Mated To A Convict (Book Two)

Chapter 23: What Freedom Feels Like

Chapter 23: What Freedom Feels Like

Taylor's POV:

Everyone bolts outside except for Xander, whom I made stay inside. I gasp when I see what's going on. All around the house is fire, an entire wall trapping everyone within twenty feet of the property. Literally stepping out of the roaring flames, Soren crosses his arms and glares.

"I knew he was the King of Hell!" Lincon suddenly yells out, causing me to jump because my nerves are on edge.

Ignoring his comment, Soren's voice booms in a way that I've never heard before, "I believe that you have something that belongs to me."

Seran stares from behind Nick, as if he's scared for his life even though he's trying to keep on a brave face. Soren keeps his eyes on Nick the entire time. From the window of the house Xander watches the entire scene play out.

"That doesn't mean I'm going to give it back." I growl, causing his harsh gaze to turn on me.

"You know," Soren starts, he then begins to rub his hands together, causing them to turn a bright red, "You really know how to piss me off, Taylor."

Lincon then attempts to distract Soren by yelling, "That's her specialty!" But it doesn't work. Instead, he distracts me.

"Lincon! Shut u-" I'm interrupted when something scorching hot hits my chest, causing me to fly backwards and hit the steps to the house.

I begin to gasp for air when I hit the ground. My hand fly's up to my chest where I'm burnt.

Dominic growls and his fangs begin to show but I snap at him, "Don't shift, your fur will catch fire quickly."

His jaw clenches and he contains himself as he begins to carefully help me up. Soren is about to hit someone again but Seran yells, "Stop! I'll go, just leave them alone."

I stare at him for a moment, "Seran, you're not safe."

"Let him go." Dominic tells me.

"Are you kidding me?!" I snap back.

"I'll be fine." Seran states. I try to reach out and stop him but Nick pulls me back again and he's out of reach, now crossed to Soren. Soren then does something that I should have expected.

He grabs Seran's shoulders and holds him in place, whispering something into the boys ear. I stare in panic when Seran looks up at me, a flame lighting in his eyes.

When Soren pulls away, Seran steps through the fire behind him and out of view.

"What did you do?!" I yell, Nick still holding me away. Grant suddenly storms past me and into the house, but I don't bother to ask why.

"The same thing I'm going to do when I get my hands on... Xander, is it?" Soren asks, tilting his head slightly as if he's trying to remember.

"When I'm six feet under!" Dominic threatens. 

"That can be arranged." Soren reply's, a wicked smirk coming to his face. Suddenly the fire around us rages to about ten feet high. Sweat is pouring down my back because of the heat, but it doesn't seem to bother Soren.

Xander then runs to me for safety, holding onto my shirt for dear life. Soren begins to step forward, the grass turning burnt and charred in place of his footprints.

Grant suddenly comes up from behind me, stepping forward, and reels his arm back, throwing something liquid at Soren. When it hits his skin he lets out a yell as smoke comes from his burnt wounds that the liquid created.

Thing is, it only seemed to slow him down. He reels his arm back and aims at Dominic.

"No!" I scream and try to push him out of the way, but he pushes me back and I fall to the ground. The second I hit the ground all I can see is his blurred figure being engulfed in flames.

I scream in fear as he yells in pain and drops to his knees.

Grant then pulls a knife with engraved symbols on it and charges at Soren. I don't pay attention, though.

I panic when I see Lincon throwing a bowl full of water on him to extinguish the flames. I grab onto him but immediately let go when he yells in pain. His skin is extremely hot and looks like it's burned to the third degree.

I sit next to him and yell, "Dominic! Can you understand me?!"

He can't reply as he continues to cough, then it suddenly stops. His chest rises and falls violently, but that stops as well.

"No! No, no, no! Dominic!" I yell and feel for a pulse, but get nothing.

A large explosion sounds from behind me, causing my ears to ring, but I don't give it the least bit of attention.

Xander shakes violently in tears from the steps but I can't feel a thing.

Just numbness.

---Two weeks later---

Tears leak down my face as Lincon throws the last bit of dirt onto the grave. I put my hand over my mouth in order not the make any louder noises as Xander stays glued to my side.

We couldn't have a public funeral because, well, we're convicts.

I can't help it as I let out a sob and Lincon looks at the grave with sad eyes, as done everyone else.

When I begin to cry again, Dominic pulls me into his side but is careful not to let too much of himself touch me. He has bandages everywhere with major third degree burns all over his body, but their healing quickly due to his Wolf.

When Grant was able to stab Soren with the cursed knife, it caused an explosion that took him with it. Sometimes I wonder if Grant knew that would happen.

He helped me and I owe him my life.

Soren is dead. It's final. Gone. Over with. But there is one thing... Seran is still alive. I don't know what happened to him, but I pray to never find out because I know it wasn't good.

After paying their respects, everyone walks away except for Xander, Dominic, and I.

"I'm sorry we've lost so much." I tell Dominic, getting nothing but a nod in reply.

"It was worth it, though. In a way." I sigh.

"How is that?" Dominic asks, tears in his eyes that his stubbornness won't let fall.

"Because I'll always be able to tell my family I love them, and I'll always be able to be mated to my Convict." I reply, smiling sadly up at him.

He leans down and carefully pecks my lips, slightly leaning on me to avoid hurting himself.

Wow... all these years made me forget what freedom feels like.

(Author's Note: Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoyed.  Sorry for the scare, hehe :) There will be a sequel titled: Soren's Legacy. But I don't know when it will be published. You don't have to read the sequel unless you'd like too. I'll send out an authors note when it is published. Thank you for reading!) -Bri*