Page 8 of Midnight Deception

“What’s the real reason I’m here?” I demand with a flat look.

For a moment, I think she’s going to lash out for my lack of respect, her blood-red lips becoming pinched. However, she seems to realise I’m only going to keep rebelling while she keeps me in the dark. This is the first time I’ve met the queen, but I feel like I’ve got a fairly good grasp on the type of person she is, and I highly doubt she used all her time and resources to bring me back here out of the goodness of her heart. She doesn’t strike me as the sentimental type, despite her brief show of emotion when she was discussing my birth mother. No, she wants something that only I can give her.

Sighing, she rubs her temples like she’s trying to fight off a headache. “As I explained before, I’ve been looking for you for a long time and would have raised you here, only the werewolves got to you first.” A sneer twists her beautiful, ageless face. I can only imagine how much losing me to the wolves must have stung for a woman as proud as her.

“Your mother had a very special talent,” she continues, gesturing to Kano behind me. “One that seems to have skipped your brother.”

The atmosphere becomes tense, and as I glance over my shoulder at the male in question, I note his clenched jaw and furrowed brow. There’s some history here, and I briefly feel sorry for him. Slowly, I turn back and watch the queen closely for any sign of a lie. Her words seem true, but I can’t shake the niggling feeling that this isn’t the whole truth. There’s something else that she’s not saying. There’s another reason she wants me here, I just don’t know what it is yet.

Absorbing this information, I tilt my head to one side in consideration. If this power is valuable to her, then this could very well be the true reason why she’s been searching for me all this time. “What was my mother’s power?”

Pursing her lips, she calculates how much she should tell me and whether or not revealing this is going to help bend me to her whim. A movement catches my eye. It’s miniscule, and most wouldn’t even notice it, however, I do, and I follow it to Luna. Her expression hasn’t changed from the carefully blank look she assumed earlier, but I have this feeling in my chest that she’s trying to warn me. Warn me of what though? Not to trust the queen’s answer, or that I need to stop asking these questions?

“She was blessed by the goddess,” the queen finally reveals, my eyes snapping back to her. Lifting an arm, she gestures to the painting of the night sky above us. “She could command the stars.” Awe and longing tinge her voice, and when she looks back at me, I see greed glisten in her eyes. “Something I hear you’re capable of doing.”

Her expression takes me aback. I almost retreat at the manic look, wanting to put as much space between us as I can. What she wants is impossible, no one can control the stars. An uncomfortable feeling in my chest brings my attention back to the missing part of me.She can’t mean Star.

The queen is looking at me with expectation, a small, smug smile pulling at her lips. I don’t know how she found out about my wolf, or any of the other information she seems to have, but I refuse to let her use Star for whatever schemes she has.

Holding up a hand, I give her a frank look. “If you mean Star, then I think you’re barking up the wrong tree. I’m a werewolf, and she’smywolf.” I emphasise the last words, needing to show how ludicrous I think this all is.

However, the queen isn’t willing to be put off. Leaning forward, she keeps her eyes locked on me. “Yet she’s so different from the others of your kind,” she croons. “Your packmates all turnintowolves, yet you create one—a quirk thanks to your mixed heritage, no doubt. Even so, she’s a wolf made of starlight.” That gleam is back in her eyes, and her smile widens, making a cold chill move down my spine. “A sentient creature that you can control with the power of the goddess behind you. If you’re able to do that without training, then I have no doubt that you can do more. Just imagine what we could accomplish.”

I don’t think she meant to say it, but I freeze as I pick up on a single word. “We?”

She seems to realise that she messed up and clears her throat, sitting back in her throne and tapping her fingers against the armrests, attempting to regain her composure. “While you’re staying here, you’ll be one of my citizens and under my jurisdiction. So yes,we.”

I wrinkle my nose and shake my head in disbelief. Is she just deluded, or does she really think that I’m going to be happy staying here and working for her? “I’ve not agreed to stay here. I was taken against my will. Besides, I’m not one of your subjects. I want to return to my mates and family.”

