47

"B...brother?" Savannah stuttered, hating the tremble in her voice. She tried desperately to hold herself together, but a wave of dizziness engulfed her and she nearly fainted even though she was sitting.

The loss of blood combined with the poison still in her body had completely drained her of energy. And now Lucifer--Parthia, the Prince--was saying that Zion was his older brother? "But how? I've met his father, Victor Forrester..." She squeezed her eyes shut and leaned forward, taking deep breaths to fight off the blackness that threatened her vision.

"Ugh, Forrester!" Prince Parthia scoffed, curling up his lips as if the very name was distasteful. "That worthless old mutt. Don't know what my mother ever saw in him."

"Wait, your mother...." The pieces slowly fell together in Savannah's addled mind. "The Queen of Vinlarhk?"

"Obviously." Parthia rolled his eyes. "You finally understand what I'm saying?" he asked, his voice gravelly and much rougher than Zion's.

"Shh!" she held up her hand to shut him up, and stop him from advancing too closely. He had a wild light in his eyes she didn't want to observe intimately. "I've just seen proof confirming that Victor saved your mother from an assassination attempt. Many years ago, he crossed paths with a group of Alphas who were heading to your territory to kill her. They were working with our head of Council, Lord Alistair."

She took a deep breath before continuing, "Victor killed them before they could reach the queen. He saved her life, but for years he's been in exile for murdering those Alphas...until now, since we found proof of Alistair's involvement. The head of Council wanted to take over your kingdom and control the wealth and resources your land produces."

Parthia stopped pacing and frowned, rubbing his chin in thought. "So she was saved by a wandering rogue, then showed her gratitude by sleeping with him? Sounds like something my sentimental mother would do."

An awful feeling came over Savannah at the thought. "I don't even think Zion knows who his mother is. He did mention something about a one night stand, but his dad didn't like to talk about her."

Parthia sneered. "That's what he says. But all these years, he's probably been training and plotting to take over what rightfully belongs to me. That's why I have to end him for good, before he can ruin everything!" The Prince slammed his fist into his palm. "I won't let that scoundrel steal anything more from me."

"Anything more?" Savannah was puzzled. "And how do you even know your mother has another son? Wouldn't everyone know if the queen had a baby before you were born?"

Parthia looked at her like she was a stupid child, and shook his head patronisingly. "She went overseas for an extended period before marrying my father. One only need guess why she disappeared from the public eye for nine months. The elders in my kingdom barely know anything, the ignorant old fools. But when I kept hearing stories of the missing Lava Mount Ruby, I put two and two together, and here we are." He smiled, a cold expression that made Savannah's stomach twist in knots. "I've been hunting Zion down for years, but alas--he's an expert at evasion. Even killing his mate didn't work. It only drove him deeper underground; more elusive."

With each word he spoke, each sentence that unravelled his brutal biography, Savannah's hopes crashed and fear blossomed in her chest like deadly madenolia flowers.

Parthia was beyond cruel--he was downright evil.

"Then when I found out about you, his dear little Alpha," Parthia turned to her with a gleam in his darkened eyes, his use of Zion's familiar words making her even more afraid, "Imagine my excitement. I do hope Zion is the kind of man who would do anything to protect his second chance mate. It's going to be so much fun to watch him fall apart over and over as I torture you before his very eyes. Then, when I'm finished with you and he is beyond despair, I will crush him like the disgusting vermin he is. Such filthy blood will never, ever, sit on the throne of Vinlarhk. My throne. I will stop at nothing to keep what's mine!"

Savannah could only stare in horror at the madness in the Prince before her. He was so strong, so angry, and had the complete upper hand in this situation. He could kill her right now and not even wait for Zion to arrive. The illusion of saving her might be enough to draw Zion here, even if she was already dead. Suppressing a full body shudder, she changed the topic to give herself more time to think. "Where is Zion right now? Didn't your men abduct him along with me?"

Parthia shook his head and emitted a low, bitter growl. "He slipped from the fingers of the pathetic Saints. I gave them all the weapons they wanted, and still they let that weasel and his gutter rats scurry out of sight."

Relief washed over her like a cool wave on a hot summer's day, but it soon turned into a tsunami of destruction when Parthia continued.

