Sophia stared at for a long ti while I felt as if I had a knot in my stomach that made barely able to maintain my composure.
What if she said no? Then who could I turn to?
I really couldn’t imagine.
It felt like ages had passed before she finally let out a breath and said, “Tell what to do.”
***
As expected, Xavier sent for the sacred artifact in Sophia’s pack and then ca to look for her. Sophia volunteered to perform the secret ritual using the dagger which greatly pleased the king and his Beta.
Everything was ready and the ritual would be perford the next day. Even though, logically, I knew I should get so rest to have full energy to face what fate would bring, I just could not stop tossing and turning.
Perhaps I should head to the dungeon and give Theo a heads-up? No, no, that would be too risky. With the ritual tomorrow, the security would be tight and there would be no way of getting by unless I was authorized down there.
I had to wait.
As the sun’s early morning rays pierced into the room, I followed Sophia and got ready for the ti to co.
“Ah, Miss Chambers, you looked to be fully prepared.” Xavier arrived a little past seven. “Are we ready?”
Sophia nodded. She wore an indigo long gown with round silver embroideries on it, symbolizing the full moon in the night sky. Three girls in white gowns followed her, included.
Each of us wore a mask that was sent by Sophia’s pack and held an elegant tray with both of our hands. The three trays individually carried different necessities needed for the ritual—bandages, dicine, and the sacred Dagger of rcy.
I lowered my gaze and focused on the tray in my hand, not wanting to make eye contact with anyone.
Xavier frowned, “I didn’t know you needed this many helpers. The fewer people involved, the better.”
Sophia shook her head. “I’m afraid it’s part of the ritual. I won’t be able to perform it on my own.”
“Fine. Follow .”
I let out a quiet breath of relief and started walking with the group.
We walked down the stairway that led to the dungeon. My heart was pounding in my chest as we entered the space.
Jake was still tied up but the cell next to his was empty now. Theo had been splayed out on what looked to be so kind of concrete altar. His hands and feet were tied to the four posts at the four corners of the square slab, and there were so sort of herbs on the floor.
Wolfsbane, I assud.
I could see the cuts and bruises all over his body, most of them were still raw and fresh. Those bastards must have given him sothing to slow down his healing process!
My throat tightened upon seeing him like that and tears almost rushed out. Thank the Goddess I was wearing the mask, otherwise, others might have noticed my reddened eyes.
The guards ca and tightened the shackles around his limbs and Theo struggled against them, but it was no use.
He seed to be even weaker than a few days ago. Starvation, physical torture, and lack of rest had almost taken the life out of him. Yes, he had the most powerful blood in his veins, but it didn’t an he still had any strength to fight against other well-trained warriors.
His eyes were even darker than usual, and I could tell that his wolf was trying to push forward. He was trying everything he could but he was too weak to overco the effects of the wolfsbane.
King Sebastian walked in, looking as smug as ever with Xavier by his side.
“Miss Chambers, I thank you for this wonderful service you are doing for your country. A true form of patriotism.”
Sophia forced a smile. “It is my honor, my king.”
“Let’s get started, ladies,” Sebastian cackled like the devil, “I have a world to lead and a son to command.”
Fury boiled inside . I did everything I could to restrain myself from grabbing the sacred dagger and stabbing it into the disgusting faces of Sebastian and Xavier.
I had never hated a man as much as Sebastian.
The evil king then turned to his son who lay on the altar, bound in tal. “Ready, son?”
Theo growled at him, baring his canines which threatened to extend.
From the distance, I heard Jake shout in a hoarse voice, “You can’t do this to him!”
Sophia stepped toward him and nodded to .
My gaze landed on the Dagger of rcy. It was much smaller than I thought it would be. It had a handle that was made out of dark wood, so delicate carving that symbolized the full moon could be seen. I couldn’t tell whether the blade was sharp or not because it was inside a plain, silver sheath.
I lowered my head and raised the tray all the way up.
Sophia held the dagger in her hand and whispered sothing over it that I couldn’t quite catch. A few seconds later, it began to glow.
She then turned to the king. “It’s ready.”
She walked over to and stared directly into my eyes, trying to relay a ssage that read.
Be calm.
Sophia then moved to Theo who was still struggling in his chains. She hovered by his head and whispered sothing in his ear that no one else could hear when she leaned to him.
His movents stilled for a mont and he snapped his neck in my direction.
My heart skipped a beat. Did he recognize ?
But it was only for a millisecond before he looked back at Sophia who had straightened and now held the dagger over his chest.
