Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

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Chapter 193

Xena's POV

I tried pushing the chair across the floor, but the back legs caught in a drain. If I tried again, I'd probably fall over. I attempted to reach anyone through the mind link, but no response came. I called or Una, but she was gone too.

Whatever drug they'd given me definitely contained wolfsbane. My heart seized with agony, like thousands of tiny knives stabbing inside me. Damn, whoever invented or discovered that poison deserved a special place in hell. My limbs no longer felt like my own; every tiny movement was like trying to move a mountain. Eventually, exhaustion won, and I blacked out again.

The sound of the metal door jerked me from sleep. The hardest thing I've ever done was lifting my head at that moment. The pure burning pain that came from lifting my head from a completely reclined position was excruciating. My neck muscles screamed in protest, the agony traveling down my spine like someone had lit my nerves on fire. I wanted to scream, but my throat was too dry to even force out a groan.

I managed to crack my eyes open as a little girl walked in, followed by a warrior- looking guy with a gun.

"I-I brought you food, and I'll let you use the bathroom. If you run, he'll shoot you and me," she said, trembling as she approached.

She looked about twelve, but her body-at least what I could see of it was covered

in bruises. She wore what looked like a burlap sack for clothing.

There was fear in her eyes, but also numbness, that hollow look only people who've seen too much suffering have.

When she unlocked the chains holding me, I didn't respond. As soon as my arms and ankles were free, I crashed to the floor.

"Oh, shit..." I groaned.

this way," she

knees. My arms couldn't support me, and I

dusty earth mixed with blood in my mouth. Humiliation and helplessness spread through me like poison. I'd been weakened to the point where I couldn't

under me, but it wasn't until the girl came back to

bathroom had no door, but at this

hadn't been cleaned in years, with cobwebs spanning across it and rat

finally relieved myself. The relief felt so good, but

the guard shouted when I was

in fear, almost stopping, but biological

fear twisted inside me, but I was

midway, so I continued. However, when I

I snapped

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Chapter 193

hard,

looked up and saw his fist flying toward my face,

to her?" I heard someone say as my

only focus on the pain in my head. The voices sounded so

sounds muffled, light each piece reflecting a different

eyes. My thoughts

on my shoulder, shaking

up." Alpha Wiley's voice brought

that, I didn't know, but the girl had a fresh bruise