thick carpet. A private bathroom with a sunken tub. Even a small couch facing a private television. It’s luxurious compared to what we had before. But I know without a doubt Cutter is observing us—listening to everything we say.
I lean in closer to the brothers and brush my lips against Declan's ear, pulling Dean closer so he can hear too. "We have to be careful what we say. But I'm doing my best to make things better for us."
Declan frowns. "You're playing with fire, witch-girl."
I think back to the day I lit my door on fire and get an idea. Holding my hand out, I concentrate as hard as I can, and for just a moment, a flicker of a flame appears on my palm before dissipating. Blink and you'd miss it, but I didn't blink.
I smile triumphantly. "Maybe I am the fire," I whisper.
Dean is still staring at my palm as if willing the flame to return, but Declan's gaze is locked on my face, his expression unreadable.
"I have a feeling that bastard is getting more than he bargained for with you, love," he says, and I'm not gonna lie, his use of the word love makes my head spin a bit.
He takes my hand and pulls me closer against him. “I understand doing what you must for your twin.” His voice is husky and filled with emotion.
He and Dean exchange a look and Dean nods.
Declan exhales a breath I didn’t know he was holding. “There’s something you should know about us.”
I wait, listening, knowing there’s nothing he could say that would shock me at this point.
“Our father was alpha of our pack,” Declan says. “When he died, pack law dictated the eldest son would become the new alpha. But there was no provision for twins so our pack elders decreed that Dean and I would need to fight for who would be the next alpha.”
“Fight?” I repeat, horrified at what they were forced to do.
“To the death,” Declan adds grimly.
I gasp, unable to imagine being put in a position where I would have to kill my own sister.
“Which of you won?” I ask, sensing there’s much more to this story. There must be if both of them are still here; alive and well.
Dean answers. “Neither of us. We refused.”
“They should have never tried to force you into that.”
“But we couldn’t stay in the pack any longer, so we left. That’s how we got caught. That’s how Cutter’s mongrels found us. Without our pack, we were vulnerable. Weaker. Unprotected.”
“They waited until we were alone to attack,” Declan adds. His eyes are haunted as he says, “We each managed to take out a couple of them, but in the end, they were stronger.”
I reach for Declan’s hand and bring both him and Dean closer. “I’m so sorry,” I say, my heart breaking for them both. I remember the longing in their eyes when they spoke about their pack, about the family bond it created. What a horror to have to choose between your family and your twin. Of course, there was no choice, not really, but the loss must hurt deeply nonetheless.
They look at each other again, sharing some silent communication, and then Declan grips me more tightly. “Even if we make it out of here, we won’t go back. You’re our pack now. And we will do whatever we must to keep you safe, little witch.”
“Declan’s right,” Dean says, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “We both claim you.” He looks from me to his brother, eyes bright with a ferocity he rarely lets slip. “Together.”
Declan nods at him. “Together.”
I suck in my breath and exhale deeply. His words penetrate so many layers of pain, fear, and worry that I feel both broken and mended at once upon hearing them. Tears blur my vision and I lean my head against Declan’s chest as Dean’s arms slip around my waist. Their warmth surrounds me, and I know together we can get through anything. I have to believe that.
Estelle is my family, but family isn’t just blood, I’m learning. It’s also about bond. About soul connections.
We stand there for some time, until I pull away and wipe my eyes.
I need to decompress before I can figure out what to do next. My mind feels clear for the first time since I arrived here, and I’m glad we aren't trapped in dungeon cells anymore. Our lives are still living hell, but at least we have more creature comforts for the time being,