Page 78 of Lycan’s Hunt

I chuckle. “Go get some rest, I’m surprised you’re even awake.”

“I wasn’t until I heard the commotion of your mother rounding the staff up. I came over and offered to watch Max while your parents sorted whatever was going on.”

“I will catch up with you later.” I tell her and she smiles looking rather frazzled like she always does after leaving Max. The boy could wear out my strongest guards. Heck, he runs rings around me.

I head for our room, and the moment I step inside, I relax. Our room is filled with our scents, Aubrey is filthy from our run but I haven’t got time to clean her up right now, and doing so will wake her. Instead, I gently place her on the bed. Moving to the closet I find some clothes, and pull them on before wandering back into the bedroom. Aubrey squirms on the bed rolling onto my side and burying her face in my pillow, her bond seeking me out. I hesitate for a moment, worried about leaving her alone.

The door creaks open. “We’re ready for you in the dungeons.” Damian tells me, casting a nervous glance at the bed.

“Mom?”

“Still getting Max down; he’s refusing to go to bed.”

I curse under my breath. The sound of keys jingling and scrape of steel on steel.

Damian holds out a set of handcuffs. “Not ideal, but in case she wakes.” he offers and I groan, not liking it but knowing I don’t really have a choice.

I am pretty sure Aubrey would be more horrified at my father babysitting her while she is naked than waking up in handcuffs. Hopefully, she doesn’t wake, but with how strong the call of our bond is, I know she probably will.

Accepting the handcuffs, I go to her, handcuffing one wrist to the headboard before leaning down and kissing her temple. She wriggles but doesn’t wake. Turning back to Damian, he nods and steps out. I quickly follow.

“Why do you want her parents in the dungeon?”

“Why did you bring them here?” I ask in return.

“To question them about how they found out.”

“Same reason, but I had an idea when you mentioned them.”

Damian and I move through the corridors and down the stairs to the back end of the castle where the garages are kept. Once inside the garage, Damian and I move to the far corner of it and into the small room at the back. The garage doors are open and Damian yells for the guard standing nearby to shut it. He nods, rushing to do as he says and I shove open the door, to find the trap door open inside.

Voices echo from within its depth, a woman’s voice I do not recognize and the voice of another—a man demanding to speak with his daughter. I follow the voices down the steps, each step lights up as I take it until I reach the bottom. Down here the air is cold, never seeing the sun, and the tunnels vast leading all under the castle and some stretching as far as the forest edge.

My father’s voice reaches my ears as he tells them they will see her when I allow it. They go to argue back with him but I let my aura ripple out violently and the entire basement falls quiet. So quiet I can hear the drip of a pipe somewhere. Navigating the tunnels in the basement, I come to the large opening that houses the dungeons. A woman with a striking resemblance to Bianca stands rigid, her tear filled eyes locking onto me when I enter.

Despite wearing her silky nightie, she looks made up besides the mascara spilling down her cheeks. The man, however, is barefoot, in just his boxer shorts.

Damian strolls in behind me, moving toward the huge steel door where prisoners are kept. He punches in the code while my father yawns.

“Am I needed, son? Or can I take my leave now? Some of us need our beauty sleep,” he asks and I nod for him to go. Bianca’s parents watch me quietly, though their fear can be easily smelt emanating from the pores.

“Names?” I demand and they all but fall over themselves to answer.

“Amanda,” the woman blurts and the man stammers. “Joshua, Your Highness.”

I press my lips in a line.

“Who called you to let you know we had Bianca?”

The huge, heavy door groans as Damian opens it.

“No clue, we just received a call on the answering machine stating someone had my daughter. She was with her mate? Where is he?” Amanda demands.

“Alpha Rhett, no clue. We were hoping your daughter knew but she doesn’t. Although, I’m hoping you’ll change that.” I tell them.

The door opens fully and I hear Bianca’s panicked shriek.

“Mom, Dad!” she screams for them and her parents jolt hearing her voice. They instantly turn to see her rush toward the bars of her cell only to be thrown backward when the volts of electricity hit her as she clutches the bar. Bianca flies back into the wall and her mother screams, rushing through the vault door to her daughter, only she is careful not to touch the bars.