“Evan’s mate is an unknown quantity. She may not have any abilities until she’s fully bonded with him. And Drake has hounded Mila since she was young. He will make her suffer, Mason.”
Mason shook his head. “You cannot afford to think this way. We need to get to your Supernats’ meeting place and plan how to get the women back. I’ve already called for backup. They’ll be with us by this evening.”
Elias huffed out a long breath and clapped Mason on the back. “Yeah, you’re right. Sorry.”
“It’s okay, dude. I get why you’re afraid. Time to go. Let’s work out a plan to rescue the women.”
They got in the car and headed back to the forest.
* * *
When they reached the place of the gathering, Lily was crying, holding Angel tightly in her arms. Mathis ran to her.
“What’s wrong, Lily?”
“Apart from Mila being caught by Drake? What else could possibly be wrong?” she wailed.
Her eyes focused on Elias. Her sad expression almost set him off. There was also something else in her eyes. He walked over to her. Lily held out Angel for him. Gathering her up in his arms, he held her close.
“What else did you see, Lily?” Elias asked her in a soft voice.
“It’s good and bad. And I hate for you to find out like this.”
“What is it, baby? Tell Elias,” Mathis encouraged her.
“Drake will not be allowed to touch her.”
“And?” Elias prompted her.
“She’s pregnant, Elias. She’s carrying your babies.”
The world stilled around him. He felt chills of terror spread over his body. There was elation at discovering his amazing mate was pregnant, and terror as to what would happen to them. Then he thought to Lily’s words. Babies. Plural.
“Lily, was it a mistake when you said babies?”
She shook her head. “Mila is carrying twins. She’s having your son and daughter. It’s only the very early stages of pregnancy, but the vision was strong.”
* * *
Mila attempted to open her eyes, but they felt glued in place. Her head spun and bile filled her mouth. She groaned and attempted to move; her limbs were like lead. Where was she? And then it came flooding back to her. Drake had her captive and the likelihood of ever seeing Elias again was low.
“Steady. I’ll help you to get up.”
At the sound of a male voice, she tried to slither across the cold floor she was lying on. Two hands gripped her. Mila opened her eyes and balled her hands in to fists, ready to fight.
“Wild Thing, it’s Danger Man.”
Her eyes went wide, and she blinked a few times to focus properly
“Danger Man? Is it really you?”
“Yeah. Call me Rhys. Come on. Let me help you sit up.”
She allowed him to assist her, and once in a sitting position, the need to vomit became paramount. Rhys led her to a metal toilet; the only piece of furniture in the room. Mila threw up until her throat was raw.
“Side effect of the tranquiliser. Here,” he said, handing her a bottle of water. “Drink this.”
Nodding her thanks, she gulped greedily. “Mila,” she finally answered. “My name’s Mila. How long have you been here? You’ve been missing for weeks.”
“Not that long. Less than a day. Like I said when we met, I had a lead to follow. Been staking this place out for ages and late last night, I got rumbled.”
Mila smiled a wan smile. “I would say it’s good to meet you again, but not under these circumstances.”
“Likewise. So,” said Rhys as they sat with their backs to the wall of their cell, “how come you wound up in here?”
“Long story short, I’m now mated to a shifter. His name is Elias and he’s a deer shifter. It seems I have powerful visions. Saw this coming, although I didn’t quite know when. Do you have a sister, Rhys?”
Shock blazed across his eyes. “Yes.”
Mila shook her head and rubbed a hand across her eyes. “Shit.”
“Is there something else you need to tell me about this vision?”
“She comes to rescue you. We’re in cages next to each other. She gets you out, but guards are coming when she attempts to open my cell. I tell you both to leave. The visions can sometimes be a little sketchy, but always hold some semblance of the truth.”
Rhys sighed with frustration. “That’s the sort of thing Solange would do. Was there anything else?”
Mila became hesitant. “I’m told visions aren’t always clear and could be only a version of what may happen. There’s something else, too. Something important.”
