My mother’s jaw drops. “Your father knew?”
“From the beginning.” Ryker moves toward me. “And this is why my father and I were pushing for me to mate you, Violet. To get you away from this pack before anyone else figured it out.”
The air leaves my lungs in a rush.
“But even you didn’t even seem to know what youwere.” His voice turns bitter as he kneels beside me, reaching for my chains. “And you just couldn’t see past Darius.”
I exchange a look with my mother. She has gone pale, her eyes wide with what looks like either fear or sudden comprehension.
A faint sound echoes from somewhere in the distance. Metal rubbing against stone. Voices, low and indistinct.
Ryker’s head whips around toward the corridor, his entire body going rigid. “Shit.”
“What is it?” I breathe.
“The guard rotation.” He fumbles with the key at my chains, his hands shaking. “I thought I’d have longer, but they’re here early.”
The voices grow louder. Much closer than before. Boots on stone, getting nearer with every step.
“I’ve got maybe thirty seconds, a minute tops.” Ryker’s jaw clenches as he struggles with the lock on my wrists. “Not enough time for both of you. I can only get one of you out and down the servants’ passage before they see us.”
My heart stops. “My mother.”
“What?” He looks up at me, confused.
“Take my mother.” The words come out fiercely. “Not me.”
“No, Violet.” He shakes his head, turning back to my chains. “I came for you.”
“Ryker, please.” I pull the chains away from him, and they bite into my already raw wrists. “Take her.”
“Violet, stop this.” My mother’s whisper cuts through the cell. “I am not leaving you here.”
“She’s Alaric’s mate, Ryker. The betrayal will make them savage,” I explain desperately. “They’ll make her suffer more than they will me. They’ll torture her for days before they kill her. I can’t watch that. I can’t let that happen.”
The voices in the corridor grow clearer. There’s a burst of laughter.
Ryker abandons my chains and moves to my mother. “We don’t have time for this.”
“No.” My mother pulls away from him as much as her chains allow. “Take Violet. Take my daughter.”
“Mom, please.” I lean forward as far as I can. “You have to go. I need you to be safe.”
“I’m not leaving my daughter to die.” Tears stream down her face. “Not again. I won’t lose another child.”
Her words shatter something inside my chest. But I force myself to stay firm. “You won’t lose me.”
“They’re going to kill you.” Her voice breaks on a sob. “How can you ask me to leave?”
“Because I need you to survive.” My own tears spill over. “Please, Mom. Please.”
Ryker works frantically at my mother’s chains, his movements urgent. “I killed two guards to get in here. When they’re discovered, security will increase. I won’t be able to come back for you, Violet.”
The truth in his words jolts me, but I nod. “I know.”
“Then I’m staying.” My mother jerks her chains back. “Take Violet. Please, take my daughter.”
“No.” I shake my head violently. “She has suffered enough, Ryker. She watched her mate and her son die. She can’t die, too. Please.”
