After I spent an hour on the phone with Bailey, I called Micah and Colin to let them know they’ll be staying with me at Killian’s house. They already knew, but I had to assume Killian could hear me. I have to be careful in what I say. For the rest of the night, I laid in bed and talked to Tate the entire time. It made my time alone in the dark bedroom seem less lonely.
“We’re getting ready to head to the meeting spot. I’ll see you soon, love.”
My lips pull back. “See you then.”
Looking out the window, I watch a van come through the gate, no doubt bringing in other fighters. I saw three others come in earlier. Tia’s book sits on the window seat cushion, but I’ve yet to open it. It looks like a historical romance, but it’s in another language. How the hell does she expect me to read it if I don’t know what it says. I open the book, and there’s a slip of paper inside with writing on it.
Nu sunt dușmanul tău.
I say the words out loud, and Tate comes back. “What did you just say?”
“There’s a note in this book Tia left me that says Nu sunt dușmanul tău. I have no clue what it means.”
“Faith listen, Tia said the same thing to me the night they took you.”
Grabbing my phone off the bed, I type in the words exactly as they’re written on the note. The translation that comes back to me makes me gasp. “It’s Romanian. It says I’m not your enemy.”
Does it mean Tia’s not our enemy? If so, she’s making it hard to believe that.
“I don’t know, Faith. I wouldn’t trust her just yet.”
I slide my phone into my pocket. “I don’t. Tia’s supposed to be here soon to walk me down to the gate.” Just as I say it, a soft knock sounds on the door. I walk over and open it.
Tia stands on the other side and looks up and down my body, smiling. “You look different today. Guess you’re happy you get to see your brother and protector.” She looks different as well, more like a vixen in a sexy red dress and red heels. It’s much different from her innocent appearance yesterday.
“I am.” I stand out of the way so she can enter. Instead of jeans and a baggy T-shirt like I wore yesterday, I decided to put on a pair of black leggings and a stretchy pink top so I can move fast in and rip off in case I need to shift. I want to be prepared for anything.
Tia strolls in, and I shut the door behind us. When she turns to me, I hold up the book. “This is some good reading.”
Her eyes dart to the door, and she holds a finger over her lips. “That it is. I thought you might like it.” With her finger still over her lips, she holds up a hand, and I close my eyes. It’s very faint, but I can hear footsteps down the hall moving further away. A few seconds later, she blows out a sigh. “Okay, we’re good now.”
Keeping my voice low, I hold up the note she wrote. “What the hell is this? You expect me to believe you’re not my enemy?”
“I’m not. I’m trying to help you as much as I can.”
Last night at dinner comes to mind, but I don’t mention it. I want to hear what she has to say. “How have you helped me?” I ask, clenching my teeth with anger.
Her eyes sadden, and I can feel her despair, but she snaps right back at me. “You know very well I helped you last night. If I don’t take away Killian’s rage, he’d have murdered everyone in Baker’s Ridge by now. I’d hate to see what he’d do to you. That’s why he ordered me to use my magic to lessen the urges.”
Shivers run up and down my spine. I don’t want to know how Killian would be without her helping him. “So, he’s losing his mind to the rage?”
She nods. “Killian thinks you are his only hope.”
I shake my head. “I’m not, Tia. You know this. He will never be my mate. You can’t force the magic on someone, especially after what you both did to get me here.”
“I know,” she whispers. Crossing her arms over her chest, she walks over to the window and peers out. “I tried telling him it was wrong, but he wouldn’t listen.”
“Then why help him? He couldn’t have done it without you.”
She sighs. “That’s what I hate most.”
The whole thing is infuriating. “Can’t you think for yourself?” I hiss.
Her shoulders sag, and she turns to me, her expression full of turmoil. “I can, and I do. I know taking you was wrong. It killed me to do it, but I literally had no choice. Whatever Killian wants, I have to give him.” She huffs and looks back out the window. “My family’s been linked to the Vilkas line for centuries. And when I say linked, I mean we’re physically linked. It’s a curse. That’s why I refuse to have children. I don’t want to take the risk of having a daughter and her being a prisoner for the rest of her life.”
I can’t even imagine what that would be like. “So … if Killian asked you to put a sleeping spell on me right now, you’d have to do it?”
She blows out a sigh. “Yes. I won’t be able to stop. Things used to not be this way. Honestly, it wasn’t bad being a part of the Blue River pack. Killian’s always been nice and respectful to me. I’ve been given everything I could ever want. I mean, the only thing I hated about his family were the fights, and even those were consensual.”
“Can the link be broken?”
Silence fills the room. I walk over to her, and she looks at me. “The only way it can be broken is if I die.” She swallows hard. “Or if Killian dies. But that’s not going to happen, not while I’m alive.”
“How is that?” The look of regret on her face overwhelms me with dread.
“Do I have to spell it out for you, Faith? He told me that if he were to be attacked, I’m to use my magic to hinder them. Why do you think he took you down so easily that night in your cabin?” Mouth gaping, I stare at her in shock. I felt so weak after, like all my training meant nothing if I couldn’t defend myself. What if I am stronger than Killian? I’ll never know as long as Tia uses her magic to keep him safe. “With that being said,” Tia continues, “We both know what the outcome of these fights will be. Killian will win.”
Bile rises up the back of my throat. If Tate fights against him, he’ll lose. “Oh, God.”
Her attention jerks to the door, and she gasps. “I have some ideas, but we can’t discuss them now. Pretend all is well.”
A couple of seconds later, a hard knock pounds on the door, and it opens. Orin stands on the other side and smiles. “Well, well, look who we have here. It’s good to see you again, princess.”
“Yeah, I bet,” I grumble.
Chuckling, he moves out of the doorway. “The van will be arriving in a few minutes. I was told you wanted to be at the gate when your friends arrive.”
Excitement soars through my veins, but then Tia’s warning brings me right back to reality. “We’ll figure something out, Faith. I won’t let Killian win,” Tate murmurs in my head.
You always see movies and read books about good triumphing over evil, but it doesn’t work like that. Not in my world.