“Tell me.”
“Okay, I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but I trust you to keep it to yourself. This may sound weird, but here goes.” Mila drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Evan, a bear shifter, was one of the people with me when I had this vision. Turns out Solange is destined to be his mate.”
Rhys stood up and paced the cell before coming to crouch down in front of her. “Is there any way you could be wrong about this?”
Mila frowned. “I don’t think so. When I told Evan, it was like a light being switched on. As if he realised what I was saying was true.” Tears formed in Mila’s eyes.
“Hey, come here.” Rhys held her and allowed her to cry.
“There’s no good ending for either of us here, Rhys. You know that, don’t you?”
“Not so sure about that. I reckon your mate will try to launch a rescue attempt. Maybe he’ll get here before my crazy sister turns up on her own.”
Mila worried at her lower lip. “Drake has been after me for years. There is no easy way out for me. He’s going to make me pay. And I’m going to suffer.”
“Fuck, Mila. We have to get you out of here.”
She rubbed at her arm, and for the first time, she noted a plaster in the crook of her arm. Frowning, she pulled it off to see a pinprick and small bruise. The place where she’d pulled the dart out had completely healed. She wondered why the pinprick hadn’t.
“I know what you’re thinking. You’ve had blood taken. Seems they do this to everyone they bring here.”
Mila’s eyes went wide. “How many people have been in here with you?”
“Five. All women. I don’t even want to think about what’s happening to them.”
A shudder ran through her. “What else?”
“Where they took blood from you won’t heal, because you’ll have a chip implanted at the base of your neck. It blocks all your powers. I’m human, so they haven’t bothered to put one in me.”
Mila remembered Elias had told her about the chip which had been inserted in his arm when he was held captive. The door to the cell opened. A shiver of fear travelled through her. Drake stood in the doorway with an evil grin covering his face.
This is it.
He indicated behind him and two visions from hell walked in. They were human in shape, but their hands were claws and their heads were bears. Both must have been experiments for the ultimate soldiers. These things were far from perfect, though.
“Come over here now, Mila, or I’ll get my guards to tear your friend limb from limb.”
“Stay strong, Mila. We’ll get out of this.” Rhys tried to reassure her in a low voice only she could hear.
With her legs trembling, she headed over to them. The beasts let her pass. Drake pulled her close. If only she wasn’t still dizzy from the drugs and feeling sick, she’d have at least shown defiance. But she didn’t want to put Rhys in danger, either. Drake eyed her like she was his possession. With as much rebelliousness as she could, she glared back at him.
“If you’re a good girl and do as I tell you, your friend here will be left alone. Any act of mutiny and he’ll be torn to pieces and you’ll watch. Understood?” The spittle from his mouth hit her in the face. She nodded curtly.
“Not good enough, Mila. Say yes, master.”
“Yes, master.” She ground out the words.
“Good girl. Guar
ds, take her to my private quarters. Now.”
Mila was frogmarched through one area which had several cages in it. This was the place she’d seen in her vision. Only two were occupied. One had a woman who whimpered softly to herself. The other had a man, or what was a man before he’d been turned into half a wolf. This had to stop. She only prayed Elias had some way of rescuing people. It might have been too late for her, but not for others.
After going down endless corridors, with the sounds of human screams and howls of wild beasts following after her, Drake came to a halt outside a door. He opened it and pushed Mila inside.
“No one is to enter, is that clear?” he ordered the guards.
On the other side of the door was a huge bed. What made Mila fearful was all the other contraptions housed in the room. Things she imagined would normally be found in a BDSM club. She was in for hell. No escape. An arm snaked around her shoulder and pulled her flush against his body, his cock hard against her back. The very smell of him made her feel sick.
“Time for some fun and revenge. Strip, bitch.”
Trying to switch off and focus on Elias’s face, she slowly undid the buttons of her shirt. Drake’s rasping breath as he watched her sent her body into terror. The door to his room opened with a loud thud.
