Chapter 87

Dylan POV

I had been driving for just under an hour. Granted I was starting to get the hang of it, but still, the journey was very bumpy, now and again the van would start basically screaming at me which, a very weak Clarke, would tell me it meant I had to change gears, also every now and again we would jolt forward due to my lack of driving skills causing louder groaning to leave my friends lips.

"Shit!" He whispered out before his head flopped to the side in exhaustion.

"Clarke?! Stay awake, don't you fucking die on me." I was panicking so much I couldn't stop my hands from shaking as they clutched onto the steering wheel. I tried to remain steady, but as each minute passed more blood dripped out of him. I had to pick up speed. "Keep talking to me!"

"Take a left in a minute. It's a sharp bend." I barely heard him, his breathing was shallowing out, which was worrying me, it was still dark and I couldn't put the full beam on because we had to remain inconspicuous, he was right though, it was a sharp bend.

We lurched slightly which had Ryan wincing once again. I felt awful, it was all my fault he was in this mess.

"That mountain up ahead, there's a small patch of wolfsbane dangling down… drive into them." What? Did he want us to crash? If I drove straight at it we would definitely get crushed.

"We'll be dead if I drive straight at them..." I looked over and noticed his eyes were closed, the blankets he was using to stem the bleeding were stained crimson, and the color had completely drained from his face. "Clarke?!" No answer, he remained asleep. "Ryan!.." still nothing. "SHIT!"

I had to just chance it, so I pressed down on the accelerator and launched us forward at great speed. The mountain in question began to seem larger and larger than before, until we came into contact with the rocky side.

I waited and braced myself for impact, only non came. The vines he spoke about moved with the van and allowed us safe passage into the heart of the mountain.

I continued to speed through it, until reaching the other side and coming out into a large area littered an awful lot of trees. Trees that seemed to sneak up on a person while driving.

I turned the wheel hastily to avoid crashing but drove the front straight into the trunk of a nearby tree. My airbag shot out as well as Ryan's and I scrambled to deflate both. My eyebrow began to bleed slightly again and I sighed as I felt it begin to trickle down my nose.

Quiet surrounded us for less than a minute before a group of people emerged from behind the trees. Within a minute I had about five different people begin to point very large guns at me in hostility. I was quick to raise my hands up in surrender and open the door in order to climb out.

Upon my exit I heard many gasps of both shock and panic, a lot of whispering began quickly and I managed to make out a few mumbles from people stating the title that was forced upon me.

“Please… he needs a doctor!” I didn’t care too much about all the guns being pointed at me, what I cared most about was getting Ryan the help he needed.

“What happened?!” One man looking to be in his thirties spoke, his voice was gravely while his gun inched slightly closer to my face.

“One of the kings men found me… Clarke was just trying to help. Please… I’ll… I’ll go, just help him.” I watched the man in front of me slowly nod to a woman who instantly began to check on Ryan. She radioed in his condition and stayed with him until help arrived.

“I say we lock her up until V gets back.” One of the women spat out as she looked me up and down in disgust, and I thought the rebellion were accommodating.

“We can’t lock her up, she’s our queen for goddess sake!” Was he a Lycan? Usually humans use the word God to exclaim things, whereas wolves say goddess, so if he was swearing on the moon goddess then he must be a wolf.

“We should just kill her… if she dies then the king will die too.” Yet another person suggested. I mean, the thought had occurred to me too I suppose. Not that my death would actually make the slightest bit of difference to the king, the man wasn’t capable of feeling.

“Stand down!” A powerful and unapologetic voice boomed over the area causing silence to engulf everyone around me. An older man walked out, probably In his early fifties, his hair a light shade of salt and pepper, he looked somewhat familiar but I couldn’t pinpoint where I might have seen him before. “We will take her to the interrogation tent until V, and my son return!” There was no further arguments as the guns pointed at me were lowered.

I sighed a small breath of relief right before three more people came into view, this time two of them were carrying a stretcher, the third a woman carried a large black bag. Clearly these were the doctors.

I instinctively moved slightly to go and be with Clarke, but a gun quickly stop me in my tracks and was pointed at my face again.

“I said, stand down!” The older gentleman growled out which caused the gunman to lower his weapon for the second time.

“Fine, we will escort her to the interrogation center, but she should be restrained, she could be a spy.” I rolled my eyes and finally spoke up after hearing enough bull shit come out of these guys.

