A second time

Vera

The words echoed in my head until they became unbearable. “What does that mean?”

No one answered. The silence stretched on as I looked from one man to the next. These were the three rulers of the Central North Territories.

News channels called them kings, warlords, and worse, but never merciful. Yet they had saved me. How? And why?

“I asked you a question,” I said.

Jude stood with one hand in the pocket of his black trousers, watching me with an unreadable expression. “You shouldn’t be standing.”

I blinked. “What?”

“You shouldn’t be standing,” he repeated.

“I don’t care. I asked why I’m here.”

Heat rose to my face when he stayed silent.

The blond man leaning against the wall folded his arms and gave a small smile. “I like her.”

Jude didn’t glance at him. “I didn’t ask.”

“That’s exactly why I said it.” The blond man pushed off the wall and looked straight at me. “I expected tears. I expected screaming. I expected gratitude. I didn’t expect attitude.”

I stared at him. “And who exactly are you?”

“Riven” He offered nothing else, as if everyone already knew the name Riven Draven—the middle brother people called unpredictable.

“I don’t care what your name is.”

His smile widened. “I definitely like her.”

“Enough,” Jude said. His voice stayed even, but Riven stopped talking immediately out of respect.

Jude looked back at me. “Sit down. Your stitches will tear.”

“I don’t care.”

“You will.” Another voice joined the conversation, quiet and calm. “He’s right.”

I turned. The third man had dark hair and gray eyes that were softer than Jude’s but still impossible to read. He had been watching everything in silence.

“Zane” he said when he saw me looking. “You’ve already reopened the wound on your shoulder.”

I glanced down. A small spot of blood had started spreading through the bandage under my shirt. “I’ve seen worse.”

Zane nodded. “I’m sure you have.”

“I want to leave,” I said.

Riven glanced toward the nearest window. “That would be a difficult walk. We’re several hours from the nearest city.”

I froze. “What do you mean, several hours?”

I walked to the window, each step sending pain through my body. The view took my breath away—nothing but mountains with snow still on the highest peaks, dense forests stretching endlessly below, and no sign of other buildings or roads.

“Where the fuck am I?”

“The Central North Territories,”Jude answered.

I turned around slowly. “You brought me here without my permission?”

“You were unconscious,” he said.

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one you’re getting right now.”

My patience broke. “This is kidnap, do you realize that.”

Riven sighed. “There it is.”

“You had no right to do that.”

Jude met my eyes. “We had every right to do what we want”

“Explain it.”

“I will when you’re capable of listening instead of blabbing.”

I curled my hands into fists.

Just then the sound of footsteps sounded farther down the hallway. A woman in a dark navy uniform approached and stopped a few feet away.

She bowed her head. “My Kings. The Council has arrived.”

Riven muttered under his breath. “Just when I was enjoying this.”

“They insisted,” the woman said.

Jude nodded. “We’ll meet them.”

She hesitated, her eyes flicking toward me. “They know she’s awake.”

Jude’s expression stayed the same. “They can know.”

After she left, I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Our governing council,” Riven said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“And what has that got to do with me? Are they here because of me?” I retorted.

A strange feeling settled in my stomach.

“I don’t understand what is going on,” I said.

“You will,” Jude replied. “When we decide it’s time.”

I turned toward the hallway. “I’m leaving.”

I had only managed three painful steps before Riven blocked my path. He wasn’t touching me or threatening me.

He simply stood there, smiling politely. “Move.”

“No.”

I pushed his shoulder. It felt like pushing a wall.

He didn’t budge. “Finished?”

“You’re all lunatics, let me go.”

“We’ve been called worse.” His smile faded.

Jude spoke before anyone else could. “Tomorrow your husband is holding your funeral Vera”

Everything inside me stopped. “What?”

“He announced your death three days ago. He invited shareholders, politicians, business partners, and the press. It isn’t just a funeral. It’s a declaration. He’s burying Vera so Ethan Carter and your Stepsister can inherit everything your grandfather left you.”

I didn't even know when tears burned my eyes from pure fury. “I’m going.”

“No,” Jude said.

“You don’t tell me where I can go.”

Zane looked directly at me, his voice calm and almost gentle. “If you walk into that funeral..." He paused and then dropped "...he'll kill you a second time."