16. Cassandra

CHAPTER 16

Cassandra

M y heart raced in my chest, panic bleeding into every single thought racing through my mind.

I'd had to think quickly. Even though it'd nearly killed me to do so, I'd had to play the role I'd been raised to play. The emotionless, royal-ladder-climbing daughter of Zorin.

Talon's look of utter betrayal and hurt had nearly brought me to my knees, that connection between us throbbing and burning with the way he'd believed my lies so easily. I felt it down that mating bond that he didn't even know existed yet, but when it came to saving him? I wasn't ashamed to say that I would give up anything . Including that secret about Lyric. The one I knew would ensure Edward trusted me.

I would have to pay for that sin later.

"I've secured the hunter in the dungeons," Edward said as he returned to where I hadn't moved from my chair. "He'll be a fine tool for questioning," he continued, a sense of accomplishment radiating through his cold eyes. He slid his hands into the jacket pockets of his suit, and looked down at me curiously. "I can't imagine being compelled by the king," he said, though there was no sympathy in his eyes. "Lucky for you, I returned home."

I nodded, doing my best to wrangle my emotions so that he wouldn't scent the terror and panic in my blood. That he wouldn't notice every instinct in my body screamed at me to run down to that dungeon and release my mate.

My mate.

"I've been working on a plan to strategically remove you from court for quite some time now, sister," he said. "This only accelerates that plan."

"I'm ready to do whatever you need me to do," I said.

"I'm going to need that gift of yours," he continued. "Mom's has never been as strong as yours, the ability to sense supernatural blood and human bloodlines, though don't tell her I told you that. I really don't want to deal with the blowback."

"I can help you find more bloodlines," I said. "I could've been helping you this whole time," I said, letting a little bit of that anger slip into my lives. "If you wouldn't have left me at court so long?—"

"I couldn't tell where your allegiance lied," he said. "At least now I know why." He shook his head. "I'll ensure that when the time comes, the king will suffer for that."

"Are you making a move against him soon?"

Edward shook his head, looking like he was lost in his own thoughts. "That step is much further down the line," he said. "The only objective right now is to ensure that no more powerful bloodlines are allowed to rise up. That's the only thing that matters. Because if we eradicate that, then we'll have the numbers we need to really focus an effort against the king and his assassins and now the hunters that have aligned with him."

"By working with the Sons of Honor?" I asked, arching a brow at him. "Honestly, they're pathetic humans, what need could you possibly have of them?"

"They are pathetic," he said. "But they're nice tools to have. And they have shown some advancements, especially in their weaponry against our kind and other supernaturals alike. Aligning with them only ensures our family stays out of their fire, and we'll reap the benefits when they help us take down everyone standing in our way. And when the time comes, the rightful vampire will sit on the throne."

"You?"

"Who else?"

"I didn't know if you'd put your stock into that one hunter who has been driving the king and his assassins crazy lately."

Edward cut his gaze to me, shock showing for the barest of seconds. "You were privy to that information?"

"They sent a hunter here with me," I said. "I was privy to everything because they didn't think anything could break Alek's compulsion. They didn't think anybody would notice that the hunter shifter was not in fact my actual panther." I did my best to look sad and concerned. "They've probably killed Shadow already," I said. "And Warrick will be next if we don't take action."

"We don't need to take action," he said. I tilted my head. "They wouldn't be stupid enough to kill Warrick, knowing it would only accelerate this war that they think they have a handle on. We'll continue to do our work, and you can go back and convince them you're still compelled. You can be my source of information and when the time is right, we'll strike."

"And in the meantime?"

"I'll heed your advice," he said, shocking the hell out of me. He snapped his fingers and a guard appeared at his side. "Make sure my mother has at least ten guards on her. Go now." He looked back to me. "Mother is the one who relayed every ounce of information to me after Father passed," he explained. "She knows just as much as I do about what our father's grand plans were before he'd been ruthlessly killed. Her being captured is not an option. You're right in the need for us to protect her."

"And you," I said even though it made me want to throw up in my mouth.

"That's cute," he said. "I can handle myself."

"Now," he continued. "I'll need to go wrangle more information out of this hunter. Care to join me?"

I shook my head. "I've had enough of him to last me a lifetime," I said, my heart cracking as the words left my mouth.

"Fair enough," he said. "Go be with Mother. You'll be safe there. I'll fetch you when I'm done."

I nodded, and it took every ounce of strength I possessed to wait until I heard his footsteps disappear down to the basement before I raced with vampire speed to the edge of the island, to the spot I knew was just outside the protective wards of this place, and I wended. I only had enough strength to make it to the border of the Florida Keys, my power not nearly as great as those of my mate.

I grabbed the burner phone that I'd taken from Talon, redialing the last number that he had called.

"Talon?" Zachariah answered immediately.

"No," I said, the panic leaching out now that I was no longer holding it back. "I need you to get to me now." I took a picture of my surroundings, sending it to Zachariah. It only took a few moments before the ancient vampire wended before me, his eyes darting around the area looking for Talon.

"They've taken him," were the only words I was able to get out before Zachariah grabbed me hard enough to hurt before wending us back to the king's residence.

He let go of me so quickly that I fell to my knees, tears already streaming down my face. Every instinct in my body was roaring at me to get back to my mate.