"I did manage to capture one of your men, though." He turned to her and laughed sardonically. "Stupid boy was running after you like a forsaken puppy. What was his name? Broccoli? Spinach?"

Savannah's blood ran cold. "C...Cale?"

"Aha! Kale, that's it! Swore he couldn't leave your side. But don't worry, dear," Parthia soothed when he saw the stricken look on her face. "He's being kept nice and warm in our underground cellar, with that spunky shewolf we also caught. Such stupid loyalty. Instead of fighting for survival, you little wolves like to run straight into the lion's den. I can see why your packs are so weak and open to attack. Pathetic!" He curled his fists and sneered like a rabid dog.

Savannah took a deep breath to bolster whatever remaining courage she had.

When Parthia saw the concentrated look on her face, he shook his head quickly. "Don't bother trying to mind link him. The cellar is lined with silver, so no matter how highly ranked you are, no brain waves can get in or out."

Her claws protruded in her frustration, but with all the silver in her own system, a complete shift to her wolf was hindered. All she wanted to do was leap for his throat and tear his jugular to pieces, but perhaps keeping the Prince alive was the better option for all involved. "What's the Lava Mount Ruby got to do with this?" she decided to ask. In order to get the images out of her head of Cale cold, bruised and broken in an awful dungeon, she had to change topic and think of something else. "I've heard it belonged to your family, but it was stolen years ago."

"Not stolen," Parthia immediately scoffed and shook his head, his jaw clenching with irritation. "I have reason to believe my mother gave it to someone. You see, it has been passed down in my family from generation to generation for centuries, always given to the firstborn on their eighteenth birthday.

When I never received it, I began to grow suspicious. My mother would always brush me off, saying perhaps she'd misplaced it. I searched the royal treasury, but the staff hadn't seen it for years. Then I heard about a ruby that was up for auction by a prestigious gem dealer. Labeled the Gem of Catalya, I looked into it and found it matched the description of my ruby. That's when I first crossed paths with Zion. He too was after the ruby, and when I saw him, it all made sense.

I've never felt so betrayed or lied to by my own flesh and blood. My own mother!" He cursed, his footsteps growing heavier as he stomped back and forth across the room.

"Maybe...it's a different ruby?" she offered, still holding out hope that the Prince was mistaken, that Zion had nothing to do with the royal family, and that this nightmare would end before anyone else got hurt. If it was true what he said, that Zion truly was the firstborn of the Queen of Vinlarhk, then that would make him a Prince as well.

"Maybe that's why he's so strong. And impervious to silver," she muttered to herself, staring at the gilded wallpaper behind Parthia as memories sifted through her mind. All those times Zion defeated her and her men; his strength in the Rogue Wars; his immunity to toxins that made normal wolves sink to their knees. Was his invulnerability due to the royal blood in his veins? Were the highest-ranked Alphas in the northern province all naturally immune to silver? Was it special genetics or natural selection that bred for this particular trait?

"So it's true?" Parthia eyed her curiously, not daring to step closer even though he could see the blood stain growing on her bathrobe. He gave her a concerning look, but the deadly warning in her eyes was enough to keep him away. He didn't try touching her again though they both knew she was helpless under his hand. "I wasn't sure of the rumours," he said, "but after seeing how he responded to the lethal combination we injected him with in Kingston, I really do believe the Silver Rogue is more than just a name. Good thing I have an entire laboratory dedicated to finding something stronger that will paralyze him for certain."

The casual way he talked about it, like Zion was some animal in a lab experiment, made Savannah feel like throwing up. But then her earlier train of reasoning caught up. "So you aren't?"

"Aren't what?" Parthia looked up from his own thoughts, tilting his head curiously.

The action reminded her of someone else, someone with lighter hazel eyes and longer hair that curled around the nape of his neck. The similarities between this man and her own mate were disturbing, and she shook her head to clear the image. Though they shared blood, Zion was nothing like this monster. "You aren't impervious to silver. It weakens you like it does me?" She pushed her shoulders back and tried to appear the opposite of weak, lifting her chin defiantly despite the resentment that entered Parthia's eyes.

"I am nothing like you, shewolf. So don't ever compare me to your worthless self."

"Ouch. No need to get all self-righteous on me," she protested against his haughty tone.

