Chapter Thirteen
When Camilla woke, she was in a warehouse, or building of some sort. She moved slightly and moaned. Her hands moving to her head quickly and cursing as she did so. “Damn.” She winced at the pain that radiated through her whole body. Good God, she had never hurt so badly in all her life. She shifted her leg and jerked. “What?” Her eyes and mind wouldn’t focus and work together to form the issue for several long minutes. Finally, she breathed out, “Fuck me. Chains?” Her ankle was secured by a massive and stupidly heavy chain. “What the hell is going on?” Was she in hell? No, she wouldn’t hurt if she were dead, would she?
“Oh good, you’re awake,” a deep voice said on the heels of a door screeching open. Heavy footfalls came toward her. “I must apologize for the heavy-handed tactics of my men, but apparently, you deserved it. Kicking my man in the nuts was a rather low blow, Camilla.”
Camilla frowned and looked at the large being before her. “The ass deserved it.” Camilla winced, her hand moving to her throat in pain. Son of a biscuit, that hurt! She licked her lips and glared at the large man. “Who are you?” Mother of God, speaking hurt, but she had to know who had her at least.
“I’m the alpha of the weres. The king, if you will. I’ve been looking for you for quite a while now, Camilla. We almost had you a few weeks back, but those humans got in the way, again. Not this time, though. Don’t worry, it won’t be so bad with me. At least with me, you won’t be touched by Hades.
“You need to understand something: You’re never getting out of here. This is where you will be when your time ends. You will become pregnant by me, and whether it’s pleasant or not is entirely up to you. Oh, and your little human friends, they can’t find you here. Not now, not ever. Accept your fate, Camilla. I can be a very generous lover when the woman does her part. Think on that for the next couple of hours.” He tossed her a bottle of water before heading back out the door, closing it with a bone-chilling screech of metal on metal. The sound of the door locking was quite final.
“That’s what you fucking think. I’ll never accept it,” she shouted at the closed door. She looked down at her ankle and sobbed. “Fuck no.” She began to shake while looking at the large, unyielding lock on the chains that held her captive.
These men—no, animals, who had taken her had assured her that she wasn’t ever getting away and even brought up the name of Hades, and now she was beginning to think perhaps they were right. If they could somehow keep her from Hades, what was to say they couldn’t keep her from her men as well?
****
“Where the fuck is she, Ares?” Gareth yelled.
“I don’t know,” the god snarled back. “I’ve been trying for the last four hours to find her and I’m getting nothing. I always know where she is, but now it’s like…”
“Don’t you fucking even think it!”
Mikhail watched their exchange with detachment. He needed to stay objective, needed to stay grounded, otherwise Camilla might as well be as good as dead. She wasn’t—he knew it. His gut told him she was alive and well. Unfortunately, he couldn’t use his gut to find her.
“Damn it, why the hell can’t I get a lock on her?” Ares muttered. “Shit, stay here, I’ll be right back.” With a flash of light, the God of War was gone.
“Son of a bitch!” Gareth bellowed. “Get your ass back here, Ares.”
“He’ll be back,” Mikhail said quietly.
“How the hell are you so fucking calm? This is Camilla, for the love of God.”
“Do you think I don’t know that?” Mikhail asked softly. “But freaking out at the one being who can find her isn’t helping the situation. We need to be calm, Gareth. Because when we find her, and those that took her, we will need to be ready to destroy them.”
Gareth blinked, he seemed to be in his own world of pain and hurt. He seemed to be working through his own issues Mikhail noticed.
“They took our woman. Right from under our noses, no less. They all have to die, painfully. But freaking out won’t help the situation. So get yourself under control, because when Ares gets back, I’m betting he’ll know where she is.” At least that was Mikhail’s hope. “Everyone arm up. We’re going to war.”
None of the men argued, fortunately. They just went about gearing up for a battle, the mood heavy and somber in the house. Camilla might not have been there long, but she was a part of their family.
****
The door screeched open sometime later. An hour, six maybe; it could have been days for all she knew. In walked the alpha with a tray of something that smelled delicious. “Your dinner. You should eat. You’ll need to be strong for our joining.”
“Yeah, well fuck you.” Camilla eyed the food. “I’m not going to be your fucking broodmare. I know my men. They won’t leave me here.” She jerked her bloody ankle. She didn’t plan on being here for two days. She wasn’t planning on doing much of anything here in this place at all.
