88

Word Count: 1900

~Sienna

I stare at him, at the man that is a complete stranger to me and yet holds my life in his hands.

And the life of my mates.

If I can get anything out of this, it's Onyx alive. My family problems have led to this situation, and the guilt I feel is choking up in my throat.

"What is your plan, huh? Keep us in this state forever?" I ask breathlessly. I can only imagine Zion's reaction whenever Christian decides to free him.

Unfortunately, in Zion's old age, he's not much of a physical match to Christian. All he can do is convince his guards to respect his authority again. That seems out of reach, though, considering how the guards stand post in this room, unmoving.

I can only wonder what Christian has on them, what he is holding over their heads.

"It won't be forever. Just until you both warm to me," he assures me, scrubbing a hand through his hair.

"What about Onyx?" I push away the food in front of me, indicating I'm not consuming anything that he offers me. "Do you seriously think he will ever let you live this down?"

Christian has no idea how revengeful my mate is. He won't hesitate to tear my brothers throat out the next opportunity he gets.

"We'll come to an agreement when the time comes," he muses with a shrug, seeming entirely unbothered.

My jaw tightens as I look around.

There isn't many options for me. The guards watching on ensure I can't escape or kill Christian right here. I have to be strategic about this, to make sure I can get what I want while playing to into Christians delusions.

"Alright fine...I'll try get to know you to see if this family thing will work," I concede. "But you have to let me see Onyx. I need to make sure he's okay."

Christian surveys me through narrowed eyes, doubtful of my intentions. It seems, however, that he is aware of how corned I am as well, knowing he is holding a great deal over my head and I have no other choice but to bend to his will.

"You promise?" He asks around a mouthful of food.

"Yes, I promise," I mutter begrudgingly.

Zion whines in protest, his chair scrapping against the wood floor as he attempts again to shift in his binds. He knows I'm leaving him out of my negotiating, and I can't care less. He is the last person I intend to protect.

"Very well, we'll leave for where he is located tomorrow." Christian adjusts his collar, looking irritated at my proposal, yet grateful I'm even considering peace.

I shrink back into my seat. "Thank you."

Finally, he pushes his plate away, motioning at a servant to come pick it up. He then yawns dramatically, stretching contently.

"Have you eaten enough?" He asks.

"Ah— "

I blink warily. "Well, I'm quite tired. It's been a long few months preparing for this." He rises from his chair, a hand resting on his stomach. "Mind if I get some sleep?"

"What about Zion?" He hasn't fed him a single thing. His plate is full of food in front of him, yet obviously untouched.

"One of my guards will escort him shortly." He rubs his eyes. "You should consider sleeping soon. No one can function properly on little sleep."

He's going to leave me here, with the ability to roam freely. I suppose his guards will keep an eye on me, but the sudden freedom is jarring. I figured I would be locked up in my room at the very least.

"Alright, I will," I murmur, afraid that if I move, he will order I leave before I get a chance to speak to Zion.

Christian must be so confident in his plan that he doesn't fear Zion and I talking. Perhaps he suspects it will bring us closer together.

He grins broadly, giving me a little wave. "Goodnight, sis."

"Night."

I watch him go silently, waiting until I hear his footsteps depart. The uncanny music he was playing shuts off suddenly, dousing the room in uneven silence.

I jolt up, rushing down to the other end of the table. Slipping into the seat near Zion's, I give the guards a sidelong glance before pulling the gag from his mouth.

Oddly enough, they just watch on, saying nothing.

Zion draws in a few ragged breaths once the gag is loosened, smacking his mouth together in an effort to wet it again. I try not to let me shiver of repulsion from being so close to my father guide me away from him, needing any information he may have.

"Thank you," he croaks, his voice thick and coarse.

"What is going on?" I demand.

He pulls a face, the aged lines of his face deepening. "You think I know?"

"Well, I thought this place was strongly guarded!" I snap.

When I was trapped here with Alston, there were guards everywhere. I often saw drills occurring on the back lawn and swarms of them travelling in groups to different places. I only managed to escape because of the secret entrance out of here, as getting past all of the guards would have been impossible.

And yet, Christian somehow managed it.

