by Megan Duncan
“Ana,” I said her name, trying to sound soft yet stern at the same time.
“What do you want with me?” she asked, her voice was full of hate as I stepped closer toward her. “Why haven’t you killed me yet?”
“Because I don’t want to kill you.” Okay, I was lying a little bit, but killing her right now wouldn’t help our situation.
“You’re lying.”
“Maybe so,” I shrugged, circling her. “But that doesn’t change anything.”
“She may not kill you, spawn of evil, but I will,” Titan interjected, pulling his knife from its sheath. The ring of steel echoed throughout the space and Ana lifted her head to look at him. She shuddered under his penetrating gaze before she scanned the room and found me.
“What do you want?” she asked again, bringing back the familiar sneer I knew so well. She certainly had some guts being so bold, especially in such company. I knew she didn’t fear me, but Titan and Ronon… they wouldn’t hesitate to tear her limb from limb and then throw a party as they danced in her blood.
“I’ve got a proposition for you,” I replied. Her eyes narrowed at me, and I smiled baring my full grown fangs in her face. “How much would you say this is worth to you?” I asked, pulling the stone with Luka’s soul from my pocket. When I’d realized his soul was trapped inside I was surprised that it still obeyed me; that it didn’t lash out at me, especially when Ana was so close, but it didn’t. It felt the same as the rest of the stones. It had the same constant current of emotions, an ever flowing need to exact revenge on Baal. Considering I was the one who had killed him he should have wanted revenge on me.
“Give him to me!” Ana shrieked as I dangled the stone before her and pulled it away, just out of her grasp.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, Ana.” I wagged my finger at her. “Not yet. You have to answer some questions first.”
She looked totally pissed at my demand, wrinkling her brow at me and dragging her eyes around the room as if surveying her chances of escape. If she was smart, she’d realize they were nonexistent. She’d either leave here in pieces, or she’d leave by answering my questions. There was no other option.
Realizing this, she bit at her lip and brought her eyes back to the stone. She was taking the bait, just as I knew she would.
“Good girl. Now, first question. How is it that Luka’s soul is trapped in this dark stone?”
“Claire killed him. I saw his body,” Arrick added, stepping up beside me.
“Stupid Blood Mate,” Ana said, spitting at his feet. Arrick stepped back, slinging a curse at her but it was Ronon who came up behind her with lightning speed and struck her across the back of her head with this boot.
She cried out as she fell to the floor, clutching her head. She began hissing like an angry cat, lifting her head and revealing a dribble of scarlet dripping from her chin. It was evident how much she wanted to kill Ronon right then, but the way she kept eyeing his sword she knew he’d kill her first.
“Answer the question, Ana,” I commanded.
“They were supposed to save him,” she said.
“Who were?”
“My parents.”
“Did they trap him in the stone?” She shook her head. “Then how did he get there?” I held the stone before her again, enticing her to keep answering. To keep telling me what I wanted to know.
“Baal,” she answered, sadly.
“If he trapped your mate’s soul, then why are you doing his bidding? You should be fighting against him,” Arrick said, accusingly.
“Does Baal have your parents?” I asked, trying to fit the pieces together. Arrick had made a good point. It didn’t make sense that Ana sided with Baal, even though she was a giant bitch. He had trapped Luka’s soul; that should have pissed her off.
She nodded. “They have been his loyal allies for decades and he betrayed them. Baal promised that our family would rule the Noire region, but he was only using us for information.”
“What information did he want from you?” I asked.
“What does it matter?” she growled, sinking her head back down to her knees.
“It matters because we want to stop him, Ana. Baal has destroyed thousands of lives. It’s time he paid for his crimes.”
She started to laugh. It was an eerie snigger that made chills run up and down my spine. “And who’s going to make him pay? You?” Her snigger erupted into a cackle.
“I will make him pay!” Titan answered, boldly. He stepped away from his seat, and approached Ana, towering over her like a mammoth tree. She shrank before him, trying to bury herself in her arms as he leaned down and plucked her from the floor by her neck like a weed.
