The two men still argued when he got back to the kitchen. Luke walked toward them to send one of them on a mission to find the rest of the Hale brothers, even if it meant knocking some heads together to get the servants to shut up.
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Rescue
Sarah Hale
Sarah watched as Kayleigh walked toward her. "I hope you brought more food because what the other guy gave me isn't going to last very long."
"Just be happy you were fed."
She watched the man with Kayleigh. The one who wanted her baby. "Who are you? I know you like to speak in riddles, but would it really hurt you to tell me?"
He studied her for a moment. "Very well. My name is Aaron."
"Dad! You don't have to tell her anything." Kayleigh glared at him.
"He's your father? You're after my baby, too?"
Kayleigh snorted. "I have no use for a baby. Once your baby has been whisked away and you're done, I'll be queen." She sneered at Sarah. "Grief leaves such an opening."
"And don't forget the idol. It was so kind of you to return it." Aaron smiled at her, but it was such an evil look that her blood ran cold.
Things were just getting more bizarre. Sarah tried to make all the pieces fit together, but she was missing something that connected them all. 'You want the idol, too?"
"Indeed," was his only reply.
"Can you at least let me out of here so we can talk face to face? Standing at this godforsaken door is hard on my back."
"Sweet girl, you have proven yourself untrustworthy in that regard. Staying in there is the proper course of action."
Kayleigh moved out of sight, so Sarah couldn't tell what she was doing. Aaron eventually followed her while Sarah returned to the cot. She sat down and pondered the entire situation. What was she missing?
The last time someone wanted my baby, Danielle's boss had gone crazy.Her now-sister-in-law had felt horrible bringing a see'er into their lives that could see their dragon form. Stranger still, Malcolm had ended up being Joey's absent uncle, another sister-in-law who had apologized to the Hale family. Joey's grandfather had been in on stealing the idol. Sarah's eyes widened.Holy shit.
She moved back to the door. "Your brother is Malcolm."
At first there was no sound except absolute silence. Finally, Aaron came back into view. "Very good."
"Your father stole the idol." Her mind whirled as she pieced it all together. "You're from another kingdom, but you're not actually a dragon, are you? You're a fraud. You took over an entire community, and you can't even shift. You need my baby, just as your brother did, to hide your fraud." She stared straight at him through the window. "And your daughter is a pawn for you. You're going to keep my baby, say it's your grandchild while she marries Luke, making everything look like royalty. Are your people questioning your ability to shift? Is that why you need a baby that can, so they'll back off?"
His face reddened with anger, so she knew that she had unravelled at least most of the mystery and deception. "Pray that I don't take your child early."
A new wave of boldness suddenly rushed through her. "You will never have my baby." Knowing how weak he was made her feel better about the whole situation. All she had to do was get out of that room so she could show him who was in charge.
"I don't know where your kingdom is, but I can't wait to tell them what a bunch of suckers they've been." She tapped her lip. "What do you think they'll do to you for your deceit?" She grabbed the bars. "And what do you think I'll do for your part in my father's murder?"
He took a step toward her. "You won't do a damned thing because I have the upper hand--"
He spun around as the door behind him suddenly crashed in. She heard Kayleigh shriek as the room was suddenly full of her brothers. Relief almost made her sink to the floor when Luke appeared. He landed a right hook solidly on Aaron's jaw, and the man fell like a sack of potatoes.
The entire fight was over in mere seconds. Aaron and Kayleigh were no match for the pissed off men with pent up aggression due to fear for Sarah. Luke grabbed the keys off Aaron and unlocked her door. She was in his arms before the door finished opening.
"Are you okay?"
She kissed him. "I'm fine. Angry, but fine." She looked over at Kayleigh, who Drake held with her arms pinned behind her back. "You."
Sarah pushed away from Luke and walked over and landed a solid slap across the woman's face. "You're lucky I'm stopping there, you conniving bitch."
"This isn't over," Kayleigh spat at her.
