The Imprinted Maiden (18+)

Chapter Forty-Eight

When it was time for me to head back down to the brothers, I dressed in a long-sleeved blue shirt and brown pants Matthew let me borrowed to help keep me warm.

It wasn't Nate to lead me back down to the brothers' prison cell, but a fellow guard of his. He didn't say anything to me as we walked down. When he opened the door, he pushed me back before opening the other gate.

Xain and Connor didn't move, both of them looking from me to the guard. Still silent, the guard nudged me to walk inside, shutting and locking the door soon after. It wasn't until his footsteps faded that Xain was the first to yank me to him.

I leaned up against him impulsively and smiled wide. "Hey"

"Hey," he replied, wrapping his arms around me and placing me in his lap. I glanced down at them and noticed that he no longer had marks from the chains. I then glanced at Connor. He was ready to approach me but he was also apprehensive. I gave him a gentle smile and held out my hand.

He stared at my hand for a long minute before finally scooting closer, resting his head in my lap. I raked my fingers through his dirty white hair and said, "I missed both of you. Did they feed you today?"

"Yes," Xain grumbled, "if you can call a piece of bread and a fish food."

"Nate's trying," I muttered, sighing softly. "They must really have it out for you to do all of this to you."

"I fucked one of the councilor's daughters," Connor stated simply, rolling onto his back and looking up at me. "I'd say so, yeah."

Xain snorted and chuckled, resting his forehead up against my head. I said nothing, closing my eyes as I enjoyed their body heat. Neither of them said anything, even though there was something heavily unspoken in the cell.

"So..." I tried to think of the right words to say, but it wasn't easy to bring up what was coming for the brothers. "So what do we do tomorrow? What do I do?"

Xain and Connor took deep breaths almost at the same time, all but bringing a small smile to my face. "If we're sentenced, they may get a shaman to break the bond between us so we no longer affect you," Connor said, reaching up and rubbing my arm gently. "We're either to live down here for the rest of our days, or they'll kill us." His light blue eyes met mine, his canines showing as he spoke. "I need you to understand, Lyra, if we have to live down here, I won't take it lightly. I refuse to be caged anymore, in any sense."

I nodded numbly, breathing unevenly. "I-I know you won't...it wouldn't be like you otherwise." Connor smiled a joyless smile, kissing my stomach gently. "I guess you'll be doing the same, Xain?"

"Yeah..." He had a hard time talking it seemed since he already sounded all choked up. "I will. I'd rather sleep forever than spend what life I have left being away from you." He kissed my shoulder, pressing his jaw up against it.

I frowned when I felt his canines and asked, "Your canines are more pronounced now. Are you trying to shift?"

"No, but my wolf wants out," Xain spoke softly. "He wants to take you and run away, but that...that isn't the life you deserve, my love." Connor gripped my arm a little, causing me to glance his way. He was staring at my stomach, but I figured he must agree with Xain.

I felt conflicted. On one end, I wanted to go back home, where Matthew and Katrina and Justin were, but on the other end, I didn't want to lose my lovers. A part of me deep down knew that if I just said the word, they'd come up with a way to get me out of here. We'd disappear, never to be seen or heard from again.

But...they were right. I didn't want a life like that, especially since I'd just barely escaped that kind of life with my old home. I sighed and pressed up against Xain, tugging on Connor's shirt. He glanced up before finally sitting up and getting closer. I tenderly placed my hand on the back of his head, pressing his face up against my neck.