Magnus

I have to get to Antiope. I need to get to her. She is in danger and that imposter dared touch her. Touched my mate, what's mine. He kissed her. He goddamn kissed her!

My blood boils at the thought and I strain in the chains I am in. If I try I could free myself and kill those bastards holding me like I did those before. But I can't. Antiope might be in danger, my whole pack might be held captive and I cannot risk any harm coming upon them because I didn't use my brain.

I was drugged most of the time as I was brought here so I had barely registered things. Except for her. I smelled her and sensed her right away and that's how I knew I was back in my pack. And then I heard Maximo howling in protest.

Another male was touching them, and Henrar didn't even ask for permission as he took over. He didn't need to. I was right there with him, ready to kill everyone in the room. She stopped that man from attacking me and she took away the chance to rip off his face.

What is she planning? Is she safe? Where can she be? Did he...? The idea alone that he would touch what is mine, that he would see her like only I see her... She didn't stop him. She didn't push him away when he kissed her. Was this all a lie, all that we have been through? Does the Goddess plan on torturing me more? Is she really betraying me for that beast?

"Never!" Henrar roars.

I nod. I saw her body when that man touched her. She was tense, her fingers curled up and though she didn't push him away, she leaned away from his touch. No. My mate hasn't betrayed me, I know it deep in my soul. We've done miles and miles to find each other, overcame obstacles set by our own selves. Now, we are one. And nothing will separate us again. I do not doubt her, not for a second.

Then that can mean only one thing: that animal is forcing himself on my mate! He found a way to control my untamed Amazon and he is toying with her. That kiss was a display of his power over her. Fan!

The chains rattle once more and my guards growl in warning. No, I need to keep it together now. Losing control means losing it all. If he truly has found a way to force her into things she doesn't want to do, then he has her life in his hands. I need to be careful. For her.

And just I am making these thoughts, a faint whiff of her scent hits me and it gets stronger. The idea that I will see her again, that she is alive and well makes it easier for me to bury my murderous instincts.

"She is coming," Henrar leaps around like a forlorn puppy.

I shift in anticipation as the door creaks and opens. And just I was expecting, Antiope steps in. There is a momentary flash of pain and longing on her pretty face but she masks it swiftly and she goes back to the cold impassiveness she had on when I first dragged her here. And right behind her, comes the top name on my killing list right now.

"It's time," he growls triumphantly at me.

"Yes," Antiope agrees with a wide smile. "It's finally time."

She approaches me and she keeps her eyes on mine. I feel Henrar stirring, trying to get through to her but my mind is still fogged by the drugs. I try to read her face but it's unreadable. And becomes even colder when that asshole falls next to her, following her every move.

She is holding something in her hand. I focus and I see a knife. A shining knife that sends glimmers into the stale air. She is holding it very carefully. And I know why. It's a silver knife.

"Do it!" The man orders when they stand before me.

"You will win this fight," she says her eyes locked on mine. "You will destroy our enemy."

"I will," he chuckles cruelly. "And then everything he has will be mine."

"Yes," Antiope still has her eyes pinned on mine. "All yours."

Mine. She is not talking to that man. She is talking to me. She is telling me – no, ordering me – to win this fight. Somehow she persuaded the man to have a fight with me. But the knife...

"Win," she pulls closer. "Kill. For me."

"For us," that stupid man adds.

For us, I promise her.

And then she comes closer. With quick moves, she puts the final touch on her plan. She rips my shirt with the knife and I brace to feel the bitter sting. That man may be cocky and half crazy but he knows that I am of Royal Blood. The odds are even between us. And I am the Butcher. I am guessing he wasn't ready to publicly face me and risk loss. So, Antiope has to give him something.

Do not worry, little girl, I smile at her, I can win this even hurt.

But she doesn't plunge the knife. Instead, with swift moves, she cuts her belly over her carefully chosen black clothes and smears the blood on me!

"No!" I groan in pain.

It's not my pain, it's hers. Seeing her precious skin torn hurts me in level I never knew existed. I look back into her eyes and she is reassuring me. She will be weak now. She is counting on me.

"Ha! To be honest I doubted that you would go through with this," The man glances at the bloodied silver knife and lets out a cruel chuckle. "Can't trust anyone, least of all women."

"I would do anything to make sure that those that hurt me pay," Antiope fires back.

I know the double meaning of her words. And I swear that I will be the instrument of her revenge. I will hurt those that hurt her. Oh, how I will hurt them!

I barely hold back my smile remembering that I am supposed to be hurt. My mate sacrificed herself for me, for the pack. I must not let her down. I will not let her down. I will rip the spine out of that bastard and lay it before her feet.

As these thoughts make Henrar stir in my head, ready to leap out, the man comes before me and he is in my face. His feral look tells me that he too is ready to fight. But he is in a disadvantage. Yes, he is fighting to claim what he thinks is his, to spite his parents, to ease the hurt of the rejection. But I am fighting for my pack, the people I have pledged to protect. And I am fighting for Antiope, my true mate, my second chance, my whole life.

"You and me, cousin," he hisses. "I will take what is rightfully mine. All that is yours, all that mommy's pet, that loser of a brother has, all of it mine."

He extends his arm and grabs Antiope violently.

"Your woman, mine. It will take some doing to erase your stench off her but by the end of it, I might be ready to have some twins of my own."

"Kill him. Now." Henrar demands and I feel my body ready to erupt.

But Antiope inhales sharply and gains my attention. Still, in the hands of this man, she wears a smile, her eyes sparkling. She has that defiant look in her eyes, the same one that drew me to her. And her smile drips with cruelty. She too demands blood.

She has given hers for me, the least I can do is give mine for her.

So I remain still, pretending to be shaken by the drugs and the knife. And I barely contain myself. I can't wait to clash with him in the circle.