We rush through the corridor, metal clashing to the floor, explosions rattling the ground underneath us as we move. The dungeon groans like it’s alive—walls trembling, stone shifting. A sharp crack tears through the air above.
“Levi!” I shout.
He doesn’t see it. A split second later, the ceiling gives way, and stone and debris hurtle straight toward him. I don’t think. I just move.
I slam into him, shoving him hard to the side. We hit the ground together as the ceiling crashes behind us, the impact shaking the floor beneath our bodies. Dust clouds everything, choking the air. For a moment, there’s only ringing in my ears.
Levi coughs, blinking up at me. “You… just saved my life.”
I push off him, heart hammering. “Don’t get used to it.”
He lets out a breathless laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “I won’t,” and jumps to his feet.
I clean the dust off my body when screams echo through the dungeon, sharp and desperate. The sound of bones snapping in half echoes behind it. I grip Levi’s hand in fear so tight my knuckles go white.
“At least buy a guy dinner first.” He winks, gesturing towards our intertwined hands.
“Shut up,” I hiss.
Levi chuckles. “Let’s go.” We carefully dash towards the noise, which we should run from.
“Don’t slip on the blood,” Levi warns. My gaze drops to the concrete floor. Blackish liquid flows like a river down the hall. My breath catches in my throat as I watch in horror the lifeless bodies that have been ripped to pieces, limbs and heads scattered around the hallway as we near the hole, blown into the walls. The air reeks of blood and burned flesh. Smoke curls from shattered torches. Shadows dance wildly across the floor, but none of them are as terrifying as the tall figure standing in the center of the chaos.
Dark hair drenched in blood, muscles bulging beneath the dark clothes.
He has one of the ogres pinned in the air, massive fingers wrapped around its thick throat. The ogre claws at his arm, wheezing, feet kicking uselessly. A second ogre lies motionless at his feet, neck twisted at an unnatural angle, eyes wide and vacant. Another body is slumped against the far wall, face smashed in.
His voice rips through the cellblock like thunder.
“Where is Levi?”
The ogre doesn’t answer fast enough. He slams him against the wall—stone cracks, and blood spatters across the ground.
I freeze, unable to breathe.
This isn’t a man. This is wrath made of flesh.
Levi doesn’t move—doesn’t even flinch. Instead, a grin forms on his mouth, a nervous grin. I duck behind him, my heart pounding against my ribs like it’s trying to escape my chest.
This is Roland?
The body drops to the floor with a sickening thud. His head snaps toward us. His hands are clenched into fists, veins bulging down his forearms, eyes blazing with fury as they lock onto me. Those blue eyes—ocean-deep, electric, just like in the flash, drawing me to them like a moth to a flame. I should be afraid of him. But I’m not. No, instead, I crave him. The fear that gripped me moments ago vanishes, replaced by something else entirely. A heat, a hunger, a sudden, aching need to be in his arms pulses through my veins.
I inhale sharply, trying to come to my senses, but my entire body tingles.
What the fuck is this feeling?
The fury in his gaze fades, replaced by something even darker. Something hungrier. His jaw twitches as he lifts his head, chest rising with the motion—broad and powerful. Like some kind of peacock. A deadly peacock.
But goddamn, why is it so hot in here?
I gulp, pressing myself even further behind Levi. Not to hide from the monster in front of me.
No.
To hide from myself—from the things I might do if I don’t.
“Hey, buddy,” Levi finally says, breaking the spell of that intense gaze. “Took you long enough.”
Roland’s eyes shift to him, narrowing. “I should’ve left you for dead,” he growls, his voice low and rough like gravel.
“But you didn’t,” Levi replies, chuckling nervously.
Roland begins to stalk toward us, eyes locked on Levi. Levi inches us back with each step, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Now, now, Roland,” Levi’s voice trembles slightly. “I know you’re happy to see me.”
I feel Levi shudder beneath my hand. He gulps, dropping his head, and a soft whimper escapes his mouth. I wrap my free hand around his arm to comfort him. His eye flicks to me. I give him a small nod. Not just for reassurance, but also a reminder that it isn’t just his life on the line anymore, but mine too, and if he can’t calm his friend down, both of us might die tonight.
“You know me. I got drunk and found a lovely lady. Didn’t know she was working with the ogres.” He shrugs. “I just wanted a fun night, and she looked like the type of woman who knew how to please a man.” He winks. “You know what I mean.”
Roland sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. His sharp, strong jawline twitches in frustration. “Sometimes I wish you’d lost your dick instead of your eye.”
Levi chuckles, but Roland’s face doesn’t move. Not even a twitch. He just stares at him, expressionless. His eyes shift to me. My heart is hammering so loudly I’m sure he can hear it.
