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I turned up the volume on the remote, my eyes glued to the screen.

“There’s nothing important,” said Markus, rubbing my back as he sat next to me.

“Authoritieshave confirmed the capture of a vampire on Frenshille Road…,”the reporter was saying.

“Oh my god,” I said, my chest deflating and my stomach turning. “No!”

“He’s captured after everything he’s done to you,” said Markus trying to comfort me. Baby Jay popped his lips off my nipple, and I handed Markus the baby.

“I need a moment,” I said, trying to breathe evenly. I could feel the panic creeping through me. Lio ran to the living room, hearing the commotion.

“What's wrong?” he asked me.

“They captured him. They took James,” I said, gasping for air and leaning against the couch. “Wait, the Royal Pack is on TV now…”

“Of course, we’ll stake him at noon tomorrow, just as tradition states. This has not changed for a hundred years,”said King Armon. He was the only living king left, residing in the palace alone with his wife, Queen Ophelia.

“Do you think it might be a little archaic to be doing that?”asked the reporter.

“Chaos will reign if we allow him to live. Nothing will change,” replied King Armon.

I paced around the living room in a panic, my hand to my chest. They were going to stake him at noon tomorrow. I had to be there to see him once last time.

“Lana.”

“Yes, Lio?”

“Do you still have feelings for the vampire? For James?”

He had finally asked me the question outright. My heart ached at the mention of James. I looked straight into Lio’s eyes and nodded.

“Yes. Yes, I do,” I said. “Just like I have feelings for you, Markus, and Owen. He’s no different.”

“Do you trust him with your life?” asked Lio, sitting on the edge of the couch as he watched me thoughtfully with a hand to his chin.

“Yes,” I said nervously. Lio was unpredictable when it came to our connection. He could feel threatened and lash out, or he might not even care since the vampire was now stowed away where he couldn’t get me.

“Then I don’t blame you for feeling the way you do,” said Lio, standing up and walking over to me. “If circumstances were different, then I wouldn’t mind having an addition to the pack.”

“Wait, you’d allow a vampire to mate her?” asked Markus incredulously.

“If that is what our omega wanted,” said Lio, and I was surprised by his statement. This was completely unlike him. “But he’s going to be staked tomorrow at noon. I can take you there to see him one last time, Lana.”

Tears sprung to my eyes.

“Thank you, Lio.”

I needed to see him one last time. To reassure him that I was there for him no matter what. And that what was happening to him was completely wrong.

“But if anything goes wrong- we are leaving tomorrow,” said Lio. “Your father already has the helicopter stocked and loaded with all our boxes. I’ve bought your scent blockers in bulk which are also stowed on that plane.”

I nodded as he silently hugged me.

“I don’t think I can bear to see him get staked,” I said. “It’s barbaric.”

“I know, baby,” he said, kissing me on the lips. “I’m sorry.”

“I want him to see his babies again,” I said.