Page 142 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

Yura, Jimmy’s older sister, is waiting in the garden for us. She peers at me. “So, you’re Darian’s mate. You’re quite the looker. Did Lila give you any trouble?”

“None. She was perfect.” I smile at her.

“Good.” Yura takes the red wig off her child. “When you bring your daughter here, let me know. I’ll send Lila over to play with her. Jimmy told me that they are around the same age.”

“Thank you. I’m sure Mira will like that.”

Lila holds onto her mother’s leg and looks at Darian. “Uncle Jimmy said that if I do this, he’ll get me a dollhouse. The really big one. He promised.”

Darian smiles at her. “I’ll make sure he gets it for you. And if he doesn’t, you come and tell me.”

Lila nods, and when she leaves with her mother, there is a skip in her step.

“What are you going to tell Brian when he notices she’s not here?” I ask, leaning back against Darian.

His arm comes to rest around my shoulders. “I’ll tell him the second floor is off-limits. All of this is only going to take a few days.”

I rub my chest, the spot above my heart. “I’ve never been away from Mira for so long. I know this is my idea, but I have to say that it sucks big time.”

It’s Darian’s turn to reassure me. “She’s going to be fine. The Black Arrows are there to protect her. Even if the white witches figure out what we’re trying to do, they won’t be able to get past the Black Arrows. If anything happens, they’ve been instructed to take Mira and move to another location immediately.”

“I hope this works. I really hope this works,” I whisper as we head back inside.

I hate having my daughter so far away from me.

*****

For now, the plan is to lure the white witches to us. Since they seemed so desperate to capture Mira, I have no doubt that they will come to the palace to take her. Or at least, they will try to take her. And when they don’t find her, they will most certainly try to take me.

I cannot see them confessing their crimes here at the royal palace, which is why Darian is keeping the security limited in the main wing where we are staying. If they attempt to kidnap me, I’m not going to put up that much of a fight and let them take me. I’m wearing a miniature camera on my shirt at all times. It’s a small, ordinary-looking, golden button. Darian has the same one on his shirt. It will begin broadcasting to the channel that wehave set up as soon as it is activated. The only thing is that we have to press it to activate it.

When the witches take me, Darian will follow with his soldiers. The way we have planned it out seems foolproof, but nothing ever truly is.

Two days pass uneventfully. There is no word from the witches. There is no sign of Thomas. Nobody has come forward with any news of him. Except for the rumors that are spreading, there is utter silence.

And that silence makes me uneasy.

The witches must know that Mira and I have arrived. Meals for her are delivered to our private sitting room. The plates are sent back empty. Only the butler is allowed on this floor of the wing.

The longer the witches take to come after me, the longer I have to be away from my daughter.

Talking to Mira on the phone once a day doesn’t suffice. I know Mary is looking after her, as are Katherine and Jimmy, but I can’t stop worrying. This was my idea to begin with, so I shouldn’t complain, but I’m getting more and more agitated as the days go by. Mira, on the other hand, is enjoying her slumber party at Katherine’s house. She seems to think this is all a big adventure. I just hope it remains that way.

A couple of days have passed with nothing happening. I’m at my wits’ end.

I’m getting ready for bed when I get a call from Katherine. Darian is meeting with some soldiers in the training grounds.I’m just about to change when I hear the phone ring. When I pick up, I hear Katherine crying on the other end.

I immediately assume the worst.

“Katherine? What happened? Is Mira—”

“She’s fine.” My friend starts to sob. “It’s my parents, Alice. There was a car accident.”

My eyes close in grief as I realize what she’s going to say next.

“They didn’t make it, Alice,” Katherine whispers brokenly into the phone. “They’re gone. My parents are dead. Both of them. Oh, God!”

Her agonized whimper breaks my heart. “I’m so sorry, Katherine. I’m so sorry.”

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