Chapter 183

Hannah

“Mom…” I breathed again, staring up at the woman who was once my mother. She stood at the doorway and narrowed her eyes at me. I couldn’t tell what was running through her mind, but I saw the conflicts hidden in her eyes.

“Hannah…” she said in return. “What are you doing here?”

“I didn’t like how we left things,” I said, peering over at her through my lashes. “I wanted a chance to make things right.”

“You left…” she said, shaking her head. “You…”

“I never left,” I lied. “I’ve been in the underworld this entire time. I’ve been hiding.”

“You’ve been in the underworld the whole time?” She asked. “What about Liam?”

I hadn’t thought about what I would tell her about Liam. I couldn’t tell her that he was here because she would never stop looking for him.

“He’s not here,” I told her honestly. “He needed to get back to his body before he died permanently.”

“He’s alive?”

“Yes,” I answered with a head nod. “He’s alive. But I’m here, and I want to make things right with us.”

“What about your family?” She asked, raising her brows.

“You’re my family, mom,” I told her, stepping closer to her. “I’m sorry I didn’t remember that earlier. But I want to be a family with you again; even if Liam isn’t here.”

For a moment, I didn’t think she was going to believe me. She stared around my face for a long while with a timid frown. Then, her lips turned upward into a smile that sent a chill down my spine. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes and I knew right away that it wasn’t genuine.

“I’m so glad that you’ve returned to me, my darling daughter,” she breathed as she held her arms out to me.

I forced my own smile as I stepped into her embrace; allowing her to hug me tightly.

“I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered.

“I’ve missed you too,” I lied in return.

As she hugged me, I could feel her heart beating heavily in her chest. It was the heart of Xander. That was the heart I needed to destroy.

“What are you doing in here?” I heard a growl coming from the doorway, causing my mother to freeze.

She stepped away from me and I saw Xander standing tall at the doorway. He was glaring at my mother with fury rising through him. His aura was darkening, and I was getting an intense vibe from him. I felt the need to step away from him as well.

“You aren’t supposed to be here without permission,” Xander growled.

My mother nodded her head, allowing her lifeless hair to fall over her features.

“I’m sorry, your majesty. I just wanted to see her. Please forgive me.”

“Leave,” Xander ordered with no emotions crossing her face.

She nodded and left the room without giving me another look and leaving me alone with Xander. I stared up at Xander, trying not to look too frightened of the man who held all the power. At least, for now, he did. I needed him to think that I wasn’t a threat; that I was there surrendering. That way we can attack without them ever knowing about it.

“I must be honest; I’m surprised to see that you’ve returned,” he said, his tone dark and threatening tone. “When the guards informed me of your capture, I had to come to see it for myself.

“I came back for my mother,” I told him in return. “I wanted to see her again.”

“Why? So, you can convince her to leave with you? Hate it to break to you, but the only way your mother is leaving here is if I allow it.”

“She’s happy here,” I told him. “Even if I knew how to get her out of here, I don’t think she would come with me.”

Xander smirked at my words.

“No, she wouldn’t,” Xander agreed. “She’s very loyal. You could be loyal too and get everything you’ve ever wanted. We don’t have to continue this game of cat and mouse.”

He stepped closer to me, and it was taking everything I had to not take a step away from him. I stood my ground and kept my eyes locked on his.

“You’re right,” I said to him; agreeing with him left a bitter taste on my tongue. “It was wrong of me to run from you when all you wanted was to make me your wife and rule these lands together. I was being selfish. I was wrong.”

“I’m glad you now see it that way,” he said with a smile that left an unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. “Then you will accompany me to the Bluemoon ball tonight.”

It wasn’t a question, but an order. I narrowed my eyes at him, confused as to what he meant.

“The Bluemoon ball?” I asked. “Hasn’t that already begun on the werewolf ball?

He laughed loudly, shaking the room in the process.

“Not that one,” he said. “The one I am hosting here in the underworld. The one really counts. The ball in your territory holds the vessels. Mine is where I perform the ritual that will take them over and give my people a real chance at a new life.”

So, he was doing the ritual here? The last thing I wanted to do was go with him to this ball, but I didn’t have a choice. I needed to play my part if I wanted to get close enough to my mother.

“Will my mother be attending?” I asked, staring up at him.

“Why does it matter?” He asked in return.

“Because she’s my mother and I wanted to spend time with her.”

“You have your entire life to spend time with her,” Xander said with an eye roll. “This is only the beginning.”

He gave me another large smile as he motioned for my bed. I noticed a big, dark purple, ballgown laid out on my bed with black heels. I gasped at how elegant and beautiful the dress was. It looked to be stitched by his best designers. It wasn’t on my bed moments ago, so I’m not sure how he managed to get it there without me noticing.

“It’s beautiful,” I breathed.

He straightened his posture.

“Gabe will escort you to the ball,” he said as he turned away.

“Gabe?” I asked, raising my eyes at the mention of his assistant. “Why aren’t you taking me?”

“I’m far too busy preparing for the ritual. But I will be seeing you there,” he said, walking toward the door.

Before I could get any more questions out of my mouth, he was already gone.

I quickly got dressed in the ball gown. It didn’t feel right attending a ball without Sebastian, but I knew this is what he would want me to do. I stared at my hair in the mirror; it was long and lifeless. There wasn’t much I could do with it, so I threw up into a ponytail with a couple of clips. Once I finished dressing, there was a knock on my door. I knew right away that it was Gabe.

His timing was incredible; he must have somehow sensed that I was finished getting dressed.

“Come in,” I said, knowing I couldn’t open the door myself.

Gabe walked in and narrowed his eyes at me; I knew he wasn’t going to be happy with me. the last time I saw him I was abandoning him in the library. I lied to him to get me there; there was no way he was ever going to trust me again.

“You are expected in the ballroom,” he informed me with little to no emotions.

I nodded, unsure of what else to say in return. I went with him through the halls until we reached the main foyer of the palace. It was swarming with a bunch of people who were getting ready for the ball themselves. I could hear the loud music coming from the ballroom and I was beginning to grow nervous. I needed to somehow get these cuffs off so I can speak with Sebastian. I needed to get the scepter and stab the heart. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could take being here.

Just as we were almost at the ballroom, I paused when I saw a familiar figure standing near the entrance. He was looking around curiously for a moment before his eyes landed on me and he grinned.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

It was Sebastian