My Hockey Alpha

Chapter 0774 A thrall.

Nausea coiled in the pit of my stomach as that word settled in. I thought of the feral state the panther-Isaac-had been reduced to, and felt bile rise in my throat. A thrall, a servant, a pawn.

Would that be Enzo's fate, if we didn't find him soon enough? How many others had she reduced to this state? Hundreds? Thousands?

"Thank you for telling us this, Isaac," I said softly, reaching out to grasp his trembling hand. "I swear to you, we will put an end to Mila's cruelty once and for all."

The haunted shifter's eyes darted over to me then despite their unseeing nature, shining with an intensity that almost made me forget that he couldn't see.

"You must," he said. "Before it's too late. I could feel myself slipping away in there, day by day, and there are so many others, others who never asked for this pain... and Mila herself..." He trailed off, shuddering bodily.

"What about her?" I pressed.

Isaac swallowed hard. "Her dragon blood has allowed her to withstand the fumes, but she's not immune," he said. "The gasses, they... they're poisoning her, too. Just like the rest of us. I saw it in her eyes; she's going more and more mad by the day, albeit slowly."

A heavy silence fell over the cramped hut at his words. My blood turned to ice in my veins as the pieces began to fall into place. If Mila was growing even more mad, then her actions would only grow more mad, as well.

And so many, my husband included, were subject to her whims.

At last, Kai sighed heavily, straightening up to look at me. "I assume, now, that there is nothing not even myself that could stop you from venturing into her domain."

I took in a deep breath. "I have to," I said, injecting as much conviction into my voice as I could muster. "Mila has to be stopped, no matter what state of mind she's in. And if there's a chance, even the slimmest one, that we can save the people trapped under her control..."

I trailed off, thinking about the haunted depths of Isaac's eyes, the weariness etched into his face. Nobody should have to suffer like that, twisted and unmade until they lost their very humanity.

"Then yes," I continued firmly. "We have to try, no matter the danger."

For a few beats, kai simply studied me, his expression unreadable. Then, finally, he gave a single, solemn nod. "Very well," he intoned gravely. "You and your... companions will have our aid in this quest. But I must ask one thing in return."

I arched an eyebrow warily. "What's that?"

The village leader leaned forward, bracing his hands on his staff. "My people have suffered greatly under Mila's reign," he said. "So I beg of you, wolf girl... show as much mercy as you can to those trapped within her grasp. Cure who you are able with your medicine. But do not slay any more than what is absolutely necessary."

His eyes bored into me, more of a warning than a request. "They were not always monsters," he said hoarsely." Most were once good souls, only led into a trap by the Dragon Queen's poisonous promises. If there is a way to save any of them... you must try."

My throat grew tight as I absorbed the weight of his request. It would be no simple feat, infiltrating Mila's palace and attempting to dole out cures while undoubtedly fighting for our lives. Mercy and restraint would be difficult to come by, no matter how noble the intention.

But as I looked around at my friends at Jessica's resolute expression, Matt's grim determination, even meek Lori's jaw thrust out stubbornly I knew we would find a way. We had to.

"You have my word," I said, turning back to Kai with a solemn nod. "We'll do everything in our power to save who we can."

Relief visibly washed over the old leader, causing his shoulders to slump. "Thank you, wolf girl," he said. "I will call upon my finest warriors to aid you in your mission. But please... hurry."