Kept By Her Obsessed Minotaurs

34. Mara

34

MARA

T he cold, damp air seeps into my bones as I watch Garron and Lazir disappear into the heart of the Murdok dark elf estate. My heart thrums a frantic rhythm in my chest, each beat a silent plea for their safety.

Calo's hand finds my shoulder, a comforting weight in the midst of this uncertainty. "They'll be fine," he assures me, his voice a low rumble. "They know what they're doing. Don't worry."

I nod, biting my lower lip to keep it from trembling. The fear coiled in my stomach tightens. The thought of something bad happening to them is unbearable.

The realization strikes me with the force of a physical blow. Somewhere along this perilous journey, my heart has become irrevocably entwined with theirs. The walls I built around myself, once so high and impenetrable, have crumbled to dust, leaving me vulnerable and aching with a feeling I've spent so long denying.

Love.

The word echoes in the cavernous depths of my mind, a soft whisper that grows louder with each passing moment. I love them—all three of them. And it's not just the safety they offer or the protection they provide. It's their unwavering loyalty, their unexpected gentleness, and the subtle ways they've come to understand me.

"We have to trust in their strength... and in the bond we share," Calo says softly.

His words hang in the air, a tangible reminder of the fragile yet unbreakable connection that has formed between the four of us.

Time stretches on. Each second is a tiny eternity as we wait in the shadows for any sign of Garron and Lazir. The silence is a living thing, heavy and oppressive, broken only by the distant hoot of an owl and the erratic beating of my own heart. Calo stands beside me, a silent sentinel, his eyes never leaving the estate's imposing silhouette.

Then, without warning, the night is split by a thunderous roar. A brilliant flash of light illuminates the western side of the estate, followed by a shockwave that sends us stumbling backward. My ears ring as debris rains down, the air thick with dust and the acrid scent of smoke and destruction.

"What the hell was that?" I cry out. My voice is a mere whisper, drowned out by the chaos unfolding before us.

Dark elf soldiers rush inside from the eastern side, their movements frantic yet organized. Panic claws at my throat.

Calo's hand wraps around my arm, his grip firm but not painful. "We have to go, Mara. Now," he urges.

I dig my heels into the ground, shaking my head vehemently. "No! We can't leave them," I shout.

His eyes are wide with fear and frustration. "My duty is to protect you," he insists, his voice laced with anguish. "If something happens to you?—"

"Nothing will happen to me if you go and help them!" I say loudly. My words come out harsher than intended, but the thought of losing any of them is unthinkable right now. "Please, Calo. They might need you."

He looks torn, his gaze darting between me and the estate. I can see the internal struggle playing out across his features—the desire to keep me safe warring with the loyalty he feels toward his brothers-in-arms.

"Promise me you'll hide if something goes wrong," he finally says, his tone grave. "If things get too dangerous, you have to run. Get as far away from here as you can."

The thought of abandoning them, even in the face of danger, sends a pang of guilt through my chest. "I can't just leave?—"

"Mara." His voice is stern, his gaze unwavering. "Promise me."

I swallow hard, the reality of the situation sinking in. "I promise," I whisper, though every fiber of my being rebels against the words.

With a curt nod, Calo releases my arm and takes off toward the estate, his form quickly swallowed by the darkness. I'm left alone in the shadows, my heart pounding in sync with the distant sounds of battle.

As I watch the flames lick the night sky, a sense of helplessness washes over me. The wait is agonizing, each passing moment stretching into infinity.

I huddle against the cold stone of a nearby wall, my body trembling with a mix of fear and adrenaline. The sounds of conflict echo through the night, a grim reminder of the risks they're facing on my behalf.

The minutes crawl by, each one a test of my resolve. I clutch the hilt of the dagger tucked into my belt, the cold steel a small comfort against the uncertainty that surrounds me. I promised to hide, but the thought of doing nothing while they're in danger is eating me alive.

What if they're hurt... or worse? The thought is too much, a knife twisting in my heart.

The ground trembles beneath me, a violent tremor that resonates deep within my chest. Another explosion rips through the stillness of the night. My hands fly to my ears, as if that could somehow shield me from the destruction that surrounds me.

I press my back against the unyielding stone wall, my body shaking as much from fear as from the aftershocks of the blast. Hot tears carve a path down my cheeks, each one a silent testament to the terror that grips my heart. "Please... please be okay," I whisper, my voice lost in the chaos that engulfs the estate.

The air is thick with smoke and ash, turning the moonlight into a hazy, surreal glow. The scent of burning wood and molten metal fills my nostrils. My mind conjures up horrific images of Garron, Lazir and Calo caught in the maelstrom, their bodies broken and lifeless among the debris.

"Stop it, Mara," I scold myself, my voice barely audible over the roar of the flames. I can't allow fear to cloud my judgment. They're strong, capable—they've faced worse and come out victorious. But the rational part of my brain wars with the raw, primal panic that threatens to consume me.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to steady my ragged breathing. The sound of my heart pounding in my ears is a frantic drumbeat that echoes the turmoil within my soul. I cling to the hope that they'll emerge from this nightmare unscathed, that we'll be reunited and find a way to put an end to this madness.

Another explosion rocks the estate, closer this time. The force of it sends me sprawling onto the damp earth, the impact knocking the breath from my lungs. I lay there stunned momentarily, the world around me a symphony of destruction and despair.

I push myself up onto my hands and knees, my body trembling with a combination of fear and cold. The ground beneath me is littered with fragments of stone and shattered glass.

"I should have gone with them," I murmur, my voice choked with regret. The weight of my promise to Calo sits heavy on my conscience, a vow of inaction that feels like a betrayal of my own heart.

As I struggle to regain my composure, I realize that the future I'd envisioned for myself—a future filled with vengeance and solitude—has been irrevocably altered. Garron, Lazir, and Calo have become an integral part of my existence now. The thought of losing them, of returning to a life devoid of their presence, is a pain I cannot even contemplate.

"I need you," I whisper into the darkness, the words a fervent plea to whatever higher power might be listening. "Come back to me. All of you."