Chapter 53

It had only been a week since Dante had been killed and his plans to destroy the world had come to an end and yet that all seemed like a lifetime ago now that Thalia was sat in the sunroom of Lucien’s north England manor, a warm breeze danced lazily through the large french doors that open out onto the sprawling grounds. Everything was so green and luscious. It was a vast difference from the sun baked earth and salty air Thalia had grown up with.

They had left Prague once Priyanka had given birth and before the local authorities caught up with them. Laila’s brother thankfully was able to use his powers as a police officer to distract the Czech police and the group had slipped away quietly. Thalia hadn’t been surprised when Lucien had managed to transport them back to his manor safely, nor was she surprised by the team of doctors and nurses waiting for them to whisk Priyanka and her premature baby away for medical attention.

Thalia didn’t want to trust Lucien’s intentions given his relationship with Dante but the fallen-angel was the only one with the ability and resources to help Jennifer, Miriam, Priyanka and Svetlana find their ways home or to a new life where they would be free from demons and slavery. Laila had already decided that she would be going home with Karim to start a new life with what remained of her family.

Kade's friends, Alpha Daniel and Mulligan, had departed just a few days before. Daniel had assured them that everything in the pack would be ready for them when they were ready to return to the fold. Thalia hadn't even thought about returning to pack life as of yet. Everything still felt too surreal that something as wonderfully normal as packlife was just too much to comprehend.

“Thalia?”

She looked up to see Kade in the doorway between the sunroom and the manor.

“Everything okay?” She asked.

“Lucien asked if we could join him to discuss something.” Kade replied, pushing away from the frame. “It’s quite important.”

Thalia nodded and pushed herself out of her seat, taking Kade’s hand when he held it out to her. Since Dante was dead, the blocking spell he had put on them was gone and Thalia could feel Kade’s emotions through the mate-bond and had no doubt Kade could feel hers. They hadn’t spoken much about what had happened and Thalia wasn’t sure she wanted to talk about it either. She suspected the story of how Dante ended up dead would include something about Kade that would give her nightmares for months to come and she already had enough material from her years of captivity. Kade didn’t seem in a rush to ask her about her time back in Dante’s custody either so they chose to ignore it for now and instead focus on their future.

Thalia was surprised to see everyone (even Priyanka) sitting in the large study when they came in. They all looked as curious as Thalia felt and she glanced at Kade who was the only one who seemed to know what was going on. He seemed mildly troubled but when he caught Thalia watching him, his eyes brightened and he smiled at her, lifting her hand to press kisses to her delicate knuckles.

"Sorry to call you together at short notice." Lucien spoke as he walked into the room. "But there are some matters we need to discuss now that the initial threat has been handled."

"What do you mean by initial threat?" Karim frowned, leaning forwards in his seat.

"Dante was the initial threat." Lucien clarified. "However his plans haven't gone unnoticed by the powers that be and with Dante gone, they have turned their attention to the children you and other women are carrying or have given birth to."

"It almost sounds like you are saying these so-called powers that be want to do something bad to the children " Thalia shifted uncomfortably, her hand coming to rest on her round belly unconsciously.

Lucien nodded, his lips drawn down in the corners. "They feel that if the children are left to their own devices then they will become a threat. If that is the case then the council will not hesitate to order their execution."

The news went down like a lead balloon and the room erupted into a chorus of questions and furious statements. And who could blame any of them for the panic they felt? While these children did have Dante's blood, they also shared DNA and genetics with the women who carried them. The desire to protect them was an instinct all mothers-to-be had. Thalia could feel the protective anger building amongst the women. They had all been through so much and now they were being told they could still be in danger.

Thalia looked to Kade questioningly only to see a troubled frown on his face, his eyes dark but distant as if he was lost in thought and no longer part of the conversation.

"I know you're concerned but I can offer a solution." Lucien spoke up over the noise, his voice patient but commanding.

It worked enough to settle everyone down but tension still hung in the air like electricity as it crackled and flared amongst them.

"If we can prove that the children are not a threat then the council will spare them." Lucien explained. "Whatever way you look at it, these children are part demon which means they will have some of the same abilities and traits as a demon. Untamed, those factors can be devastating. However, despite the circumstances of how they came to be, these children are my family and I want to help protect them. I’ve already said you can all stay here for as long as you need. After everything Dante has done, the least my family can do is ensure you are supported and safe. We can also teach the children how to control their abilities.”

“How would that work?” Thalia spoke up. “I don’t want to give my children up and not be part of their lives.”

“Lucien isn’t asking you to give the twins away.” Kade assured his mate, his hands resting over hers on her bump. “And even if he was, I wouldn’t expect you to agree.”

“When they are ten they can start their training.” Lucien spoke up. “But it will have to occur in my realm.”

