He huffs out a laugh, stands, and swings his leg back from the chair. “For years, we tried to harness the power of the magic wielders. Our predecessors thought that the magic resided in the lands, which was the main cause for the Great War. They were so stupid because the true source of their power lies within their DNA. If they only realized that from the beginning, we could have used the white wolves as breeding stock. The future spawn of the Resistance could have had their own magic and achieved so much power by now.”
He moves closer, but not close enough for me to wrap my legs around him and break his fucking neck. Taunting me, the asshole takes three steps closer.
I curl my legs up to attack when my abdomen cramps, and the weight causes the chains to dig into my wrists. My body trembles as my muscles tighten. Pain rips through my entire body. My muscles twitch and spasm, and I grit my teeth, willing the pain away.
What the fuck? I barely moved. When my muscles finally settle, I force my swollen eyelids apart to peer down at the traitorous bastard my father trusts and treats like family.
He grins up at me, like he already won a battle. “How does it feel to be so weak, powerless, completely human? How does it feel to be like those of us without magic? Thanks to your girlfriend, we were able to create a vaccine for magic wielders—well, I guess you could call it an antidote for magic shifters.” He flips his hand in the air. “We still have some kinks to work out,but we no longer need her help for that. Thanks to you, we now know that it works beautifully on other magic wielders.
“Don't worry. I’m told it's only temporary. I'll let you have your magic and the ability to shift back if you behave and work with me willingly. In fact, I’ll even let you keep your little girlfriend. Think about it. You get to become the most powerful Alpha King in LS history, and your children will become the most powerful successors of their time. All you have to do is side with us. It’s a win-win situation. Don’t you think? You keep the girl you’re madly in love with, and I rule by your side as your Beta.”
“I will never side with you."
He scratches his jaw. “I was hoping you’d say that.” He snaps his fingers, and footsteps echo from somewhere inside the building. “There are other ways to get you back on board."
A tall man steps into the light. The Beta claps his hands together, delighted by the man’s presence.
“Shadow, I would like to introduce you to Byron Niles. He’s in charge of our assassin department. He came all this way from the Northern A, personally, to help me with your little problem.” Byron Niles. Fuck. I close my eyes. Boris Niles is his son.
Jessica mentioned twice that they were sending assassins. She initially lied, that she gleaned it from Marcus or Elaine’s mind. In fact, it was probably from Boris himself.
"Do what you need to, but keep him alive," Wade instructs Byron.
“You promised me I would get my son back," Byron claims in a husky voice.
"And you will. I'm sure he'll tell you exactly what the guards did with your son, as soon as you correct his problem.”
With all the training in the world, nothing could prepare me for the amount of pain I endure—tortured with their fists, electrocuted, burned with searing irons, and sliced with dull knives. If I were a weaker man, I would have caved by now, begged for death. Instead, I keep my mouth shut and focus on thoughts of my beautiful Princess and the need to keep her safe.
“Where’s my son?” Byron asks again. I have no idea how long they treat me like this. Hours? A couple of days? It can’t be much longer than that. Otherwise, I would be dead. Whatever they gave me weakened me and inhibited my use of magic, my ability to shift. My healing abilities are slow but still there.
They allow time between torture sessions for me to heal. Hanging my head, I silently watch the blood drip off my body.
I haven’t seen my father’s Beta, Wade, since Byron arrived. Is my family safe? Did he find them? Did Reggie escape? Is he safe? I hope to hell he’s alive. I didn’t mean to get him involved.
“Where’s my son, Shadow?”
When I still don’t answer him, another blow strikes me in the face. Blood fills my mouth, and I spit it on the shoes of the man wielding the punches. I glare at the man standing off to the side.
"Fine. Since you refuse to talk, I’m going to take matters into my own hands and get him back myself.” Byron calls out to someone outside of the room, “Get in here and make sure he stays alive, as Wade asked.”
Soft footsteps pad along the concrete floor. A female figure appears below the dim light glowing from the beams above. I blink a few times to clear the sweat and blood from my vision. I want a good look at her.
A familiar face looks up at me. Now I know who the real spy has been all along.
Chapter 58
A Kind Gesture
JESSICA
Six Years Ago
Ireplay Odyssey’s account of Reggie’s memories in my head over and over. Even though Elias reassured me that, if anyone can survive an attack, Shadow is the one. I know he was trying to comfort me.
I’m not so sure. I can’t feel him in my heart. The bond we developed over the past several months has disappeared.
I rub my puffy eyes as I walk down the hall to my dorm room, and I accidentally bump into a solid body. “Shit. I’m sorry,” I mumble.
