Chapter 234

The investigator came forward, stepping between the two girls. They looked annoyed at first, but after noticing the investigator’s official demeanor, they quickly backed off.

“I’ve heard of your misfortune, Cynthia,” the investigator said.

He watched me with his piercing eyes. I wanted to hide behind the door. I tried to close it further, but he jutted his foot forward, blocking it.

“I imagine the Academy will expect you to vacate as soon as possible,” he said.

“That’s none of your concern, sir,” Nicole said from behind me.

“Who is this guy?” Aimee whispered to me.

The investigator heard her. “I work for the King himself, as an investigator into powerful werewolf abilities. Your friend here has been gifted, though she denies it. The King has taken special interest in you, Cynthia. You shouldn’t disappoint him.”

“Oh, shit,” Nicole gasped.

Aimee lifted her chin. “Cynthia doesn’t have any abilities. You’re wasting your time and you should leave now.”

The investigator considering Aimee for a moment, and it was chilling to witness the way he observed other people like he wanted to cut them open and see how they tick.

Even Aimee, who had been trying to be brave, started to wither slightly, curling into herself.

The investigator said nothing more to her. Instead, he looked back to me.

“Why not consider being honest with me, Cynthia? The research facility could be your home. We would give your own living space and chef-cooked meals three times a day. Your comfort would be paramount.”

I already had a home: right here where I was in Asher’s dorm. Though now I couldn’t stay.

“Sounds too good to be true,” Aimee whispered.

The investigator ignored her. “You would, of course, need to spend some time with the researchers so that they can learn the most from your skills. And then, when the King asks for you, you must answer him.”

Who knew what kind of experiments the researchers would want to perform on me? He didn’t say anything about their research being non-evasive. I imagined being strapped to an operating table while they cut into me.

And answering the King? I would never disregard a direct summons, but even I knew the King only wanted me at his beck so that he could use me for political purposes.

None of these people cared about me. Or about the baby growing inside of me.

“I will never give up my baby,” I said. I was strong in that conviction but my voice wavered. This investigator had truly caught me at a vulnerable moment, when I didn’t have many options. Likely he knew that.

Surprisingly, the investigator’s hard gaze did soften for the length of a heartbeat. “I understand that hesitation. I can petition that the two of you stay together. It’s no guarantee, of course, but I do have pull there. They will likely listen to me.”

I wasn’t sure whether to listen to him. He likely would say anything to get me to go with him.

I felt trapped in a corner. I couldn’t go to my parents; they never wanted to see me again. I had to leave campus, so I couldn’t move in with Aimee or Nicole. And Asher… where was he? Regardless, I couldn’t stay here either.

I had nowhere to go. When I left here, I would be out on the street.

For a moment, I consider trying to raise my baby in a place like he is suggesting. Maybe if I behaved and did everything they wanted to, they would leave us in peace to live our lives. I wouldn’t be allowed to leave, of course. I’d lose contact with my friends, but… If it meant security for my baby, shouldn’t I do it?

Yet, what security was this offer really including? The investigator will petition for our staying together? That was no promise.

And a much darker thought, perhaps some of their experiments might spill over onto my child, especially if my baby were to develop abilities on their own.

I couldn’t agree to this. Even here, in my darkest, most desperate moment, I still wanted me and my baby to be free.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “But I truly don’t have the abilities you think I do. You are wasting your time talking to me.”

The investigator showed no outward sign of reaction. He simply continued to look at me. “That is your final answer?”

“It is.” I nodded.

“A pity. I was truly hoping we could do this nicely.”

Aimee hooked her arm through mine. “I think you had better leave now, Sir.”

Again, he ignored her. “I wanted to do this peacefully, Cynthia, but I don’t have to. From my investigation, I have enough suspicion about you to have the right, under my jurisdiction of duties, to hold you indefinitely. You say that you don’t have abilities? We intend to see for ourselves.”

He motioned to someone down the hallway and suddenly two larger men in black suits appeared behind him.

Nicole, Aimee, and I moved at once to shove the door closed, but the men were bigger and stronger than us. The shoved the door inward, and the three of us stumbled backwards.

The men were inside the room at once.

“Please don’t struggle,” the investigator said from the doorway, though he didn’t sound like he cared either way. “We’d rather bring you in unharmed.”

Unharmed? What did they intend to do?

One of the men grabbed my arm and yanked me to upright.

“Cynthia!” Aimee rushed toward me.

I didn’t want to see her hurt so I shouted, “It’s okay! It’s alright. I’ll do what I have to.”

Nicole shook her head. She wanted to fight for me too.

“I don’t want to see you get hurt,” I said to her.

“A wise choice,” the investigator said. “You’d come along with us either way. There’s no need for senseless violence.”

“But, Cynthia…” Nicole began.

“I’m calling Asher.” Aimee already had her phone out.

The investigator waved to his two goons. “Bring her. Now.”

His demeanor had shifted at the mention of Asher, almost as if he was afraid of him. Getting me out of here suddenly seemed very urgent, when the investigator had been so calm before.

A goon took hold of me on either arm, and dragged me out into the hallway. I tried to move my legs to keep up, but they were bigger than me with longer strides. I stumbled more often than I didn’t, and they dragged me along instead.

Outside, a black SUV was illegally parked near the dorm entrance, right up on the sidewalk. The investigator went straight to it and opened the back door.

A goon shoved me toward the open seat, when I heard a voice call out.

“Cynthia?!”

Asher.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw Asher rushing toward me. The car had drawn a bit of a crowd. Asher was shoving his way toward me.

“Hurry,” the investigator said. “Let’s go.”

One of the goon pushed me into the backseat, then pushed me further so he could sit down beside me.

The other goon went into the driver’s seat and started the engine. The investigator took the passenger seat.

When all the doors were closed, the investigator told the driver. “Get us the hell out of here.”

I glanced behind me, out through the back window. Asher was at the edge of the crowd now, moving closer. Desperation creased his face. His eyes were wide and wild.

The SUV jolted forward.

Asher started to run.

When the SUV turned onto the main street and began to accelerate, Asher jumped. He shifted into his full wolf-form midair, shredding his clothing. Then he gave chase.

“Shit,” the investigator said, watching in the mirror. To the driver, he said, “Lose him.”

The driver pushed the SUV faster. But Asher never faltered.

In my heart, where I felt out soulbond the deepest, I could hear him calling for me.

His voice, half-crazed, sounded in my head.

You will not take her from me.