chapter 17
It was obvious no one wanted to believe it, but the evidence spoke for itself. Arguments ensued, most of them directed at me. Things were feeling like they were falling apart with everyone barking back and forth at one another. Titan was cussing me out, my father and Arrick were defending me despite the fact that they both agreed I had been completely wrong in bringing the stone, and Ronon was standing back holding onto Ana like she was a rebellious child.
“Stop!” I shrieked at the top of my lungs making everyone grow silent and stare at me as if they’d forgotten I was even there. “We don’t have time to be fighting like this,” I said, pleadingly.
“You let her bring that thing into my city!” Titan continued, pointing an accusing finger at me.
Fine, if he wanted to continue complaining about something that couldn’t be changed that was his problem. Yes, I was disobeying my father’s demands that I lock them up, but if I had kept my promise we wouldn’t have leverage over Ana. And that’s what this stone was, leverage. I could make her talk now, and that’s what I intended to do.
Ignoring Titan’s spittle launching tirade, I attempted to exit the cell. He gruffly snagged my arm, yanking me back to face him. “I’m not done with you!”
Both my father and Arrick pushed Titan off me, but he didn’t seem the least bit uneasy about either of them looking like they were ready to tear his throat out for touching me.
“That’s enough,” Ronon finally stepped in and pushed his father back with his free arm.
“This isn’t over,” Titan huffed.
“I don’t expect it to be,” I admitted and he seemed pleased with my reply. “I know I shouldn’t have brought this,” I held the necklace before him and he lurched back like it would electrocute him. “But because I did, we’ve been presented with a very unique opportunity.” Everyone turned to me wide-eyed like I’d gone completely bonkers, and Ana had resorted to blubbering.
“What kind of opportunity?” Arrick and Ronon both asked in sync. I looked to Ana and then back to the rest of the group and realized that for my plan to work we’d have to have this conversation somewhere more private.
“We should meet in your chambers,” my father said to Titan, catching on. Titan nodded his agreement and stomped out of the cell with my father, Arrick, and Ronon close at his heels. I hung back as Mikel stood at the door, ready to lock Ana back in her cell.
“Get her cleaned up and bring her to my room.” He looked surprised by my order, but didn’t question it. “Don’t let her leave.”
“She will not, princess. I swear on my oath.” He bowed his head, and entered Ana’s cell as I made my way out of the dungeon to Titan’s private chambers.
The door was open, waiting for me to enter and I stepped through the narrow gap with a heavy intake of air. This was going to be a very difficult conversation, I just hoped I could convince them all to look past the mistake I’d made and realize the opportunity we had. If Ana wanted that stone badly enough to travel to the Titan region on her own, risking the threat of burning alive in the desert sun, then that had to mean she would tell us anything to get it back. I was praying that the anything would be where Baal had his stronghold. It was time we came “knocking” on his door.
Ronon slammed the door closed behind me with a deafening thud, and I gulped loudly. Every face was expressionless, and I felt like I was on the chopping block. Even the two most important men in my life looked like executioners as I stepped hesitantly forward, wringing my hands together. They could forgive me, couldn’t they? I mean, what harm had I really caused? Sure, I definitely offended Titan, but no one had been hurt… well, no one except Ana, but I didn’t see anyone crying any tears for her well-being.
“Explain yourself!” Titan bellowed.
I looked around the room, first to Arrick and his face, surprisingly, softened. I’d thought he, most of all, would be upset, but I could feel his concern for me. Sadly, I could still sense how much I’d hurt him. He probably wasn’t even mad that I’d brought the damn necklace, certainly maybe because I hadn’t told him, but mostly he was upset because I’d shut him out. Even though it had only been for a moment, that didn’t make it any less painful and I had a sinking suspicion it would tear down everything we’d built together.
Ronon, on the other hand, looked as disgusted with me as the blood whore had when I refused to feed from her. I suppose I’d hurt him a great deal too. We didn’t exactly get along, but he’d opened up to me and I was carrying around the one thing that was probably the most painful reminder of his mother’s death. The same undoubtedly went for Titan, but I didn’t have the guts to look into his monstrous gaze again.
Lastly, my eyes retreated to my father, and the disappointment I saw there was heartbreaking. I refused to let the tears that were building in my eyes fall and took a deep centering breath. I felt bad, really bad, but I couldn’t let that distract me from what had to be done. Saving the world from Baal was more important than my feelings.