“She yours?” he asks Levi, his tone flat but the implication sharp enough to draw blood.
Levi stiffens beside me. “She’s a friend.”
“Friend?” Roland echoes, still watching me as his brow shoots up. “Doesn’t look like she sees you that way.” He examines my body pressing into Levi’s side.
I bite the inside of my cheek, willing myself not to flinch under his gaze. But I can’t help it. Every inch of me feels exposed, like he’s peeling away my skin just by looking.
“She saved my life,” Levi says. “I owe her.”
Roland cocks his head. “You don’t owe people, Levi.” His eyes flick toward Levi, then back to me. “You use them. That’s the rule. Or did your time in chains make you soft?” His words are razor-sharp, but his tone never rises; his tone is calm and controlled. He gives me one more run over before turning. “Let’s go,” he says, stepping past us without looking back.
“Holy shit,” I whisper breathlessly. I’ve never felt anything like this. The air itself bends around him.
“Come on,” Levi murmurs, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “Let’s go.”
I glance up at him. A genuine and reassuring smile warms his face.
“I told you,” he says quietly, “I don’t leave my friends behind.”
Emotion wells up in my chest. “Thank you.” My voice trembles just slightly. A relieved smile tugs at my lips, and I fall into step beside him. Together, we follow the storm he calls Roland.
We climb through the hole in the wall, like rats, and step onto a battlefield. Smoke coils through the air, thick and acrid, stinging my lungs with every breath. Screams pierce the night—metal clashing against metal, flesh against fury. The ground trembles beneath my feet, rattling with the weight of war. Bodies dart past in a blur—fighters locked in desperate combat, blood splattering the dirt in sick arcs.
Flames lick at the crumbling edges of nearby buildings, casting everything in a flickering orange glow. Lightning crackles like static across the sky—wild and untamed, surging in unpredictable bursts that light up the battlefield.
A roar splits the chaos—deep, guttural, inhuman.
I clutch Levi’s hand tighter. “Don’t worry, Anna. You’re safe, no one will dare to touch you.” He grins, looking at Roland, who is walking in front of us like it’s nothing. Like the storm parts for him. Even the flames seem to bend away from his path. Everywhere I look, there’s destruction. Chaos reigns. And yet, somehow, he looks calm.
“Vraxson!” A young man barrels toward us, covered in blood and ash. He stops a few feet from Roland, slams his fist to his chest, and bows his head.
“Vraxson?” I whisper the word, foreign and heavy on my tongue. The way the man lowers himself to Roland… It’s like watching a knight bow before his king.
“It’s one of the highest titles in our nation,” Levi murmurs beside me. “He’s not just royalty. He’s the heir forged in war. He earned his crown with blood and fire.”
Before I can ask more, Roland glances back at us, and Levi immediately falls silent. Just a look—no words needed.
The soldier smirks at Levi, but the moment Roland turns his gaze on him, the smile dies on his face. He shifts uncomfortably, but manages to speak.
“We’ve cleared a path for your escape and have a healer on standby.”
Levi lets out a half-laugh, but the moment Roland’s fist tightens at his side, he swallows it down with a cough.
“Good,” Roland replies, voice like stone. “We’ll move out. The rest of these monsters are yours.”
“Yes, Vraxson.” The man straightens again, fist to his chest, posture rigid with pride.
The soldier sprints away, rejoining his men. Roland turns toward us, his eyes locking onto mine.
“What’s your name?”
“Anna,” Levi answers, but Roland shoots him a deadly look, causing him to flinch.
“Did I ask you, or her?” Roland narrows his eyes and turns back to me. “Can you speak?”
“Annabeth. My name is Annabeth,” I mumble, barely above a whisper.
He lifts his head, a low rumble escaping from his chest as he sizes me up, like he’s deciding what to do with me.
“Which kingdom?”
I draw a blank. This man will surely kill me if I tell him New York. He’s not the easygoing type like Levi. Roland is more of the realistic, no-nonsense kind, and nothing about my presence here makes sense. God, I’m still trying to figure out how I got here and how I can get back.
“Leave the chit-chat for later,” Levi interrupts. I shoot him a grateful look.
“Don’t we have somewhere to be?” he adds with a wink, pulling me behind him.
Roland glares at Levi with a look that could kill—but he nods. “Let’s go.” He turns and starts walking. “Just know, Annabeth.” My name rolls off his tongue like honey, sending a weirdly delightful shiver down my spine. “This conversation isn’t over.” He glares at me over his shoulder, and I grip Levi’s hand like he’s my only hope to survive the wrath of this man.
