Chapter 145

Sebastian

“Erik,” Sebastian said, going toward his wolf. Erick lifted his head. He was awake. “You old bastard. I knew you would be too strong to be weakened by that vampire asshole.”

“Took you long enough,” Erik said; his voice was weak, but as Sebastian approached, he could feel him growing stronger. “We don’t have long. Once the full moon is at its peak, Xander will be powerful enough to take full control.”

“He has Hannah,” Sebastian told him. “He wants to marry her and make her his queen. But she’s not going to go along with that.”

“He’s powerful; is she strong enough to resist him? He seems to be able to mind-wash people down here.”

Sebastian scoffed at the very thought of Hannah falling victim to the vampire king.

“Hannah’s mind is strong. She won’t let a little manipulation persuade her.” Sebastian glanced around at the cage and the chains bound to his wolf. “Are you whole again?”

“Yes,” Erik answered. “I would feel strong again if it weren’t for these chains. I need to get them off.”

Sebastian grabbed onto the bars of the cell and shook them, trying to loosen the door to pop it open. But it was too strong, and he wasn’t strong enough without his wolf. He glanced over at Hannah’s wolf who remained asleep. Erik looked over at her too and there was something in his eyes that Sebastian didn’t recognize. It was like there was something he wanted to say, but he refrained from doing so.

“What is it?” Sebastian asked, keeping his eyes on his wolf.

“It’s not important right now,” Erik said, turning away from Hannah’s wolf. “We just need to figure out how to get us out of here and get to Hannah.”

As they were thinking about a way out, something clattered to the ground. It was rolling on the ground in the darkness. Sebastian had a sense that whatever it was, it was powerful, and it gave him a sense of strength. Then, he saw the faint glow in the depth of the darkness.

“The moonstone,” Sebastian breathed.

He wondered where it had come from, but he didn’t ponder it for long. He knew that would be strong enough to get the cage open and unbind his wolf from those chains. The moon goddess must have been there in spirit.

“Get us the hell out of here,” Erik said as Sebastian met his eyes.

…

Hannah

“Your what?” I asked in disbelief.

I wanted to laugh in his face. He just called me his bride in front of all these people. They all looked pleased when he said those words, but once I questioned him, I could see the worry in their eyes. I could tell that nobody ever questioned the vampire king before. Nobody would ever dare to. But I wasn’t just anybody and I wasn’t going to sit there and let him call me his bride without fighting back.

“Don’t act so surprised, Hannah,” Xander said as he cut into his rare steak.

They had placed an equally rare steak in front of me as well, along with mashed potatoes and a side salad. The thought of eating made me feel sick though.

“We’ve spent a lot of time together; not that you were aware I was in control of the body.”

“You mean when you were using Henry’s body as a vessel?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

“I knew you were smart. That’s what I love about you the most.”

“You don’t love me,” I said, keeping my tone low. Not that everyone wasn’t listening anyway. They were pretending they were minding their business, but it was so quiet I could hear a pin drop. “You love control.”

“That might be true, but I’ll need a queen to rule the kingdoms with me and I’ve chosen you as that queen. I think you would make a promising wife and queen. Also, a potential mother to my children.”

“I already have a child,” I shot back. “A child I would like to return home to with my husband.”

“I can give you everything you desire, Hannah. Can’t you see that? I’ve already given you your brother and your mother back. I can give you your daughter too if you’d like. I can have her brought here within the hour.”

“You are never going to get your hands on my daughter,” I said through gritted teeth. He could do whatever he wanted with me, but I was never going to let him touch Wrenley.

“I have more control than you think. Pretty soon, I’ll have all the control.”

I was biting my tongue hard; I was afraid anything I said would just make things that much worse. I could tell he already had his mind made up. I clenched my fists by my side; it was taking everything I had not to run out the door with Liam by my side. But with one look at Liam’s face, I knew he wouldn’t run with me even if I did have the opportunity.

He was eating this rare steak and looking pleased. My stomach turned at the sight of the steak blood dripping off his chin and landing back on his plate. He was eating like he hasn’t eaten in ages. My mother was slowly eating and sipping her wine, trying not to make any eye contact with me.

I’m not sure what had happened to her all these years while being trapped here, but I knew she was no longer my mother. She glanced over at Liam with a loving gaze as she grabbed a napkin and began wiping his chin.

“Where’s Sebastian?” I asked for the hundredth time.

“Somewhere he can’t bother us,” Xander answered. “You don’t need to worry my love. Soon, you will be mine and you will forget all about that filthy canine.”

My heart sunk into my stomach at his words.

Sebastian, where are you?

…

Sebastian

The moonstone scepter was hot to the touch because it was just used to open the portal. With this scepter, Sebastian would be able to get his wolf out of his cage and find Hannah. He ran with the scepter to his wolf’s cage and pointed it at the lock. It grew even hotter under his touch; as the scepter touched the lock, it snapped open and the cage was finally open.

Erik breathed out with excitement as Sebastian made his way into the cage. He once again used the scepter to unlock the chains that held down his wolf and caused him to be powerless. There was a white glow around his wolf as the strength returned to him. Sebastian could feel his wolf’s powers surging through him. He was being pulled toward his wolf as they were reunited.

It was an instant transformation. As soon as the chains fell to the ground, his wolf began merging into Sebastian’s body. He felt powerful and strong enough; he shifted into his wolf form and let out a loud growl with satisfaction.

It wasn’t a normal strength though; he felt more powerful than he has ever been. It must have been because his wolf was finally whole again.

“We need to get her cage open too. Once she’s free, she’ll be able to get to Hannah.”

Sebastian gripped the scepter with the strength of his teeth and ran toward the other cage. This time, the scepter didn’t need to touch the cage for it to open; it felt its power approaching and obliged Sebastian’s commands.

He ran to her wolf and knelt beside her, the chains had fallen to the ground, but she remained asleep.

“What’s wrong with her? Why isn’t she waking up?” Sebastian asked.

He could feel his wolf’s worry as they waited for her to open her eyes. He touched his paw to her face, running his claws through her thick fur. She was warm to the touch and her breathing seemed to be getting stronger.

Just as Sebastian was about to lift her onto his back, her eyes fluttered open. She lifted her head groggily and looked around at her surroundings. Erik had seemed frozen when he stared at her, but now her eyes had finally found his.

For a moment, they looked at one another without speaking. Confusion was lingering in her eyes; the eyes that resembled Hannah’s so much. He needed to get back to her; he needed her wolf to go to her. But then both their wolves spoke at the same time; a word that made Sebastian’s entire body freeze.

“Mate…”