Page 7 of Midnight Deception

Turning my head to look at those around us, I find that none of them are surprised or concerned by her behaviour or what she just divulged. Sure, there’s a myriad of expressions, but none are shocked. Some look disgusted at the mere thought of ever having relations with a werewolf, while some shake their heads, regret on their faces. There’s a lot more going on here, and I’m starting to think that my mother wasn’t a normal witch, given their reactions. Just who was my birth mother?

I’m overwhelmed and struggling to understand what’s happening here, which is why the next words slip out of my mouth before I can modify them.

“Why am I here, Your Majesty?” I almost forget the honorific and quickly tack it to the end of my question. It doesn’t take the snap of annoyance from my tone, however, and apparently it isn’t polite enough for Atlas, who makes a noise of annoyance behind me. I can practically feel his heat radiating through my clothes, and I wish he’d step back, as it’s becoming distracting.

“We rescued you, and this is how you thank us?” There’s a dangerous edge in her voice, and I realise I fucked up.Note to self, don’t snap at the queen, I chide. The room reacts to her anger, and the air becomes thick with the scent of magic.

A hand wraps around the back of my neck, making me gasp at the contact and tilt my head up until I can see the domed roof above us. I could fight them off. I have werewolf blood, and I’m stronger than them, but something about the touch makes me paralysed.

“Say thank you and apologise to the queen,” Atlas snarls in my ear, his chest almost pressed to my back as his icy magic wraps around me. Unlike the last time when it physically froze me, it feels different as a cold, tingling sensation moves through my body. It’s not painful, but as it gathers in my legs, a burning pressure builds as it attempts to push me down to my knees.

I fight the magic, growling low in the back of my throat as one of my legs gives way and my right knee smashes into the hard stone floor, the sound reverberating around the room. Pain blooms through me, but I refuse to let it show. I’ve still not even seen Atlas’s face, but hatred burns through me. Gritting my teeth, I refuse to give in.

Everyone watches our battle of wills, the two of us in a stalemate as I resist his magic. I’m not sure how much longer we would have gone on for, but eventually Kano swears under his breath and barks the other male’s name.

The magic releases me so suddenly, I almost fall on my face. A low chuckle fills the room, and my cheeks burn with humiliation. Ignoring the pain in my knee, I stand and face the queen once more, refusing to say anything as I wait for the answer to my question.

She huffs a sigh, her irritation showing. However, she surprises me by giving in. “You’re here to take up your place amongst us.”

I want to snort and tell them they must be joking, but I manage to hold it back. The answer comes to me almost immediately as I shake my head. “No, thank you.”

Shock and outrage echo around the room and are mirrored on the queen’s face. They didn’t expect me to refuse. They don’t understand my life or the customs of my people, and compared to someplace like this, my home would look desolate to them.

“What?” she splutters, glancing over her shoulder for confirmation from her truth reader. When he nods, confirming I mean what I say, she looks back at me with disbelief. “You’d give up all of this to return to the people who were trying to kill you?” Holding up her hand in a sharp gesture to stop my reply, she narrows her eyes and continues. “Before you tell me they weren’t, I know all about the trials and how you were forced to fight. They were never going to let you win, you have to know that. We found you just in time.”

None of this adds up. If they rescued me as soon as they found me like she claims, then how does she know about the trials and what the council might have planned? Now’s not the time to start accusing the queen of lying, but I’m going to file that thought away for later when I have the chance to think it over fully.

I look around the room again and gesture towards the congregation. “It’s obvious that I’m not wanted here. Why not just let me go?”

This is the wrong thing to ask. Her probing magic reaches out and stings my skin as if reminding me who she is. “You’re here becauseIwant you here.” Steel enters her voice, and her eyes are hard. “That is enough of a reason.”

The mutters and whispers instantly shut down as they sense their queen’s anger, and the whole room falls silent. Biting my lip to keep myself quiet, I clutch my hands behind my back, balling them into fists. While I want to snap back, I know when to pick my battles, so I force myself to stay still under her scrutiny.

Assured that I’m not going to act out, the queen dips her head in a minute nod.

“You will learn to wield your magic and take up your position. Your brother and some of my other trusted witches will teach you and help get you settled.” She purses her lips as she lifts her gaze from me and surveys her people. “Laelia is not to be harmed while she is a guest here. This meeting is adjourned.”

If anyone else is surprised by the abrupt order and dismissal, then they don’t let it show, filing out of the room and casting me looks as they pass. Their low discussions might be quiet enough so others around them can’t overhear, but not enough to hide their hushed conversations from werewolf hearing. There are too many voices for me to make out individual conversations, but I pick up certain words.

Outsider. Half-breed. Outrageously disrespectful. Doesn’t deserve the honour.

Honestly, I agree with them, and I have absolutely no intentions of staying here and “taking up my position.” I don’t care what they think was meant to be. I don’t belong here. My mates are waiting for me, and the gaping hole in my soul is making me anxious. Top it off with being unable to properly access my wolf, and I feel like I’m unravelling. I’m missing a huge part of myself, and it feelswrong.

Needing to get out of this room and away from the scrutiny, I turn to follow the crowd out into the corridor. I am already planning how I’m going to escape when my limbs suddenly freeze up like a giant hand has wrapped itself around me, stopping my retreat. Losing the last of my patience, I succumb to the primal part of me, a low warning growl building in my chest as I fight my invisible restraints. The last of the witches file out, and I watch them go. Once they’ve gone, the doors shut, sealing me in the hall, and someone clears their throat.

“Not you, Laelia. We’ve not finished talking yet.” The queen’s voice makes me grit my teeth, her magic finally releasing me. I don’t stumble this time, expecting the shift in momentum as I regain full control of my body. Anger and self-preservation war within me as I spin to face the biggest threat, a snarl ripping from me. Atlas and Kano are still unmoving behind me, and the truth teller is in his spot, hiding in the shadows of the dais close to the queen. To my surprise, Luna is present, watching on with a carefully blank expression. Snapping my attention back to the queen, I narrow my eyes.

“You call me a guest, yet you use your magic to restrain me.” My voice is low and accusatory, the growl of my wolf present despite the disconnection between us. “Call it what it is. I’m a prisoner here.”

From the corner of my eye, I see Atlas swiftly moving towards me, his face twisted with rage. I could move out of the way, but part of me wants this confrontation, so I stay where I am with my head held high as I wait for him to make the first move.

He’s practically upon me when he starts speaking. “Show the queen some respect, you filthy—”

“Atlas, enough.”

At her command, he immediately falls silent, bowing his head to her in respect. I can still feel him fuming from his spot beside me and know if I’m forced to stay here, our confrontation will happen sooner rather than later.

Huffing out a breath, I ball my hands into fists at my sides, the urge to hit something building up like a pressure cooker. I’ve had enough of this bullshit, and I want answers. Now that her subjects aren’t closely watching our conversation, she might be more willing to speak. Even if she’s not, I refuse to do anything until I know why I’m in this situation.

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