“I went against my father’s wishes by bringing that stone with me to Titan,” I said, thinking that admitting my guilt was the best way to get them to listen to me. In my peripheral vision I could see Titan stir in his seat, but I kept my eyes on my father. “I swore to him I wouldn’t, and I broke that promise. I’m sorry.” I swallowed hard, waiting to see if my father would accept my apology. He stared at me for a long moment until his features relaxed and he gave me a small nod.
“I regret the pain I’ve caused and I will say that I was wrong, but I cannot say that I am not glad I did.” I held my breath waiting for the wrath I knew would come.
“How dare you!” It was Ronon’s venomous voice that assaulted me.
“Please, I don’t mean that as an insult. I…”
“And how could that be anything but?” He interrupted me, stepping forward with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword like he was ready to chop off my head.
“Let her speak!” Arrick roared in a voice that scared even me. He closed the gap between us and rested his strong hand on my shoulder. If anyone was going to be chopping my head off, they’d have to go through him first. It was that tiny gesture that made it easier for me to breathe. At least he didn’t hate my guts completely.
“This isn’t the first time Ana has come after me. I believe she wants this stone more than anything else in the world.”
“What are you saying, child?” my father asked curiously. He was shifting his weight from side to side looking very uncomfortable with the situation.
“I’m saying we can use it to get information from her.”
“No,” Titan growled. “I will not allow that dark magic to be used in my region.” He slammed his fist against the armrest of his seat, baring his fangs at me.
“I agree with Titan,” my father nodded.
“That’s not what I meant. I don’t want to use its power,” I said with a sigh, getting a little frustrated. “Ana pretty much admitted that she believes Luka’s soul was used to make this stone. She’ll obviously do anything to get it back. She came all the way down here.”
“You want to use it as a bargaining chip to get information from her,” Arrick said.
“Yes.”
“Claire, how can we believe anything she says is even true?” my father questioned, full of disbelief.
“We can’t, but what other choice do we have? Where else can we turn to get information about Baal before his next attack?” No one said anything and I knew I had made my point. There was no other way.
“And you truly believe she is going to reveal all her master’s secrets just so she could have that back?” Titan asked, sounding as doubtful as my father.
“Yes. Wouldn’t you?” His eyes burned with rage for a moment, until it fizzled away leaving a glossy sheen of unshed tears. I’d struck a nerve, but I’d also made another good point. If Baal had successfully used Titan’s wife’s soul to create a stone he would have traveled to the ends of the earth to get it back. When a vampire found a true mate, it was forever. It didn’t matter if they were married for one hundred years, or together for only a decade.
“I would,” Titan admitted. “How did her mate die? This Luka?”
“I killed him,” I replied, not proud of the fact. Yes, I’d done it in self-defense but… that didn’t change the fact that I had killed a living, breathing being. Killing the dark vampires was different, they were grotesque monstrosities, but Luka looked like everyone else. Yes, he was a murderous a*shole, but the memory of his dead eyes staring vacantly at the ceiling of my old bedroom would haunt me forever.
Titan’s brows reached for the ceiling as he stroked his chin. I wished I could know what he was thinking, but I bit my tongue and remained silent. At least the hard part was over; I’d gotten them to listen to me.
“What’s your plan?” Arrick whispered into my ear.
“I’ve got to make her talk,” I said simply, trying to hide how elated I was that he was talking to me again. He followed me as I took a seat away from the others, allowing Titan and Ronon to discuss things privately. My father retreated to a window to stare out into the night sky and toil on our predicament.
Arrick nodded his head, his eyes shifting back and forth between Ronon and Titan. I watched as he flexed his jaw muscle and I knew that meant he was stressed out. He always clenched his teeth when something was bothering him. That something was me, of course. I wanted to apologize, but would sorry really be enough for what I’d done?
“Arrick…” His name escaped from my lips unexpectedly. I reached out to touch his hand, but he pulled it away. “I didn’t mean to…”
His eyes met mine then and they were full of love, but that love was shrouded by a veil of sadness. We stared at each other for what felt like eons and I tried desperately to convey to him how sorry I was, and how much he meant to me. Just when I thought I’d gotten through to him he turned away from me, shaking his head and muttering things under his breath.
“Do you have any idea how much that hurt? Blocking our bond is just as painful as severing it.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you. It wasn’t like a conscious decision or anything. I just felt everyone trying to stop me and I just wanted…”
“Wanted to what, Claire?” he said, full of frustration.
