Page 32

T he moment I step out of the safety of the castle doors, I am surrounded and dragged out of the castle, my heart racing.

I fear more for the life of my unborn child than my own.

The guards have me in a tight hold, and I struggle against them as I am led to the front of the castle.

Kyson’s voice is constant in my head, urging me to stall them.

His fear is potent, and I wonder what sort of history he has with the council that they would be daring enough to go against the Lycan King.

“Azalea, My Queen. So lovely of you to join us,” Denali purrs, causing my skin to crawl as he approaches closer.

He clicks his fingers at one of his men, who shoves me toward the iron gates and handcuffs my wrists to the solid bars.

My heart skips a beat as everyone takes a few steps back watching beyond the gate.

“Fear not. You will have your say. We just have a few questions for you. This is merely a precaution,” Denali says, gripping the back of my neck to turn my face toward his.

“Precaution?” I scoff, glaring up at him. “You have me handcuffed and surrounded by your guards. I think that goes beyond a mere precaution.”

Denali’s grip tightens on my neck, cutting off my air supply. Panic sets in as I struggle against my restraints, but it’s no use. His hold is too strong.

“You are in no position to sass me, Queen Azalea,” he growls, his face inches from mine. “You may be the Lycan King’s mate, but you are still a member of our council and are expected to follow our rules.”

“I am not a member of your council,” I shoot back, gasping for breath as his grip loosens slightly.

“But that is where you’re wrong, even the King’s mate is expected to uphold the laws of our people.”

“Are you really that gutless that you had to wait for my mate to leave?” I ask him, and he laughs sadistically.

He steps away, and I can see Oliver kneeling next to Clarice, crying, huddled in Logan’s arms. I turn my attention back to Denali, who sneers at me.

“It is a mere coincidence that the king isn’t home. We were sent the report and investigated; this is just a questioning.”

“If that is all it is, why did you feel the need to take out my guards and handcuff me to a damn gate?” I spit back at him.

“Because we are aware of the pact the guards hold, they will fight. We haven’t hurt them, just made them more compliant,” he states.

“What pact?” I ask, a little confused.

“The king never told you?” he asks, and I glance around at the crowd of onlookers watching me. “Regardless, I am here to administer the serum, ask the questions, and choose punishment if necessary.”

“Fifteen minutes, love. Keep stalling. Leave the link open, so I can hear what is going on. Help is coming,” Kyson says in my head. I swallow when Mr. Crux approaches with a vial.

“Landeena people, head to the castle, your queen needs you,” Kyson calls through the link. I don’t have time to process his words. The town is a good fifteen minutes away. What would the people do if they got here?

“What is this about?” I ask, knowing full well by the woman standing on the other side of the gates watching me.

Denali follows my gaze and motions for one of the guards to let her in.

The gate opens beside me, and the smug bitch steps inside, her heeled boots clinking on the stone driveway before they close it.

She moves behind me and stops beside him, folding her arms across her chest.

“Cassandra,” I snarl.

“So you do know each other, wonderful. Cassandra here says you commanded Abbie to reject her husband, Alpha Kade, and made him accept the rejection; she also claims you stole the pack’s future Luna,” Denali says.

“That is not true. Abbie tried rejecting him. He was abusing her,” I snap at Denali before glaring at Cassandra. “With her help,” I growl.

“That wasn’t what I asked. I asked if you abused your power as the king’s mate and broke a sacred law regarding mate bonds?”

“As I said, he was abusing Abbie. He sexually assaulted her.”

“And where is Abbie to verify this?” Denali asks, tilting his head toward me. He nods to Mr. Crux, who moves toward me with the vial. I clench my teeth together.

“Kyson!” I rush through the mindlink.

“Any minute,” Kyson replies when Denali grabs my hair, ripping my head back while Mr. Crux pinches my cheeks, stuffing the vial in my mouth. Denali checks his watch while I cough and gag at its taste. Yet it tastes familiar in a way. It almost reminds me of Kyson.

“You can fight the effects,” Kyson links to me. “Focus, love, that serum is made from my blood. You can resist it.”

A minute or so goes past, and Mr. Crux nods to Denali.

“Did you command Luna Abbie to reject her mate, Alpha Kade?” Denali asks. I grit my teeth. Fear so palpable it makes goosebumps rise on my skin as the urge to answer rolls through me, making my body tense.

“Nearly there, fight it,” Kyson snarls when I hear a commotion outside the gates. Denali glances out the gates to the cobble road where Kade’s pack stands. He waves some of his men to sort out whatever is happening, and they rush out the gate and down the road.

“Answer me,” Denali demands. I don’t know what Kyson means about fighting it. Fighting against it is causing me to break out into a sweat, my stomach twisting painfully. Is this bad for my baby?

“Yes,” I gasp. Meanwhile, fighting breaks out outside the gates and down in the gully before the driveway. Denali looks toward the commotion outside the gates.

“Enough proof, bring the whip,” he says, wandering off to talk to someone behind me. I look over my shoulder, twisting my neck to see what is going on behind me. I gulp when I see the barbed whip in the man’s hand.

“Tell them I commanded you to,” Kyson yells through the bond.

“I can’t,” I say.

“You can and fucking will; you’re pregnant Azalea, tell them I commanded you to.”

I open my mouth to lie, yet whatever the truth serum contains does not allow me to breathe a lie.

“Azalea!” Kyson booms in my head. I choke on the words, trying to spit them.

“Don’t you dare fight me. I’m sorry, love, I have no choice,” he murmurs when I feel his command smash me through the bond and mindlink. It rolls over me, causing crippling pain as he orders me to blame him.

“Kyson ordered me to do it,” I blurt. Mr. Crux grips my face, and Denali comes back over.

“Excuse me?” Denali asks.

“Say it again!” Kyson commands through the bond. Sweat glistens on my skin and I feel like I’m going to be sick.

“The king ordered me to command them,” I choke out, gasping for air. Denali and Mr. Crux exchange a look before turning to Cassandra.

“Is what she says true?” Denali asks her. She opens her mouth and closes it.

“Well?” Denali snaps.

“I…I don’t know. I only got there to see her command them both. What does it matter? She still did it,” Cassandra says in her nasal voice.

“Good girl,” Kyson says, letting the command slide off me.