When Xue Rui stared at me with a malicious gaze, I knew I was fucked. I held Raika in my arms tightly, trying to plead with him to show a little mercy.
"He's injured. He can't hurt anyone."
I hated the way I had to lower myself to make sure my friend could survive, but I had no other choice. Sometimes you have to do what you can do.
I turned to Killian with a plea in my eyes. But Killian had an icy expression on his face that looked very familiar. The same expression that broke my heart many years ago.
I told myself, you can't rely on anyone but yourself, idiot.
I admonish myself.
Xue Rui spoke with a mocking voice, and the cultivators walked up to me with swords in their hands, which was ironic because I had no weapons on me. Even though the fox was smaller than I, somehow, they felt threatened.
They call themselves righteous, but I call them hypocrites. Full of shit.
Xue Rui looked at me with a self-righteous gaze, "It doesn't change the fact he's a demon. How do you know he won't hurt anyone?"
He narrowed his eyes like he sniffed a secret in the air, "Is he yours?"
I decided to tell the truth; it's all I can do. I raised my brow and kept my head high, "Yes, what are you going to do about it?"
Xue Rui grinned like I said the right words. He turned to his friends—or minions who always followed him everywhere he went, even since childhood.
"Arrest him. He broke the law."
The two men behind him walked forward, their gaze turned sharp and cold toward me. My body turned tense, ready to stand up for myself.
I didn't know what else to do, but I was planning to use my demon powers if I must. If I must leave this sect to save my pet, then so be it.
Raika let out a growl in my arms, and I whispered. "I'll be fine."
Raika knew that was a lie. He purred sadly in my arms, and Killian did nothing at all. He didn't even defend me.
For some reason, my heart felt a sting along with shame. Why did I expect anything from a cold man?
The two men headed in my direction, and before I could do anything, they snatched Raika from my arms. The fox snarled at them with sharp teeth, and they dropped the fox in surprise.
I caught the fox before he could fall to the ground. Xue Rui frowned and shouted with a flicker of annoyance. "Do something!"
Killian frowned, his lips pursed tightly. He walked forward.
My heart jumped, expecting him to help me.
"I'll take care of him…"
My heart slammed back into my chest. His cold-hearted words nearly blinded me.
Wh—
What did he just say?
Killian raised his hand, his robe slightly wet, and everyone didn't question it because they were so focused on the idea of capturing a demon pet.
Raika flew into the air, my hands feeling emptier than ever. Raika had a confused expression on his face; his ears perked up.
I shouted. "No!"
Then the two men moved around the floating fox into the air, and they immediately ran toward me, but I wasn't focused on them. I tried to run toward Raika's direction, and his red eyes turned fearful.
I shouted, "STOP—"
My arms were captured by two hands. I was pushed to the ground like a criminal, and my face pressed to the dirt. Dirt entered my mouth, making me cough heavily.
The men didn't show any mercy for me, and my heart squeezed with fear and anger. How could they?!
I turned in Killian's direction despite my sore neck and my hands being tied up behind me. I gave Killian a cold glare so menacing that I hoped it would haunt him for the rest of his life.
Killian didn't look phased by my expression, and he held the fox in his arms, but the fox was struggling in his hold.
"Don't look at him."
Xue Rui said in a cold voice, and he pushed my head down, suffocating me. I couldn't even breathe.
Before I knew it, they pulled my arms up, not giving me a chance to rise to my feet. Xue Rui spoke to Killian, "Disciple chief, what are you going to do with the demon pet?"
Killian arched his brow arrogantly, "None of your business."
Xue Rui's expression fell flatly, and that brought a wave of glee through me. I wanted to stick my tongue out at him.
Xue Rui had a forced smile on his face, but the man on his right side spoke up, "You—"
Killian said nothing, his silence obviously bothering them.
Xue Rui spoke with a calm expression, "But I will need to know since you were with Sonny. How do I know you weren't aware of his demon pet?"
I turned to Killian and wondered how he would respond. Killian had a flat, cold expression that nearly made Xue Rui swallow hard, but he continued staring at him like a criminal.
Killian spoke, "You think I'd knowingly travel with a demon fox? Don't insult me."
Xue Rui swallowed hard, and a nervous sweat appeared on his brow. "I apologize. I wasn't trying to accuse—"
Killian furrowed his brow, "But you were."
Xue Rui huffed and then took a deep breath to calm down, "Like I said, I'm sorry."
Killian shook his head like he was disgusted, "I don't want your apology. Go get out of here."
His words stung me deeply, but they faded away when the two men dragged me away. The disciples inside the sect looked at me in shock and surprise, but no one stood up for me.
The chains behind my back were tightening and painful, and we walked for nearly fifteen minutes. I kept walking till they forced me to walk down the basement, where a large door opened with a loud screeching sound.
I furrowed my brow, "What's this place?"
Xue Rui stood behind me and spoke, "Your worst nightmare. It's called the Thunder Cage."