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“I have an idea,” Tech says, getting our attention.

“Let’s hear it.”

Chapter FOrty

Ends With Us

Michaela

“I’m not sure about this, Markis. Can you even trust her?”

I grin at my father’s words. Say what you want about the man, but he’s no dummy. It’s been 20 hours since we rushed away from the Deep Woods pack. They’ve had a conversation similar to this one at least three times already.

“Relax, Khalif. I told you once before, I’ve always been able to control your daughter.”

I didn’t expect any other response from Markis. He always thinks he’s in control, even when it’s obvious he isn’t. That’s how I knew my plan would work. If I made Markis believe that he still had a hold on me, he’d never second-guess my motive. His ego has always been his greatest weakness.

“She practically admitted to hiding the spy for him to find,” Chikae adds his two cents in. “Plus, she was ready to leave those wolves. She killed their Luna in front of them. That should be enough to let you know she’s back with the plan.”

So far, everyone has proven true to themselves. Chikae will always dick ride the most powerful man in the room. And even though my father knows he’s right about me; he will fold under pressure.

“I guess you’re right,” Khalif says.

I shake my head and laugh. Some things will never change. The slamming of a door somewhere in the house draws my attention away from my eavesdropping.

Currently, I’m locked away in an upstairs room in this mansion of a cabin. Being a conduit means I can borrow or absorb other’s abilities around me. I simply pull from their energy and use their gift. It’s how I’m able to manipulate emotions like Marley. And how I could communicate telepathically with my sister after showing up at the pack that night.

The downfall of my gift is, I don’t get to keep the ability unless I drink from the person. Some powers I have are because I’ve taken them from other magical beings. Like the gift of knowing some spells and what plants and rituals to use for certain things. During my time with Markis, I collected those from numerous witches I killed. I took compulsion from another vampire when I was sixteen. While at the academy, I took wind bending from another student. I was in my twenties when I got psychokinesis. I developed sifting from Markis when we mated. And the reason I can hear a conversation from downstairs in the study all the way up here in my prison room is because I now have the hearing of a wolf.

The moment I think of him, pain rears back up in me, causing the burning sensation in the back of my eyes to occur.

“You’re just like him. A waste of life…. I hate that I ever touched you. I hate that I ever allowed you to touch me. You are everything I said you were….you don’t deserve my love, and you damn sure didn’t deserve Elizabeth’s…I.. fucking… hate you.”

I keep telling myself he only said those words because he thought I betrayed him, but the saying goes, a drunk tongue tells no tales. You can say the same about words spoken in anger. Whatever he said, he meant.

I didn’t deserve redemption. I tried to tell Liz that. I tried to make her see that not one of the gods was going to forgive me.

Placing a hand to my flat stomach, the pain of what I will lose hits me again. I guess I didn’t truly deserve this blessing either.

The stomping of three separate sets of footsteps against hard wood floors drew my attention. Climbing up from the window seat I was resting on, I turn to greet the intruders. The locks on the outside of the door turn. I cross my arms over my chest as the door opens.

The twins, Kozani and Kavita, walk in first, both glaring at me. I wink at them. Mother steps in last, carrying a tray with flutes of blood. She places the tray down on the storage bench at the foot of the bed.

When she stands up straight, she looks me over as if I’m covered in shit.

Since tonight is supposed to be Markis’ and my re-mating ceremony, I’m in a traditional vampire wedding gown. The off-shoulder black dress has a sheer black bodice and long sleeves. It’s adorned with intricate lace and dark red roses, seamlessly blending into a full, flowing skirt. Markis had the dress custom made and brought with him. Proving what his plans were from the start.

My make-up is smoky and dark. My curls are straightened, parted down the middle and hanging to my lower back. On the surface, I’m the picture-perfect example of a royal bride. On the inside, I’m dying.

“Markis always did have great taste,” mother says. “Although luxury can’t take away from those hideous wolf markings or that horrendous odor.”

Kozani and Kavita both laugh.

“Seriously, Mizani, you should shower. You smell like wet dog.”

She knows I’ve showered. I smell like a wolf because I’m mated to one. She knows this as well. She’s trying to bait me. I won’t fall for it.

“I’m not hungry.” I say in response to the tray of blood she’s placed out.