“That’s not possible.” She waves a hand in dismissal. “At the very least, you need to learn to control your power. I’m surprised it’s not caused you issues already. You could lose control at any point and cause harm to everyone around you.”

That does make me pause. Although I have no doubt that she doesn’t care if I hurt any of my pack by losing control of my magic, this is something I’d been quietly worried about. There have been several times now where my magic seems to have a life of its own, or the being that resides inside me takes over. It’s playing right into her hands, but I genuinely don’t want anyone to get hurt. Having magic at my command would also be a useful skill to have, given how unpopular I seem to be.

Pursing my lips, I think over my options. The queen isn’t willingly going to let me go, but if I can make a deal with her, I might be able to change that. My only other option is to escape and fight my way out of here. Given how many witches were gathered in here earlier and the fact that I have no idea where I am, I don’t think my odds are very high.

“If I stay and learn to use my powers,” I begin slowly, not wanting to accidentally agree to anything that I don’t mean, “will you let me return to my pack afterwards?”

The queen raises a brow, and the truth teller behind her leans forward and whispers something into her ear. She doesn’t take her eyes off me as he does so, her expression darkening at whatever he’s telling her. Finally, she seems to come to a decision, although from her gritted teeth it’s one she’s come to begrudgingly. “Yes, I agree to your terms.”

Something tingles over me at the agreement—magic. Eyes wide, I look down at myself, half expecting to see something different. Everything looks the same, but I don’tfeelthe same.

A low chuckle has me looking up once more, and amusement shines from the queen’s expression. “Here, our agreements are magical,” she explains with a smile. “We are both bound to it now, meaning if you try to leave before you’ve mastered your magic, you will suffer the consequences.”

My heart sinks, and I feel sick to my stomach. I meant what I said and hadn’t planned on escaping if she agreed. However, knowing that option has now been taken away is a huge blow. What if I’m attacked and need to flee? What are the consequences that she’s talking about? Is it merely pain, or could it kill me? The only bright side is that she is also bound and will have to release me. I’m going to work my hardest to master the use of my powers and get the hell out of here.

A rush of movement snaps me from my musings, and I see the queen standing on the dais, her dress falling around her in waves. “We’re done here. Your brother will take you to your room, and your training will begin tomorrow.” Dismissing me completely, she shifts her gaze to one of the two males behind me. “Kano, come to my chambers once you’re done.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Blinking at the abrupt ending, I struggle to get my words together as the queen and her truth teller move towards the exit, her dress making a light swishing noise as she passes me.No, I need to know more!I think frantically and jump into her path. Someone’s hand lands roughly on my shoulder to move me, and I know just from his touch that it’s Atlas. However, he doesn’t do anything when I stop, waiting for his queen’s order.

“Wait! I’m not finished.” I implore her as she stops with a raised brow. I think she’s going to refuse to listen, but she nods her head. Ripping my shoulder from Atlas’s grip, I step forward. “Why can’t I feel my wolf or my mates?” There’s a note of desperation in my voice, and for once, I don’t try to hide it. “If Star is the source of my magic, I’m going to need to access her.”

I sense the change in the atmosphere at the mention of my mates, and I’m surprised that even Luna is frowning. No one says anything, waiting for their queen’s reaction, but there’s a tension that hadn’t been there before.

“Yes, yourmates.” The disgust in her voice makes me bristle with anger, and I want to jump to defend them, but she speaks again before I get the chance. “They are going to be a problem.” Her nose crinkles with distaste, but I see the moment that she contemplates my last comment, her head tilting to one side as she examines me like a puzzle. “We’ve blocked all access to any magical connections. We couldn’t have your mates tracking you down and leading the werewolves to our sanctuary.” She rubs at her chin thoughtfully. “Unfortunately, that must have separated you from your wolf as a consequence. We’ll find a way to release your magic, but we’re going to keep blocking your connections to your mates.”

Knowing that I’m going to be able to reach Star again should reassure me, but I only feel panic at the mention of being cut off from my mates.

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