Chapter 32

It was dark and cold, and the air was damp. There was a dim light coming from somewhere a little ways away from me. I couldn’t make anything out in the room until my eyes adjusted. Even then, I couldn’t make out as much as I usually could. I could tell the wolfsbane was dimming my senses, but it didn’t feel as much as I was dosed with a week ago.

Theron let go of me, and my body betrayed me. I fell to the ground, hitting my knees hard. I cried out in pain.

“Don’t even bother trying to run away. You are much too weak for that now,” Theron said. He moved across the room and flipped on a light switch.

I instinctively shut my eyes, the bright lights hurting them. I rubbed my eyes, but my arms felt heavy. I opened my eyes, and even though it was still bright, I could see a little better. The room we were in was like a dungeon. The walls were made of grey bricks, and there was a large iron door as the only exit. There was no furniture in the room.

My eyes finally landed on Theron, who was inspecting the room. “What did you inject me with?”

“Does it matter?” Theron laughed. “You’ll be dead soon anyway. It was just a serum to calm you down so your powers didn’t emerge, not that it would’ve changed anything. Even if your powers emerged, you don’t know how to use them, so I easily would’ve overpowered you still.”

“You’re awfully cocky.” I tried to stand up, but my body was still weak. “If you were so confident, then why bother poisoning everyone?”

Theron snapped his head towards me. “I don’t take unnecessary risks. In order for me to inherit the power that is rightfully mine, you must die.”

“But I don’t want to inherit any powers! I didn’t even know I was a sorceress until a few days ago. Just take the power and leave me alone,” I begged. I was scared now that I was alone with Theron. I wasn’t ready to die.

“Because Father insists the eldest child takes over the coven,” Theron spat. He bent down and grabbed my neck. “And you are his eldest.” He threw me to the ground and my elbow hit the ground.

I grabbed my elbow as the pain radiated through. “Father?” I repeated, processing the information. “Does that mean you’re my brother?”

“I will never be your brother,” he snapped. “Your b***h mother seduced my father and then ran away with the half-breed child. Just because she got to Father, and he cheated on Mother, resulting in your sad existence, does not mean we are family. It does not mean you deserve to inherit the Caspian powers. It does not mean you deserve to be the leader.”

“My mother wouldn’t do that,” I said quietly. I didn’t know that was true, but my mother always taught me to be myself and think about how my actions affected other people. I couldn’t imagine her cheating on my father. Except my father wasn’t my father. Someone lied to me my entire life, and I wasn’t sure why or who. Perhaps my mother had lied to protect herself and her secret.

“If your actions are any reflection of your mother’s behavior, then how can you doubt it? You have two mates ready to fight for you? How can you be so selfish, you little slut.” Theron’s voice was laced with many years of hatred.

“That’s none of your business!” I shouted. “You don’t even know the situation. How can you be like this? I didn’t even know you existed. I didn’t know I was a sorceress. I didn’t know anything. I don’t deserve this!”

Theron kicked me in my side. “Shut up! Don’t pretend to be innocent. Your father’s favorite, even though you didn’t grow up with us. I thought I was going to grow up to take over the coven, but when I turned sixteen, father told me that you would be the one to take over once he found you and you were of age. You’re older than me by a few months, so you are the one who was meant to take over. It’s nonsense. I deserve to take over. I’m the one who trained for years. I’m the one who supported Mother and Father, while you were running off with the wolves.”

“You know nothing about me,” I growled, pushing myself up. “You don’t know what I’ve been through.”

“And frankly, I don’t care. I’m done with this conversation.” Theron started walking towards the door.

I mustered up as much strength as I could to get on my feet. “Where are you going? Don’t leave me in here.”

Theron turned towards me and easily pushed me to the ground. “I will do with you as I please.” He opened the door and left, leaving me all alone in the cold room. I heard the click of a lock behind him and knew there was no escape.

I curled into a ball, trying to warm myself up as much as possible. I wished I was wearing something other than a dress in heels. I wished I had a jacket or at least a t-shirt and some pants. The tears started pouring out of my eyes, and it wasn’t long before I was sobbing. I was angry that Theron was punishing me for something that wasn’t in my control. I didn’t even know what happened with my mother. I wished I could ask her for her side of the story, because right now I was imagining the worst of her. Not that it mattered anyway. She let father kick me out and fend for myself when I was only sixteen. My family didn’t care about me.

I felt cursed because of my bloodline. First my family rejects me, and then I discover it’s my estranged family trying to kill me for the same reason I was kicked out. I didn’t care that I was half sorcerer and half werewolf. I didn’t deserve to be rejected over and over again because of it. I just wanted someone to look at me and see me for me.

Mark looked at me like that. He didn’t care what I was. He stood by me every step of the way, trying to help me and save me. He was ready to risk his life for mine.

Jori had been willing to risk his life for me too. He made it clear that he wanted me as well, and he didn’t seem to care about my history, but there was a rock at the pit of my stomach whenever I thought about Jori. Even though I knew he was my soulmate, and there was a part of me that wanted, in this moment, all I wanted was to be in Mark’s arms. Whatever part of me wanted Mark outweighed any part that wanted Jori.

It was so obvious to me now. Sitting here alone, knowing Theron planned on killing me, I knew it was Mark, and now I would never be able to tell him the truth about how I felt. I wanted nothing more than to escape and run back to Mark and start a life with him. This only frustrated me more, and the tears poured out faster.

After a while, I had no more tears left to cry. I grew silent and tired. My body was heavy, and it just wanted to get some rest, but I was afraid. I didn’t want Theron to return when I was asleep. I fought against my body for as long as I could, but eventually I lost that fight.

–

“Wake up.” A cold nose nudged my hand.

I g*****d in response. I was cold and sluggish. “Can’t I sleep a little longer?”

“Adira, now is not the time to sleep.” The cold nose pushed my face again.

I cracked my eyes open and saw Shadow’s bright eyes in my face. “Shadow?”

“We are in danger. Please get up,” Shadow begged. She sat down and pawed at my side.

I slowly pushed myself up. “I know we are in danger, but I don’t know what to do. He’s much stronger than us.”

“Nonsense.” Moon jumped out of the air, appearing to come from nowhere. “You have way more power than that wimp. You just need to access it.”

“But how? And even if I could access it, I don’t know how to use my powers.” I felt hopeless talking about it. “Theron said he had years of training. How am I supposed to compete with that?”

Moon flicked her tail in my face. “You don’t have to defeat him or even compete with him. You just have to escape. Your powers are tied to your emotions. Surely you have figured that out by now.”

“Don’t be so condescending to her,” Shadow snapped, growling at Moon.

“Do you wish to die, pup? Because if Adira doesn’t figure out how to release her powers and control them to at least a minimum, then the three of us are dead. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with putting the pressure on her.”

Shadow rolled her eyes. “There are other ways to go about it.” Shadow turned directly to me. “Can’t we just transform into a wolf and break free?”

I frowned. “I don’t know if we would be able to get through the door that way.”

“I’m telling you, focus on trying to release your powers. That’s the only way,” Moon said.

“But how can I do that?” I rubbed my eyes, still feeling tired.

“Focus on the power inside of you and let your emotions fuel the power. I know you did it earlier. Just repeat what you did before.” Moon licked her paw and then started rubbing her face.

“Easier said than done,” I muttered. I didn’t have confidence I would be successful, but I had to try. I was not ready to lay down and die yet.