Titan held Ana before him, her toes just barely brushing the stone floor. His eyes took on a faraway look, and he licked his lips as a hungry expression darkened his features. Bile rose in my throat as déjà vu hit me. Had this been what I looked like when I held Ana before me? The thought frightened me. There had to be a balance between my humanity and my anger, and in that moment I realized that I had yet to find it.
“What information did he want from you?” Titan repeated my question, making sure to bare his ivory fangs every chance he got.
“E-e-everything,” Ana answered, sounding frightened for the first time.
“What do you mean?” I asked. Titan released her, shoving her toward a seat in the corner of the room.
“You’re all so stupid,” a small cackle escaped her again, but when Titan lurched forward she swallowed it away. “Baal isn’t just after one region. He wants them all.”
“Yeah, we know that,” Arrick interrupted, not hiding his irritation.
“Did you know that he had countless spies in all your regions?” Ana spat back at him.
That shut us all up.
“There are no such spies in my region!” my father bellowed.
“Nor in mine!” Titan roared.
Ana simply smiled at their outbursts like she was proud of herself. “What aren’t you telling us?” I asked, feeling my fury begin to bubble. “Tell me now or you’ll never see this stone again!” I shoved the stone in her face and then tucked it away in my pocket.
“You’re all just as he said you were. So very arrogant.” Titan and Ronon bristled at her words, growling like angry wolves. “He counted on the fact that you would think he was dead,” she said the words looking directly at my father. “He predicted you would grow complacent and you have. Or that you thought you could hide from him, and build an army that was dillusioned into thinking they could withstand his forces,” she sneered at Titan, and his face went blank.
“What are you saying?” I asked a brick landing heavily in my stomach at her words.
“This was his plan all along,” Arrick said out loud what we were all thinking.
“What was?” Ronon asked.
“Everything,” Ana answered. “Do you really believe it was some evil plot of Nicolae’s to steal Claire for himself? Think about it, he wasn’t clever enough for that.”
I disagreed with her about that. Nicolae was incredibly smart and he’d done so much for his region, but her accusation had made me think. Nicolae had never seemed the type to search other regions for a child to steal. As mad as I had been at him for the outcome, it really didn’t make sense.
“Are you saying that was Baal’s doing?” Arrick growled at her.
Ana rolled her eyes, looking completely fed up with the conversation. “Duh! Baal knows everything about all of you! He knew how badly Evilyn wanted a child, and he banked on the fact that Nicolae would do anything do give her one. When he learned Ione had given birth, Baal saw his opportunity being handed to him on a golden platter. He sent Fox to steal you in hopes of creating a war between your two regions, but you,” Ana stabbed her eyes at my father, “were more pathetic than we ever imagined.”
So, Fox had been working with Baal all along. I knew there was a reason why I never liked him. Why I always felt there was something off about him.
My hand connected with her cheek in an explosion of anger. “Don’t you dare talk to my father like that!” I clenched my fingers around her chin forcing her to look at me. Her tongue traveled along the length of her lip, licking up the dripping blood. “Apologize!”
I shoved her chin away from me and folded my arms across my chest as I scowled at her. She made no attempt to say anything, only groaning like an irritated cat.
“Do as the princess commands!” Ronon spoke, pulling out his dagger and jamming it against her throat.
“Sorry,” Ana gulped out. Her words lacked any sincerity, but I didn’t care. Ronon released her and she rubbed her fingers at the place his dagger had been. “It’s him you should be mad at,” she said, pointing to my father. “He’s the one that didn’t fight for his own child.”
My father shifted nervously after her accusation and I knew how touchy that subject was. I understood how hard it had been for them to not go after me, but their reasons, however painful they were, were justified.