The story spilled out of my mouth, quickly and harshly, my words coated in a sense of urgency that none of the surrounding hunters seemed to believe.

"No way Talon allowed himself to be captured," Ajax said to Zachariah.

"Benedict," I said, nodding to the assassin who'd just walked into the study where Zachariah had wended us.

All the other hunters were present, complete with Benedict and Hawk. Jocelyn and Grace hurried into the room, their eyes wide at the sight of me on my knees before all of these powerful vampires.

"Babe, what the fuck?" Jocelyn asked, elbowing Benedict as I stared up at him in hope.

Her mate rolled up his sleeves and shook his head. "She's not lying."

"Unless she's found a way to manipulate your power," Zachariah countered.

I finally found the strength to stand, my rage palpable. "The longer we stand here arguing, the closer my brother is to killing Talon. We need to go ."

"I believe her," Grace, Ajax's mate, said, nodding toward me. "She's done nothing but help us," she said, referring to the home filled with foster kids with potential supernatural blood that I'd helped save with her.

"I agree," Jocelyn said.

"Me too," Avi, the king's sister and Hawke's mate, said, popping up out of nowhere. Hawk rolled his eyes, no doubt already knowing his mate had been standing there invisible the whole time.

"Be that as it may," Zachariah said. "We find it highly unlikely that Talon would have been taken by surprise?—"

"He was trying not to blow his cover," I cut off the ancient warrior. "This was the first time we'd seen Edward. It was our first shot at getting real information and Talon didn't realize that Shadow always growls at Edward. She's hated him from day one, and Edward knew so quickly that Talon didn't get a chance to react. He had no chance," I said, my voice cracking as tears rolled down my cheeks. "My brother is likely doing unspeakable things to him right now. And he has guards everywhere. Most of them are on my mother because she knows all the information that Edward does, but I have no doubt there's probably a half dozen in the dungeon with him and Talon. I cannot save him on my own."

"Save him?" Dagon asked, shaking his head. "Since when have you cared about anybody but yourself?"

"That's not fair," Grace dared to challenge him, and Ajax stepped a little in front of his mate, as if he was going to have to stand between her and his brother.

Dagon made no move toward her though. His eyes were only for me, and they were livid. "I think it's more likely that you walked him into this trap."

Gods, I hated them in that moment.

Hated the fact that they couldn't see past my father and his agenda.

And even while I could understand it, I'd done nothing but prove myself since the Zorin name had been sullied.

"Alek," I said as I watched the king and Lachlan enter the room finally. "Please, I need you to believe me."

Alek looked more inclined to be understandable. "Cassandra has done nothing but make amends and work for us since the day her father was outed as the traitor he was."

A little bit of relief uncoiled in my chest at the king's support.

"Be that as it may?—"

I groaned in frustration, cutting Zachariah off. "Alek, look into my mind right now. I will open it entirely to you. Please."

Alek hesitated for a moment, tilting his head. It wasn't often that a vampire laid theirself completely bare to the king's powers willingly. But I didn't have time to waste.

"Now," I demanded, withdrawing every mental shield I'd ever constructed. I felt the king's presence slide into my consciousness, rooting deep into my mind.

I showed him everything.

Every ounce of love I had for Talon and every fear I had for his safety now.

I showed him the conversation with Edward, the moments with my mother over the past three months. And finally, I showed him the memory of me discovering the mating mark on my thigh.

Alek's eyes flew wide as I felt his power retreat from my mind.

"I love him," I said.

Alek's eyes turned to Zachariah. "Take your team and wend back to the island," he said. "She's telling the truth. That's an order."

"Jocelyn," I said. "I'm going to need you to break the wards."

"I'm in," she said, and Benedict groaned.

"Me too," Avi said, and both Alek and Hawke said no at the same time.

"We can't risk the princess," Alek said, and Avi rolled her eyes. "You will stay here, and I will too. As much as I hate it," Alek continued. "You and I are needed here. I have no doubt the hunters alongside Benedict and Hawke can handle the rest."

"We don't have time for this," I said, my patience running paper fucking thin.

Ajax slid a hand over Grace's cheek before joining Zachariah, who came toward me.

Dagon and Saint flanked either side, and Benedict and Hawk finished the intimidating little circle. Zachariah grabbed my arm, much more gentle this time, but Dagon was still spitting daggers at me.

"If he's dead," he warned.

"He's my mate," I said. "I would feel it if he was dead. Trust me, you're going to be the last thing I'm worried about if that happens."

"Enough," Alek said in a commanding tone. "Go."

Zachariah didn't hesitate at the king's command, and I felt his power drench over me as we wended back to the edge of the Zorin island, him using the images in my mind that Alek no doubt projected into him in order to get us to wend just outside the wards.

Jocelyn brought them down with half a thought, and I took one second to be thankful that the powerful hybrid witch was on my side.

A second was all I allowed before I raced at vampire speeds, leaving the rest of them behind. I didn't care what the fuck they did, as long as they helped me take out the guards.

Ajax and Dagon flanked my sides, sticking with me as the rest used scent to propel them around the house where needed. I flew down the stairs, the two powerful hunters at my back as I skidded to a stop.

There were six guards in the basement, each raising weapons as they spotted us. But I couldn't care less, not when my eyes were on my mate who had been beaten and chained. My brother had his knife drawn, pulled back, and aimed at Talon's heart.