*Ciana*
When I woke up again, Maggie had co toward , grinning widely. I kept my face averted from her as she approached and spoke to .
“I’ve heard a lot about you, Beryl. You’re Elder Frederic’s mate. I’m told he’d do anything for you. My... husband is very much the sa.”
“Are we going to bond over loving husbands?” I asked in a softer voice, trying my best to mimic Beryl. I crossed my legs and glared at her. Thankfully, she was calling by Beryl’s na. She hadn’t realized who I really was.
“Well, you see, I’ve heard that you don’t support Luther or . Your husband’s opinion is highly valued in the pack. If you started to see things our way, his loyalty would be solidified, as would your pack’s loyalty to Luther’s cause,” she explained. Again, she looked at with that sweet and gentle smile.
I still couldn’t believe soone that looked so caring, innocent and even frail could be so cruel and vicious. She really had fooled all of us! Even her own twin.
“What’s in it for ?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Why are you being so uncooperative? This is best for your pack. The crown is brutal and vicious. They’ll kill you all,” Maggie said. “We are nicer than that.”
“You haven’t done anything to make believe that. Anyone that seeks power the way you do can’t be a better option than what we already have.”
Maggie sneered and walked away from , shaking her head.
“Well, that is too bad. It looks like I won’t be able to convince you. How I wish we could be friends but... you leave no choice,” she said with a soft sigh.
I shook my head and laughed. It was such a dramatic cliche and I’d had enough of her acting.
“I know you!” Maggie whipped around and glared at . “Ciana Black!”
“Bingo!” I grinned even more. “Too bad you can’t use Frederic anymore. He won’t tolerate you going after his wife, kidnapping her and threatening her. Because guess what, everyone else thinks I am her.”
“What a surprise... It seed like I underestimated you!” Maggie snarled. She ca toward like she was going to strangle .
I stepped back and chuckled again. “Frederic won’t think that Luther is the best option for the pack once he finds out what you did to his ‘wife.’”
“Very...well!” The word “well” was gritted through Maggie’s teeth. “I planned it all perfectly but then you had to interfere! Now, here’s the price you’ll have to pay!”
She took another step toward .
I knew Greg would race in to protect the mont he thought I was in danger. I clasped my hands behind my back and made a quick hand signal, telling him not to co to my aid yet. I could handle Maggie a little longer.
Besides, I didn’t want to tip off her guards too soon that I had backup.
I imagined that Greg was nervous and upset, especially since I told him to back off. He just had to trust . I needed him to lay low until I got everything out of Maggie that I needed to.
“Before you kill , let take a stab at why you want dead. It isn’t because I disrupted your plans. I bet it has more to do with the fact that you aren’t even a mber of the royal family, not really. Aren’t you the illegitimate daughter of Lady Odelia and her guard?” I asked, stalling as much as I could.
Maggie sniffed and rolled her eyes. “That sperm donor doesn’t get to be called my father! And my mother... she made terrified of ever having the truth co out,” Maggie snarled. She turned away from and growled under her breath.
“Let guess, you grew up in fear of having your identity revealed. You thought that if Sebastian found out, he’d kill you and Warren. So, you chose to support Luther to get Sebastian out of power, then you and Warren could stop living in fear about whether and when your true identity would be revealed.”
Maggie didn’t respond. She relaxed her arms at her sides and stopped looking like she was going to pounce on and strangle . At least, not at that very mont.
“Well, well, you surprised yet again, Ciana. You’re right. Warren is my brother and of course I have his best interest at heart. Being with is the safest option for him!” she replied, glancing over her shoulder at .
“I’m full of surprises, I know.” I nodded, trying to make myself look as confident and carefree as possible, because I knew she wouldn’t like behaving like that. I could tell she was coming apart because she kidnapped the wrong woman and I refused to fall in line with what she had planned.
I continued, “If that’s the case, I don’t get why you’re still doing this. You married Demarco and beca part of his pack. He never would have let the king hurt you, regardless of your real father. Demarco’s pack is strong. As long as they obeyed the king, you would have always been protected.”
“Well, Sebastian wasn’t exactly known to be reasonable. Even if Demarco obeyed him all the ti, Sebastian still could have wiped us out if he learned the truth. It wasn’t enough,” she said, shaking her head.
“But... Sebastian is dead. Theo is king and he wouldn’t care about that. If you’re still opposing the crown, you must hate Theo... but, why? Can you help understand that?” I asked.
