My eyes snap open, my breathing coming in quick pants, body covered in a cold sweat. My eyes shoot around the room, stopping on Killian as he lies next to me, watching me.

"Nightmare?" he asks softly, his hand still grasping mine.

I nod, trying to calm my breathing.

The chains rattle as Killian shifts position, his fingers never untangling from mine. The chains around my wrists are longer than the ones around his and just long enough for us to be able reach each other and hold hands. It's comforting, knowing that there's someone here that I can trust and holding hands helps assure me that he's really here, it's not just my imagination.

"Want to share what it was about?" Killian asks softly.

I hesitate. "Just... lies... Voices saying you've abandoned me... That kind of thing, you know..."

Killian nods, squeezing my hand gently. "No one sees you any different, you know. Knowing what happened doesn't make us see you as weak or anything. I see you as strong. A survivor. And I know everyone else does too. Whatever King said, tried to get you to believe, it's not true, got it?"

I sigh softly but nod. "I... don't think I'll get anymore rest... Can you... distract me?"

"Of course," Killian replies. "Do you want to cuddle too?"

"Killian," I say, pushing him lightly.

"I'm not teasing you if that's what you're thinking," Killian replies, his temporarily green eyes meeting mine, expression dead serious. "No, I'm not known for being serious but I do know when to joke and when to not. And cuddles are always nice."

I nod slowly. "Alright. Cuddles."

Killian smiles, moving closer to me. We lie chest to chest, his arm wrapping around my waist, hand resting gently against my back. I don't feel safe with someone behind me and Killian must know that, which is why we don't spoon instead.

"So, how do you want me to distract you?" Killian asks softly.

"Well, there's a lot about your time as a rogue I don't know about, if you don't mind sharing about that?" I suggest.

Killian smiles slightly. "Before or after we rescued Zaine? Things definitely got more interesting when he moved in."

I chuckle softly, a sound that somehow sounds foreign to my ears. "I can imagine. How about when you rescued him?"

I watch his expression darken slightly, anger rising within him. I know it's directed towards Zaine's old coven, the ones who hurt him.

"It was the second or third month after we first met King," Killian says softly. "That's when we agreed we were trained and skilled enough to actually attack someone for real, not just practice... A rogue had been watching Zaine's coven, knew they were abusing him, and told us. We made a plan and everything. It was dusk when we started sneaking up and surrounding the coven's territory. There was a ward placed around it to keep invaders out but it was weak, easily broken. They had forced Zaine to hold the spell, one too hard for someone his age and skill level.

"Some of our rogues attacked as a diversion so others could sneak into the main house. We had to fight past the witches and warlocks that stayed behind to guard the house..." Killian's voice and eyes become distant as he continues. "You don't forget your first kill. It's like a milestone, that marks when it's official. You're officially a killer. Sure, it's for the right reasons but you've still taken a life and ended it..."

He sighs softly, shaking his head. "Anyway, we found Zaine passed out in the living room. He'd seen us fighting and was terrified. Can't really blame him though, seeing the people he grew up with being murdered, even if they did treat him terribly. I carried him out of the house while Rei, Clove and some others made sure the rest of the coven was all dead.

"Zaine woke up while I was carrying him and freaked the fuck out." Killian smiles slightly, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "Started struggling and trying to escape. I managed to calm him down eventually but God, he was-and still is-a pretty feisty little shit."

Well what did you expect me to do? Zaine asks, a light laugh in his voice.

A thanks for saving you would've been nice, Killian replies sassily.

You were kidnapping me, Zaine retorts. Anyway, time to go. We attack in ten minutes.

Killian yawns. Got it.

Both of us sit up. I move back towards the wall, eyes staying on Killian as he grips one of the shackles around his wrists, eyes starting to glow brightly. With a soft grunt, he rips the shackle off with a loud snap and tosses it to the floor, the chain attached to it landing with a heavy thump. Doing the same to the other shackle, he rubs his wrists where the shackles were moments before.

"Always hated those god-awful things," he mumbles, coming over to me. "Alright, your turn." Holding my wrists out, he pries the shackles off and lets them drop to the floor. Killian smirks, "Now let's make our great escape."

I stand up, wincing at my sore muscles. As I stretch them out, I feel Killian's gaze on me, making me glance at him.

"What?" I say softly.

Killian smirks ruefully. "I never thought I would like you very much. I mean, you sounded like one of those arrogant assholes. But, well... You became a brother to me, Asher. And it hurts a damn lot to see you like this."

"What, weak?" I ask, scoffing slightly.

"Don't you dare," he says lowly, stepping towards me, green eyes piercing mine. "You are not weak, Asher. You're anything but weak. You survived everything King did to you. Not many people can say that... It stings like a bitch that you went through it and I couldn't do anything to stop it but I'm gonna damn well try to make up for that... We have your back, Asher, I want you to know that."

My eyes search his for a few seconds, before I whisper, "I know."

"Do you really?" Killian asks, eyebrow raised. "You're talking to someone who's helped hundreds of abuse and rape victims. I know the looks they fake and the words they say but don't mean. I can see you're not as confident as you were. I want to make sure you know that you can trust me and the others."

I nod. "I do. I do trust you, and them, Killian."

Killian studies me for a few seconds before nodding. "Good. Now let's go."

"This is gonna be good," River growls lowly. "Finally, I can tear into the bastards who hurt Asher. Goddess, they're gonna be sorry"

"Down boy," Zaine says as if talking to a dog, making River give him a light glare. "But I agree. No one gets away with hurting my fam."

Feeling a hand on my shoulder, I turn and see Raiden and Dad.

"Ready?" Raiden asks softly, squeezing my shoulder softly.

I nod. "Of course."

"Are you sure you can do this?" Dad says worriedly.

I nod again. "I didn't come this far to back out now. I'm getting my mate back. I'll be fine, Dad, don't worry."

He smiles softly. "I'm your Dad, Rei. Isn't it my job to worry about you?" He looks at Raiden, "And you, mister. You better be careful too."

Raiden nods. "You too, Dad. You're not as young as you once were."

"Why you little," Dad scoffs playfully, ruffling Raiden's hair. Dad sighs softly, "Just in case anything happens... I'm proud of you two and I love you both. Forever."

I smile, hugging him tightly. "Forever."

"Not fair!" Raiden says with a laugh, joining in the hug, "Forever, both of you."

I smile, loving the feeling of being in my Dad's and twin's warm embrace.

We turn back to the other three men with us, Zaine, River and River's delta Hellor. He's Heaven's older brother and once the next alpha of Shadownight pack; he knows the area, so he volunteered to come along and help.

Alright, it's go time, Zaine says, checking his watch and mind-linking the other groups positioned around the abandoned pack house.

I take my knives out of their scabbards. "Time to show King what happens when you mess with the Queen."