“I said do not fucking interrupt me,” Drake growled.
Mila turned her head to see Luther in the doorway. Her predicament just kept on getting worse.
“You cannot touch her, Drake.”
“Are you fucking kidding me, Dad? You said I could have her.” He whined like a spoilt child.
“There is a reason for this. You cannot touch her physically for the next few months.”
“Why?” Mila asked in a small voice.
“Because you’re pregnant. And if the doctor has got the test right, which has been carried out with state-of-the-art equipment, you’re carrying twins. A boy and a girl.”
Mila’s head spun with shock and lack of food.
“Babies,” she whispered. “I’m having Elias’s babies.” With that, she blacked out.
* * *
The journey back to the main meeting place seemed to take an eternity. Elias remembered the necklace he’d given to Mila. He was thankful it had a tracking device embedded in the wood of the deer. Completely undetectable. Not only would it give her exact location, but keep track of her vital signs too. He pulled the small receiver from his pocket and put it on. Her vital signs were good, and the location was where he dreaded it would be… Scott Tech’s facility.
“At least we know where she is, and she’s alive.”
Elias glanced up at his brother. He was remaining upbeat, but the concern in his eyes was intense.
“But for how long, Mat? That bastard is going to hurt her in ways…” He couldn’t continue.
Evan gripped the seat behind Elias. “Dude, you’ve got to be strong now. Believe me, I’m struggling too.”
Elias turned to face Evan, his coal-black eyes conveying what words never could. “Sorry, Evan. We will get our women out of there. That’s a promise.”
Once gathered at the meeting hall, the sound of mumbled conversations echoed all around them. All the unmated shifters and other Supernats were there. Men and women ready to lay down their lives to protect others. Noises coming from the room at the very back could be heard. Furniture being moved, and makeshift beds being prepared. Elias shuddered. If the seers had seen visions of traumatised people, the healers were going to be pushed to the limit trying to save them. And the mental scars; how long would they take to heal? As a victim himself, he knew they never truly disappeared.
Elias observed everyone. The chatter stopped. They were waiting for him to begin. He stood at the front, flanked by Mat and Evan. Petra and Luna were also present. Mason’s Protectors had arrived a short while ago. Josh ran into the room, eyes wide, nostrils flaring with exertion. This was the first time he’d seen the young man since Mila’s capture. When he looked at Elias, his heart was in his eyes.
“You have news, Josh?”
“I took a chance and went to the fence surrounding the research facility.”
Elias’s eyes went wide. “Jesus. You were lucky not to be captured!”
Josh shrugged his shoulders. “It’s no big deal. I wanted to…”
Elias stopped him when he sensed Josh’s guilt. “Josh, Mila’s capture was not your fault. You have nothing to prove.”
Josh smiled his thanks. “The guards were full of talk about Mila.” He paused to chuckle.
“Josh.” Elias couldn’t hide the frustration in his voice.
“Sorry. It appears they hate Drake as much as we do. They were laughing because Drake isn’t allowed to touch Mila.”
A rumble of surprise rippled through the people gathered around.
“Thank God. Did they say why?”
“Luther told him she can’t be touched until after your babies are born.”
Elias almost collapsed under the weight of relief he felt. “Thank you, Josh.”
“Why would Luther order that? Sorry, Elias, but I’m surprised to hear this.”
Elias looked towards Sven, a Supernat with the power to control energy in the air around them. An Elemental.
“This is where it takes a nasty turn. Elias, there’s no easy way to tell you this… Luther wants Mila for himself.”
“Fuck. I’m going to kill that bastard!” Elias roared loudly.
“We’ll get her out, Elias. And what’s this about babies?”
Elias turned to face Sven. “Lily had a vision. Mila’s carrying twins. I didn’t know. It must be very early on in the pregnancy.”
A low rumble ran through the room. Murmurings of the reasons she’d remain untouched. To his surprise, Lily walked to him. She handed Angel over, and instantly, he calmed. His eyes locked onto her face and blue eyes stared back at him; they held way too much intelligence for an infant.
