Chapter 42
I woke up with the most horrible stomachache. I ran to the bathroom and emptied my stomach from the night's meal. It was morning but I didn't know what time it was. I washed my face and took a cool shower.
I hoped that Sasha would come back to me soon. I also wished Salene had come to me last night in my dreams, but if she had I do not remember. My sleep was dark and silent.
I found some clothes that must have been purchased for me in the closet. I got dressed in a flowing sundress. There was nothing left to do but wait.
I pushed with my mind. "Sasha are you there?"
"Yes," she said. I leapt off the bed in joy. "I am still weak and will not be able to talk long."
"When you have power, can you link Marcus?" I asked.
"I can try," she said. "What good will that do if we don't know where we are."
"Tell him it was my aunt, if he doesn't already know and I will come back to him." A tear fell from my cheek. "I love him."
"He knows and I will. Keep calm. Don't over do it. I will soon gain power if they don't drug us again. Any idea how they bound you this time?" She asked.
"They used my blood, so it is a strong rune. I think it might only be bound to this room though. They haven't let me out and eventually they will need my powers if they think they can win." I said, thinking about how to escape. "Just tell Vincent to be ready." After that, Sasha faded into the background. I was still tired from fighting the wolfsbane. I decided, since there was nothing else to do I might as well take a nap. I laid back down on the bed and closed my eyes hoping to sleep and restore some power. This time I awoke to a presence in the room. It was my father. I wondered how long I had been asleep. He had brought with him a plate of food, which he had set on the table across from him.
"Will you join me?" he asked.
"For lunch or to end the world?" I said.
He started laughing. "I don't plan to end the world. I plan to make it better. With me in charge, the wolves would be strong."
"You mean me, in charge." I said, staring him down.
He smiled and gestured towards the food. "We will allow choice to reign. Wolves, witches, dragons, and humans could choose which world they wanted to remain in. No rogues, bounded witches, or dispelled dragons because of who they choose to love or be." "That is funny coming from you as I didn't have a chance to choose, and you bound me." I said, pointing to the runes.
"Ah, yes, well, we needed to make sure you didn't kill us before we had a chance to talk with you." He was right. I would have at least knocked them all unconscious the moment I woke up and left.
"Fillian, we really want what is best for everyone. You have two months to decide. In two months, you will be led out to war. You will be executed, or you will kill those who defy us." He said without any change of expression.
I laughed. "I know where I stand."
"You will fight for us." He said, standing up.
"I will fight for myself, my mate, and my pack." I said as he placed his hands on the table, leaning forward. "I owe you nothing. You abandoned me to be abused and starved. My aunt allowed it to happen. As far as I am concerned, the only one here who has not done me any wrong is Drake. From now on you might want to send him to win me over. I will consider your side, but not from you."
"I guess this isn't the time for a family reunion." He said. "You should eat. You look pale, I promise no more wolfsbane. I will send Drake in. Remember you have two months."
Two months, I will be very big by that time if we conceived during my heat. Wolves developed faster and would deliver in 5 to 6 months. It has already been around 2 months. That means I would be 4 months before the war. I needed a way out and a plan. I was not about to play loving daughter to my absent power-hungry father. I needed to work something out with Drake. Maybe there was a third path we could take, one that involved an outcome that didn't involve my death or war.
There was a knock on the door and Drake entered. He bowed and said, "I hear it didn't go well with your father."
I got up and gestured for him to take a seat. "My life after he left was not one I would wish on anyone."
He looked up at me with pity. "I am sorry. I am sure he didn't know."
"I am certain he did, as my uncle was the one who made it happen and my aunt allowed it." I said. He looked a bit surprised. "It is in the past. Where I would like it to remain. I am curious. I understand your hate for the King, but why align with my father?" "He, well you, are the only one I believe can defeat the king. He looks old but he is very powerful. He can shape shift into anything he imagines. It makes him very difficult to kill."
"I see," I commented. "I can with my power reach into his mind and end him. I do have a question for you."
"If it is in my power to answer it, I will," he responded.
"You say your sister was killed after giving birth? How do you know she was killed? Could she have died in labor like my mother? I believe from my research on the royals it is not easy to have a multi-powered child."
He sat for a moment. "I just know it. He was so devious, kidnapping her from her room pretending to be her mated dragon. Very similar to that of stealing his current wife. Your father's mate." Drake stood up and began to pace, getting angrier and starting to steam. "I'm sorry. Please calm down. I just wanted some information," I said. Wishing Katie was here to change the mood of the room.
Drake went to a corner and breathed in and out for a few minutes before he turned back around. "I am calm now."
"Let us change the topic. I am going to be here for two months, according to my father. So, we should get to know each other." I folded my hands and put them on the table.Content is property of NôvelDrama.Org.
Drake came back and smiled. "I think you are even more dangerous than they know."
"I am only dangerous to those that threaten my family and my pack." I stared at him. "If you promise to do neither of these things, I will not have a quarrel with you now or in the future."
"What if the future puts your family or pack on opposite sides?" he asked.
"I think you might like to know who I call family," I said. "The man and woman in the other room are not family. We share blood and that is all. I have very little family to speak of and most I do not share blood with."
"So, you will not fight with us," he asked.
"I would not like to fight at all. I hate spilling blood when it is not necessary. I have chosen my path. It is to make my own." I smiled at him. "And you are going to help me do it."