She cast me a smile sharp as a blade. “Can you really afford to doubt me? It’s not just Alice’s life that hangs in the balance.”
Fuck. Steel and Flint.
My chest tightened. I looked down at Alice—so pale, so still. What if Alanna was telling the truth? What if only the Unwatch could bring her back?
Ari sauntered into the cavern like he owned it, his blond hair pulled into a man bun, that smug fucking smile on his face.
The bastard. I wanted to fucking rip his heart out—if he even had one.
He focused on Alice, his gaze crawling over her limp body in a way that made me want to gouge his eyes out. “I see the time-stealing witch is asleep. Told you the Unwatch would work.”
Fucking asshole.
He’d known. He’d known about Alice’s power, and he’d found a way to stop it.
I glared at him, my mind racing. The queen had the Unwatch. She was the only one who could wake Alice. So what the hell did this bastard want—and how could I use it to get us out of here?
“Ari told me about her little trick in the forest,” Alanna continued, and I turned away from the Dark Demon. Her gaze never left mine. “Freezing time. Quite impressive for an untrained witch.” She leaned closer, close enough I could smell her perfume. Sweet enough to choke on. “Imagine what she could do with proper guidance. My guidance.”
“Putting her to sleep won’t make me become your mate, Alanna.” I met her eyes, letting her see every ounce of hatred I had. “I’ve already claimed her.”
Alanna narrowed her eyes and hissed like a rattlesnake. “We’ll see how much you love her, Darius.” She turned her back. “Guards, seize him.”
Guards rushed into the cavern. Not fucking again. I could have fought. Could have unfurled my wings and torn through them like paper. But with Alice under a magic spell—with only Alanna able to wake her—I had no choice.
I let them come.
One of the guards reached for Alice.
I growled, low and dangerous. “Stay away from her.”
“I suggest you hand her over,” Ari said, that smug smile still plastered on his face. “Or the queen might never wake your little witch.”
I hung my head. That heartless bitch would keep Alice asleep forever just to watch me suffer. She’d smile while she did it.
Reluctantly, I loosened my grip. A guard grabbed Alice and flung her over his shoulder like a sack of grain. I’d fucking rip out his black heart for that.
Alice didn’t groan. Didn’t stir. Just hung there, limp and lifeless.
Something inside me cracked.
Guards seized my arms and yanked my wrists behind my back. Cold metal clamped down—binding bracelets. Pain slammed into my wrists as the magic took hold, blocking my supernatural abilities.
Once again, I was Alanna’s prisoner.
I couldn't stop seeing Joy—chained, bleeding, her back shredded by Alanna's whip. That monster had enjoyed every second. And now Alice was at her mercy. Helpless. Defenseless. Mine to protect, and I'd failed her.
Ari picked up my hat from the nearby table, turning it over in his hands. “The infamous hat.”
“That hat is just a hat without me,” I said as they dragged me toward the entrance. “It only answers to its master.”
“We know.” Ari’s smile widened. “But unless you want your precious witch to remain unconscious forever, you’ll do well to obey.”
The bastard had me. They all had me. And the worst part? I'd obey. I'd do whatever they asked, swallow every ounce of pride, because the alternative was Alice never waking up.
They hauled me past Rabbit. He stood frozen, his face ashen, his hands still wringing.
I spat at his feet. “Rot in hell, asshole.”
