Chapter 892: A Demonstration

Roman Draven’s eyes slowly stirred open.

Perhaps it was the dull throbbing pain wrecking through his body or the sheer effort it took to pry his eyes apart, but even before fully waking, he already knew exactly where he was.

Or more importantly— who he was laying on.

His head rested against something firm yet strangely comfortable.

Aeron’s thighs.

Honestly, for most normal people, this would have been the moment they immediately sat up after realizing another grown man was unknowingly cradling their head.

Unfortunately, Roman was not normal.

Instead, he closed his eyes again and shamelessly settled deeper into the warmth.

Didn’t he say it already? Their bond was becoming tighter than an old grandmother clutching her church purse during offering.

Aeron’s irritated voice ruined the moment.

"I know you’re awake." There was a pause. "You can get up now."

Reluctantly, Roman lifted his head from Aeron’s lap and shifted away from him.

Still his eyes gleamed suspiciously bright and that grin on his face looked downright insufferable.

Aeron immediately narrowed his eyes at him.

"Don’t say it."

Roman quickly pressed his lips together.

Unfortunately, his mouth kept twitching violently like the words were physically fighting to escape him.

Aeron saw it happening in real time.

"Don’t."

Roman failed spectacularly.

"So basically..." he started proudly, "my charm has finally worn you down to the point you’re nursing me in your lap now."

Aeron already looked exhausted.

"I mean, look at us. We started as strangers and now you’re gently caring for my wounded body in a dark dungeon." Roman placed a hand against his chest. "This is literally how forbidden romances begin."

"Can you imagine if you actually fell for me?" His eyes widened theatrically. "What would that even make us? Because technically Griffin would become both my mate and my stepson at the same time and honestly—"

"What the fuck?" Aeron looked completely flabbergasted.

"I know. But don’t worry," Roman assured him generously. "I’m deeply bonded to my one and only Violet, so there’s absolutely no chance of that happening." He paused thoughtfully. "Although one cannot help but imagine."

Aeron dragged a hand down his face.

"Goddess help me," he breathed beneath his breath. He was moments away from strangling the bastard.

Despite himself, his gaze drifted back toward Roman’s face. The bruises there looked ugly now, a mix of purple and yellow.

Normally wounds like these would have disappeared already had it not been for the collar hindering the natural process.

Still, Roman smiled through it all. Anyone else trapped in this dungeon, beaten bloody and tortured repeatedly, should have looked broken by now. The idiot remained a ball of sunshine.

There was silence for a moment.

Then Aeron finally asked the question that had obviously been bothering him since Roman woke up.

"What the fuck happened to you last night?"

Roman lifted a brow.

Well. Guess his father-in-law cellmate had already seen the words tattooed on his back. Not that it was difficult to miss considering his shirt had practically been destroyed during the torture.

Now he wore the marks openly across his skin like some deranged badge of honor. Roman flexed one arm before trying to glance over his shoulder toward his back.

"I think they were trying to draw Violet out," he explained. "Pretty sure that’s the whole reason behind the words."

Aeron’s gaze drifted toward Roman’s back again. Even from where he sat, the jagged words looked vicious. Like someone had wanted Violet to feel every ounce of pain while reading them.

Roman, meanwhile, grinned shamelessly.

"So basically..." His eyes gleamed with dangerous confidence. "Buckle up, old man. My baby girl is definitely coming for us."

Unfortunately, that declaration did absolutely nothing to improve Aeron’s mood. If anything, his expression darkened further.

"You really think they don’t know that?" Aeron asked flatly. "If Violet is coming today, then Angus and the witches are already expecting it."

Roman’s grin slowly faded.

Aeron continued, "And when she arrives, what exactly do you think happens to us?" His voice lowered grimly. "We’re their bargaining chips."

"You’re right."

The humor slipped away from Roman for once. His gaze immediately swept around the dungeon as if trying to mentally map every possible exit.

"Then we need to find a way out of here before Violet arrives."

Aeron shook his head.

"It’s impossible to escape from inside this cell. But outside might be possible. We just wait for the right moment."

Roman nodded. It was not a terrible plan. Wait a minute, was this even a plan? Good thing improvising happened to be Roman’s specialty.

Suddenly, the loud groan of a large door echoed through the dungeon and both males immediately went alert. Multiple heavy footsteps followed shortly after and not long later, five men stopped directly outside their cell.

Roman’s gaze took them in. They were wolves and armed. But one thing stood out immediately. Ziva was not with them.

