Dante's fist slammed into the nearest tree. The bark cracked under the impact. Blood dripped from his knuckles, but he didn't seem to notice."Where is she?" he roared at Nikolai. "Tell me where they took her!"Nikolai stayed on his knees in the dirt. His green eyes were empty. Lost."I don't know," he whispered."You don't know?" Dante's voice cracked with rage. "You were right there! You fucking watched them take her!"Lucian stood with his arms crossed. His silver eyes were ice cold as he stared down at Nikolai. "Explain. Now.""It was Elise," Nikolai said quietly. "Zephyr stepped closer. His pale eyes narrowed. "The woman with Kieran? how do you even know her?"Nikolai just stared at him lost. He looked like a broken man."She was there with Kieran. They had bond chains. Laura tried to fight, but she seemed weak for some reason. And I couldn't..." His voice broke. "I couldn't move.""You couldn't move?" Dante's voice was deadly quiet now. "The woman we all love was being chained
Kieran!That voice belonged to Kieran.He stepped out from behind the trees like a shadow given form. His eyes eyes locked onto Laura's face."Let her go, Elise," he said softly.Elise's grip loosened slightly again, but she didn't step away. Her fingers stayed wrapped around Laura's throat like a collar."I was having fun," Elise pouted. "She's so much weaker than I expected.""Save some energy for later." Kieran pulled something from his coat. It looked like chains, but they weren't made of metal. They moved like living things. Black smoke twisted around each link.Bond chains. Laura's heart stopped. She'd heard stories about them. Ancient magic that could bind an Alpha's power. Force them into submission. Once those chains touched you, there was no escape."No," Laura whispered. She tried to push away from the tree, but her legs gave out. The magical drain and the beating had left her barely able to stand.Kieran smiled. "Don't worry, my love. This will only hurt for a moment."Th
Laura's world stopped.The woman in her view smiled, and suddenly Laura was seven years old again. Sitting by a fireplace while gentle hands braided her hair. Listening to that same soft voice tell her bedtime stories."Mama?" The word slipped out before she could stop it.Tears spilled down her cheeks. Her mother had been dead for fifteen years. Died of fever when Laura was barely old enough to understand what death meant.But there she was. Standing in the moonlight like she'd never left."My beautiful girl." Her mother's voice was exactly how Laura remembered. Warm honey and summer rain. "Look how strong you've become."Laura's hands shook. "You're not real. You can't be real.""I'm as real as your love for me, sweetheart." Her mother stepped closer. The scent of lavender filled the air - the same perfume she used to wear. "I've been watching you. I'm so proud of what you've done."The rational part of Laura'
Laura sat alone in her tent, staring at the Truce Token on the small table. The white light pulsed like a heartbeat. Where was Nikolai? His words from weeks ago echoed in her mind. How he'd told her about his ancestor. How he feared he might betray her like his ancestor had betrayed the last Alpha Queen for his love Vanessa. "I'm afraid I'll hurt you," he'd said that night at his estate. "It's in my blood." Laura's chest tightened. Had his worst fears come true? A throat cleared behind her. She turned to see Dante pushing through the tent flap. "You shouldn't be alone," he said softly. "I'm fine." "No, you're not." He sat beside her on the bed. "Talk to me." Laura leaned against his shoulder. "What if Kieran is telling the truth?" "Then we deal with it." "How? If one of you has been feeding him information..." She couldn
Laura was still pulling on her armor when the messenger arrived.The young warrior's face was pale with exhaustion. He'd clearly ridden hard through the night."Message for the Alliance leaders," he gasped, sliding off his horse.Dante snatched the sealed letter. His hands were still shaking from their interrupted moment together."It's from Kieran," he said grimly.Within minutes, all three remaining Alphas had gathered in the command tent. Laura stood beside them as Dante read the message aloud."To the Alliance of Fools," Dante's voice was tight with anger. "I hold twenty-three of your warriors. They are alive. For now."Laura's blood went cold."I offer a trade. Their lives for a chance at peace. Meet me at the Neutral Grounds tomorrow at sunset. Come with no more than four representatives. Any tricks, and your people die."Dante crumpled the letter. "It's a trap.""Of course it's a trap," Zephyr said quietly. His pale eyes were calculating. "The question is whether we can turn it
Laura waited until the camp had settled down. Most warriors had gone to their tents to prepare for battle or rest. She pushed through the flap of Dante's tent. He was sitting on his bed, sharpening a sword. His movements were sharp and angry. "Get out," he said without looking up. "No." "Laura, I'm warning you—" "What? You'll hurt me too?" She stepped closer. "Like you're hurting everyone else?" Dante's hands stilled on the blade. "Those people look up to you," Laura continued. "They trust you. And you're about to lead them to their deaths." "Better to die fighting than live in fear." "Is it?" Laura knelt in front of him. "What about the children in those wagons? What happens to them when you don't come back?" Dante's jaw tightened. "There will be other warriors." "But not their Alpha. Not their protector." She reached out and touched his hands. They were shaking again. "Talk to me," she whispered. "Tell me what you're really feeling." For a long moment, Dante was silent