Chapter 41

Despite his long journey, Kade hadn't been able to sleep when they finally retired for the night. Lucien hadn't revealed much else after the *kill my brother* bombshell but the fallen-angel had promised to divulge all off the information he had gathered on Dante including on the girls he had in his possession and how they had ended up in the human trafficking ring. Kade wasn't sure if he wanted to go down that rabbit hole though. While it was obvious Kade's own kind were involved either as perpetrators or victims, Kade wasn't ready to deal with the scars that would inevitably burst open again. Just thinking about it stoked the guilt within him, squeezing his heart as the broken promises threatened to rear their ugly heads.

He was up and dressed before the sun even broke over the horizon. He found himself wandering the ground floor aimlessly until he found the kitchen. The rather angry Hungarian woman currently working on breakfast was quick to shoo Kade out though leaving him to eventually end up in the parlour where Lucien and he had talked just the night before. The room looked very different in the white light of the early summer morning. It was still an elegant room but there was a fragile silence that hung over everything as if at any moment a period drama would burst into life.

"Good morning." Lucien's voice cut through the wolf's thoughts. "I'd ask if you slept well but judging by the state of you I think that would be a redundant question."

"Yeah, hard to get a good night's sleep after someone asks you to murder their brother." Kade replied with a grunt.

"Yes, you mortals react in such curious ways to taking a life " Lucien hummed as he sat in the same seat as the night before.

No sooner had the angel settled into his seat, the doors opened and two of the staff walked in with trays of food and drinks. The scent of coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice, bacon, egg and toasted bread hit Kade's nose. He didn't have time for a pleasant breakfast date and yet his stomach disagreed with a muffled growl. He hadn't eaten since Daniel and Eva had been to visit and it was undoubtedly catching up with him. Werewolves were known for their big appetite but much like their wolven cousins, they could last a few days without food.

"I know it's tempting to be a martyr and not allow oneself rest and subsistence but being exhausted and malnourished isn't going to help you here." Lucien spoke up, cleaning forward to pour two cups of coffee. "You need to be at your best if we are going to even get close to achieving our goals."

Kade scoffed at that and took a slice of toast.

"My people are working on locating Dante as we speak," Lucien began. "He won't make it easy but even Dante is incapable of disappearing completely. In the meantime I need to show you how to yield that blade and see just how well you handle going up against a demon."

"So you do want me to fight him?" Kade shot back.

"I want you to be able to defend yourself and to succeed if I am unable to trap him with the spell." The fallen-angel clarified. "This is a serious matter. The whole of humanity relies on us getting this right."

"And what do you want in return?"

Lucien didn't reply right away. Black irises turned to the large windows thoughtfully. Kade knew this wasn't all about humanity. Angels and demons were as selfish as each other. There was always something more going on than what meets the eye. Lucien either wanted more than justice or he had a condition to the agreement he wasn't being overly forthcoming with.

"The council are considering measures to neutralise the threat Dante's spawn." Lucien finally confessed. "If it's not possible to protect those children from the fate Dante intends for them, then the council will order for them to be terminated."

Kade didn't need anyone to translate that statement as his blood ran cold.

"And do you *protect* them?" Kade finally managed to ask.

"By teaching them to control the darkness in them." Lucien replied. "Despite the circumstances that led to their existence, they are my blood and I want to make sure they survive."

"That sounds easier said than done."

Lucien chuckled, setting his coffee cup down. "Indeed. Luckily half-human hybrids are pretty easy to educate. Half-were hybrids however… it's never been done before and there is no telling what could happen but I have to try and besides, my other siblings will be there to support me."

Kade couldn't stop the look of surprise on his face as his eyebrows raised. "How many of you are there?"

"Thirty-seven." Lucien replied with a shrug. "Thankfully Dante is our only black sheep. Either way, the children will be in safe hands."

"Thalia's not going to give those kids up." Kade muttered, frowning at the thought of his mate. Goddess, he hoped she was okay. "She's fought tooth and nail for them."

"I agree." The angel nodded softly. "To ask any mother to give their child up at birth is a horrible thing which is why we wouldn't look to start their training until they are ten years old."

