Traded

Chapter 88

*Colette

Every part of me is stiff as I sit in the dark, stuck in my chair for heaven knows how long. It feels like days, but with no sun to measure time, it could be hours or even weeks. All I do know is I hurt and I am utterly alone. After filming what they asked me to, they tortured mom for fun and made me watch.

Every whip, every strike felt like it was to my own flesh as I sobbed and begged for them to stop. I would have happily taken those painfully hits for her, but they weren’t torturing her because she disobeyed.

They were doing it to show me they have all the control, all the power, and it has only lit a fire in my chest. One of anger and hatred. A burning for revenge, not freedom.

There is a sound of clinking and steps outside the darkroom I’ve been left in. But noises don’t mean anything here. It could be a guard passing by or even a new victim being dragged to their demise. The dungeon makes plenty of noise, and more often than not, it even screams.

It’s not until light filters in over me that I realize I may not have been completely forgotten and I’m not sure which is worse. Being remembered in this hellhole, or being left for dead. I wince, turning away from the bright light as it burns my eyes. A shadow falls over me and hurried footsteps rush toward me.

“It’s time to go upstairs,” Teiran whispers in my ear. I open my mouth to speak, but my voice gets caught in my throat. “Can you walk?”

I nod my head yes as he helps me up, and then I promptly crumble to my feet, a pained whine escaping my parched lips. His large hands catch me by the elbow.

“Woah,” He mutters, with a sigh. “Let me help you.”

I slap him away weakly and he chuckles to himself.

“Stubborn hybrid.” He mutters before he bends down and lifts me up. I try to squirm, but exhaustion overwhelms me and I give up.

“Where are you taking me?” I croak, my throat searing in pain.

“I was able to convince the king to treat you like a guest, rather than a prisoner.” He murmurs.

“Can I leave?” I ask. It’s not like I don’t know what the answer will be, it will be ‘no‘, but a girl can try.

He snorts a laugh and doesn’t respond, which only confirms exactly what I figured as he steps out of the room and down the hall.

We pass cells, some empty and others with old and grungy looking prisoners who must have been here for ages. Teiran deftly moves toward a spiral staircase and takes two steps at a time.

The stairs seem to go on for an eternity as I fall in and out of consciousness for small spurts of time. When we finally ascend to the top, he walks about a hundred feet before a massive iron clad door opens. I watch as we exit it, Teiran looking dwarfed by the massive frame.

“Woah…” I mutter, unable to keep my awe to myself.

“It is for when we are in dragon form.” He says simply.

I notice as we exit it looks nothing like the area he had taken me before meeting the king. Instead of far too hot and dry, I can hear bird tweeting, feel a gentle breeze through the large hallway. As he turns, I notice a loud rumbling noise that grows clearer with every step and the air wetter and so nice.

That’s when I feel it in my bones, the way the water moves with a furious rage. I know what is coming before we get closer and it stirs my wolf and feeds my soul. My eyes fall closed as I inhale the damp air and, ever so slightly, I begin to feel more alive again.

“Don’t even think about using your water powers, hybrid.” Teiran says like he is bored.

“I am too weak to use it now. Instead, I am just enjoying it, how it feels.” I murmur. He doesn’t respond as we grow closer and I open my eyes, watching in wonder as we walk behind the waterfall that hammers past us, singing its song of nature.

I relish every damn second, my body shivering at the desire to be in the water, to just submerge myself and feel the way it would heal me if I was allowed to touch it. But just as quickly as I see it, it fades into the distance as I am carried away.

“There will be rules to your stay,” He says.

“And if I break the rules?” I ask. He snorts and shakes his head.

“You will find yourself back in the dungeon at the whims of Jennifer, the torture junky.”

1/3

Chapter 88

I press my lips together in thought, wondering what his relationship with her is and why he doesn’t try to work with her. It is very clear that they both dislike Giselle and know she is up to something, yet there is no trust between them.

“You mean I find myself back with my mother?” I say, and he looks at me with a frown.

“Your mother has been there for many years, and you being up here means she will be tortured less. They kicked up her torture to get a rise out of you. Your mother is safer with you up here.”

I think about his words, hating that he is probably right.

“What ensures I stay here?” I ask as he slows and places me down. I press my hand to the wall, steadying myself as he unlocks the door.

“Aside from this lock and key?” He asks and I nod.

“That I will not hesitate to kill your mom.” Jennifer’s voice echoes down the hall behind me. I turn to look at her and she gives me a fake smile. “I have been begging to kill the bitch for years, so I would love the chance to finally do it.”

“You will die before she does.” I grit out and she throws her head back in laughter.

“Sure.” She nods like she believes me, but her demeanor says otherwise.

“Why are you here, Jennifer? I was told you were on a mission,” Teiran asks.

“Oh, don’t you worry about me. I’m on my way out. I was just making sure our esteemed guest makes it to her room.” She shrugs.

Teiran arches a brow before taking an intimidating step toward her.

“Is there a reason you would think the king’s own son would you to verify he can do a simple room change?” He asks, and she pales, her lips twitching as she hisses and steps back.

“Of course not.” She grumbles. “In truth, I was just passing by on my way out.”

“Then, pass by already.” He growls, and she scowls at him before taking a few steps back and turning and scurrying away. Then he turns to me and pushes the door open. “Get in.”

I ease myself into the room. The lights coming on and showing a beautiful room carved out of stone. Plants line the wall, moss and flowers planted in crevices of the rock.

To my right there is a bed, covered in white linens and in the far corner, a small trickling fountain of water. I rush to it, cupping my hands and slurping as much as I can.

It is heavenly cool and crisp, easing my pains as if a tonic to my aching body. I splash it on my face, my mouth falling open as it feels like it caresses my skin, and I stand upright, looking at Teiran, who watches me with curious eyes.

“We need to talk.” He says, the door closing behind him.

“Then talk, dragon prince.” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

“I want Giselle dead.” He says, quietly. “And I want my father freed from her hold she has over him.”

“What do you expect me to do?” I ask with a frown.

“I need your word,” he says.

“My word? What good does my word do?” I scoff.

“You are both the queen of the Lycans and werewolves and a princess of the sirens.” He scoffs. “You have more power than anyone born of one world.”

“What makes you think they will listen to me?”

I am not sure he understands how the hierarchy works. I am a Luna, not the alpha and I may be a princess to the sirens, but it is not a title I can claim as a half–breed. Hell, I’m not even entirely sure I can be underwater without drowning for more than a minute.

“Your King, he is already on his way to us. With the help of someone who knows their way around here. And Caspian…well, he won’t give up on you, not now that he has finally got his daughter back.”

I see his point, but it doesn’t mean his demand makes any sense to me.

“What is it you want from me, exactly?” I ask, trying to understand.

2/3

Chapter 88

His eyes grow dark and he licks his lips.

“I want you to bring a war here and I want you to promise my father will live.”

I shake my head, chuckling. “War is already coming. If Merikh is on his way-”

“No, you don’t understand. We already know they are on their way and which way they will use to sneak in. I didn’t come by this information on my own. Giselle knows their plan. Where is it you think Jennifer is going?”

Panic grows in my throat and I swallow roughly, trying to fucking understand what he wants and how to warn Merikh.

“I will help you escape tonight.” He whispers.

“But you said if I escape, Jennifer will kill my mother,” I scoff. “I just got her back. I won’t let her die.”

He drags a hand over his face.

“There is nothing I can do for your mother. Right now, you need to choose her or your mate. You have twenty–four hours to decide.”

3/3