Chapter 3: The feeling is mutual

Gwendolyn's heart skipped a beat as she met his gaze. Those pure red eyes, filled with fire, glared back at her.

The cursed hybrid.

He was as she remembered him that night. The ruthless grin he flashed at her before turning and flying away, taking her mother with him.

How was he caught?

The lycans had great difficulty restraining him, despite the silver chains wrapped around his torso, wrists and ankles. Blood spilled out from his side where someone had shot an arrow at him.

"How did you capture him?" She asked the nearest lycan guard whose name was Jed.

"He flew straight into the pack's territory, Princess." Jed answered. "He almost escaped, but we shot him with the silver arrows. It was an easy catch."

Gwendolyn stared at Kieran silently. What could have made him enter lycan's territory? The Wildings and the lycans were sworn enemies. What did he want?

She noticed the bloody scars on his back where he had probably been whipped while trying to escape.

Even now as he was pinned to the ground, six lycans had to hold him down to prevent him from breaking free. She noticed the way his jaw clenched and unclenched, the way his nostrils flared widely.

The Wildings were prideful creatures, and she was sure his pride was hurt after getting captured by the lycans.

"What is your order, Princess?" Owen asked beside her. "You've always seeked revenge, and now you have the opportunity. Kill the creature."

"No!" Gwendolyn shook her head. She turned away from Kieran's glare and faced Owen. "Keep him alive. I want to question him."

"Princess I don't think..."

"Keep him alive." Gwendolyn repeated sharply. "Those are my orders."

She turned to Jed. "Take him to the dungeons and chain him up." She ordered. "If he tries to struggle, hurt him. But do not take his life."

"As you wish, Princess." Jed nodded.

As the lycan guards tried to lift Kieran up, she saw the look on his face change suddenly, and it immediately raised her suspicions.

From what she knew about the Wildings, they never surrendered easily. They would bide their time, waiting for an opportunity to escape.

Suddenly he let out a deep growl, a growl so terrifying that it made the air tremble.

The crowd of shifters moved back in terror as he gripped the chains and ripped it off his torso.

He rose to his feet, despite the six lycan guards restraining him. They tried to keep their grip on the chains, but their strength combined was nothing compared to Kieran's power.

Gripping the shackles tightly, he swung it to the side, flinging the lycans away like dirt. He did the same with the other chain, then broke it from his wrists and ankles.

His powerful wings burst out from his back, the black feathers wide and enormous.

As he ascended into the air, Gwendolyn grabbed the crossbow from Jed and shot at him.

The arrow found its mark, and the sedative immediately did its work.

Kieran crashed to the ground with a heavy thud and fell unconscious, his great wings cloaking him like a blanket.

"Take him to the dungeons and lock him up." Gwendolyn ordered and turned around, heading back to the castle.

...

"Gwen, I don't think this is a good idea." Julian began as he hurried after Gwendolyn.

"Don't try to stop me, Julian." She muttered. "It will be a waste of time."

"Think of what you're about to do." Julian continued. "With a creature as powerful as Kieran, the pack is endangered. He needs to be killed immediately."

"Anyone who touches the hybrid will be dealt with." Gwendolyn snapped. "Even if it's you, Julian. Don't test me."

She barged into her room, totally ignoring Julian who was following her closely. As she reached out to grab the dagger on her bed, he grabbed her hands and stopped her.

"Gwen, listen to me." He said. "I know you're pissed right now, and you have every right to be. The bastard killed my father too, and it is only because of you I haven't ripped his heart out."

His words hit her and she finally stopped struggling.

"But think this through." He continued. "This is Kieran we're talking about, the most powerful creature in the realm. Do you see how long his hair is? There is a legend that explains why the Wildings keep such long hair. The length symbolizes a conquered battle. Rumours have it that Kieran has never lost a battle, so he has never cut his hair."

"Why are you telling me this?" Gwendolyn asked impatiently.

"Because I need you to think this through." Julian repeated. "Kieran is too dangerous. He is already madly furious. If he escapes, we will miss our only chance to kill him."

"He won't escape, Julian." Gwendolyn said finally. "I can't kill him yet because I need answers from him. I need to know where he took my mother."

"Gwen it's been ten years." Julian argued. "Luna Naomi is probably dead. The Wildings won't let her live."

His words offended her. She wrenched her hand from his grip and walked away without another word.

Cursing himself for speaking without thinking, Julian hurried after her and grabbed her arm.

"Gwen? Gwen, I'm sorry." He apologized. "That was insensitive of me."

"The entire pack might think my mother is dead." Gwendolyn said in a determined voice. "But I know she isn't. And I will find her."

"You're right." Julian nodded. "We shouldn't give up hope so easily. I'll go with you to question him, but not now. Let's wait until dusk. Please."

She removed her hand from his grip and nodded.

"Fine." She said. "Until dusk."

...

The dungeons reeked of blood and decayed flesh.

Gwendolyn ignored the pungent smell and strode towards the last cell where Kieran was chained up.

She stopped in front of the cell and glared at him. Now that Julian had called her attention to it, she noticed how long his hair looked. Silky strands as dark as midnight, falling past the middle of his back.

He was on his knees, and more chains wrapped his body, the silver burning deeply into his flesh. Yet he didn't show the slightest sign of pain. His hands were spread apart, restrained with sharp shackles which dug into his skin.

He raised his head slowly until he met her gaze. Then he smiled, a dark cruel smile which showed the tips of his fangs.

"Have you come to gloat?" He threw the words at her lazily, letting his head fall back freely.

"Kieran Anubis." Gwendolyn muttered coldly. "First of his kind, formed from the bloodline between a demon and a lycan."

Kieran's lips stretched further into a wide smile.

"So you've heard about me." He chuckled. "Tell me, Princess. Do I fascinate you that much?"

Gwendolyn felt her blood boil with rage, but she kept a leash on her anger. She wouldn't let this devil rile her up.

"I have a few questions for you, Kieran." She continued. "And you're going to answer me."

"Ask away." Kieran replied smoothly. "Your beauty appeals to me, so maybe I'll answer."

Gwendolyn's hands curled into fists as she bit back a retort. He knew what he was doing. The bastard was testing her, and he was enjoying it.

Beside her, Julian watched silently.

"You recognize me, don't you?" She began.

Kieran suddenly looked bored. The smile on his face dropped and he looked away.

"You might be pretty, Princess, but your face is of no importance to me." He drawled. "If that's all you have to ask, get out."

"You bastard!" Gwendolyn snarled suddenly. Without thinking, she grabbed the cell gate in anger. But the silver burned her and she quickly took her hands away.

Kieran laughed out loud, thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Such a temper." He grinned. "You'll be a delight in bed, tied up and screaming while I fuck you."

His statement made Gwendolyn's control snap. Her eyes flashed bright gold, a sign of her alpha powers surfacing. Her claws tore out and she lunged at the cell with a savage scream.

Julian immediately moved, catching her in time before she could break down the cell gates.

"LET ME GO!" She screamed, struggling in his arms.

"Control yourself, Gwen. Please." Julian pleaded.

"Ahh, a pretty name." Kieran laughed again, the sound mocking and degrading. "Why don't you run along and play dress up like other princesses?" You're not ready to play Alpha."

"Fuck you!" Gwendolyn yelled back at him. "You fucking disgust me!"

"I assure you, the feeling is mutual." Kieran's mocking grin returned as Julian pulled her away.

"I hope you rot in here." She screamed at him.

"Be warned, Princess." He replied quietly, knowing she could hear him despite the distance. "We will meet again, but I won't be the one in a cage. You will."