He cracked a grin, smiling at her condescendingly before leaning over her coldly. The warmth of his breath where it tickled her face contrasted to the ice in his jade eyes. "Oh, and I suppose you know what righteousness is, am I right? The good little Alpha who protects her territory by endlessly killing rogues, then goes on a little excursion to the big city and learns exactly how to party with the best of them? Yeah, that's right," he grinned at the surprise on her face. "I know all about your wild behaviour. I'm sure the Council will just love to see how far you've fallen in disgrace."

"I don't care what the Council thinks."

"Oh really? That's not what it sounded like when you freaked out over the scandalous images I sent them. Your precious Lord Alistair had so much fun holding that over your head," he smirked. "And you know what? I have something even better in my arsenal." He pulled a phone from his pocket and began searching for something.

When he held it up for her to see a couple moments later, another wave of dizziness threatened to drag her under. For not only had Parthia been stalking her in Hierapolis and taken the photos of her at the party, but it seemed he'd followed her right back to her own territory.

The image on the phone was dark and fuzzy, but the outlines of her and Justin were unmistakable. Moonlight and image enhancement cast silver light on their kiss, the moment her perspective of Justin changed forever. Something had shifted between them; their easy friendship and familial bond changing to one of tension and unease.

And the moment had been captured by this monster before her.

"What do you want from me? Why do this?" she seethed, her face growing red from anger as she glared at Parthia.

"It should be quite easy to see by now, don't you think? I want to destroy you. You and your pathetic pack, and anyone else Zion might care about. My only question is, when I send this to him, will he race here and want to kiss you...or kill you?"

Kiss or kill?

Even the words were familiar, the sentiment that had plagued her relationship with Zion from the beginning. How much did Parthia know about them? How many times had their tender moments been spied upon by this cunning demon?

The evil laugh he gave was matched by the deadly growl from Savannah. Leaping from her chair, she snatched the phone from his hand and threw it against it wall. Even as it shattered and flew apart in a hundred pieces, she knew he'd have another copy of the incriminating photo elsewhere. There was no stopping whatever sick plan Parthia had concocted.

She leaned over and grasped her stomach, pressing her hand over the wound that still hurt like a dozen knives plunged into her skin at once. Her sudden exertion had reopened whatever skin had begun to stitch back together.

In her periphery, she watched Parthia approach and scoop her up in his strong arms. Placing her on the bed carefully, he leaned over her. "I will send him the photo, and not only will it allow him to trace our location, but it will give him even more reason to find you. Don't worry, dear Savannah," he breathed almost tenderly as he traced a cold finger down her cheek. "You will see your beloved mate soon enough."

The door to the bedroom opened and Parthia called out cheerily. "Ah, Margaret, perfect timing. Make sure she drinks this."

Savannah was too shaken to see what he was talking about. A few moments after he'd left the room, she felt the bed dip behind her.

"Come on, Darl. I know it tastes bitter but it will do you good. You'll feel better in no time, I promise."

Savannah turned slowly to the shewolf beside her, the one who'd brought the food earlier. She was young, perhaps only a decade older than the Alpha. Her slim face was weary with creases beyond her years, her eyes faded without any glint of hope. "Why do you work for him? Can't you see he's a monster?"

Margaret shrugged. "I wouldn't call it work." She lifted her shoulders and dropped them in resignation. "He has my daughter."

Savannah sat up straighter, bracing an arm to hold her weight. "He's abducted her? I can help--"

Maragert shook her head. "Not like that. You see, she's sick. Been sick from birth." The shewolf pushed a strand of dark blond hair back from her face. "I couldn't afford the right treatment, until I met someone who told me about a job. I was pretty desperate at that stage. I knew it wasn't completely right, but Daisy was..." her lip trembled and Savannah reached a hand out to cover hers. "My baby girl was so weak. Parthia promised all the treatment she needed. It was a miracle. She's doing so well, and that's all that matters. The best for my little angel. That's all that matters."

Savannah frowned, seeing the heartache in the woman before her, but the injustice of her situation railing against her own sense of right and wrong. What would she sacrifice in order to protect those she loved? As Cale had put it, were they all one tragedy away from turning rogue? Was there no other way to survive in this dark, twisted world?

