We stopped in our tracks. My eyes went wide at the scene before me. Von let out a growl, low and deep from within his chest.
Valen nudged him to calm him down, knowing that one wrong move could ruin everything.
King Alistair stood before us, with Beta Alexander in wolf form at his side. Behind them, holding a tied up and unconscious Artemis, were Celia and Seraphine.
Seraphine had a wicked grin on her face and Celia's eyes trained to the ground at our arrival. She held a silver dagger to Artemis's side. I blinked in realization.
It had the same design as the one from the castle.
"Well, isn't this a pleasant way to meet my daughter's mate," King Alistair crowed.
He clapped his hands in a slow fashion and watched as my lip raised in disgust.
"Oh, come now, dear. You didn't really think you'd be able to save everyone did you?"
I snarled in his direction and began to move forward. I froze in my tracks as Celia pressed the dagger harder into Artemis's side and she began to squirm back into consciousness.
She hissed in pain as her shirt rode up and the silver came in contact with her bare skin.
Von growled again but didn't move. He couldn't risk hurting Artemis.
I could see Valen's eyes glaze over for a moment. I hoped and prayed that he was contacting the others and letting them know of our situation.
King Alistair smirked and nodded to Alexander, who nudged some ratty clothes in our direction.
"Why don't you all shift back so we can have a nice chat?"
We exchanged glances before doing just that. I threw on the clothes that were in front of me and nearly gagged at the smell.
"That's better." His face curled into a smile as wicked as Seraphine's.
"Let her go," I managed to get out.
His eyes flashed to me and his nostrils flared, but he kept his composure.
"Indigo, is that anyway to speak to your father?"
"You are not my father," I spat back at him.
He chuckled. "Oh, but dear I am. You know that as well as I do."
"Enough of this, what do you want with my mate?" Von boomed.
King Alistair rolled his eyes and shifted his weight on his feet.
"I had to get you all here somehow. I would have preferred Indigo, but really anyone would have done nicely. And my informants were so eager to share the knowledge they gained since Indigo's arrival at DarkBlood," he explained while gesturing to Seraphine and Celia.
"Cut the shit. What do you want from us?" Valen growled.
"Power, young prince. I want power."
I cocked an eyebrow at my disgusting excuse for a father.
"Allow me to explain. You see, Seraphine approached me a year ago and brought forward a potential alliance. She would help me secure a treaty with your filthy pack, and in turn, I wouldn't kill her daughter and her daughter's mate once I took over your lands. She was so sure it was you, Valen," King Alistair shrugged.
"But things change, I guess. Once it became clear that Celia was not fated to be yours, Seraphine came crawling back to me, begging for one more chance. She helped secure the plan to bomb your castle and has been keeping tabs on you all ever since. How did you like our gift, by the way? I really thought the Fate Spinner was going to set things in motion much quicker. Such a pity that it's gone."
Valen snarled and turned his anger toward the women in the back.
"How could you?" he roared. "Our father trusted you!"
Seraphine sneered at him before throwing her head back and laughing.
"When I realized Indigo had sunk her claws so deeply into you, I knew I had to do something. I wasn't going to let some royal wolf promise her the world and then leave her stranded like your father did to me."
I froze.
What did she mean?
Seraphine turned her gaze to me.
"Oh, don't look so surprised. I was certain that King Ruben would be my mate one day. I loved him dearly. But then Stella waltzed into the picture and I was left in the dust. Not even meeting my own mate could quell the despair in my heart. I killed him shortly after Celia was born, and I've been formulating her future ever since. To make sure it was better than mine. You got in the way," she sneered.
I heard Celia make a small intake of breath.
"And now, we're going to kill all of you."
She shrugged like it was no big deal. I turned my gaze toward Celia. Her face was flushed and she looked like she was holding back tears. King Alistair looked at something behind me and sighed.
"We're running out of time, it seems. Close the gates," he commanded to Alexander.
The gates began to creak closed just as I started to hear the footfalls of approaching paws. King Ruben snarled in anger as the heavy doors slammed shut before he could reach us.
King Alistair snapped his fingers and Seraphine and Celia dragged Artemis forward.
"The dagger Celia holds was coated in the Fate Spinner's venom, so I'd watch what I was doing if I were you."
I glared at him.
"What happened to you? What could have gone so wrong for you that your soul has turned black?" I stared into his eyes as I awaited his answer.
"I made a deal with Selene's sister. Fate promised me I would be the most powerful king in the world. All I had to do was deliver you to her in death."
I sucked in a breath.
"You....you knew what would happen when you mated with my mother, didn't you?"
"Of course I did. Fate had shown me. That's why I couldn't allow her to live. She would have done anything to protect you. I tried so hard to completely break the bond before you were born, but her one dying wish reignited that small flame left within me. I couldn't kill you then." His eyes hardened and turned cold.
"That flame has long since died out. I have no use for you anymore."
He waved his hand once again toward Seraphine and Celia.
"Ladies, if you would, please."
Seraphine grabbed Artemis by the hair and yanked her head up until she was looking directly at us.
"I'm so sorry," she whispered out to Von.
"Don't say that, my love. It'll be okay. We'll get you out of here, I swear it." I could hear the desperation in his voice as he tried to control himself.
His hands trembled as he tried to reach for her.
"You've tested my patience long enough, now. Celia, do it." King Alistair commanded.
Celia raised the dagger to Artemis's throat. I watched as Artemis swallowed heavily. She closed her eyes and waited for it to pierce her skin.
The darkness was beginning to consume me. I felt my hands shaking in anger.
Anger at my father. Anger at Seraphine. Anger at myself.
The blizzard resumed; the snow now pelting our skin.
"So this is your power," King Alistair mused.
"Stop." I commanded.
But my voice wasn't my own. It was...menacing and dark. I didn't sound like myself. Celia hesitated for a moment.
"You know what I can do. Drop the blade and hand her over."
"Don't do it, Celia!" Seraphine cried.
"Don't waste this opportunity!"
Celia's eyes scanned back and forth between us and tears leaked down her face as a battle raged within her.
"You can come back with us. We'll keep you safe."
I tried to calm my nerves, but my heart rate was only increasing. I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold myself back and keep the darkness at bay.
I saw flames from the torches lining the gates begin to dance and enlarge and a splitting pain radiated through my temples.
"I...I can't disobey her," Celia whispered. The tears were flowing stronger now.
"I know this is wrong. I'm so sorry for everything. All of you, I'm so sorry." She sobbed and her hand wobbled.
"Damnit Celia! Do not disappoint me again!" her mother roared.
Celia snapped her eyes closed and raised the dagger.
"NO!" I screamed.
Valen and Von grabbed my arms and held me back as the ground began to shake. Thunder clapped through the sky.
Celia jumped for a moment and looked back at me.
"I'm sorry," she whispered and she brought the blade down.
Author's Note:
.........Sorry for the cliffhanger. Thoughts? Feelings? Any idea what might happen? Will this story have a happy ending?
Comment and Vote so I can see what you think!
Xoxo,
CrimsynIris