faint metallic tang that was uniquely him—vampire, danger, desire all wrapped up.

He froze for a second. Then he kissed me back.

His lips were cold, but they moved against mine like he'd been waiting for this. Like he'd been starving for it. His tongue slipped in, teasing mine, and a heat built low in my belly, making me ache.

I shifted closer, my hands tangling in his hair. The console dug into my ribs, but I didn't care.

But then he pulled away.

"Serena." His voice was rough. "Are you okay with this?"

I stared at him. "What?"

"You just escaped. You're traumatized. I don't want you doing something you'll regret."

"Just kiss me," I said, pulling him back toward me.

"You're in heat," he said, resisting. "You're not thinking clearly."

"I'm not in heat. I'm not an animal."

"Then what—"

"I'm horny," I said bluntly. "And I want you." The words hung in the air, raw and honest, my body already throbbing with need from that single kiss.

His eyes went completely black. I watched as his fangs extended slightly, glinting in the dashboard light.

"Serena."

"I almost died in there," I said. My voice cracked. "I thought I'd never get out. Never feel anything good again. And now I'm here. With you. And I don't want to waste another second being scared or confused or pushing away what I feel."

"What do you feel?"

"I don't know. But it's real. This bond between us. I can feel it pulling me, making me wet just thinking about you. And I don't want to fight it anymore."

He stared at me. His black eyes searched my face like he was looking for any sign of doubt.

"I want this," I said. "I want you. Right now. Please."

For a moment, I thought he might say no. Might tell me we needed to wait. That I needed time to process everything.

But then he reached over and pulled me into his lap.

The steering wheel dug into my back, but I didn't care. I wrapped my legs around him and kissed him again.

This time, he didn't pull away.

His hands gripped my waist. His lips moved from my mouth to my jaw to my neck.

I gasped when his fangs grazed my skin. Not breaking it. Just teasing, sending jolts of electricity straight between my legs.

"Tell me to stop," he whispered against my throat. "Tell me and I will."

"Don't stop," I breathed, already grinding against him, feeling his hardness grow.

His hands slid under my shirt. His touch was cold, but it sent heat flooding through me, making my core clench with anticipation.

I'd never wanted anyone like this before. Never felt this desperate need to be close to someone, to have them inside me.

Maybe it was the bond. Maybe it was everything I'd been through. Maybe it was both.

I didn't care.

All I knew was that I wanted him. Needed him. And for the first time since this nightmare started, I wasn't going to deny myself what I wanted.