He clicked his tongue, his face showing disappointment. “It’s your choice, of course, to fight. That’s fine, I don’t mind proving I’m dominant. I like tying up my females, so this will be quite enjoyable for me.” Grinning at her, he adjusted his cock and looked her up and down, licking his lips. “I can’t wait to have you, Camilla. Maybe you’ll even enjoy yourself, eventually.” Laughing, he headed for the door after setting down the tray within reach of her chain.
Camilla snorted and spat at him. She didn’t reach for the tray until he was gone. She then grabbed the tray and unwrapped the napkin which held the silverware and screamed. “Motherfucker!” A plastic spork! Of all things, a spork. She had been hopeful for a fork or a knife—something to help her get the shackle off her freaking ankle. She knew it was wishful thinking on her part, but dammit all to hell and back again, a girl could dream.
****
Ares returned to the house fifteen minutes after he’d left. He looked pale and off balance but determined. “I have a location. It’s not exact, but it’s as close as I could get. That’s the good news.”
“I hate to hear the bad news,” James muttered.
“The bad news is it’s in the midst of a were colony. There are a lot of buildings there, warehouses and shit. I can get you close, but you’re going to have to work your way in. There’s something there blocking me. It’s why I could only get the general area.”
“Good enough,” Mikhail said as he got to his feet. Looking to the team, he met Nolan’ gaze. “You’re in charge of this. Gareth and I are too emotionally involved. But know this: no matter what, we get Camilla out of there and home.”
“We will,” Nolan said. He shot a look to Ares and frowned. “Are you okay to flash us all at once?”
“Get your ugly mugs over here. This is going to be one hell of a bumpy ride, so hang onto anything you value.”
Several of the men cupped their crotches.
“Seriously?” Mikhail asked.
“I value it,” James said.
“Fucking bunch of idiots,” Ares said. Everyone gathered around the god. “Hold on” was their only warning before the world went to hell in a gilded handbasket.
****
The sounds of gunshots and screams reached Camilla. Someone was out there shooting the place up. A loud explosion had dust from the rafters of the building floating down onto her head.
She covered her head and bent at the waist. Screams and gunfire came closer, and Camilla winced. She tried to scream, but her throat didn’t let her, still damaged from the hold that the man who brought her in had had on her. Inside of her head, she screamed for her uncle again, desperate to have him at least coming to her, but she would prefer Mikhail and Gareth.
There were more explosions, including one right at the door to her personal hell hole. The door was shoved in hard, screeching horribly. “Camilla! Camilla, if you’re in here, answer me!” She knew that voice—it was Owen.
“Owen!” She shouted tried to stand and move to the door but fell flat on her face. She sobbed. “In here.” God, please let him hear me.
Seeing the metal tray, Camilla grabbed it and spilled the contents on the floor. She began to beat it against the concrete she was lying on.
“Camilla? Shit, it is you.” Owen ran toward her. Kneeling at her side, he brushed her hair back. “Son of a bitch, what the fuck did they do to you?” He didn’t wait for an answer, though, just reported back that he’d found her. Easing her up, he wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back gently. “Mikhail and Gareth are coming. Just hold on, sweetheart.”
“Owen, where are you?” a familiar voice yelled.
“Toward the back, Gareth. She’s back here and chained to the wall. We need something to get her loose, and fast.”
Gareth barreled toward her, swinging his gun around to his back as he skidded on his knees to her, scooping her up out of Owen’s lap.
Camilla was shaking and wrapped her arms around Gareth as tightly as she could. She buried her face against the curve of his neck and cried. “Oh God, I knew you would come.” She clenched his shirt in her hands, her arms around his neck. “I’m never letting go, just get me out of this freaking chain. Please?” she begged him. Her ankle was numb now, and blood covered her shorts and leg from where she had been trying to force the chain off.
“Shh, I have you,” Gareth said. His voice sounded gruff and he was shaking in her arms. “I have you, sweetheart. God, I thought we’d lost you,” he whispered. Peppering her face with kisses, he hugged her so tight she had a bit of trouble trying to breathe.
“Owen!” Another voice she knew. Mikhail came running into view and stopped, relief on his face. He started running again and dropped down next to Gareth to touch her face, her hair, anywhere he could.
Camilla turned in Gareth’s arms and hugged Mikhail as well. She still held onto Gareth’s hand, though. She couldn’t seem to let go, at all. Desperate to hold onto both. “Get me free, please just get me out of here? I swear I will never walk off again. Ever. I’m so sorry.” She cried. “I thought it was a wounded puppy.” She whispered.
