Page 88 of Awakened and Betrayed
Elder Albrecht flicks an imaginary piece of lint from the knee of his crossed legs, his casual tone, and body language giving off the impression that talk of me handing over my magic or being tortured into it, is the kind of casual conversation he takes part in every day.
“I still don’t understand why we can’t just take it,” Elder Balfour mumbles, still refusing to look at me.
Elder Albrecht glares at him, his calm, patient persona, cracking, and the irritation he has for his fellow council member seeping out.
“If I chose to share, what happens then?” I ask, pulling Elder Albrecht’s attention back to me.
“Once the transference is complete, you will be free to live life with your mates.”
I lock my muscles against the shudder that tries to break free at the thought of what I’d be required to do with these disgusting, power-hungry parasites in order to give them my magic. If he thinks for one second that I believe that I’d just be free to go about my life after that, then he’s a fucking idiot.
The door opens again, revealing the one elder I’m not surprised to see here. When he sees me, he pauses a couple of steps into the room, and I think I catch shock in his eyes. He pulls his gaze away from me too quickly for me to read what’s written on his face and takes in Sabin and the dead shifter. He looks over to his fellow council members, and a small smile plays at the corner of his lips.
“Well, from the looks of things, someone’s been having fun.”
Elder Albrecht chuckles deeply and then gives Elder Balfour a self-satisfied grin that reeks of superiority.
While the elders are focused on each other, I look to Sabin.
“As soon as these fuckers are done kissing each other’s asses and telling me their plans for world domination, I’m going to kill them. You take out the bald guy and slow down anyone you can, okay?”
Sabin’s eyes are locked on mine, and he gives an almost imperceptible nod. Elder Cleary moves into the room and takes the seat next to me. I pull my gaze away from Sabin and refocus on my targets.
Elder Cleary runs his eyes over me, his gaze lingering on the tape around my arms.
“Want to fill me in on what’s going on?” he asks, as he reaches over and runs the point of his index finger against the thick gray bands.
With a touch, he cuts through the tape and then he proceeds to pull it away from my skin. Thankfully it comes off easily; I guess there was too much blood coating me for the tape to adhere to my skin better. The methodical and casual way that Elder Cleary handles the liberation of my arms surprises me, almost as much as his words.
“I’m sorry to spring this on you, in this way, but I know that we’re like-minded individuals, and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Elder Albrecht explains.
Elder Cleary doesn’t immediately respond as he balls up the duct tape in his hands and runs his gaze over the room.
“You mean, you need three casters for the binding and thought I was your best bet to bring on board.”
Elder Albrecht’s eyes narrow ever so slightly. “There is that, too.”
The wordbindingsends fear running up my spine, and I look over the room more carefully, trying to see whatever clued Elder Cleary in on what’s happening. The room is sparse with only the green, velvet chairs in it, so I focus on the paneling of dark wood on the walls and floor, and that’s when I see the runes carved into the ground. They form a large circle around where I was dropped when they brought me in here. I have no idea what the setup means, but based on what Elder Cleary just revealed, they’re either going to bind themselves to me, or bind my magic — neither of which I’m going to allow to happen.
My arms are free, and no one is holding a knife to Sabin’s throat anymore. If I’m going to make a move, it’s better to do it now than wait and have to deal with the other elders when they arrive, and I have more magic to go up against. I start to call on the runes for my throwing knives when Elder Cleary’s words stop me in my tracks.
“How long have you been working with Adriel, Seth?”
Elder Albrecht’s head snaps to Elder Cleary, and I can see him work to keep his nonplussed mask in place.
“I’ve suspected for some time now that Adriel’s coven of lamia had inside help, but I could never identify the connection.”
I have to swallow back the seething anger that rages through me, demanding action. He’s been working with Adriel this whole time, selling out his own people, and doing who knows what else?
“Sabin, now!”
With that, I’m out of my seat in a flash, slamming daggers into Elder Albrecht’s chest. I pin him to the green velvet chair, staining it with the blood of a monster who’s hurt the ones he was supposed to protect. A scuffle breaks out next to me, but the piece of shit I’m shoving my hate and blades in, has my full attention. He blasts me with maroon magic that activates my shields, and I press into him even further.
The twins’ faces run through my mind, followed by Silva and their mother, smiling back at me from the framed photo that Bastien has in his room. I imagine Lachlan and Vaughn with their arms around each other laughing and talking shit, and then I picture my mother. This fucker ruined all of their lives! I pull my dagger out of Elder Albrecht’s chest, and I cling to the faces of the ones I love, and never got to love, as I shove a blade through his ribs to pierce his lung.
“They fucking trusted you, and you sold them out for what? More power?” I shake my head at him seething and shove another blade slowly into the other side of his chest. “Well, they can look through my eyes now and watch you die... slowly... painfully... pissing yourself.”
I stare at his face until it goes slack and the life in his eyes fades. I stand up to find Elder Balfour’s body in a heap on the ground and Elder Cleary helping Sabin off the ground where the bald guy is lying in a pool of his own blood. I stride towards them, cock back my fist and punch Elder Cleary in the face. Sabin moves next to me as Elder Cleary pulls his hands away to protect his now broken nose.
