Chapter 90
Aurora’s POV
They’re crazy.
It’s the only plausible reason I can come up with to understand why Ivy and Angeline would be cornering me after work.
Thorne made it clear to everyone, by publicly punishing Jack, that messing with me is grounds for punishment. Everyone else seemed to understand, so why don’t Ivy and Angeline? Do they think they’re safe from Thorne’s wrath?
“Let me go!” I order, trying to pull out of their grip. I yank at my arms, only for Angeline to slap me across the face. My cheek burns with pain, reminding me that Jack also hit me the other day.
Everyone has already left for the day, even Thorne, so no one hears me when I shout for help as they drag me through the building.
“You think you’re so tough now that Thorne is backing you, don’t you?” Angeline sneers. Her nails dig into my arm, making me wince, but I don’t respond. She doesn’t deserve any of my attention.
“Don’t bother trying to talk to her, Ange,” Ivy says. “Didn’t you hear? She only opens her mouth when you offer her money.”
They both giggle as Ivy pulls open the basement door.
“I bet we could find her some good paying customers, Ange. Should we bring them back later so they can have some fun?”
“What is wrong with you?” I ask, kicking at her legs. I almost nail Ivy in the ankle, but she dodges. “You do realize you’re talking about assault, right?”
They ignore me, dragging me down the few steps and throwing me on the floor. Before I can get up, a hand coils in my hair and hauls me onto my knees. Angeline stands directly over me, making me feel small, while Ivy moves to stand in front of me.
“I don’t appreciate you getting my mate in trouble, and Angeline doesn’t like that you’ve stolen her man.” Ivy says, whipping out a hand. My body rocks from the force of the hit, and if Angeline wasn’t holding me up, I would’ve hit the ground.
“So, we’re going to give you a little time and space to think about what you’ve done,” Angeline says, pulling my head back painfully. I watch as Ivy takes a bottle out of her purse and starts spraying something in the air.
The mist falls on me, and I try to shake it off, but Ivy does her best to practically soak me in the stuff.
“What is this?”
“Nothing for you to be concerned about,” Angeline laughs.
“Don’t blame us for your mistakes, Aurora. If you had just minded your own business, you wouldn’t be in this situation,” Ivy hisses. She waves her hand at Angeline, and something scratchy wraps around my wrists.
“Wh-what are you…”
My head spins as a wave of dizziness washes over me.
“You… y-you drugged me?” I ask, frowning when my words slur together.
“Just gave you a little something to keep you calm while you’re down here by yourself,” Ivy says with a grin. “Now, have a good time with the rats because this is exactly where you belong.”
“D-Don’t leave!” I shout as they walk away. “You won’t g-get away with this.”
The dizziness hits again, and I tilt sideways, falling to the ground. I can only watch as they leave the basement and slam the door shut behind them, plunging me into darkness. The click of the lock echoes through the room, sounding louder than anything I’ve ever heard before.
I ram my shoulder into the door again, ignoring the agonizing pain and the dizziness that make me stumble.
“Is anyone out th-e-ere?!” I cry, my voice cracking on the last word. “Someone!”
My legs wobble and give out beneath me. I slump to the ground, leaning against the door while trying to breathe through the pain in my shoulder.
Is this hell ever going to end?
Will I always have a target on my back?
Luna Ashford’s POV
Madame Maura takes a seat across from Grayson, her eyes trailing over him before landing on his silver hair. The small smile that pulls at her lips has my stomach jumping in excitement, but I shove the feeling down.
I told myself I wouldn’t get my hopes up, yet here I am getting excited before she even says anything.
“Lycan King, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You as well,” Grayson says, nodding. Most people wouldn’t be able to tell, but I know my brother better than anyone. He’s nervous. He’s trying not to show it, but he’s about to jump right out of his skin.
Twenty years of hope can do that to a person.
“After many days of studying Aurora’s blood, I am happy to tell you that she does indeed have royal blood,” Madame Maura says, and my heart soars. I reach out and grab my brother’s hand as he inhales sharply. “She is your lost daughter, a daughter of the moon, one of the Goddess’s chosen, much like yourself, Grayson.”
My brother is silent, staring at the witch far longer than is appropriate, so I step in.
“Did you figure out why she doesn’t have a wolf?” I ask.
“She doesn’t have a wolf?” Grayson growls, jumping to his feet. He drops my hand and spins on me, “My daughter is not wolf-less.”
Madame Maura also stands, touching Grayson’s arm and offering a comforting smile, “I agree. The girl is not wolf-less, but there is something suppressing her wolf.”
“How so?” I ask, “Is it a spell?”
“I have yet to identify the cause, but it’s been in place for a very long time, which is one reason I wanted you here, Grayson,” she says, turning her eyes on my brother.
His brow ticks up as he sits back down, “What is your question?”
Madame Maura smiles again. “I realize it was many years ago, but the last time you saw your daughter, could you sense her wolf soul?”
I immediately turn my eyes on my brother. I only remember holding my niece once before she and my sister-in-law disappeared, and it was so long ago, that I barely remember the moment.
“I could,” Grayson says, clasping his hands together in front of him. “Her wolf was strong and present even though she was too young to shift.”
Madame Maura hums in response, rubbing her chin as she thinks. “The war that caused your wife to flee with your child was dangerous. I believe your wife ran to protect herself and your baby. Something must have happened that caused your wife to leave your daughter, though, I don’t believe she left her unprotected.”
“You think my wife put some sort of shield or spell on my daughter to suppress her wolf soul?” Grayson asks.
“I do,” she says confidently. “She must have done it before she passed. So, I just need to figure out what your wife did, and once I know that, I’ll be able to reverse the effects.”
Grayson stiffens at the mention of his wife’s death, and I sigh. Even after all these years, he still has difficulty talking about her.
“Contact me when you find out what’s going on,” Grayson says while standing. “I will pay my own visit to the girl.”
With those last words, Grayson turns and leaves.
