Page 22 of Of Daggers and Deceit

I recoiled at this new information. Packs. Conquering. Forced Bonding. Dark magic?

Zander looked over at me, sorrow heavy in his eyes, the kind I had seen in my mum’s so many times. “That is why my parents spent years building this place, with my vision. My father knew the value of having only one bonded and had seen how Omegas had been used, which is why he funnelled every resource he had into constructing and preparing the Haven, for us to thrive in a world without fear. That is why I lead it today, to ensure our vision prospers. The Haven is a testament to our power and cunning, of the worth we have in this world. Even if you think an Alpha can be trusted, it is safer to assume they cannot–what lies on the other side for us is, quite simply, our demise.”

I pondered his words, trying to piece everything together with how it fit with what my mother had told me, how only a couple of hundred Omegas had fled to the Haven under the cover of night out of fear for their safety. She ran to protect my future.

“I admire your tenacity and perseverance, Raya Ward, so do not take the offer I make you lightly, because I have never made an offer like this before and I likely will never again. Your mother can be free as soon as tonight if you agree to serve an alternative punishment by joining the defence for the rest of this season. If you decline, her punishment remains. I cannot favour one family over another. It is the law, Raya.”

Riley choked as she cast terrified eyes to Zander, and every muscle in my body coiled tight. It was an entirely unfair trade. Four nights, a week apart, across an entire month was all it was. But it was four terrifyingly deadly nights where I may not return alive, and my mother would be alone in our home.

At least she wouldn’t be bound by chains.

I watched as Riley quickly recovered enough to shoot me a sharp glare, but I already knew my answer. Riley could wield her beauty, but my strength lay in my gift and daggers. This was the only way I could truly help, even if the risk was my life. But the trade still felt unfair, and I wanted to ensure I got something else out of it for those I may leave behind if I didn’t survive.

“You must be aware of my gift,” I replied quietly, my breaths short and quick.

His eyebrow ticked. “I am.”

“If I join the defence,” I began as I wrung my hands in my lap, the heat of Riley’s stare burning the top of my downcast head, “and save an Omega, protect them from this life of being conquered and subservient, I-I would like some way to guarantee protection for my family.”

Zander laughed, almost musically, and it felt awkward in the space.

“If you save an Omega, Raya Ward, you will be as famous as your sister, I assure you. No one in the history of the Haven has ever saved an Omega from being taken. We can have that conversation if it comes to pass.”

Zander sat back in his chair, satisfied with our deal as he downed the last mouthful of his wine. I too sat back with a heaviness in my heart as I contemplated everything I was set to face in the coming month. There was only one answer I was truly going to take in this moment, and his answering smile as the words left my lips was enough to make nausea churn in my gut.

“I agree to the terms of your deal.”

RILEY

Ihad stared at Raya for the remainder of the dinner, quieter than I’d ever been before. My eyes never left her face, not when she spoke, not when she bartered her life away so carelessly, and not even when the elevator doors had closed behind her, leaving me staring at the closed metal doors in her absence.

I was sick, so very sick, because I hadn’t known my mother was chained in the Outer Ring, and now even more so because I wasn’t sure if tonight would be the last time I would ever get to see my sister’s face again. It already felt like too much time passed between each time I saw her now.

Zander had been quiet since too, though he’d watched me as I processed my pain, carefully veiling it behind a soft smile and blank eyes. It was that same emotionless expression that turned and fell on him now. “She may die.”

His face softened slightly as he came towards me and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, placing his chin on top of my head. It didn’t comfort me in the way it usually did.

“I’m sorry I am unable to give anymore to your family. You know that, as the leader, I cannot play favourites. I gave your sister whatever I could.”

Staticky noise whirred in my ears as he spoke, understanding what he was saying but also not, because everything seemed entirely unfair. He had power.

“Why is my mum in chains, Zander?” I couldn’t fathom how this had even happened.

His voice came out as a whisper. “She disobeyed our law in front of many people. You know she is sympathetic to other’s plights, even when they themselves are criminals.”

I bristled. Why, of all the times, did she choose now to disobey the law?

Fingers rubbed up and down my arms in reassurance. She had already made her decision; I couldn’t go back in time and change it. I could only accept what was and try my best to move forward, trying to achieve my goal.

Zander broke the silence to try again at reassuring me that everything would work out. “Your sister has a powerful gift, my love. You know of her tenacity. Look how she showed up here as confidently and determined as she did. It is incredibly admirable. She will survive. I am sure of it.”

He turned me around in his arms, a hand gripping the back of my head as he drew me close, his lips hovering just above mine. His expression was pinched, almost pained, though none of it would equate to the depth of mine.

“We must honour what decisions people make about their own lives, Riley. We cannot seek to control every action of another.”

My brow furrowed, and I looked closer at the lines on his face, agony etched into the grooves. I fell into his chest and wrapped my arms around him. Sometimes, I forgot that people had lived other lives throughout the war. I was fortunate in many ways to live here and have missed it.

“I know. I am just scared, as we all are,” I whispered against his chest, my own heart hammering loudly inside mine.

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