“A spy? Have you seen what that bastard has done to me?! I want him dead just as much as you do. You can lock me up if it will ease your concerns, but don’t you dare stand there and put me on the same side as that narcissistic royal.” I couldn’t stop the words from pouring out of my mouth, despite my once again dire situation.

I thought alpha Adrian had sorted everything out for my escape, I thought the leaders of the rebellion would actually have been expecting me. I knew he came into this half cocked.

“Well said your grace!” This man was clearly high up in ranks here. Maybe he was in charge, although I did get the feeling that the rebels leader was this V person. My sight once again met Ryan as he was gently placed on the stretcher and carried away quickly, an oxygen mask now resting on his face. If he dies now, I’ll kill him myself. “Your friend is in good hands, we have a surgeon here who has practiced for thirty five years.”

Well it sounded like they had the right people, but did they actually have the resources needed? Only time would tell I suppose.

“Thank you, erm, Sir.” I was definitely at the disadvantage here, everyone already knew my name, hell most of them probably knew more about me than I did, the entirety of my life was divulged to the world the second the king introduced me as his mate and future queen, but I didn’t know a single person here, well except Ryan.

“Elias, your grace.” He was definitely a wolf, that was a very traditional Lycan name. “Now, you must be cold, and you must be tired. Come on we will get you somewhat comfortable.” He gestured to the tree line and I began slowly walking in the direction he silently told me. “Can we at least get a top for her grace… I’m sure she would like to try and keep her decency.” In actuality I had completely forgotten I was showing my entire naked torso, and I had been ever since I gave Ryan the coat I was wearing.

“Thank you.” I mumbled out as a large t-shirt was handed to me. I quickly slipped it over my head and sighed finally feeling the weight of things lift. At least now my disgusting back wasn’t on show.

I was escorted on a ten minute walk which stopped when we reached a large white tipi tent. I was ushered in and gasped at how big it was on the inside.

“The interrogation tent, is where we question those who oppose us, or members who have caused issues, of course you have nothing to worry about yourself, you are safe here.” I would never be safe, I was a pathetic person.

I sat down awkwardly on a bench that was placed in the room and looked at the man. Now that he was lit up by the light of the tent I stared at him, I must know this guy, he did seem very familiar.

“Margret, see to it that a plate of food is given to her grace, anyone can see she is in need of it…” Elius then turned to sneak a happy genuine smile at me before walking up to me and gently grabbing hold of one of my wrists. “How long have these been on?” Concern etched on his slightly wrinkled features. “John, go and wake your father, please, tell him to bring his lock pick.” I watched as a young man, maybe a bit older than me walked off in haste.

“It could have waited till morning, Sir.” He shook his head quickly at my statement. He definitely held command. He was a natural.

“Your hands are blue, your grace, if we wait any longer you’re lack of blood flow will cause permanent issues.” I suppose they did feel very numb, so I accepted the aid.

The early morning sun began to make its way up in the sky quickly and a sense of calm washed over me. Of course I would never be able to completely let my guard down, but I was somewhat relaxed, I Even got excited when I saw a lady walk into the tent carrying a plate full of food and felt myself begin to salivate at the sight.

The plate was handed to me and I looked at it skeptically. Was it really mine? Was I really ok to eat it? I didn’t question it too much and I didn’t even bother with the fork that was provided. I started shoveling the food down and moaned at the taste. It had been absolutely months since I had eaten properly, and I had no idea how hungry I really was until I began to eat.

“When was the last time you ate?” Elias questioned me while I answered with a shrug and mouth full of food. The calm and quiet was short lived for me though as a man ran at full speed into the tent I was being held in. His appearance made my heart begin to hammer rapidly in my chest and My eyes widened drastically as my head shot up and away from the food.

There stood in the entrance of the tipi was a man I never thought I’d see again, I thought he’d forgotten about me, but he looked so relieved as he stared at me. His blonde hair was a mess on his head, and a small smile was playing on his lips. His eyebrows knitted together slightly as his gaze remained on mine.

I swallowed the food in my mouth and felt tears prick my eyes as I looked at the old royal beta.

“Dylan…” He let out a breathy chuckle, and walked up to me as if I was a ghost. His hand gently reached out to my face and his palm connected with my cheek. It was a little bit awkward really but still, it felt nice. “You’re really here…”