36.

Meeting her mate's uncle went off splendidly; Sienna immediately saw the reason why Nikolai kept the bond, though fragile, with Viktor. It kept him close to his grandfather after his death; it warmed her heart that he had family close by apart from his sister and parents. When it came to crown Prince Cain, she was instantly put off when he made a bad joke of her once being the girlfriend of his other cousin to be the mate of another. "It was so amusing to hear the next morning that she left one prince for another. Moving up the ladder, aye Sienna" he joked.

Mina was about to lash out but Zarif held her back while keeping a watchful eye on Nikolai whose jaw was clenched tightly that he swore the prince would no longer have teeth. What surprised them all was the way Sienna shot him down. "Of course I am. From a self-centered, egotistical spoiled brat to a much more sophisticated man who is worthy of me. I say I truly chose the best," she countered kissing Nikolai to prove her point. Her mate kissed her temple then her mark as he put a possessive arm around her waist.

Cain didn't miss the exchange nor could he ignore the scent of their newly mated bond. He was trying hard to keep a lid on his anger if he had to go through with his plan he must do it. "So what brought you all the way to Russia, cousin? The only time you came is when Uncle Caiden ordered you to." Mina asked with eyes focused on him.

"After dad told us the news about Nikolai nearly losing Sienna, it really hit home. It's like a curse you know, Grandpa Michael nearly lost grandma. Mom nearly lost dad and your parents. Uncle Angie lost his first mate at 16, and then he nearly lost your mom. Matthew and I were in the wrong to keep up this.... hate...this jealousy we had for Nikolai. The Royal Monarchy will always be under threat due to our growing power. Sadly, our weakness is common knowledge. Our mates. If they hurt not only a royal's mate but any supernatural then you weaken the pack. I'm sorry again, dude. The family has to support each other. Protect each other," he said with sincerity and hope.

Mina scoffed and abruptly left the room as a servant came in to tell them dinner was ready. Nikolai simply nodded his acceptance and refused to talk, words of acceptance wouldn't be coming out of his mouth. He decided to be extremely polite to keep up his facade for his people and uncle. "Exceptional, Niko. Forgiveness among blood is the beginning of great bonds" Viktor said squeezing his shoulder as he walked past him. Cain stood before Sienna and Nikolai with his head down in defeat. The alpha squeezed his mate's hand in which she spoke up. "Thank you, Cain. Why don't we all use this dinner to start over," she said lying through her teeth.

"Thank you. You have a wonderful mate here Niko," Cain said before he too left the room. Knowing he was about two halls away from the dining room he let go of the anger he held in when his dear cousin kept making jabs at him and his mate. Knowing what was going to happen he put up a shield as picture frames and other fragile decor or furniture exploded into tiny pieces around them. "Awwwww. I liked that coffee table" Sienna pouted looking at the now mahogany frame of the table with its shattered tabletop.

"I'll get new one angel," Nikolai stated rolling his eyes playfully at her. He knew what she was trying to do and loved her more for it. "I will stay away from him. He's here till after the ceremony right?! I got my guards, Mina, Zarif, Jay and of course you. Not to mention my gift. Mina told me training with my powers isn't needed because it's all on instinct but it won't hurt to keep it in control." she said easing his worry.
He nodded and dropped the shield, "I know angel. Mother's warning is still loud to me. If he is here to cause trouble, I want to stop him first. I am scared as what would be the outcome" he said gravely. Sienna knew what he meant and wishes it doesn't come to that. Taking hold of his hand, she squeezed his hand silently telling him it's going to be okay.

She hopes.



Dinner was very tense apart from Viktor chatting with Sienna and Cain trying to get Nikolai to talk to him but he wasn't successful. The questions he threw at his cousin only earned him a shrug or a grunt, to anyone outside of the family it can be seen as the alpha being rude to his guest but no one around the dinner table really cared. Nikolai played with his food while everyone ate quietly, one bite of his favorite dish and it tasted like cardboard. He was so far deep in his mind that he didn't hear his uncle calling out to him. Sienna nudged his elbow gently in which he looked to her with a questioning look. "Your uncle" she muttered while taking a bit of his food from his plate. A chuckle rumbled in his throat as she did it once more. "Niko are you listening to me boy?" his uncle called out again a bit irritated.

"What is it?" Nikolai snapped dropping his silverware harshly against the china. Viktor raised an eyebrow at him. "Prince Cain here has been trying to have a decent conversation with you for the past few minutes and you fail to acknowledge him. This is no time for your everyday brush offs. He is family, treat him as one." The tone in which he talked to Nikolai didn't settle well at all with the prince, the arrogant smirk he saw on Cain's face didn't land too well on his already brewing anger.

"This is not good," they all heard Jay mumbled. Zarif discreetly pulled Mina to his side and edged away from the table, Jay followed closely after. The guards who were in the room positioned themselves in areas where they knew the backlash would not hit them. Cain saw their movements and was curious as to why they did so. He soon found out why as he saw himself pinned against the far wall of the room while Viktor was also pinned against the next wall too. Cain tried to move his body but couldn't. His eyes met Nikolai's who was calmly sitting at the head of the table his piercing blue eyes shifting between both him and his uncle. No one else in the room said anything, they simply kept their heads low except his mate whose eyes were now amber and blue.

They both stood simultaneously and focused on them. Cain tried to fight back but found difficulty in doing so, he couldn't attack Nikolai or his mate, and he couldn't use his gifts. Viktor was shouting to be let down but his nephew ignored him completely.