“Shh, baby, it’s okay,” Mikhail said. He kissed her lips and cheeks. “Lincoln is bringing something to get you free. Just hold on, baby. We’re getting you the fuck out of here.”
“Jesus, it’s a party in here,” another voice said. “Hi, Camilla.” Lincoln smiled at her. He didn’t come close to her, just went around their pile to the chain. “Son of a bitch, they welded this onto her foot. Uh, I’m going to have to blow the chain, guys.”
“Do it,” Gareth grunted.
“Okay. Owen, find something to protect her with. I’ll blow it as close to the wall as I can, so use something that won’t burn if this sparks at all.”
“I think we have something,” Owen muttered.
Camilla nodded and licked her lips. “Well, whatever it is, do it. Just get me out of here?”. She didn’t care what happened, only wanting to get free. “It’s weres, you likely know that.” She leaned her cheek to Mikhail’s shoulder and swallowed, pain radiating through her. “I hope that you kill the fucking Alpha. Bastard wanted to turn me into a freaking brood mare for him.”
She felt Mikhail and Gareth both stiffen. “What?” Mikhail asked, his tone biting.
“Uh, guys, can you worry about that after we get her loose?” Owen said. “Look, let’s get Camilla loose and then you can go and kill the alpha all you want. One thing at a time here.” He muttered to Lincoln as they covered her leg with something, tucking it down through the cuff on her ankle and around her foot. Owen then tucked the rest of the material up over her. “Hold this,” he told her.
“What are you using, Lincoln?” Gareth asked. He held onto the sheet of whatever it was as he peered around her to the two other men.
“What I have, unfortunately it’s C-4. I’m only using enough, hopefully, to get this off. Really wish Dieter was here, he’s better at this than me.”
“Wait, what?” Camilla knew what C-4 was, and she didn’t want to lose her leg! “Can’t you just, like, shoot the thing off or something? Maybe?” Holy hell, there was no way she would survive being blown up.
“All that would do is send a bullet ricocheting around. The chain’s too thick,” Lincoln said. “All right, blasting caps in, everyone back. Cover her head with that sheet and duck back, guys.” The sheet was pulled up over her head as Mikhail tucked her closer to him. Both he and Gareth shifted to a semi-reclined position.
“Three, two—God, I hope this works—one!” Lincoln said.
There was a loud bang Camilla felt through her body, and then her foot was free.
She could have kissed Lincoln for blowing up the chain. She looked at Gareth and then Mikhail and nodded. “Can we please go home?” She wanted out of there—she needed to be out of there because the sounds of fighting were coming closer. The screams seemed to be closer, as well.
“Damn straight,” Gareth said. He got to his feet and then scooped her up, chain and all. She was sure that later they would get Ares to remove the chain, but that could wait.
Mikhail pressed a kiss to her cheek before bringing his weapon up. “On me,” he said. Both Owen and Lincoln had their weapons ready, stepping in close to either side of Mikhail, while Gareth stayed behind him.
“We need to get out of this area, then Ares will be able to pick us up. There’s something here that’s fucking with his powers, it’s why it took us so long to find you,” Gareth explained as they all surged forward in a controlled movement.
Camilla nodded. She felt them trying to let her go and shook her head. “I can’t,” she whispered. “I can’t let you go.” She compromised, though, and slipped her hand into the back of Mikhail’s pants and held onto the waistband, feeling Gareth’s breath against the side of her neck. That was what she needed.
When they reached the door, she saw absolute chaos outside. More explosions sounded off to the left. Apparently, that was where they were heading given how the three men ahead of Gareth moved. Of course they would head toward the explosions.
Then she saw who lobbed the grenades. James grinned like a loon as he tossed them, Nolan handing them to him as quick as he tossed them.
“You guys love this shit, don’t you?” Camilla asked, utterly stunned. They looked like a bunch of kids in a candy store.
“James is a little crazy,” Owen said. “I think he has brain damage. Heads up, we’re coming to you, Nolan.”
The man looked up and nodded, still passing grenades to James. “Head straight out, we’ll be right behind you,” Nolan said. “Ares is waiting by the road. I’ll radio down and let him know so he’s ready. Get him to get you out and come back for us. We’ll keep these fuckers busy.”
“Copy that,” Owen answered. The group of five of them swept past them and continued toward what she assumed was the road.
“You boys keep your heads on straight,” Camilla said to Nolan and James. “Please don’t get hurt because of me.” She looked up at Mikhail. “Let’s get out of here and to Uncle so that you can come back and get them, please?”
