Chapter 5

Fate plays with you in funny ways. A single look, a single moment, that was all my luck could give me with my mate.

I start towards the end of the basement, where Haze mentioned the car would be. Its not there so I wait. The basement is empty. No one in sight. Only their cars.

I catch my breath for a second. In just a few hours I will be in Utrif. A place of death for rogues.

It doesn't leave me. The reminder that my home is no longer my home. I never belonged anywhere.

I had a home. It went away. I found my mate. And I had to walk away.

Everything I get, I only get so I can see it being taken away.

Pain swirls up my palm. I loosen my nails from there and only then realize the crescent moons reddened in my palm. Within seconds they start to subtly stitch themselves up. Tissues connect slowly. The red dissolves into pink and then finally into its pale tone.

But it is for the better—

I stand.

Scents, bitter and wrong surround me. Rogues.

They're here. But I am not scared. I am just annoyed at the familiarity of one of the scents.

I roll my eyes. "Come out," I call in the empty basement. "Don't bother hiding if you're obviously so bad at it."

Three rogues, dressed in full black appear right in front of me, blocking the way between me and the car. One of them stands a few steps ahead.

"You haven't changed one bit I see," he says. His voice has changed, deeper now. "Andrea."

I smile and raise a shoulder. "If I can say the same about you, I guess it won't take much to kick your ass." He steps forward and my smile widens at the challenge. "You have grown, little Valis."

Valis walks closer and surely he really has grown. A lot. His grin is all fangs and menace. The other two stay a good meter behind Valis, their stances still defensive. Good. They know what they're up against.

Three I can escape, but I doubt there really are three of them. No more scents does not mean there can't be Kalhyis with them—it definitely means there are Kalhyis with them. No matter how much I am aware it would hurt Valis' fragile ego to have help in fighting me.

"Let me make you an offer," I start. "You pretend you didn't see me, be on your way and report back I already fled."

Valis raises a brow. "What do we get in return?" he asks even though we both are well aware he would never let a chance of killing, scarring or even capturing me unscathed go. Yet still, arms crossed, chin raised and grin hoisted with haughtiness, he waits for an answer.

The two other behind him each take a step forward. They're not from the same rogue pack, I conclude in an instant. They don't trust each other.

I just smile. "I don't kill you all, of course."

Valis' laugh is loud and hearty. "We are to take you back. Alive or dead."

"Alive?"

His smile flickers. I catch that moment of hesitation and the answer to my question becomes a fight for him to spit out. "A new target," he says through gritted teeth.

My brows elevate in genuine surprise. "And you want me to kill it?" I laugh, loud and blunt. "I guess you still can't surpass me, little Val."

He lets out a pure animalistic growl. "Keep your trap shut, Andrea. I can easily say you got killed while trying to flee."

"And I should assume the two men behind you are here because they worry about you getting yourself killed and not because everyone knows you will always try your luck at killing me, right?" I ask. "I'm important enough to not kill, I am guessing."

"If you resist we have permission to put you down. So as I said before, choose your words very fucking carefully." Not important enough, I guess.

That's very hard. "What if I say no?"

He rolls back his shoulders. "You save us the trouble of taking you back."

"When?"

"In three months and two weeks."

"Why exactly after three months and two weeks?"

He doesn't answer.

"Who's the target?"

Again. No answer.

I turn around, stretching my arms behind me and drawl, "Well then give my apologies to the Alpha. I do not accept hits if I don't know who it is beforehand."

"Andrea," another voice speaks, all elegant and gentlemanly. "Perhaps Valis here is not making it clear. You either do as we ask or you die."

"He doesn't need to make it clear. I know our motto. Kill or be killed." I turn to him with a carefree smile, a genuine one. One I owe, maybe because he threatened my life so kindly. Not a swearing mess like his companion. "But you see, maybe Valis here or the person sent you didn't make me clear to you. I was an exception eight years ago and I will be one now."

"I am aware, Miss Leona, of your... brave escape from the rogue pack and of all the casualties it caused. I hear one of them was your brother." A side of his mouth lifts up. "Lu—"

I have the man by the collar in no more than a breath. Valis and the other man start towards us in alarm but the man waves a casual hand at them. They halt and I still seeing a ghost of a smile appear on his face.

My jaw sets itself stiff. Rage boils my blood. "Do not ever speak of his name with your dirty mouth, and I don't give a minute's shit about what you do to anyone or anything, but if you even need me to consider taking the hit, tell me who." I leave him, stepping back.

He looks back at the third rogue. Then his eyes slightly glaze over. I feel the thread extend and connect to the rogue behind him. Then their voices pool into my mind.

Should I reveal the target, beta? No rogue would ever have any interest in saving the Utrifian King, the one I hold by the collar says.

She is the most stubborn creature. What she says, she does, Valid joins too.

It does not matter, the beta says. One careless word and it will be a mess. The Cardinal will have our heads if the attempt on the king’s life fails.

The king of Utrif. This is interesting.

I am not supposed to hear their conversation. Threads connect only among marked pack members and only they can converse through them. But I am an exception. I always have been. The Cardinal never did tell me how I was privy to every thread there was but he sure made use of it. A lot.

“It is someone whose blood you will relish in spilling,” the rogue beta says.

I make a face. You will relish in spilling his blood, the words sting. I don’t. I didn’t. I never will. I look down at my watch. One hour before my plane leaves. "I refuse."

The silence takes its place so effortlessly one might mistake it to be comfortable.

Now? Valis’s excitement is evident on his face as he looks at the rogue beta.

We take her by force after all.