Chapter 29 - Negotiate l
1684 Words
#musicvibe - Supermassive black hole, Muse
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Valeria POV
I sat quietly on the floor and listened intently to everything they said, hoping that it could be useful.
“I’m impressed.” King Talon said. “You’ve made a lot more progress than I thought.”
Alex shrugged.
“Well, they caused a war, so they should pay the price.” He replied coldly.
“Yes, you should probably join the negotiations tomorrow night.” Talon said, and my heart skipped a beat.
“My pleasure.” Alex replied.
“Duke Turner.” Talon said. “You and your son should join too. It’s going to be fun seeing just how much we’ve been able to break the lycan king. Hopefully with his mate here with us, he’ll give us anything we want.”
Willow snarled in my head.
“He will regret those words someday.” She growled. “I promise you, when we get out of here, he’s the one that will be broken.”
I silently agreed and glared daggers at Talon. He gave me an amused smile back before turning his attention away from me.
While everyone at the dinner table engaged in conversation, I started to think of a plan for Alex to give a message to Tyson without being detected. Even though I didn’t want to admit it, Talon was right. Now that I was a prisoner, Tyson would do everything in his power to get me back. I still didn’t know what Talon’s price was, but no matter what, Tyson couldn’t pay it.
I rubbed my temples discreetly, my head still pounding from where Alex hit me. He hit me harder than I expected him to, but in a way I was relieved that he didn’t hold back. Talon seemed to buy the charade and Alex was going to join the negotiations, so everything was going according to plan so far.
I jumped when Alex pushed the chair back, too deep in thought to realize that they were finished eating. Alex hauled me to my feet and pulled me harshly out of the room.
While we walked, I saw the duke’s son follow us back to Alex’s room. Alex didn’t say a word and remained on high alert until we reached his room. Alex pushed me inside and I turned to glare at him. Alex and Joey walked in and I backed away into a corner while Alex and Joey embraced each other in a hug.
“It’s good to see you.” Alex said. “You’re just in time. We’re in a lot of trouble.”
Joey jerked his head in my direction.
“Yeah, do you want to tell me what that’s all about?” He asked. “You never hit anyone, especially not girls, so what have you so riled up with her?”
Alex shrugged.
“That depends.” He said. “Can you keep a secret?”
My eyes nearly popped out of my skull and when Joey nodded, Alex turned to me.
“We need more allies.” He said. “I trust him with my life.”
My eyes darted from Alex to Joey and back. Then I sighed and sat down on the couch.
“It’s your funeral.” I shrugged and rubbed my temples.
“Are you okay?” Alex asked.
I scowled at him.
“No.” I muttered. “I know I said that I can take a hit, but goddammit vampire, did you really have to hit me that hard?”
“Sorry.” He said sheepishly.
Joey stared at us with a bewildered expression on his face.
“Alright, what the f*ck is going on here?”
After explaining everything that had happened to Joey, he paced back and forth.
“I don’t like this.” He said. “Why start a war?”
“We don’t know yet.” I replied. “But you guys need to find out what King Talon wants from the negotiations with Tyson.”
“He didn’t mention anything at dinner.” Joey said. “At least, we will find out when we go to meet with King Tyson.”
“He can’t give in.” I said. “You have to talk to him. He’s going to want to get me back before the full moon, but I don’t know what he will have to do to make that happen.”
Alex frowned.
“What happens on the full moon?” He asked.
“Lycans that have to spend the full moon separated from their mates are left in excruciating pain.” I explained. “My wolf is suppressed right now, so I don’t know how it will affect me, but last time Tyson and I were separated, he was in really bad shape.”
“Why can’t he just agree to whatever conditions my father demands?” Alex asked.
I held up my hands, showing the cuffs on my wrists.
“These are custom made.” I replied. “The king could have taken anyone hostage, but went for the person that is the hardest to hold captive. I think I’m here for a reason, and until I know what that is, we shouldn’t give Talon anything he wants. We don’t know what he’s going to use it for.”
“Maybe it’s just because you’re closest to Tyson.” Joey suggested. “Maybe it’s just the prestige to go after you, or a stupid mistake to think that King Tyson only treasures you.”
I shook my head.
“When you start explaining things you don’t understand as errors or mistakes, you’re the one that makes the mistake.” I replied. “I don’t want to underestimate whoever is behind this.”
The rest of the night, we spent coming up with a plan together, and I was so nervous that I could barely sleep all night. The next day dragged on at a snail’s pace. When it was time for Alex and Joey to leave, Alex slipped the cuffs on me and chained me to the bed again.
I had made a small braid of my hair that I had cut off, hoping that smelling my fresh scent would make Tyson calm down.
I also wrote a note, hoping that I could make Tyson understand that Alex could be trusted and we all needed to work together.
Tyson.
I hope that Alex is able to give you this message.
I’m okay. I’m locked in a castle and I really miss you, but I’m alive, unharmed and managed to find some allies.
Alex and Joey have been helping me figure out what is going on. I hope he can tell you about the things I’ve discovered about this war since I got here. Meet Alex and Joey at the border two hours after the negotiations are finished and they will tell you what they know.
I'm working on a way to escape, and I promise that I will be back with you soon.
I love you, always and forever.
Valeria.
I tied the braid around the note and gave it to Alex.
“Good luck.” I whispered.
“Thanks.” He replied and put the note in his pocket.
I sat down on the floor while Alex and Joey left and I heard the lock click. I leaned my back against the bed and let my tears fall, thinking about Tyson and letting the pain in my heart wash over me.
Suddenly I heard scraping coming from the door, and I jumped up from the floor. Without the help of my powers, being chained to a bed and Alex off to the negotiations, there was no way I could defend myself from whoever was on the other side of the door.
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Vampire/lycan border.
August 13th, 2146.
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Tyson POV
We were in our lycan form and ran towards the border where we were meeting King Talon. I prayed to the Moon Goddess that he brought Valeria so that I could see for myself that she was alright, but I figured that he would keep her locked up in his castle.
Kayden and Garrett were both with me, along with a group of warriors in case something went wrong. They were both tense, and even if they tried their best not to show it, I knew that they were worried about Valeria too.
When we arrived, I saw King Talon with a group of vampires waiting for us. My blood boiled and I had to reign Dax in so that he didn’t pounce on the b*stard.
We stopped about thirty feet away from them, and I growled when Talon’s eyes lit up.
“Finally.” He said in a bored tone. “Shift back.”
I narrowed my eyes, hating that he was telling me what to do. I snarled and Talon frowned at me.
“Remember, King Tyson, I have your mate.” He said, a warning in his tone this time.
I shifted back and activated the quantum field. Kayden and Garrett shifted back too while the rest of the warriors stayed in their wolf form.
“Where is she?” I snarled.
“Oh, she’s right where she’s supposed to be.” Talon replied, amusement glittering in his yellow eyes. “Tell him, Alex.”
He nodded towards a younger man that was standing next to him, and I realized that he was Talon’s son. They resembled each other a lot.
“Oh yes.” Alex chuckled. “I guess I’m her master now.”
My breath caught in my throat and I stared at him in horror.
No.
This can’t be happening.
“I’m training her to obey me.” He continued. “And I feed from her all the time. It didn’t take long for her to be littered with my marks. She tastes delicious too.”
His words felt like a dagger to my heart, and I couldn’t hold back Dax any longer. He shifted with a roar and pounced on the prince before I could stop him.
- Writer
