Traded

Chapter 89

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Teiran has left me no real choice. Save the mother I thought I lost or lose the mate I just found. There is only one answer, one fight choice, and it brings nothing but pain to my chest as I try to think of any way I can to find a way around it.

There is a small knock on the door as it pushes open and a maid quickly shuffles in, bringing me a pile of clothing, all the while keeping her head down. She then turns the bed down as I watch her with curiosity. She is not a dragon, but a werewolf, small and perhaps an omega, but she doesn’t belong here.

“What is your name?” I ask her and she ignores me as a malé walks in with a tray of food and places it on the bedstand. He stops and looks at me with a sneer on his scarred face before jutting his chin and sauntering out the door, slamming it behind him.

“Yeesh, what did I do to him?” I mutter.

“He doesn’t like werewolves.” The girl mutters, her eyes sliding my way for a mere second before darting back to what she is doing.

“Yet he works with you, and you are a werewolf.” I remind her and she hesitates before she looks up fully, finally revealing a horribly burned section on the left side of her face.

“We don’t choose our punishment, Luna. The king dulls it out himself.” She whispers, looking at the door. Fear oozes from her, her skittish nature, and the way she doesn’t seem able to remain looking at me for long makes it obvious she is not here willingly.

“And is he a nice king?” I ask, taking a tentative step closer to her with a small shrug. She whines, looking at the door longingly, like she wishes to escape me. Which is ironic since I’m the one locked up here, not her.

“I was asked to deliver your clothing and turn your bed down for the night. If there is nothing else I can assist you with, then I really should be off before…” she pauses, catching her bottom lip in her teeth like it’s a hostage and she whimpers.

“Before what?” I ask.

“Before they suspect something. The king will stop by to see you in a few hours.” She bows before she sprints out the door, locking it behind her with a click and the soft murmur of an ‘I’m sorry.

I collect the pile of clothing and head to the bathroom, a soft smile breaking my frown to pieces when I see the waterfall faucet overhead. My body shivers in anticipation of the water we have so sorely missed. As I strip out of my dirty clothing and turn on the spray, I gasp in delight, plunging my face into it with a grin.

For the first time in however the hell long I have been here, I feel hope creeping back in with every drop. I shiver as I spin and let it hammer on my aching muscles, forcing the pain away so I can enjoy this.

The bar of soap waiting for me is fresh and void of scents, which disappoints me, but I have to remind myself I am not at an all–inclusive resort. I am in the belly of the enemy’s lair and they are giving me the illusion of freedom as they lock me in.

I grab the soap and gingerly lather my bruised body, wincing as I hit my rib cage. I watch as the suds turn brown, the filth finally running clean as I move to my hair and scrub my scalp and latkes a series of three times before I feel clean enough. Then I stand in the stream of warm water, letting it fill my siren heart until it cuts off suddenly and I snap my eyes open.

I look at the shower handle, still in the one position as I reach out and wiggle it back and forth, which does nothing. A frown sneaks over my lips as I sigh and step out, grabbing the towel folded on the counter, and I dry myself off before dressing quickly. When I step out of the bathroom, the towel in my hand still drying my hair, I freeze, noticing the heat in the air.

It’s near suffocating as I feel myself sweat and move to the window, throwing it open only to find a set of bars in the way, forcing it back shut in my face. Every passing second feels like I may shrink into a puddle until I notice a glowing ember in the corner of the room.

“Hello, Colette.” I hear. My mouth runs dry as a light flickers on and I see Giselle in a silky white sheath gown, a soft orange glow flickering from beneath the fabric where her heart should be.

“Giselle,” I murmur, forcing myself to make it to the edge of the bed before taking a seat before passing out from the dryness in the air.

“Sorry about cutting your shower short. It’s on a timer. Can’t have you too healthy.” She winks like she isn’t being a petty bitch.

“What can I do for the queen of the dragons?” I ask, folding over and coughing roughly as I choke on the air before I catch my breath.

“Well, a little birdie told me there may be something going on with you and Prine Teiran.” She shrugs. “I thought I would come and check for myself, though you did shower alone it seeins-”

“I have a mate. One I love and am faithful to,” I growl out and she waves me off.

“You wolves and your mates. You know, mates mean nothing to dragons and vampires. I mean really, all you have to do is kill off the woman you wish to replace and ‘oops‘. Now there is an opening.” She saunters over toward me, unafraid to turni her back to an enemy, completely unbothered by anything and everything as she strolls by toward the window.

“What do you want?” I ask her, growing tired from the excessive heat she is giving off.

“What is it like to be a hybrid?” She asks wistfully, staring out the window. “How does it feel to be the only one of your…. kind….? Because I am curious if you feel as I do,”

I scowl at her. “You aren’t a hybrid.” I remind her and she sighs heavily.

“No, I am not. But I am the only one of my kind left. These beefy winded idiots are the closest I have to my kind and, therefore, my best bet at procreating.” She says, “Though I must admit, it is damn annoying that the king’s dragon has yet to accept me so we can make a child.”

I chuckle, shaking my head. “Maybe it knows you would be a terrible mother.” I say, a sly grin on my lips.

She looks at me over her shoulder before rolling her eyes.

“How quaint. You think I care about your petty insults or being a mother?” She laughs, her flawless hair tumbling over her shoulders as her head tilts back. In the light, it looks like there are waves of heat radiating from her, almost like she is the hottest burning flame.

“Let me rephrase my original question. What is it you want from me, Giselle?” I ask, trying to understand her, not what she says because I couldn’t care less, but the more I know about her species, the more I experience being around her the closer I am to knowing what to expect.

She grins, turning to face me full on as she clasps her hands in front of her.

“Finally, you are asking the right questions.” She sighs happily. “But I’m not willing to reveal why you are important yet. I need the others here as well. It’s all so annoyingly complicated.”

“By others you mean Lily, don’t you?” I ask and she nods, her patience growing thin as the heat in the room grows more insufferable. For a moment I swear a see a flicker of blue flame in her hair.

“Yes, she is one of them.” She shrugs, finally moving toward the door. The further away she gets, the easier it is to breathe, the air less painful as I inhale sharply like a needy fish in need of its water.

That’s it?” I scoff as she reaches for the door. “You just wanted to come check in on me and give me a little insight into what you want?”

Her eyes

twinkle as she wears a sly smile.

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11:35 Thu,

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“I really am excited to see you aren’t entirely without brains. No, I came to let you know I am fully aware of your plan with Prince Teiran. And as cute as it is that he thinks he can get you out of here. He can not make the promise that Merikh will be safe. You must know that.”

I blink at her, my heart pounding in my chest and my head feeling light, as if I may faint. Perhaps it’s the heat, but I get the feeling it is the fear for Merikh’s safety.

“Merikh is a big boy and can protect himself. He is the Alpha of Death, after all.” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Mmm, yes. Go ahead and underestimate me again. It has gone over so well for you in the past, hasn’t it?” She says grinning before she leaves, taking with her the insane heat.

I rush to the bathroom, turning on the sink and dipping my head under the faucet, before drinking a healthy amount and standing looking at myself in the mirror.

If Giselle knows about Prince Teiran’s plan, then that means I can no longer rely on him to help me get out. I need to break out of here on my own. And I need to do it through the dungeons so I can take my mother with me as I go.

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