“He didn’t need to fight for me,” I replied coolly. I wasn’t going to let her control my emotions. “My life wasn’t worth the lives of thousands for the sake of a war. And he didn’t abandon me either.” I reached back, pulling Arrick’s hand into mine. “They made sure I was protected. That I was watched over, and cared for, by the bravest warrior the Zakarian region could offer.”
Ana laughed at my reply. “Him? A real fantastic job he’s done so far.” Arrick squeezed my hand in his, and I knew it was taking every ounce of his control to not strike her down.
“I wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for him!” I snapped back at her.
“Oh, really? So, did he save you from Luka and me? Was he there to protect you when Baal attacked the Château? Did he save you on the cliff side that night?” I was silent at her words, holding my breath to control my temper. “You know I’m right.”
Her snake-like eyes twitched over to Arrick. “Honestly, Blood Mate, if you can even call yourself that, what have you actually done to protect your precious princess?”
Before I could stop him, Arrick released his hold on my hand and launched himself at Ana. Surprise widened her expression, but she wasn’t fast enough to escape his attack. The last time I’d seen Arrick move like that was when he’d whispered to me from outside my balcony in Noire. His speed was otherworldly as he seemed to be standing beside me in one moment and materializing in front of Ana in the next.
A deep, thundering growl resonated from him, expelling every ounce of pain and anguish he’d ever felt. Arrick might lack the menacing display of lengthy fangs, but his sheer power made Ana cower before him. She lashed out; fearful of his impending attack, but little did she know there was nothing she could do. I watched in shock as his muscles rippled against his skin, bulging as he tackled her. In one, blindingly fast movement he rammed into her like an angry bull, crushing her body against the stone wall.
Dust and dirt fell from the stone crevices from the impact. I’d thought for sure he’d kill her. Ana’s head rolled to the side, as Arrick’s strong forearm crammed against her throat. I’d never seen him lose control before, but I could feel the swirling tornado that was his emotions. His duty was to protect me, and he held that more sacred than anything else. To accuse him of failure was more than he could stand.
“Let her go, Arrick,” my father said, resting a hand on his shoulder. Arrick tilted his head at an awkward angle, cracking his neck as if to switch off the fury of anger that had ignited inside him. Had this been why he was so adamant that I fight my own rage? He’d always told me that every vampire had an endless well of wrath inside them, and an uncontrollable urge to rein dominion over all who opposed them. Were Blood Mates the same way? I suppose they would have to be since it took vampire blood to create them.
Reluctantly, Arrick obeyed. My eyes zeroed in on his flexing jaw muscles and the downward set of his brow as he turned away from Ana and returned to my side. Despite the obvious pain she had to be in, Ana began to laugh again. I reached out, sensing the emotions of everyone around me and I knew this interrogation was quickly spiraling out of control. I had a feeling that if I didn’t get the answers we needed soon, someone would take matters into their own hands, and Ana wouldn’t live to talk about it.
“Where is he Ana?” I asked, pulling strength into my voice. “Where is Baal hiding?”
Her head was sagging, and her hair cascaded over her features like a curtain. She was clutching the seat of her chair; her shoulders rising and falling with every heavy breath. I could feel worry threatening to break me. This was the most important question. If we knew where Baal was, we could bring the fight to him and finally end this war.
Just when I thought she wasn’t going to answer me, she lifted her head, her dark ringed eyes peering at me through her knotted hair. In that instant I felt every ounce of malice she had for me… for everything and everyone. The unnerving sensation of spiders creeping across my flesh made me want to turn tail and run, but I knew if I did she would win. Ana was staring me down, testing me, so I locked eyes with her and didn’t back down.
“It doesn’t matter where he’s hiding,” she said, her voice crackling like an old witch. “It’s where he is now that you should be concerned about.”
It wasn’t just her words that frightened me, but the certainty in them. I stepped back, gasping for a breath as the wicked twinkle in her eyes struck fear in my heart. Arrick’s hand found mine, and he pulled me to his massive chest. I was stiff as a board, completely frozen in fear and I prayed that it wasn’t true.
“Please don’t let it be true.” My words were barely audible as my body began to shudder.