"So drink up, please. For all our sake's." Margaret pushed the glass into her hand, and Savannah reluctantly took it.

It tasted like burnt aluminium, the metallic flavour coating her teeth and etching her tongue as she forced herself to swallow it. Her stomach churned, her belly feeling like it was expanding with noxious gases.

"It will cause discomfort for a bit, but that's just the tonic doing it's job. You were hit pretty hard with those nasty chemicals. Just rest for a while and I'll come check on you later."

"Thanks, I guess," Savannah murmured, just wanting to curl up into a ball, close her eyes, and slip into a dreamless sleep. Maybe then she might forget the betrayal, the abduction, and now this perverse torture from a charming Prince who only wanted to created chaos.

_______

It might have been a few hours or even a few days before Savannah woke up next. She couldn't tell the time of day even when she peered over the heavy covers of the bed at the window on the wall behind her. The time passed with gut-twisting pain, shivers that wracked her body, and cold sweats that coated her skin in a silver sheen.

Only after regaining strength from the food Margaret brought on a few occasions, could Savannah drag herself from bed and look out the window herself.

The land outside resembled a high security military compound. Grey brick buildings surrounded the one she was imprisoned in, and beyond that an eight-foot barbed wire topped iron fence fortified the facilities. Savannah watched as men trained in the open areas, jogged laps around the compound, and tested weapons on a firing range. Guards patrolled every street and corner, while cameras monitored from all angles.

"I wouldn't even think of escaping, if I were you."

Savannah spun at the familiar voice, and before Talei could even notice the sudden rage on the Alpha's face, she was pinned to the wall in a vice-like grip.

"Don't you dare talk to me about escape, you two-faced, lying traitor!" Savannah hissed, relishing in the burn of her muscles as she held Talei off her feet. It had been too long since the Alpha had exercised her dominance over another, and this slimy snake was the perfect candidate for her wrath. "I wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for you, so the only escape you need to worry about is your own. From my judgement!"

"What are you going to do to me?" Talei gasped, smirking despite the hand wrapped firmly around her throat.

Savannah narrowed her eyes, allowing her wolf to surface and intimidate its prey. "When I get out of here, I'm going to lock you in the darkest dungeon in the Justice Pack, starve you of every necessity, then give you silver to drink when you're begging for water. Maybe then, you'll understand what you've done to me."

"I don't think so. You see, in order to do that, you'll have to defeat Lucifer. And no one defeats him."

"Is that so?" Savannah eased up on her grip, allowing Talei to slide back down to her feet. Her arm was shaking from the strain, but she crossed it with the other over her chest and stood firmly up to the traitorous rogue shewolf. "Your murderous leader, Lucifer, clearly hasn't met Zion face to face yet. Prince Parthia killed his mate, and by doing so, has signed his own death warrant." Savannah feigned confidence in Zion, but in truth, she was a mess inside. If Zion eventually did find her here, where would she stand in regards to his ambition? Would he come to kill Parthia and rescue her, or would he turn his back on his second chance after seeing that damning photo Parthia sent him? Would any of them withstand the cunning manipulation of the Prince?

"Don't underestimate the Prince," Talei whispered, her eyes holding Savannah's steadily while she advanced forward.

In that moment of connection, Savannah saw something subtle flicker across the rogue's eyes. It was brief, but she recognised it. "You're afraid of him, aren't you? You know he's a monster, so why are you doing this for him?"

Talei immediately shook her head. "I'm not afraid. It's you who should be afraid. I've finally aligned myself with the most powerful leader, so there's nothing more to worry about."

"But whatever happened to remaining loyal to Zion? You spy on him these last few weeks, then betray him after all he's done for you?"

"Like what? He left me! Skipped town to chase his own demons. He broke his promise to me, so now the Prince is giving me the protection I need."

"Protection?"

Talei looked away as if realising she'd said too much. "Whatever. No one will ever find me here." She moved to brush past Savannah, but the Alpha caught her arm.

"Talk to me, Tal. I trusted you once. Don't turn your back on me now."

Talei laughed, her voice high and mirthless. "So sentimental. It's emotions like these I've spent my life running from. They'll only leave you bruised and bitter."

"What about Willow? You're just going to let her die in the cold cellar with no medical attention?"