“Can I speak, Elias?”
He nodded, his eyes never leaving his niece’s face.
“We all realise why Mila is to remain untouched. No need for speculation or idle gossip. I don’t think I have to remind you of the implications if those babies are born in that facility.” She took Angel back from Elias, holding her to her chest and kissing her downy cheek.
Elias smiled inwardly. Lily had effectively grabbed their attention, her actions and gestures with her child letting everyone know what had to be done.
“Okay, you heard the lady. We need a solid plan to get inside that facility. They’ll know we’re coming, so we have to act fast.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
When Mila came to, she was still in Drake’s room, being held up by one of the guards. She was simultaneously relieved and scared. Relieved because Drake couldn’t touch her. Scared because if she didn’t escape, her babies would be taken away and brought up by scientists. No love. No compassion. Trained to become Luther’s soldiers. His weapons of mass destruction. Because she had no doubt in her mind that their children would be powerful beyond anyone’s imaginings.
Two babies. Such a miracle. Elias, and others, had told her their race didn’t have children as frequently as humans. These two tiny souls growing inside her would be loved and treasured for eternity. A soft smile curved her lips when she imagined her mate working on their cribs.
Luther grabbed her by the arm, taking her away from her happy thoughts, and led her out of the room. They entered an elevator and went several floors up. Eventually, they came to what must have been his private apartments. Nerves and warning spikes skittered along her skin. Taken from one cage, only to be put in another.
“This will be your home from now on, my dear. No one will touch you. We will take care of you during your pregnancy. You’ll want for nothing.”
Mila turned on him, her anger overriding her fear. “Swapped one prison cell for another, Luther. Am I supposed to be grateful?”
“Mila, this is your life from now on. Accept it.”
“All I wa
nt is to leave here, be with my mate, and bring our children up in a world of love and respect. They are not going to be used as weapons of war, which is what they’ll be if I stay here.”
She gasped when he stepped right into her space. Evil grey eyes glared at her, his canine teeth lengthened into three-inch fangs. My God, he’d been experimenting on himself! He quickly retracted them. His shock of white hair glowed eerily and then she witnessed his disgusting expression. Lust.
“How easy your time here will be is entirely up to you, Mila. Accept that there is no escape and your stay will be a pleasant and pampered one.”
“And after they’re born, what’s going to happen to me? Used for experiments?”
The lascivious grin he threw at her caused her heart to sink.
He ran a hand down the side of her face. “Oh, no. Nothing that bad. You are going to be my mate. And when we join, I’ll share your powers.”
“Are you insane?” she screeched.
“Not at all. My son has no idea I’ve perfected a serum which has given me enhanced powers. Hence the long teeth. Drake needs to mature before I let him anywhere near this drug.”
Mila laughed without mirth. “Well, you have to take the blame for the way that asshole turned out. Sins of the father and all that!”
He eyed her appraisingly. Bile collected in her mouth. This man was totally crazy… and she was his prisoner.
“Hmm, I love the fire and passion in your expression. Fucking and breaking you will be an absolute pleasure.”
A loud bang at the door halted the conversation.
“Enter.”
One of the guards who’d escorted them there still had his bear claws, but a human face. A face devoid of all human emotions. She wondered if he’d started off as a human or a shifter.
“We’ve captured a woman trying to break in, Sir.”
Luther scratched his chin. “Hmm, interesting concept. People normally want to break out. Bring her to me.”
Mila took the opportunity to sit on a couch and get away from the cloying stench of Luther. She wondered how Drake would react if he discovered his father’s plans to take her as his own. Could she, in any way, use this to her advantage? This was something she’d have to work on. Loud screams and shouts of abuse filled the air. A young woman, around Mila’s age, was brought into the room. She had raven black hair with electric-blue highlights; the wild curls rested on her shoulders.
Wild Desire (The Protectors Book 1) Page 17