“For how long?” Miriam asked.

“Until they are twenty-one at the very least.” Lucien admitted.

The stunned silence filled the room immediately. It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room as the realisation of what Lucien was saying settled in. It was a bitter pill for the women to swallow after everything they had been through. It seemed that despite all their hardships and their determination to finally break free, their happy-ever-after was just as bleak as their past. Their fight to keep their children had been for naught. But the alternative was unspeakable. It wasn’t even worth thinking about because Thalia would never put her children in that kind of danger.

“Ten years.” Thalia finally spoke up. “We have ten years with our children. That is more than Dante was offering and Lucien is offering them a chance to survive.”

She looked at Kade, her heart aching when she saw his sad smile. He had known all along what Lucien was going to tell them and he had kept it to himself. She couldn’t work out if that angered her or if she was simply angry at the less than ideal turn of events.

“So now what?” Svetlana asked. “Do we have to sign something in blood or use a secret handshake to agree on it.”

Lucien chuckled softly. “You don’t need to do anything. You are free to do what you want.”

There were still questions to be answered but for now it seemed no one wanted to dwell on this bombshell. They still had a long time left to spend with their children and do what they wanted to put this dark part of their lives behind them. It wasn't anywhere close to what Thalia dreamed of but she wanted the best for her boys.

"Shall we discuss the other matter now?"

Lucien's voice was much closer suddenly and Thalia was torn from her thoughts to see that Lucien had taken a seat in the nearest armchair. The others had all disappeared leaving Thalia in the company of Lucien and Kade.

"What other matter?" Thalia asked, looking between the two males.

Lucien remained quiet, his posture suggesting that he was a mere silent participant in this meeting.

"What do you remember about the night you were taken from your pack?" Kade asked.

It seemed like a simple enough question but the way Kade asked it made Thalia think he knew more about that night than she did and yet he didn't push. They didn't talk about these things unless it was necessary which only added to Thalia's trepidation.

"Not much really." Thalia replied quietly. "I remember that the pack had come together for a celebration. The first crop of olives had been harvested so we celebrated and gave thanks to the goddess. We had all been working hard and I got really tired after dinner. I think I must have fallen asleep because I don't remember taking myself to bed.

"It was dark when a sound woke me up. I felt groggy and my head hurt. It took a few minutes to realise someone was in the room with me. At first I thought it was my father but the person grabbed me and put something over my eyes. I tried to fight but my limbs felt heavy and my mouth wouldn't work."

"Is it possible you were drugged?" Kade asked.

"I don't know." Thalia admitted. "It would explain why I couldn't fight back."

"It does," Kade nodded. "And what about the pack? What were things like?"

"Everything was wonderful." Thalia shrugged. "Most of the males worked on the farms or at the mill. Dad also had a number of investments."

Neither Kade nor Lucien spoke and there was something in the way they looked at Thalia that had dread building inside of her chest like a uncomfortable weight.

"What is it you're not telling me." Thalia finally broke the silence when the tension became too much.

"There is no easy way to say this," Kade finally spoke, his eyes watching Thalia and his tone gentle as if he was soothing a grieving widow. "We think your father sold you and the other girls from your pack to the rogues."

"What?" Thalia gasped, her heart jumping into her throat as she stared at her mate. "No! He wouldn't do that! He is an Alpha!"

"An Alpha who up until five years ago was in serious debt." Lucien countered. "We found a paper trail leading from the traffickers to your pack. I had someone look into the pack's financials as well as your father's. The businesses were struggling. The pack was on the verge of bankruptcy…”

“Until they sold you.” Kade finished. “That same year, the pack received a very generous donation from a company registered in Liechtenstein. Unsurprisingly, as soon as the donation was made, the company was dissolved.”

“I-I-I don’t understand.” Thalia stammered. Her eyes burned as tears filled them, the world turning watery as everything she believed seemed to crumble around her. “My mother would never have allowed father to do such a thing. I spoke to him just a few weeks ago and he seemed so happy and relieved to hear from me. He even asked me where I was so he could come and get me…”

“Hey,” Kade shifted along the couch, pulling Thalia against him and holding her close. “I know it’s a lot to take in. I wish it wasn’t the kind of news I was giving you about your family. I’d do anything to take all the pain away for you.”

Kade’s warmth and his support through the mate-bond was perhaps the only thing preventing Thalia from losing the last shred of strength she had. She didn’t want to believe it. There was a chance it was all a misunderstanding but there was only one way Thalia would know for sure.

“I need to speak with them.” Thalia finally spoke, pulling away enough to look into her mate’s loving eyes. “I need to see my father. Only then will I know if what you’re saying is the truth and not some misunderstanding.”

She straightened up, brown eyes hardening with determination as she looked at the two men before her.

“I need to visit my pack.”