45. A Precious Surprise

CHARLENE.

It was late when Theoden had entered the cells with a few men, pointing at a few of us and talking through the mind link. I wasn’t sure what they were saying. My heart filled with fear as Raiden, Thea, and I were dragged from the cells, bound and blindfolded.

Where were they taking us? Gamma Grayson had been taken not long ago, and I was terrified to think where he may be.

The beatings I had seen others go through terrified me, and just the memory of Raiden being tortured again made it hard to breathe. Luckily, Theoden hadn't seen my mark, the high-neck dress I had been wearing had hidden it, and when the guards had seen it afterwards, none cared about it. I was not a threat, but I knew if they even got wind of the fact that I was Hunter’s mate, the consequences would be horrifying. Chosen or fated, they would not let me go. It was Hunter’s name that was plastered across the resistance, and they hadn't hidden the fact they wanted him dead.

Now more than ever I needed to b