“Fuck that,” he grumbled. “I’m taking you home. Owen and Lincoln can help them.” His tone said he wasn’t going to argue with her. They just kept moving until she spotted Ares pacing by the road.
Camilla saw her uncle but didn’t leave Mikhail and Gareth’s sides. She waited until they were right in front of Ares to hug him. She kept the hug brief before moving back between Mikhail and Gareth, taking each of their hands. “Take us home, please? Then you can come back and get the other guys so that they don’t get hurt.”
“Deal,” he said. He was touching her cheek, brushing his thumb against her skin. “All right, let’s get moving.” He put his hands on her men’s shoulders, and in a wave of nausea, Camilla found they were back at the house. As soon as they settled, he lifted her foot with a snarl. The cuff fell to the floor with a loud clank, and her ankle began to tingle. “There, better. Wash her up, get her in bed, and don’t let her out of your sights. I’ll be back with the others soon enough. If I can tear them away from blowing everything in sight up.” With a flash of light, he was gone.
Camilla looked down at her ankle. “He healed me.” How weird was that? “I like what he said, though. I have a monster-sized headache and my throat is killing me. Can we please go shower and to bed?” She still clung to their hands, unable to let them go after the far-too-close call she had just had.
“Yeah, we should. Let us just get out of this gear. The guys will put everything away for us,” Gareth said. He studied her. “You have to let go, just for a minute, sweetheart. I definitely need two hands to get out of the vest.”
“But you aren’t going to leave me, right?” She squeezed his hand a bit tighter. “Can you do it one at a time?” She shook, in shock and barely holding on by a thread. “I’m not this clingy woman, but at the moment I can’t help it. Please?”
“Why don’t you hold onto Mikhail while I get out of everything? Then you can hang onto me while he gets out of his gear. After that we’ll go upstairs to shower. Okay?” he asked softly.
“Okay.” Camilla let go of his hand and then moved into Mikhail’s waiting and warm arms. She hugged him, her whole body shaking as she did so. “I don’t think that I’m ever going to let you guys go again.” She knew herself and knew that it would be a very long time before she would ever be able to let either of them go for long.
Mikhail stroked her hair as he rocked her in his arms. “We’re not letting you go, ever, so it’s a good plan.” She felt him kiss the top of her head, his free hand sliding into her hair.
“That’s a darn-tootin’ good thing,” she told him with another hug. “I heard what sounded like a small puppy hurt. I couldn’t let it hurt anymore and went into the brush. I had assumed that it wouldn’t be far. It was not good.”
“Why didn’t you call for one of us, sweetheart?” he asked. “We would have dropped everything if you had, you have to know that. I’m not blaming you, don’t think I am, I just need to know what was going on with you.”
“I did.” Camilla frowned. “I screamed, more than once. I screamed several times. That’s why he did this.” She touched her neck. “I even tried to scream for Ares in my mind, but he didn’t hear me. What the hell? How?”
“I don’t know,” Mikhail said. “I went looking for you, calling for you. Did you hear me, or Gareth, calling out your name at all?” he asked.
“Come here,” Gareth said. He touched her back. “Let Mikhail get out of everything.”
“No, not at all.” She moved into Gareth’s arms, not letting go of one without touching the other. “I only heard the blood rushing to my head, saw stars and tasted blood. I didn’t hear you guys, though. How weird is that?”
“It’s definitely something we need to ask Ares.” Gareth touched her neck, his expression angry. “I really hope we killed the fucker that did this to you. Un-fucking-believable,” he growled.
“We will.” She took a deep breath. “I just, I want to be clean. I want to get an ice pack for my neck, and then I just want to curl up into bed with both of you tonight. I know we usually don’t all three sleep together, but I would rather sleep with both of you, okay?”
“That’s fine, I’m more than willing to curl up with you anywhere,” Gareth said with a squeeze.
Mikhail touched her a moment later, handing an ice pack to her. “Let’s get you upstairs and into that shower. We should be quick, though. I’m sure Ares will want to check in on you before he heads off to, well, wherever he goes.”
“As long as you have me covered before then,” Camilla said with a smile. “Because I want to be naked and I don’t want to have him seeing me that way, because that’s just gross.” She frowned. “So yes, we will make sure that we keep ourselves covered, please.”
“Come on then.” Mikhail put a hand on her neck, gently rubbing at her nape while Gareth held her loosely in his arms so she could carry the ice pack. Once they were in the bathroom off Mikhail’s room, they got her stripped down, did the same, and all of them got into the shower stall where they set the water to nice and warm.