I saw with great relief that Raph and I had bought Gage enough time to heal the worst of the damage. Gage winked at me with one beautiful hazel eye as he groaned, playing the wounded bird. Sweet Sirens, only my Griffin could take a beating like that and then wink at me. I schooled my expression as I went to Lucien.
Lucien yanked me onto his lap and shouted again, “Raphael!”
“I'm coming, Master!” Raphael cried as he strode across the room. “I had to find the chains.”
“Oh, enough of this,” Lucien growled and waved his hand.
The chains reappeared on Gage.
“Get them out of my sight,” Lucien said wearily. “They will not be attending us at dinner tonight but do send them some company, Raphael. We don't want our guests to get bored.”
“Yes, Master.” Raphael grabbed Gage and yanked him to his feet, a muscle twitching in his jaw.
I gave him an almost imperceptible and very grateful nod.
Chapter Fifty-One
That night, when Lucien was fast asleep, I slipped out of bed and crept through the castle, heading down to the dungeon. I knew there was a chance that I'd find my men in the arms of other women, but I had to try. I needed to see them without Lucien breathing down my neck.
My pounding heart calmed as I entered the corridor that led to their cells. It was quiet, only the sound of bodies shifting under blankets penetrated the night. I edged forward.
An arm caught me and pulled me back as a hand went to my mouth. I struggled as someone yanked me back down the corridor and shoved me into a dark room. A body pushed me against a wall.
“Elaria, stop!” Raphael hissed in my ear.
I went still.
“What the fuck do you think you're doing?” he snarled at me.
“I want to see them,” I whispered.
“Lucien is just waiting for you to do something like this so he can punish you again!” He shoved away from me. “You damn fool!”
“Raphael?” I reached out and touched his face. “Is that really you?”
“Yeah, it's me,” he grumbled as he took my hand and removed it from his face. He squeezed it before letting go. “A lot of us are remembering who we are. Lucien can't control our minds forever.”
“How are you?”
“How am I?” He gave an amazed laugh. “Woman, you are being tortured by the most proficient, malicious, sadist in all the Realms and you're asking how I am?”
“All right. How are they? Can you at least tell me that?”
Raph glanced at the open door as if making sure Lucien hadn't crept up on us. “They weren't raped, El. I refused to do that to either them or the women. Everyone agreed to go along with my lie, the ladies included, but the guys had to behave as if it had happened. That's why they didn't tell you. It had to look real or we all would have paid the price.”
I nearly wept with relief. “Thank you, Raph.”
“I couldn't be a part of that. It was bad enough when I found out how he forced my friends to—” He shook his head. “They didn't want to do that to the guys. Lucien made them want it, but they didn't. Fuck, El, I can't believe this is happening. We're all his playthings.”
“I can't believe it either,” I murmured. “I keep thinking that I'm getting through to Lucien and then he turns around and does something even more brutal.”
“You are getting through to him. I can see it.” He grabbed my hand again, his claws closing around me. “Show him strength; he will respect that. Even as it enrages him, he will respect it.”
“But he needs more than that, Raph,” I argued. “Power will earn his respect, true, but it won't change him. I need to change him.”
“Only he can do that. This is his battle, El, we're just soldiers in it.”
“I suppose you're right,” I whispered.
“But you can make him want to change,” he went on. “A large part of him already loves you. Work with that. You made me fall in love with you in a week, and I wasn't the lovin' kind.” He grinned sadly at me.
“I don't know how to make a man fall in love with me, Raph,” I huffed. “I've never tried. I believe in being myself.”
“Then do that. Be yourself. But do it fast, El. You've only got a few more days before this is over and when it's over and the Devil is still ruling Lucifer, we're