THE HEIR'S MATE

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

This should have been a peaceful day for Lyla. With Finn returning and Althea and Silas also expected to come back, her worries were easing up. She had all the time she needed in the library, focusing on her research, delving into ancient texts and uncovering secrets of the past.

But fate had other plans.

Lukan burst into her sacred place, the library, where she found solace and inspiration. His entrance was abrupt, his breath ragged, and urgency painted across his face.

"Elias," he gasped, catching his breath. Lyla looked up from her books, a sense of dread washing over her.

"Rafe has Elias," Lukan managed to say, still panting.

Lyla's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't believe it. "What? How?" she repeated, her voice filled with disbelief and concern.

"I'll explain on the way," Lukan said hurriedly, grabbing her arm and pulling her along.

Lyla followed him, her mind racing. As they hurried through the library corridors, Lukan began to explain that Luna had already found Elias. Isolde, who had informed Lukan of the location, was also already on her way ahead of them.

Lyla quickly searched for her phone; she needed to inform Finn. It only took two rings before Finn picked up the phone, his voice cheerful and filled with sarcasm. Normally, his jokes would have brought a smile to her face or at least rolled her eyes, but not now.

"It's not time for your jokes, Finn. Elias is in danger. I'll send you the coordinates. Meet me there," Lyla said, her voice firm and urgent. She ended the call without waiting for a response.

They moved quickly, their footsteps echoing in the quiet corridors of the library. The peaceful day Lyla had envisioned was now a distant memory, replaced by the urgent need to save his cousin.

...............................

Rafe and his friends, excluding Lyla, began their sadistic game, torturing Elias in front of Luna. Each strike of the club or baton elicited a scream from Luna, her heart breaking with every moment. Elias tried to endure the pain, his eyes meeting Luna's, trying to assure her that he was fine despite the agony.

"Stop it! Leave him alone!" Luna screamed, her voice raw with desperation, her eyes wide with horror and fury.

Kyle swung his baton again, striking Elias across the back. "Should we burn him?" he asked Ryle, who was delivering a heavy blow to Elias's ribs.

Ryle shook his head, panting slightly from the exertion. "Too messy. Besides, the smell..."

Kyle nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "What about drowning? We could..."

"Too much hassle," Ryle interrupted, raising his club for another strike. "We'd need a lot of water and time."

Rafe, leaning casually against the wall, interjected with a smug grin, "No worries, I've already prepared a special poison. It will make him die slowly and painfully, so you can savor every moment of it," he said while looking at Luna, who was struggling so hard to break free.

Magenta joined them, her eyes lighting up with sadistic pleasure. She grabbed Elias's hand and, with a swift, brutal motion, dislocated several of his fingers. The sickening sound of cracking bones filled the room, but Elias bit down hard, refusing to give her the reaction she craved.

"He's not even screaming," Magenta hissed in frustration. She turned her gaze to Luna, a malicious smile spreading across her face. "Maybe she'll be more entertaining."

Magenta, who had always harbored a deep hatred for Luna, grew annoyed with Elias's determination. Her eyes gleamed with malicious intent as she moved toward Luna. "Let's see how he reacts to this," she sneered, her voice dripping with venom.