"If my mama never taught me good manners, my dear cousin will possibly be sent home to my uncle without a body. No man will ever live after disrespecting my mate. You came here for my forgiveness I gave it to you. I invited you to my home you should be honored. You are blood after all," Nikolai said to Cain, his voice was deeper than normal. Vadim has surfaced. He then turned to Viktor, "I love you uncle and you know of my past with my own family. You are my elder yes? But you do not have power over me in Russia nor anywhere else, don't speak to me as a child. I treat Cain as he did to me when I visit them. Do not test me, uncle, you may have me thinking you may betray me also. It won't be first when I have these thoughts." His last words were said with a glance towards Cain who remained with a stoic expression.

"I am sorry Niko. I thought it has all been resolved over the years since he is here without his parents." Viktor said apologetically. Nikolai nodded and released him but not gently as he landed with a heavy thump.

"And you cousin, do not underestimate me," he said coldly while lifting him higher against the wall, his body was screaming in pain as his muscles tighten. "Understood. I am sorry Nikolai. I just want us to be close again before the whole gaining our gifts thing," Cain pleaded. He noticed how Nikolai didn't move a limb nor his eyes to control his gift as he and his other family members do. Questions flowed through his mind and why are his gifts blocked. Is Nikolai doing that also?

"You know the truth about me but not everything" was all the alpha said before releasing him. He took his mate's hand and calmly left the room, not before he saw the warning look in Sienna's eyes as she accompanied Nikolai out.

"So who wants dessert?" Jay asked wiping his mouth and signaling for one of the servants.

*******



"Little piece of shit," Cain huffed as he roughly got rid of his jacket and dress shoes. He was placed in the guest quarters of the all high and mighty Russian Prince's Castle. It pissed him off how Nikolai spoke to him as he was nothing but gum stuck beneath his shoe. Wanting to break something he held in his urge as he dialed the number to the person who made him leave America to be embarrassed like that.

"I take it that things aren't going well?" the person answered on the third ring with a dry laugh at the end of his statement.

"As you predicted he invited me to his fucking 'palace' out of duty to blood, I am staying till the stupid ceremony for his fucking bitch. The little prick had the nerve to attack me before everyone." Cain hissed into the phone while pacing the floor.

"WHAT?! What the fuck for?"

"Apparently they don't have my sense of humor after I joked that Sienna moved up the ladder from Matthew to him. I was 'disrespectful.'"

"That is sort of funny though but did you at least get to attack him. To test his weakness?"

Cain stayed quiet and walked to the window that overlooked the lawn. In pure disbelief and confusion, he roughly ran his fingers through his unkempt dark blonde hair. "I couldn't," he muttered out.

"What do you mean, Cain? You're the crowned prince, your power surpasses us all."

"I think he blocked my gifts. I-I tried to attack him even the girl but I just couldn't." He recapped everything that happened at dinner to his friend, the way how Nikolai didn't move a muscle nor showed any emotion in his attack said a lot.

"We will still move on with the plan, every wolf has a weakness even the powerful Russian Prince. Nikolai must be taught a lesson." That was the last statement Cain was told before he heard the dial tone on the other end. Needing some fresh air and a reminder of the palace layout, Cain changed his attire to casual comfortable clothing for 'looking' around. He had a few of his sentinels with him who were loyal to him and his sister. They will do anything that they were ordered to do. He currently had them getting Intel on shift change and times Nikolai or Zarif leave the palace.

As he walked quietly down the hall, he heard crashing coming from a room two doors down from him, masking his scent he idly stood at the door and listened for any further noise. "Arrogant petite piqûre. Mon frère et ses parents putains lui a grandi comme un roi putain. Il a eu l'audace de me chaîne comme une marionnette." (Arrogant little prick. My brother and his fucking parents grew him up like a fucking king. He had the audacity to string me up like a puppet.) An angry male voice shouted in French. Cain's brows furrowed as he recognized the voice as Nikolai's doting uncle Viktor. He smirked and laughed to himself at the irony of it all. He wasn't the only blood who hated the golden boy's guts.

"Comme les autres fucked up à New York, je dois faire des choses sur mon propre maintenant. Après ce soir, tout est en avance rapide, je veux ce qui est à juste titre le mien avant qu'il la présente à la meute."(Since the others fucked up in New York, I have to do things on my own now. After tonight everything is fast-forwarding, I want what's rightfully mine before he introduces her to the pack.) He continued with venom in his voice.

Cain quickly put two and two together and came to the wonderful conclusion that Viktor was the one behind Sienna's kidnapping and the attacks on various packs. Impressive, he thought to himself. He gave himself a pat on the back for choosing French to be his second language. "Sir Security is tight especially around her" a man spoke up with an already breaking voice of fear.

"I know you imbecile. That's why I offered my men to him to get information on borders, rotation, and any evacuation plan whatsoever," Viktor explained harshly. Cain nodded in approval at how dubious he was.

"Cette fille doit disparaître dans les prochaines 48 heures." (This girl should disappear in the next 48 hours) Viktor continued. Boldly he stepped into the now unlocked room, Viktor and eight of his men turned their eyes to me in fighter's stance.

"Well hello, again dear uncle Viktor someone is being a traitor" Cain sang bouncing on his toes. Viktor scoffed, "What are you doing here, oh future king."

"I came to offer my services to bring down Nikolai Starkov," he said with a wicked smirk on his lips.

There's nothing like family working together.