“Hate!?” Maggie asked, laughing frantically. “Hate? You think I hate Theo?”
Maggie’s face contorted, her features twisting. She looked absolutely evil.
“Yes, I guess ‘hate’ is the right word. I hate the fact that Theo isn’t mine!” she cried.
“Wh-what!?”
“I’ve known for a long ti that Theo wasn’t related to by blood. So, ever since we were young I’ve admired him... and after he saved that one ti, that admiration turned into love! I loved him and how could he think about any other girl but ?”
“But Theo would never love you because he thought you were his sister,” I said.
“Well, as long as I knew he didn’t have a lover, I could live happily and peacefully. Demarco... he loved so much. I could accept my life with him as long as I knew Theo didn’t have anyone else and I would still be the only woman that is special in his life and forever will be in his life as his family! But then you showed up and...” Maggie’s face twisted more. “Everything changed.”
“Why would you want the man you love to be alone forever? That’s horrible,” I shouted, “and selfish!”
Maggie scoffed. “Then clearly, you don’t understand love. You don’t know what it truly ans to know that he is your entire world, and you would do anything to be with him... in any way that is possible! I imagined that when Sebastian was gone, I would be able to tell Theo the truth and he could be mine!”
I shook my head and made a disgusted sound. Even if Theo knew the truth, I didn’t think he’d ever love Maggie. He still thought of her as a sister. Not to ntion, she made him think he’d lost control of his power and killed her!
That wasn’t sothing he’d just forgive.
“But then... Well, Luther fed us information about a new woman in Theo’s life... you. The more I heard, the more I realized he was falling in love with you. I couldn’t have that!” Maggie continued.
“That’s not my fault. Theo has a right to love soone and be happy. Even if it isn’t with you,” I argued.
“No! I always told myself that if I couldn’t have him, no other woman would. But now I see that he loves you!” Maggie glared at with pure hatred. “I have nothing now. I’ve been suffering for years just loving and longing. You don’t get to enjoy his love if I don’t!”
“Maggie...”
I never knew how much she hated simply because Theo liked .
“You’re a plague to . Even my own twin brother is addicted to you! I have to get rid of you,” Maggie cried. Her eyes were wild with hatred.
I gaped at her and took another step back. Suddenly, everything ws starting to make sense. It was a secret she’d kept for so long, but when I thought about it, the signs were there.
When Demarco had us put on that show for Maggie, I’d noticed how she looked at Theo, even though he was disguised as Tallis. She had recognized him. That’s why she hadn’t been able to take her eyes off of him.
Had she known it was Theo all along? Or had she just been so surprised by Demarco’s gesture with the play? Either way, I could clearly rember that look.
She’d gazed at him adoringly, longingly, and even with a hint of anger or jealousy.
She probably never thought she’d see Theo again, and be able to tell him how she felt. After years of being separated, I could imagine how that longing could return so strongly. It was the sa way I used to feel when I thought about the boy I’d given my bracelet to.
I always imagined when we reunited, it would be so happy. All the longing I’d felt would vanish.
Maybe Maggie had the sa fantasy about when she saw Theo again, telling him that she loved him and that they weren’t really brother and sister. She’d probably waited for that mont, only to see him again and be unable to tell him because Sebastian was still alive.
“It’s just not fair! I did everything I was supposed to. I waited and I planned. Now it is all ruined because of you!” Maggie cried.
Maggie was going to lose it big ti. I’d gotten all the information from her I could and if I didn’t get out of there, she really would try to kill .
I put my hands behind my back again and signaled Greg.
With a loud cry, Greg dropped out of a nearby tree and landed on Maggie.
Maggie shrieked and started fighting him off. I knew Greg could handle himself, so I took off into the woods, looking for a way to escape.
“Guards, get her!” Maggie scread before Greg got control of her again.
All of the guards from the camp sward in around . I punched one in the face and ran past him as he staggered. Several more closed in around and I was completely surrounded.
I was just about to get ready to fight when a firm hand closed around my arm.
I looked over. It was Warren.
For a mont, I thought I was really in trouble. He’d knocked out the last ti I saw him!
“Warren!” I warned him, “Do not co close!”
His face softened and he wore a faint smile. It was bitter, but I could tell it was a real, friendly smile like the ones I used to see.
“I’m going to help you,” he promised.
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