"So did I. I don't know what he did, but he has my closest soldiers working for him." Zion looks pointedly as the guards at the wall, who avoid his gaze.

Something strange was going on with Onyx's guards when he went missing, too. Some may have been working for Christian, as orders seem to be spread about that hadn't come from the Alpha, or his personal guard.

"Tell them to get us out of here," I insist, hoping that even a few of them would be enough to safely escort us off the property.

"They won't listen," he hisses, his eyes wild and dark. "I think he has something against them."

I figured as much as well. He must have their families in the same way he has Onyx and possibly Lucia.

"We need to do something."

Zion's gaze floats to the door, an unsettling wariness splaying out across his features. "Who is he, anyway?"

I frown. I thought Christian would have told him, or he would have at least gleaned it from the conversation. Clearly Zion isn't as sharp in his old age as he likes to think he is.

"Your son. Can't you tell? You two look disturbingly similar." And act the same too, but I keep that observation to myself.

"There is no way. You are my only child."

"So you didn't have an affair with a young woman before you met my mother?" I question, bracing my forearms on the dinner table, which is beginning to be cleared by the staff filtering in and out.

I make a mental note to question them too, at some point. For now, I need answers out of Zion, and for him to understand the gravity of the situation. He does have a son, and that man is currently holding us hostage.

"I had affairs with numerous women, but I didn't get any pregnant," he grumbles, clearly not wanting to admit as much to me, but I already figured.

It wouldn't exactly surprise me if he had affairs while he was with my mother, too.

"How would you know?" I question. They would have every reason to hide it from him.

"If any gave birth to my heir, they would have let me know. Otherwise they would be cheating their child out of all my land and power," he states arrogantly.

I roll my eyes. I bet my mother wished she could have escaped my father before he knew she was pregnant. I bet she wished she could have saved me from his wrath before it was too late.

Christian's mother obviously saw Zion's darkness and came to her senses quickly. She saved her son, and now it's for nothing.

"That is exactly what happened to Christian."

He snorts. "Unlikely."

"His mother ran from you because you're a monster. Just like my mother did," I snap at him.

He pauses, his brows pulling together. For a moment we just stare at each other, an entire argument gathering like a storm between us, but neither initiate.

I never spoke about my mother to him while I was here. Not much, anyway. I didn't want him to ask about her death, or the moments before she died. I want to keep her sacred in her mind, and not be forced to hear details about how she was treated while she was here.

"If I'm a monster, why haven't you killed me yet?" He questions lowly, nodding to the table. "There's a steak knife right there, and I'm tied up."

My eyes drift over to the knife sitting beside his plate.

The temptation to reach for it licks up my fingers, but I curl them into a fist, resisting.

I can't kill Zion. Not now. If I do, there is a chance Christian loses his mind and kills me, or has Onyx killed. For now, Zion will have to continue living for a few more days, until I can figure this mess out.

"That would be far too easy. And that pleasure is waiting for Onyx." I smile sardonically.

"In other words, you know you still need me," he mutters flatly. "If you kill me, Christian kills Onyx."

I scowl, hating that he read the situation so well. "Regardless, we both need out of this situation. We need to work together."

"He has nothing over me. I need to kill him, and get him out of my home."

Zion can't kill Christian until I know where Onyx is. I doubt he's foolish enough to risk it with the guards watching on, but that won't stop him from conjuring up a plan.

"And if he truly is your heir?" I raise a curious brow.

"A mentally unwell person, even my own son, cannot rule over this pack," he growls through gritted teeth.

I resist the surge of anger rising like a wave inside of me. He chose Alston over me as an heir, and while I don't want his land or title, it still bothers me. I know I would be worthy or ruling here, and he knows it too.

"We must be smart about how we proceed. Do not ruin this for me," I order.

"Only one of us has someone they need to save." His voice is like poison, chills scattering down my back. "Help me out of these binds."

"No, I don't think so." I stand abruptly, tiring of this conversation. "Christian is right, I need sleep. Then tomorrow, I'm going to ensure my husband is alive before I make my plan to rid of Christian."

His eyes follow me as I head for the exit. "You do that, Sienna...you do that."

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