I wanted to tell him that I only wished for everything to be over, but all that came out was the blubbering of tears. Could there be a worse time to start crying? Even though I could feel he was still miffed at me, Arrick pulled me into his arms and began rubbing my back as I worked on fighting back the downpour.
“Everything all right?” my father asked, strolling up to the table Arrick and I shared.
“Yeah,” I lied, brushing away the tears on my face, as if it would hide the fact that I’d been crying.
“I hope you know I’m not upset with you, Claire. I’m disappointed, but not angry. I could never be angry.”
“But I deliberately disobeyed you.” I was glad he wasn’t angry, I didn’t want him to be, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have every right to be.
“Yes, yes you did, but like you said; if you hadn’t then we wouldn’t have the opportunity that we do,” he said, taking a seat on the other side of me; opposite Arrick. “You see, Claire, sometimes it is the mistakes in life that open the door to possibility.”
“I’d rather that door open, without another hitting me in the butt beforehand,” I said, resting my elbows on the table.
“Well, once in a while everyone needs a swift kick in the…”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence!” I pointed my finger at Arrick, fighting to keep the smile off my lips but failing miserably. He lifted his hands up in surrender, and for the first time that night he smiled back at me.
“We’ve made a decision,” Ronon announced with a booming voice. The three of us stood, and approached them. Every nerve in my body began to buzz, and I hoped they would agree to my plan. We had to work fast if we were going to stop Baal.
Feeling my anxiety, Arrick laced his fingers in mine and I was never happier that he was my Blood Mate. He was strong, brave, and gorgeous, but most of all, he was forgiving.
“I will allow you to use that vile piece of dark magic to make that vampire talk, but if I feel the tiniest spark of its power… I will kill you.” Titan locked his eyes onto mine without blinking and all I could do was gasp.
“You won’t lay a finger on her,” Arrick replied, while my father growled as he tucked me behind his massive frame.
“She broke our laws, and the punishment is death. My father is showing mercy by giving this traitor another chance,” Ronon spat.
Arrick opened his mouth to begin his verbal assault, but I placed my hand on his shoulder to stop him. As much as I couldn’t believe it myself, I was going to agree to Titan’s demands. I wouldn’t use the stone. I only needed to dangle it before Ana and her secrets would come pouring out. It would be easy… or at least I hoped so.
“Very well,” I said, trying my best to sound confident even though everything inside me was screaming in protest. Even the anger inside me that Ronon had guided me to embrace now wanted to punch him in his chiseled, smug face.
Arrick and my father’s faces were creased with worry as Titan and Ronon smiled their approval of my answer. A shudder ran up my spine when I noticed that Ronon’s face still held the same hungry gaze it always had when he looked at me. Something told me he enjoyed the thought of killing me as much as he enjoyed the thought of bedding me. Bile rose up in my stomach, and I pushed my body closer to Arrick, who answered my closeness with a strong arm sheltering me beside him.
“Bring her in!” Titan ordered to his guards and they left the room soundlessly. “I’ve got some questions of my own for this Ana.”
I shifted under Arrick’s protective arm nervously. My plan was to question Ana alone. She wouldn’t respond well to Titan’s threats. If anything, they’d likely be what kept her from telling me what I wanted. I mean, she was a minion of Baal; threats wouldn’t be anything new for her. As terrifying and obviously powerful as Titan was, I doubted that he could do anything worse to her than Baal had already done.
The guards couldn’t have been gone for more than five minutes before they barged through the doors with Ana dangling from their bulging biceps. She still looked like a ragdoll, but Mikel had followed my orders and cleaned her up. Her blonde hair was a frizzy, wavy mess but there was no trace of blood or matted clumps. Her blistered skin was almost completely healed and she was no longer covered in dirt. She had even been given clean clothes and I prayed that that small bit of kindness had softened her up a bit.
Ana was unceremoniously dragged to the center of the room and dropped on the cold stone floor before us. Titan and Ronon looked down at her like she was a disobedient dog who had just shit on their carpet. I tried my best to keep my face void of any kind of expression, and I could tell Arrick and my father were trying to do the same.
I was surprised when Ana pulled herself up from the floor and tucked her knees against her chest. She didn’t look at us though, she stared at the ground, wrapping her arms around her legs and hugging them close to her.
“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.