“Don’t let what be true?” Arrick asked, trying desperately to shake me out of my current state.
“What’s going on? Where is Baal?” Ronon asked exasperated.
Arrick’s hands grasped onto my cheeks, forcing my face to his and making our eyes meet. I latched onto him, our bond as strong as it ever was and I opened up to him, showing him the fear in my heart that I was too afraid to speak out loud. It took him only seconds to grasp the truth and his mouth fell open as shock pulled at his features.
“Where is he?” Titan was growing angry, shouting at Ana to answer him.
“He’s in Naos,” Arrick answered, terror trembling in his deep voice. The room grew silent as Ana’s evil cackle exploded.
Chapter 18
Titan’s hand collided with Ana’s cheek and her malevolent cackling ceased, but that didn’t stop her from enjoying the sight as we squirmed. “You’ve handed him this victory. All he needed to do was watch. You left poor little Naos defenseless,” she said, sticking her bottom lip out like she was truly sad. “But what’s even better, now he knows where you’ve been hiding.” Her eyes skewered Titan.
“You bitch!” Ronon shouted. “You’ve been playing us all along, haven’t you?”
“What do you mean?” I asked him, pulling away from Arrick’s embrace.
“She didn’t come here because she wanted that stone. She followed you here, so she could report back to Baal where we were!”
My mouth fell open. “But, Luka’s soul…”
“His soul isn’t trapped in that stone, is it?” Arrick asked Ana as she smirked at us.
“What does it matter whose soul is in that stone?” Ronon yelled. “We’re all screwed!”
My father began pacing, stomping back and forth across the room before throwing open the doors and calling for Mikel and the rest of the King’s Snake Guard. Arrick was keeping Ronon at bay from obliterating Ana, and Titan had stormed out of the room undoubtedly getting his army ready. We’d warned him from the very beginning that Baal was wreaking havoc, but I didn’t think he truly believed it till just now. He’d believed he was safe, hidden away in his desert citadel in the middle of the old world that had long been forgotten.
“Father, what are we going to do?” I asked him, trying to suffocate the panic in my voice. He ignored my question, mumbling
to himself and continuing his frantic pacing back and forth across the room.
I didn’t think any of us knew the answer to that question. For all we knew, Naos could already lie in ruins and everyone we loved could be dead. The guilt came tumbling down around me. We were all pawns. To make matters worse, we revealed the location of Titan to Baal. Maybe that had been his plan all along? Titan had been his greatest adversary.
Mikel and the members of the King’s Snake flew into the room, lining up before my father with their fists to their hearts. My father waved off their show of respect and signaled Mikel to step forward. They huddled together, and I watched as Mikel’s eyes grew wide with shock and his body grew rigid.
“Titan!” my father barked the name, calling the king back into the room but he didn’t reply. “Ronon, I must speak with your father immediately.”
Ronon pulled away from the struggle with Arrick, and looked my father head on. “He will not come. He has gone to prepare the army. We will not allow Baal to attack us unawares.”
“You? What about Naos?” I cried out.
“It is too late for your region, I’m sorry.” He didn’t look sorry. “We must prepare for war here, while we still can.”
“How can you just turn your back on us?” I screamed, running at him and shoving him as hard as I could. He stumbled a few steps back, but looked no worse for wear which only infuriated me further.
“It’s the truth, princess, and you know it. There is no way you can get back there in time. If Baal is there now, as she,” he pointed at Ana, “says he is, then it’s too late. The only choice is to stay here.”
“You’re not going to help us?”
“If we leave, we could be leaving our region unprotected… as you have done.” He strode away from my glare, copying my father’s previous pacing.
“I can’t believe this!” I kicked a nearby chair, sending it clattering against the stone floor. We never should have come here. I thought seeking Titan’s aide would be our salvation, but it would be our undoing. At this very moment the people of Naos, my friends, my mother… they could be fighting for their lives and there was nothing any of us could do about it.
