NINETEEN!

BRIANNA

I looked at her in shock as she laid back on the bed and went unconscious.

“What just happened?” I asked, and I noticed, Ethan locking the door and dropping the key in his pocket.

“I'm guessing she was in a trance, maybe an aftershock of the battle,” Trish said. I looked at the three men in the room with us, they didn't seem to believe what Trish had said.

“It wasn't the battle,” Liam said, “that message was meant for you,” he said.

I chuckled nervously, “if it was, I don't know what it means,” I said to him.

He grins,”you see, the past few, I don't know months have been weird and it all started from when I meant you,” he said.

*What are you doing?” Mason asked him. I was wondering where he was going with this.

“I'm putting an end to all of this,” he said to Mason.

“You can't blame me for every bad thing that has happened to you,” I said to him.

“I don't blame you,” he said, “but I think you are the cause of everything,” he said.

I chuckled, “okay, this is getting creepy, I want to get out,” I said.

“Not until you have had my answers!” He roared and the room shook, making the lights blink.

“I don't have answers to your questions,” I said to him.

“That's because I haven't asked,” he said. I haven't seen this side of Liam before and guessing by the way Ethan and Mason are staring at him, they haven't either.

He walked towards me and our eyes locked, “you are a werewitch, so what were you doing in the human world?” He asked.

“I don't have to answer anything,” I said firmly to him.

“I will answer your questions,” Trish said, abruptly.

“What are you doing?” I asked her.

“Bri, we are outmaneuvered here, the best thing for us is to answer their questions,” she said. She was about to speak but I kept telling her no.

“I ordered you not to,” I said to her and her lips didn't move. She looked shocked and terrified and so did I.

“Speak,” Liam said and her lips moved. “I may not be a werewitch but I am of the highest royal blood, you think I can counter your spell,” he said.

I tried to act brave but I was confused, I didn't know how I sealed Trish's lips shut.

“My parents and Brianna's parents took us to the human world to protect us,” she said and I groaned.

“Why will they do that?” Ethan asked.

“That's because we were in danger,” Trish answered him more calmly than she did Liam.

“Why will you be in danger and from what?” Liam asked and she looked at me.

“Someone really powerful thought I would be a danger to the world and thought it best to kill me,” I said, giving only half truths.

“That's absurd,” he said.

“It's the truth,” Trish responded to him.

“So why are black here?” Mason asked, “the person who wants you dead is here, right?”

I didn't have a response to that question, “you came back because of me,” Liam said and I almost laughed out loud.

I mean he is not wrong but he is also not fully right.

“Well, you shouldn't have come back,” Mason said, “the Highest Alpha King, doesn't want you here,” he said and I looked at Liam.

“What is he talking about?” I asked Liam.

“My father ordered me to reject you as my mate,” he said and I felt my heart dropped.

“What do you mean? Can he do that?” Trish asked.

“After the goddess, the Highest Alpha King is our superior,” Mason said, he is a sucker for the rules.

“That's not the impression I got when I paid my respect,” I said out loud.

“Yeah, let's talk about that,” Liam said and I scoffed.

“No,” I dangled my fingers in front of him, “I don't need to tell you anything,” I said to him.

Mason scoffed and looked at me, “Brianna,” he called my name, “you might be new to this world so I will let you in on a secret,”

“Mason stopped,” Liam said to him.

*You don't defile an order from his Royal highness,” he said and I suddenly felt a surge of anger filled me up.

“I am a duchess!” I yelled, “I am at the same rank as his Royal highness, so I don't need to defile anyone,” I said softly, “I can choose when I want to speak and who I speak to,” I said and they all looked at me dazzled.

I looked at Trish, who had a proud look on her face.

“I think we can now pay attention to the threat that was brought before you,” Trish said to them while I checked on Layla.

“What threat?” Liam asked, I got up and stared at their confused faces.

“There was a fire on one of the largest fields in my park,” I said to them.

“I heard about that,” Mason said, “you caused quite the spectacle. Some will say you started the fire,”

“That's enough Mason,” Liam said to him.

“She did cause the fire, in fact she saved all the plantation,” Trish came to my defense.

“Lady Trisha, we will look into it,” Ethan said, “but how is a fire in a plantation field, a threat?” He asked.

I brought out my phone to show him the picture of the placard. That is another good thing about this world.

“This is the threat,” I said, handing him my phone.

He sighed and handed the phone to Liam, “do you know who did this?” He asked.

“I have no idea,” I said here, “like your friend here said, I'm new to this world,”

“Beta,” Mason said, abruptly, “I'm his beta,”

“Beta?” I whispered to Trish.

“Second in command, I will explain later,” she said and I nodded.

“Has there been any more threats since then?” Liam asked.

“No, we double security and very possible target will could think of,” I said to him.

“That's why you haven't brought in your shares of soldiers,” Mason said and I'm suddenly tired of his snacky comments.

“What is your problem?” I charged towards him but the sound of Layla stopped me.

“Why are you all screaming?” She asked, weakly.

Mason rushed to her and hugged her. She had a surprise look on her face for a while but melted in his embrace.

“You scared me for a while,” he said, hugging her. She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.

He took a seat beside her and let the others have their time with her. They all seemed like a family and had affection for each other.

I got a glass of water and I handed it to her, she stared at me for a while before having a drink from the glass.

“Another,” she said. Trish wanted to help but I stopped her.

I got her another, she stared at me again before taking the water and looked at me all the way through.

She handed the cup to Mason who dropped it on the table beside her bed.

“You shouldn't be here,” she said to me and I raised an eyebrow.

“I beg your pardon,” I said to her and she sat up properly.

“You are still in danger, you can't be here. You will jeopardize everything,” she said and I looked at her confused.

“I don't understand, you might have me confused for someone else,” I said, turning away from her.

“No, I do not. Tell her Trish,” she said and I turned around.

“Trish?” I asked, looking at her.

“Why didn't you stop her from coming here, Trish?” Layla asked her.

“Yes, Trish. Why didn't you stop me?” I asked.