Chapter 76

Sebastian

Two large Delta officers sit beside me. Their gun muzzles are aimed at the roof of the car. The car is wide enough for all of us to fit comfortably and is built for city based warfare, but the bumps on the dirt road cause us to bump into each other. It’s way too close for comfort.

“Alright, sir, we’re almost there,” the Delta officer from the front seat says. The car comes to a slow stop, the bumps coming to a much needed end, and I glance through the front windshield of the car.

The solider to the left of me opens the door and slips outside. I follow suit and he stands behind me, The Delta officer gets out and approaches me. He hands me a small device that I tuck into the bottom of my shoe. I take a handgun from him as well and secure the holster into my belt.

“The meeting point is about a mile away. We can’t take your nay further unless we want to alert the Rogue King,” he gestures towards the North. I nod and take a compass he hands me.

Unfortunately, we need to go old school to avoid detection and to prevent the Rogue King from thinking we’re surprising him with an attack. It’s a calculated risk that we’re taking. The meeting I am having with him is a double edged sword. No matter what direction I move in, no matter what choice I make, there will always be a negative reaction.

This is the only scenario that I can see it moving in my favor.

The mile walk isn’t hard. The land is barren and stretches far into the distance. It runs for miles and miles. I follow the compass’ hand, keeping my pace, when a group of men catches my eye. I turn in that direction and the two Delta soldiers keep their close distance behind me.

The Rogue King sits on a makeshift throne. It is made from bent metal, the ends sure to be razor sharp, and pokes out above the flat horizon. I hesitate but move in his direction.

His cackles ring inside my ears once I am close enough. I watch as his soldiers clear a path for me. My Gammas stick close behind, their hands remaining on their weapons, ready to shoot at any moment.

“Ah! Welcome, False King!” The Rogue King’s gravelly voice calls to me. I approach his table and glance at the empty chair. I take a seat after he gestures to it and push my back into it, acting unfazed. “I thought I told you to come alone.”

“I thought you would have granted me the same privilege,” I shoot back, narrowing my eyes at him “Let’s be quick with this. Unlike you, I have a country to run.”

The Rogue King’s busted lips curl into a wicked smile. A laugh leaves his throat and it chills me to my core. I blink at him, arms crossed over my chest.

“Fiery just like your father,” his words ignite a flame of anger inside my chest. I stay quiet, not wanting to irritate him more than he already is. “I’ll allow it this time.”

He gestures to a chessboard that sits in the middle of the table.

“Let’s play,” he says. I sigh, indulging him.

I move my first pawn, opting to play aggressive. We move our pieces around, snatching the others, tossing the pieces to the side. After a few turns, I snatch away one of his rooks, glancing at him.

“Where is my son?” I bark. The smile remains on his face. He chuckles and relaxes into his beaten up throne.

“He’s here. He’s safe with me, don’t worry,” his hand gestures to a nearby tent. I stare at it. My heart pounds inside my chest, thumping against my rib cage. “Say, False King, do you remember my message? From, let’s say, a few weeks ago?” He takes away one of my knights.

“Which one?” I turn my face back to his. “You’ve sent plenty of them.”

“The one where I asked you who you would rather save,” he leans forward. The metal on his uniform clangs against the metal of the throne, his bones loudly cracking. I hold back a flinch, the sounds sending chills down my spine. “Would you rather save your children or your dear fated mate?”

“What did you do?” I growl, standing from my chair, slamming my fists against the table.

The tent flaps open. Evan steps out, followed by Ella and Noah. After a few seconds, Miranda is pushed out. They have duct tape over their mouths, rope tying their hands together. My head snaps back to the Rogue King. His sinister laughter fills the dusk air, permeating my ears, causing my anger to ignite.

“What did you do?!” I yell. I watch as my three children and Miranda are forced behind him.

To his left sits Evan, Ella, and Noah. On his right sits Miranda. Her violet eyes are sharp, looking at me as if she’s trying to send me a message. I tear my gaze away, putting away all of my anger, lowing myself back down and into the seat.

“I am simply asking you to make a choice,” his voice is low and threatening. The kids cry from behind the tape on their mouths. I glance at my soldiers and they nod, pressing a button on their wrists. I turn back to the king, shaking my head. “The time has come. Choose.”

“And if I refuse? What happens if I don’t make a choice?” My questions are a way for me to buy some time for my men who sit a mile away. I hope the Rogue King doesn’t see through my facade. Then again, his ego is way too big to even notice when he’s being toyed with.

Or maybe he wants a firefight to happen, to have all of our blood be spilled, soaked into the earth below us.

The Rogue King picks up his King piece on the chessboard, moving it to where he can take out my King or Queen piece.

I thought I had him. I slowly look up at him, narrowing my gaze.

“Choose.”

Minutes pass by. We stare at each other as my children’s muffled cries fill the silence.

“Need help?” The Rogue King asks in a condescending tone. He grabs Miranda’s tied up hands, tugging her to his side. He rips the tape off of her mouth. She lets out a quiet cry and stares at me. “Speak.”

“Take them home, Sebastian.” I’m shocked by how quick she is to answer. I stare at her, feeling my face twitch. “Take them home and keep them safe.”

“What about you?” I ask, unable to stop myself.

“I’ll be okay,” she nods, silent tears running down her cheeks, “tell Anna to have the kids take care of my flowers, okay?”

What?

“They know what to do,” she turns to the Rogue King and says, “I’m picking for him. Take me.”

The Rogue King smirks at her. A loud cackle leaves his mouth. He stands and turns to me, Miranda being taken away as my children and thrust towards me.

“I can see why you like her. Do you agree with her consensus?” The Rogue King asks. I nod my head, my heart tearing in two inside my chest. “Good. We need to go now. Your men have gotten too close for comfort.”

The Rogue King grabs the knot between Miranda’s hands drags her away. He passes her to a soldier. I stand and lunge towards her but am stopped by a Gamma soldier. I watch as they pile into a car, quickly driving away. A car of my own shows up just as they disappear across the horizon.

“Sir! We have to go! The kids are secure!” A solider grabs my arm, bringing me towards the car.

My Miranda. She’s gone. What have I done?