Kade didn't respond. His eyes went back to the windows but he wasn't interested in the scenery. He knew Thalia wouldn't accept the news well. He couldn't ask her to part with her babies but then again, there was no alternative. The thoughts coupled with lack of sleep was enough to give Kade a headache but Lucien had plans.

"Come," Lucien stood, setting his empty cup on the table between them. "It's time to start your training."

---

"Rise and shine Ms Georgiou, you have a visitor."

Thalia groaned at the familiar sharp tone that rudely woke her. Since her return to Dante's custody, Thalia had been under the watchful eye of Ms Thorton. The blonde battleaxe hadn't changed in the slightest since they last saw each other although Ms Thorton had shown a tiny amount of surprise when it was announced Thalia was pregnant with twins. Clearly everyone had been expecting there to be just one baby and now everyone was running around to make arrangements for one more baby. However, Ms Thorton didn't change one bit. After getting over the initial surprise, she had gone about everything as if it was business as usual.

Huffing into her pillow, Thalia forced herself to get up. Going from lying down to sitting or standing was becoming increasingly difficult as Thalia's belly continued to swell. The babies were certainly growing and Thalia worried that eventually she wouldn't be able to sit up at all. At least, not without help and Thalia did not like the idea of asking for help from here. She ignored the blonde woman's critical gaze as she pulled on some presentable clothing and ran her fingers through her tresses to make it less untidy. Thalia figured it was the new doctor coming to examine her. Thankfully Dante hadn't been to visit since the first time she woke up here but his new doctor didn't put Thalia in a good mood either.

To her relief and surprise it wasn't the doctor though but Laila.

"Thalia!"

Laila's face brightened the moment her eyes landed on the she-wolf and a smile spread across her lips.

"Laila," Thalia breathed from the overwhelming flood of emotions that hit her from seeing her friend. "I'm so glad you're okay."

And Laila did indeed look okay if not a little tired. Much like Thalia, her belly had swollen although not to the same size despite both falling pregnant around the same time.

They moved to sit at the small dining table as someone brought in tea and something to eat. Despite wanting to refuse anything her captors gave her, Thalia was aware it wasn't that simple. Her babies needed her to stay strong and healthy. So she reluctantly ate whatever was given to her even if she wished she could spit it in Dante's face.

"I will be back in an hour." Ms Thorton announced, glancing between the pair. "Try to stay out of trouble."

Thalia had a feeling that comment was more directed at her than Laila but she said nothing, watching the blonde woman disappear out the door.

"I can't believe you're here." Laila whispered in disbelief. "We all thought you were dead. Dante was furious. What the hell happened?"

"I tried to escape." Thalia admitted without hesitation. "And it sort of worked as well but somehow Dante found me."

"Surely that's a good thing." Laila frowned in confusion when she realised her friend didn't look relieved by this. "You're safe now."

Thalia resisted the urge to scoff at that and instead forced herself to pour the tea.

"How are the others?" Thalia asked, wanting to change the subject.

"Okay I guess." Laila replied. "We are all just eager for this to be over so we are finally free."

Thalia felt her heart lurch at the comment. She knew there was no freedom for any of them. It was a lie dangled in front of them to manipulate them into become breeding stock for a monster. She opened her mouth to say something but saw the hope shining in Laila's eyes and froze. It was cruel to lie but it seemed just as cruel to shatter the hope of someone who, like Thalia, had been waiting for the day she would be free to see her family again.

"What will you do once you can leave here?" Thalia asked.

"Find my brother." Laila smiled sadly. "He is the only family I have left and I pray that he has survived."

"Was he taken too?"

"No." Laila shook her head with a sigh. "we lived in a small town in Afghanistan. Karim, my brother, was teaching me how to read and write. We used to see the US and British convoys pass the town regularly. Sometimes they would stop and Karim would get them to teach him English and then he'd teach me. But one day the traffickers came and rounded up all of the girls and women and forced us into trucks. The last time I saw my town, the soldiers had arrived and there was shooting."

Thalia frowned as she listened to Laila's tale. Her heart broke for the girl. Thalia had been ripped away from her pack but to lose the only family you have had to be soul destroying. Leaning across the table, Thalia took her friend's hand and smiled reassuringly.

"I'm sure you'll find him and when we get out of here, I'll even help you look for him." She spoke, more determined than ever to get herself and the rest of the girls out of here.
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