Where Your Loyalties Lie Novels & Stories

“And where do you stand in all this, Raven? With me? With Lucian? Or do you play both sides until the winning one shows its face?” The words stung because they weren’t entirely false. I swallowed, forcing myself to hold his gaze. “I’ve played the games long enough,” I admitted. “But games don’t win wars. And they sure as hell don’t protect the people I care about.” “So you’re finally ready to choose?” he asked, his tone biting. “Yes,” I whispered. “I am.” He studied me in silence, his eyes searching, daring me to speak the truth. And in that moment, I knew I had no more time to dance around the question of loyalty. The days ahead would drown us all if I didn’t stake my claim.

"When have we seen you like this?” He sighed. "I’m starting to lose my clarity,” he continued. “My principles... my beliefs... are now in conflict too. I don’t even know anymore which of them I should follow. For days now, I’ve been struggling to decide who I truly owe my loyalty to.” “...if I choose Alpha Villion, there will be a war. He would be willing to ignite one just to make sure you remain secured. But if I choose you, there’s a chance that I could help you escape. And if that happens, the war might be prevented altogether.”

It's not just about me; it's about our safety, our trust. A heavy silence enveloped us, as the weight of my words sank in. "Loyalty is what holds us together. Without it, we're vulnerable. Think about that before making a decision you can't take back." They exchanged glances, some nodding in agreement, while others appeared uneasy, grappling with the impact of betrayal within our close-knit group. "Know where your loyalties lie, boys. Because if you're not with me, you're against me," I concluded, my tone firm but laced with a touch of sorrow...

I was giving him a chance to say no, because he knew that disobedience only meant rebellion, and if I saw rebellion, he knew what was going to happen. He obeyed and sat down, taking a deep breath for a moment before looking me dead in the eye. “Do you know what the difference is between loyalty and strategy?” I asked, letting my fingers drift across the pawns in front of me. “Do you know the difference between a man who is willing to be loyal and a man who is simply playing by strategy to make those around him believe that he was on their side?” He didn’t answer.

It was freezing down here, smelling of damp earth and old wine, but the cold was the least of my worries. Victor began to pace. He walked in a slow, deliberate circle around us, the shotgun resting easily in the crook of his arm. He looked like a professor about to give a lecture, totally at ease, while we sat there like prisoners waiting for the executioner. "Loyalty," Victor began, tapping the side of his head. "It’s a funny thing, isn't it? People think it’s something you earn. They think it’s about love or respect. But they’re wrong. Loyalty is about understanding where the power lies. It’s about knowing which hand feeds you and which hand can crush you."

“You know, for someone who hates lies, you're a damn good liar.” “Yeah, I know.” He gave a humourless chuckle. “I was raised to never give too much about myself. Lie if I had to. Tell just enough truth to gain someone's trust. That's why I never really had friends. And Marcus….even knowing all this he still tried. But I was too young, too caught up in the game tp realize my actions could cost me the only friend I actually had.”

What the hell just happened? He leaned back in his chair, the same cocky smirk playing at the corners of his lips. “What’s the matter, Lauren? You look surprised. I told you.” I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. My mind was a jumble of thoughts and emotions, none of them making sense. Finally, I managed to say, “What the hell do you want from me, Liam?” He was silent for a moment, his eyes dark and unreadable. “Loyalty,” he said finally, his voice low, like he was revealing some dark secret. “I want you to side with me. No commands, no tricks. Just your loyalty.”

Yet their worlds were incompatible, and I was the thread tying them together, stretched to the breaking point. Stepping into the quiet of my quarters, I sank to the floor, chest tight with the weight of divided loyalties. I didn’t know if I could choose. But soon, I wouldn’t have a choice.

I waited, watching their reactions closely. The first man hesitated, glancing back at the others before stepping away. He walked off without a word. Slowly, five more followed, their footsteps fading into the distance. That left fourteen, standing firm, their faces set with determination. I studied them, my gaze hard. “You’ve made your choice,” I said. “But understand this: loyalty isn’t just a promise. It’s a sacrifice. If you betray me, I won’t hesitate to end you. Do you understand?”

“Or are you here to help?” “Can’t I do both?” He asks as we enter. “This is the first time we’re meeting, and I’ve got to feel you out, right?” Feel me out? What the hell did he need to feel out? Was he checking to see whose side I was actually on? Wasn’t it obvious given the fact that I wasn’t a member of Crystal Fang anymore? “I assure you, my loyalties are solely toward my wife.” I say. “Aside from that, I have no other connections.”