Page 28 of Dark Captivation

“And what about the King's arrogance? I want to save all demons. He wants to capture the world. Isn’t that the ultimate arrogance?” The man drew closer, his expression calm and measured.

I stood, taking Ferina’s arm and pulling it, encouraging her to sit down.

“You know, I think we might just be in the wrong church. We thought you guys were Methodists.” I joked, trying to diffuse the building tension.

He roamed closer to us.

Grimaces and murderous stares swarmed me like ants to honey.

“I know exactly what you thought. You thought you could infiltrate our secret order and then be on your merry way to tell the king all you’ve heard.” He undulated two fingers up and down gesturing to two demons by the door.

With a nod, the door keepers sealed the entrance tighter than a maximum-security prison.

“Tell the king what?” I shrugged, standing slowly. “That a few of his citizens are exercising their right to peaceful free speech?” I asked, faking a calmness I sure didn’t feel.

“You’re a smart one. You must be the fabled bride I’ve heard whispers about.” A smile brightened his face and hushed whispers abounded.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I cupped my elbows with my palms.

He raised a silencing hand. “Come on, give me more credit than that. I could smell him on you the minute I walked in.”

“Relax. Just because you are his, doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.” Coming in on my left, he offered me a hand. “I’m Varcus. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. And you are?”

“She’s not interested.” Ferina intercepted his hand, tossing it away like trash.

“Stifle the ancient.” Varcus instructed the demons at the door. He then seized my arm, leading me away from Ferina.

The door keepers marched for her, roughly taking her by the shoulders.

“Take your hands off of her.” I demanded, the muscles in my back twitching as I considered shifting. It would have to be a last resort with this place locked up tighter than Azkaban, I’d be a trapped wolf with nowhere to run or hide.

“No one is going to hurt the ancient,” Varcus said.

A thud drew me back to Ferina. The teenager who sat next us scrambled away as the goons descended on Ferina.

Her fight was brief as one of the goons held up a luminescent green flame candle between her eyes. Its glow was so hypnotic, it zombified her. A drop of drool fell from her lips as she collapsed in the wooden seat, legs sprawled loose and wide. Her eyes drooped and she appeared lost in a drunk-like daze.

“What the hell are you doing to her?” I shoved Varcus in the chest, a warning meant to let him know, resistance leader or not, I wasn’t fucking scared of him.

“She’ll be fine. I promise you.” Varcus’ expression was blank as a sheet of paper, his voice calm and assuring. “All they’re doing is wiping her memory of everything that she’s seen and heard here today. We cannot allow her to leave with the information she’s gotten.”

“And what about me?” I took in my surroundings. The room patiently watched Varcus and I. Most fidgeting uncomfortably, exchanging concerned glances. “Your followers don’t seem to trust me anymore than you do her.”

“Oh, but you are nothing like her.” Varcus gazed at me so intensely, it was like he could see through my skin straight to my soul. “I can see it in you. You may be his bride, but you sat there and didn’t say anything while we criticized your king. Is it because you agree with our cause?”

“Hey, I’m just as against the war as you are. But I wouldn’t go so far as killing Malek or stealing his horns. That’s just barbaric,” I ground out.

“Forgive Mrs. Johnson, she can be a bit overzealous at times. We’re not a violent group. We only want peace. Nothing more.”

“Peace by making yourself King of the Demons?” I asked.

“Me being king is not important. I’m a servant of the people. I only want them to have the gift of choice over their own destiny. Surely you can agree they deserve that.” He said and his words touched something in me.

For as long as I could remember, that was exactly what I wanted. The freedom to decide my own future. Decide where I wanted to live, where I would go and who I would be. But one alpha after the other had always seen fit to take that choice from me, leaving me powerless.

“Your silence is telling.” Varcus interrupted my thoughts.

My head popped upward.

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