Rex Pov
I woke up slowly, like I was rising from deep water. Everything felt different. Lighter. Quieter. Peaceful in a way it had not been for weeks.
I sat up carefully and looked at my arms. The black veins that had been spreading across my skin were fading. As I watched, they got lighter and lighter until they were barely visible. Like someone was washing away ink with water.
"Thank you," I whispered. "Thank you, Kyran. Thank you, Urdon. Thank you, Freda. You saved me."
The cell door opened, and a guard stood there looking nervous. "Beta Rex," he said. "The Alpha wants to see you. He sent word that you are to be released immediately."
"Released," I repeated. I could not quite believe it. "The chains. You are taking off the silver chains."
"Yes, sir," the guard said. He pulled out a key and unlocked the cuffs around my wrists. The silver had burned my skin badly. Red marks and blisters covered both wrists. But I did not care. I was free.