Xavier praised, “Marvelous, isn’t it? This is the first ti in days that Prince Theo has been so cooperative!”
I again wanted to throw daggers at Xavier with my eyes, but I decided that my attention should be on Sophia and Theo just in case.
I watched as he continued to struggle but I noticed that his movents weren’t as forced or as frantic. I only hoped that the king didn’t notice as well.
I looked at Sebastian and he just looked like a kid in a candy store. His eyes were bright and wide and he looked excited by all of this. Of course. What a sick man.
Sophia laid a white cloth over Theo’s upper body, then lifted her gaze and gave a final look, before sinking the dagger into Theo’s chest.
A small gasp escaped my lips, but luckily, most people around were just as stunned as , and no one seed to care about the small sound I’d just made.
When Sophia pulled out the dagger, blood seeped through the white cloth covering Theo. I heard her order, “Bandage and dicine!”
The other two girls hurried up to the altar and started cleaning and patching up all the wounds on Theo’s body. They did not forget to remove the wolfbane either.
Sophia continued to whisper her mantra with her eyes closed, and Theo fought her as if he was in great pain. However, he didn’t utter a single word through it all.
“Give way to control, your soul must be subdued,” Sophia began her chant. “Remove the rebellion and give way to the master. No longer your own and only answer to your master’s call.”
She repeated this several tis, and Theo continued to writhe in pain as she said every word.
Finally, she stepped away, and he went still. His eyes were closed and his chest rose and fell slowly.
“No—!” Jake scread from his cell. “Alpha! Theo! Fucking wake up!”
Sebastian looked bored. “Soone shut him up.”
One of the guards got into the cell and started beating Jake until his head slumped down.
Sophia then turned to the king. “It’s done now. From now on, he’ll only listen to your commands and your commands alone.”
Sebastian frowned. “Why does he look like he’s sleeping?”
“Because the first person who wakes him will be the person he’s loyal to, Your Majesty,” Sophia smiled, although I saw thin sweat seeping through the back of her robe.
I figured she must be just as nervous as .
“Whenever you’re ready, please go ahead.” She gestured to the ‘sleeping prince’. “Wake him up.”
Sebastian stepped toward the altar with a complacent smile on his face. “Theo, get up.”
Theo opened his eyes. He stared at the ceiling like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
Sebastian turned to the guards and waved them over quickly. “Take these shackles off of him now.”
The guards hurried and got the shackles off.
“Theo, now raise,” the king commanded.
Theo did as he was told and kept his face completely passive. He didn’t wince when he stepped onto the ground. A mindless body wouldn’t feel pain.
“Kneel before your king.” The way Sebastian smiled when he said that made want to punch his teeth out.
Theo did as he was commanded without any delay, and the king’s smile grew even larger.
“It really worked.” He looked to his Beta and then back to Sophia. “The little bastard would never kneel before if he were in his right mind.”
I froze. The more I stared at Theo, the more anxious I beca. He acted so lifelessly that I couldn’t help but wonder...what if Sophia had gone through with the king’s actual plan?
Or... what if sothing went wrong and Theo did beco Sebastian’s puppet?
I couldn’t even dare to think deeper about that possibility. All I could do at that mont was pray to the Moon Goddess as Sebastian gave his third order.
“Remove your gloves.”
Sothing wasn’t sitting right with . Why was he asking Theo to remove his gloves? Those were the gloves that kept Theo from killing people. If he wanted them off it ant that he wanted to kill soone....
Crap!
“I want you to touch and kill Sophia and her servant girls!”
I stopped breathing, and my heart caught in my throat.
I knew Sebastian was despicable, but I didn’t expect him to kick away the ladder so soon!
Sebastian turned to Sophia with a twisted smile on his face. “Miss Chambers, I appreciate your contribution! However, what you and your pack can do is too powerful and too dangerous. It cannot leave this room.”
Fear erged in Sophia’s eyes and she imdiately bowed her head, trying to ease the king’s worry, “Your Majesty, you have my words that this will never happen again outside of your permission.”
“You’re a smart girl, and during normal circumstances, you would be a very helpful resource. However, today is different. Miss Chambers, I’m afraid you have to stay here, forever.”
“I... I beg your pardon, Your Majesty?” Sophia squealed with wide eyes and took a step back. “I did exactly what you requested to show you my loyalty. How could you do this to ?”
“It’s nothing personal, my dear. Strictly business.” He shrugged. “Now, kill them, Theo.”
Theo held his hand up at us and took a nacing first step.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
How were we going to get out of this now?
#
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