Chapter 33

CATALINA

There was something unsettling about waking up in a dark room, immediately aware that you were no longer in the comfort of your own bed. I wouldn’t recommend it, but for some reason, it kept happening to me. The last thing I remembered was rushing to the restroom when someone grabbed me from behind.

I thought it was just one of my friends, so I didn’t think much of it—until everything went dark.

I groaned, sitting up on their poor excuse for a bed. I found myself once again in a cell. But this time, I wasn’t chained up, and the door was open.

I was tempted to walk out, to fall for whatever trap they’d set. But I decided I’d make them work for my cooperation instead.

Scanning my surroundings again, I noted they weren’t much for décor. Bare, plain gray walls.

Couldn’t they have added a picture or something?

Sighing, I thought about the shitstorm I knew was happening back home. They took me from my mates in our home? Whoever did this just signed their own death warrant.

Dealing with Kol alone would be too much for them. Add in my other mates? Game fucking over.

“Don’t you look cozy.”

I flinched at the voice. So lost in my own thoughts, I hadn’t heard them approach. Slowly turning my head, I scanned the figure standing in the doorway of my cell.

He was tall, and the tight shirt he was wearing didn’t hide the muscles underneath. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see much of his face due to the mask he was wearing.

All I could say was that he was tanned. I felt a strange draw toward him.

“The door is open.”

I took up a defensive position. “Why am I here?”

I’d been in enough situations lately to know if they wanted to kill me, they would’ve. They wanted me for something else.

His thick arms flexed. “Don’t you want to know who I am? Who we are?”

I stared him down. Something felt familiar about him, but I swore I’d never met him in my life.

“The who doesn’t matter. Once I’m free, you’ll cease to exist.”

He chuckled, taking a step into the cell. It instantly made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. He might be acting casual, but the amount of power he was radiating rivaled mine twice over.

Was he a god? “Come with me and I’ll show you why you’re here.”

I could hear the challenge in his voice. He didn’t think I’d leave this cell. And maybe I shouldn’t. But sitting here wouldn’t get me any answers.

I stood but didn’t move until he started walking, making sure to keep a lot of space between us. He didn’t look back or make conversation as I followed.

I was hoping he was one of those people who liked to hear themselves speak, so he might slip up and give me some much-needed information.

“When we enter the room, make sure you bow.”

He threw it over his shoulder. I scoffed. The only people I’d bow to were my men.

“Do it and you might live longer.”

“I’ll live for as long as I was destined—with or without bowing,” I glared at his back.

Did he think this was the first time my life had been in danger? Quite frankly, I was sick of it all. Why did everyone want me?

Not too long ago, I knew nothing about the supernatural. Now all the most powerful ones were after me.

He didn’t respond or look back, just continued walking. I guessed that signaled the end of our lovely conversation.

I tried to remember the route he took and all the doors we passed for when I planned my escape. The weird thing I noticed was that there wasn’t another living soul around.

From what I’d seen so far, this place was a mansion. So where was everyone?

My thoughts drifted as I followed behind my captor. Why did he expect me to bow? Who were we going to meet?

I thought of ways to defend myself. It didn’t seem like my powers were blocked, but they’d been wonky and unreliable since I got pregnant.

Perhaps I’d use them as a last resort. Maybe, just maybe, I could talk myself out of this situation—depending on what they wanted from me.

We stopped at two large black double doors. Stationed outside them were two guards—the only other people I’d seen since leaving my cell.

Hmm, so there were other people here. My captor strode on without pause, both guards bowing to him.

I found myself wondering again—who was he? Why were they bowing to him? What was the power dynamic here?

“Come along.”

I hadn’t realized I had stopped, but he noticed immediately—without even turning around, I might add.

Damn, I might just need to use my powers to get out of here after all.

We entered a dining area. The long table was set for three, yet no one was here but us. The man took a seat on the left, removing his mask.

He gestured to the one across from him. I hesitated, debating whether I should make a run for it now or learn why I was brought here.

The man eyed me with a smirk on his face, as if he knew what I was thinking and was daring me to try and run.

I decided to stick around a little bit longer. Flopping down in the chair, I glanced around the room.

Whoever lived here had a real penchant for the color white—white curtains, walls, even the table spread was white.

How hadn’t I noticed this singular color before? It felt like I’d stepped into a cloud room.

“She says it makes her feel pure,” the man said, letting me know he’d been watching me.

With that in mind, I focused on the table in front of me, hoping to divert his attention. If I was being honest with myself, he was a very handsome man.

Rough around the edges with a very dark aura—he reminded me of Kol.

I tried not to think about my mates until I was alone, in case anyone here could read minds.

A side door opened, capturing my attention. A guard held it open, staring straight ahead.

“Here she comes,” the man whispered.

Not even a second later, a woman walked in. She was dressed from head to toe in all black.

Long black dress, black gloves, and black heels—her long black hair cascaded in waves behind her like a waterfall.

Her beauty was like nothing I’d ever seen.

Strangely though, she felt familiar. It wasn’t until I really studied her face and the few resemblances that it hit me.

I gasped. “Mother.”

Yeah, I was fucked.