I shuddered, desperate to pull away, but I was trapped between them, my chains coiled tightly around their hands. My collar pulsated with power, intensified by the chains. Each step brought an ache that made the thought of running impossible.
The double doors ahead opened. Even from here, I heard jeers and shouts. I’d been dragged through the mass of soldiers before, but I wasn’t prepared for what awaited me.
It was like every soldier had shown up for my walk of shame to the elevator. There was a sea of mostly males, but throughout, a few females stood out.
I recognised the Fae female who used to cling to Ry’s side at the academy. Her strawberry blonde hair was up in a bun, and there was a deep scar running down the side of her face that twisted her features into something cruel. She used to be able to hide that at the academy, but now it was a permanent reminder on her face.
When she saw me, she sneered. The scar pulled her lip at the corner, making the sneer more prominent.
“Whore,” she hissed, hand moving to her belt.
I pressed my lips together.She isn’t worth it. I tore my gaze from her.
I recognised one of the other females immediately. Red hair, dark skin. Her eyes flashed orange with the presence of her tiger.
My heart pounded as I passed her. Nothing in her expression gave her away, and I wasn’t about to out her as something else. I wasn’t even sure how I felt about seeing her again, and the small flare of hope within me almost made me sick.
Had she shown herself for a reason? Or was I reading too much into it?
She could have been compromised months ago. I’d forgotten all about her; the rush of the kidnapping, Ry in my head trying to get me through the attack, finding the girls and Kerry knocked out, and then everything that’d happened withAdrian, I hadn’t even told the team she’d been there. I wasn’t even sure Thea had when I’d healed Adrian and passed out.
The female disappeared, leaving me to take in the flood of jeering soldiers. I kept my eyes ahead, refusing to look at any of them again.
At the end of the hall, the doors to the elevator opened. Inside, waiting for me, was a face I didn’t want to see but wasn’t surprised about. Dante looked the same as he had last time, but today he wasn’t in hisuniform. Strangely enough, he was in a black button-down shirt and slacks, with a pair of loafers on his feet. No tactical belt, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have weapons on him.
When he spotted me, a smile curled his lips. “There you are,” he said, eyes locked on mine. “Had to let the men get their fill.”
My skin prickled, but I said nothing as I was dragged into the elevator. Dante had no other guards with him, which should have made me relieved. Instead, it made me more cautious.
What the hell was he planning?
Dante pressed a button before leaning against the wall of the elevator. “Sable is blocking something, a magic signature. Actually,twomagic signatures,” he said, crossing his arms. “You know anything about that?”
“Of course not,” I spat, heart racing. “Sable does what she does and won’t tell anyone about it until it suits her.”
Dante chuckled, shaking his head. “Had a feeling that was the case.” His eyes darkened, darting away from mine to my body. “What she’s hiding is going to hurt my brother, especially when I take your power.”
A chill rushed through me, panic rising. “What does that mean?” I asked carefully.
His eyes met mine. “Means I’m going to have to make sure you’re ready to give birth in the next…two weeks, I’d say.”
Blood thrummed in my ears, drowning out the rest of his words.Birth. Give birth. I’m pregnant.
It was impossible. It should have beenimpossible. Eliashelped me get my birth control in order. We’d done it the second day of our mating.
There was no way I’d been pregnant then or should be now.
All the blood rushed to my head. Pain ignited in my stomach. A wave of darkness crossed my vision.
The last thing I heard was Dante’s laugh before everything fell apart.
23
Xerxes
“Where are they taking her?” I asked my handler, keeping my eyes locked on the space where she’d disappeared.
Anger thrummed dangerously in my veins. Seeing her trapped in that cage was one thing. It meant she couldn’t be touched by the hands of these traitors. But the chains…they were something else. They made my Primal feral, desperate to free her.
