Page 27 of Own to Obtain

Shaya was quiet as she digested this. “So if I don’t go back…”

The woman shrugged. “He may be allowed to rule for a time without you considering he is part of a couple that is entitled to the seat, but the people will want you both.”

“And that will be why he wants her,” Kyus muttered.

The woman tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. “Not necessarily.” She turned to Shaya. “Are you sure you don’t want to be with him?”

Shaya hesitated. “It’s not as simple as that,” she explained. “I almost died in there, and when I came out he was so proud and happy to have won the seat, he didn’t care that I suffered. He wasn’t even there when I woke up.”

“Or he was so proud ofyou,” the woman pointed out. “And happy that you were alive.”

Shaya pursed her lips. “But then why put me in there? Why risk my death just for the seat? It is obvious what is more important to him.”

The woman pursed her lips as she thought. “This Kardos, he is the son of…”

“The high chief.”

“Which high chief?” the woman asked.

Shaya shook her head. “I don’t know his name.”

“If he’s the son of the high chief that I suspect he is,” the woman said thoughtfully, “he is a very determined young man. He will not stop looking for you if he truly wants you.”

“So what can we do if she wants to stay out of his grasp?” Kyus asked.

The woman thought for a long moment, tapping her fingers on her thighs as she turned to look out of the window.

As the silence built, Shaya tried not to think about the last dream she had of him. It had been so delicious she had almost screamed when he faded away. She couldn’t deny that she missed him terribly, but she had to be careful about returning to that situation. She couldn’t let her emotions or desires rule her and put herself at risk of the things he would do to her, the way he would make her suffer. The punishment he would inflict on her for running away, for dulling the bond…. She couldn’t even imagine how she would survive if he were to catch her now. She had made a decision to leave, and she had to stick by it, no matter what.

Finally, the woman spoke. “When I left the Southern Lands,” she began, “I was put on a special assignment. It was extremely secret and dangerous, I cannot talk about what it was, but where I had to travel to is probably the only place that you could get away from him.”

“Where is that?” Kyus asked.

“The unknown Lands.”

A stunned silence followed her words and Shaya’s face slacked while Kyus’ mouth dropped open.

“What?” Kyus whispered finally.

“Kardos can look for you anywhere he wants in the known Lands. He probably can motivate the Alphas that rule each Land to find you, but the unknown Lands would not be so easy.”

“You went to the unknown Lands?” Kyus said, horror and awe in her voice. “But… how did you…”

“I cannot talk about it,” the woman said sternly. “It was a deeply covert mission, and one that was extremely difficult. But it’s the only place where you will escape him.”

“How is she supposed to survive?” Kyus said, incredulously. “Nobody has returned from trying to explore anything beyond the known Lands.”

The woman inclined her head. “I have.”

Kyus glanced at Shaya. For the first time, Shaya saw fear on her sister’s face.

“Is it possible to live there?” Shaya asked, haltingly. “I heard that there is nothing beyond the known Lands, no cities, no societies or civilizations… Just a void.”

“I admit,” the woman said, inclining her head, “it is not the ideal kind of life. I would definitely not recommend it for an Omega, but that is the only place where you are guaranteed to get away from your Alpha. If you can keep the bond dulled, you won’t suffer any ill effects of the potion. And he may fade out of your memory with time, though if you are true mates, it is unlikely.”

Shaya tightened her fingers in her lap, as a wave of discomfort shot through her. She didn’t want to forget about Kardos. The thought took her by surprise, and she lowered her eyes as she breathed shallowly. She did not want to forget anything about him. He had given her so many new experiences, and although many of them were terrible, some were wonderful. How could she ever forget? And if she didn’t even dream of him? He would be truly gone.

“So what is the next step,” Kyus asked, cutting through Shaya’s thoughts. “If she wants to go, how do you make that happen?”

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