Guess the witch was taking a rest from last night.

The cell door was opened.

"Stand up."

One of the wolves barked the order while another roughly grabbed Aeron by the arm. Roman was hauled up immediately afterward, pain flaring through his battered body hard enough to make his vision briefly blur. Still, he stayed on his feet.

The wolves began dragging them out of the dungeon. As they walked, Roman and Aeron exchanged a brief look. At some point during whatever happened next, they would need to find their chance to escape.

The moment Roman and Aeron stepped outside, they winced hard at the morning sunlight hitting their faces. After spending the night trapped beneath the dim light and darkness, the brightness felt almost violent against their eyes.

Roman cursed beneath his breath while Aeron narrowed his eyes, both needing several seconds for their vision to properly adjust.

Cold morning air brushed against Roman’s battered skin, carrying the scent of dirt, smoke, and blood.

The wolves escorting them showed zero care for their condition as they continued forcing them forward to goddess knows where.

Roman picked up on the tense and uneasy

atmosphere. Something definitely happened. Unknown to Roman and Aeron, they were led toward the famous hunting grounds. Immediately, something about the scene made Roman’s stomach tighten.

Angus stood atop a raised wooden platform positioned near the center of the ground. Beneath it sat a large ceramic tub stained dark around the edges.

He did not even want to know what had previously filled it.

Surrounding Angus stood six witches dressed identically in white robes with black lipstick smeared across their mouths.

Several armed wolves guarded the area heavily.

But what truly caught Roman’s attention was the cages. Dozens of humans had been crammed into metal cages nearby. Some cried openly while others desperately reached through the bars the moment they noticed Aeron and Roman arriving.

"Please help us!"

"Don’t leave us here!"

"We didn’t do anything!"

The fear in their voices immediately set Roman on edge. Beside him, Aeron’s expression darkened too. Both males were alarmed. What in the goddess’s name were they walking into?

The guards shoved them forward harder until they reached the front of the platform. Then a kick slammed against the back of Roman’s knee and another struck Aeron. Both men were forced harshly onto their knees.

"Show some respect," one of the wolves sneered.

Roman slowly lifted his head toward the guard, murder sitting openly in his eyes. If only he could get his hands on the bastard.

Unfortunately, Angus looked deeply entertained by the entire situation.

"The great assassin Aeron," Angus called out mockingly. "Now reduced to the East Pack Alpha’s obedient little bitch."

Aeron looked thoroughly unimpressed.

"Who would’ve thought," Angus continued with amusement, "that you’d throw away your reputation over a woman?"

Aeron answered without hesitation.

"And where exactly did your reputation get you?" His gaze traveled over Angus deliberately. "No wife. No mate." He cocked his head to the side. "Is that even living?"

For the briefest second, Angus’s face darkened, but the expression vanished just as quickly. His attention shifted toward Roman instead.

"Roman Draven," Angus mused. "Heir to the South Pack Alpha and mated to my bitch of a daughter."

Roman already disliked where this conversation was going.

"Of all the Cardinal Alphas, you’re arguably the least useful."

Roman sighed dramatically. Yeah. He heard this speech before.

"If only I had raised Violet under my guidance instead of allowing her freedom to grow unchecked," Angus said coldly. "Trust me, you wouldn’t have even made the selection."

Roman shrugged.

"Yeah, I know. Unfortunately, it’s not my fault I’m so good in bed Violet refuses to dump me."

Angus looked momentarily dumbfounded while Aeron failed miserably at hiding the snort that escaped him. It was fun watching Angus receive a firsthand taste of Roman’s shamelessness.

Angus slowly scowled down at Roman.

"Let’s see how much that mouth keeps running after I’m done with you."

Then Angus stepped down from the platform and walked closer. His gaze swept across Roman’s battered body before stopping on the message on his back.

Angus scoffed.

"This was the best Ziva could come up with?" Disappointment flashed across his face. "That girl constantly let her emotions cloud her judgment. No wonder she failed."

Aeron seized the moment to speak.

"So what’s the plan?" he asked boldly. "Kill us?" His eyes swept meaningfully toward the cages nearby.

"Wouldn’t that be wasteful?" Aeron continued. "I assumed you’d at least use us to negotiate."

"Oh yes," Angus agreed easily. "The two of you are still very important to me. But before negotiations..." His gaze drifted toward the cages filled with terrified humans. "I’d like to show you both a little demonstration first."