Talei shrugged. "Not my problem she was stupid enough to throw herself between Zion and a deadly round of poison."

Before Savannah could bark out a sharp response, a loud explosion rocked the compound. Both shewolves ran to the window and looked out, watching in shock as a mushroom cloud billowed at the eastern corner. Metal fencing lay twisted and bent around the impact zone, bricks strewn far as men shouted amidst chaos.

Talei cursed. "They've breached the east gate!" she shouted into a radio she'd pulled from the belt at her hip. Then she grabbed Savannah around the arm and began tugging her towards the door.

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on!" the Alpha demanded, planting her feet and shaking the rogue off. Gunshots rang out from the ground below, shouts and orders screaming over a series of smaller explosions. The idea that Zion had found them and was crashing the gates down sent a small thrill through Savannah. But it was quickly chased away by the sickening realisation that he was now so much closer to the man who wanted him dead.

"You're not in a position to make demands, Missy!" Talei growled, reaching into her jacket and brandishing a silver knife.

"Really? You're going to try and fight me with a knife? Bring it on."

Savannah jutted her chin and motioned the rogue forwards. Feeling stronger than she had in a long time, the Alpha let the adrenaline surge through her veins and infuse energy into her entire body. But before she could take a step forward, the door burst open and a half dozen men filed in, each carrying semi-automatic weapons and enough bullets to forge a small cage.

"Lucifer has given orders to commence stage 3," one of them spoke roughly, jerking his head at Savannah.

Talei smirked. "Let the fun begin."

"I don't think so." Savannah spun on her heels and leapt for the opem window. The drop wasn't too far to the ground, and in her weakened condition she might only break a few bones. Her fingers closed over the cold steel ledge and prepared to propel her forwards, but a small sting in her neck sent her tumbling against the wall.

Her world tipped, her vision blurring as Talei loomed over her with a wicked grin. "Thought you could really escape? So predictably stupid."

Savannah kicked out, but it was useless. Her legs and arms flailed as the men grabbed her roughly and dragged her downstairs and to a brightly lit room. It resembled a lab, benches set up with beakers and bottles of colourful liquids decorating the space. Apparatus bubbled away over bunsen burners, and a strong metallic stench hung heavy in the air. Savannah gagged, the concoction of poison and cure turning bittter in her stomach.

She was shoved into a chair and tied down, her hands soon becoming numb behind her back.

"Here, let's try version twenty four point seven. Mark the response," a young man declared as he approached her with a needle in one hand. With the other, he grabbed her upper arm and jabbed her vein, injecting the lustrous grey liquid into her. "Just a small dose, so as not to kill the subject."

"Not too quickly, anyway," someone added with a low chuckle.

After a few moments, papers shuffled, and through blurry vision Savannah watched the three or four technicians sliding documents into folders before exiting the lab.

In her periphery, she caught a glimpse of Parthia in the distance behind tall glass windows, but he soon disappeared when loud shots and explosions echoed down the hallways. The Alpha fought to stay alert, but the poison was too strong. It slowed her lungs, making it difficult to suck in enough oxygen. Her neck dropped, her eyes refusing to stay open. Black vignetting shrouded her vision, and it would be so easy to just give in and let it drag her under.

A familiar scent prodded her in the back like a stockwhip, demanding she focus.

"Peaches?" Her lips moved, barely uttering the word. "And cypress. A forest full of tall cypress." Memories rushed in, of golden tipped hair that fluttered in the breeze, soft under her fingers like silk. Hazel eyes that danced with secrets, mysteries beckoning for her to come explore. A deep voice that rumbled through a chest so broad and strong, arms that wrapped around her waist securely and wouldn't let her go. Lips that captured hers with a promise so tender, it brought tears to her eyes.

"Zion?"

"I'm here, little Alpha. I've got you."

Her hands were gently released from their bonds, and she fell forward into an embrace she never wanted to forget.

She buried her nose in his neck and inhaled deeply. Even just his scent and light touch broke through the worst of the fog in her brain. Looking up into his eyes, Savannah felt even stronger. When he tugged her to her feet, she threw her arms around his neck and cried against this chest. "I was so worried about you. Don't ever leave me again," she admonished, feeling so overwhelmed with emotions that she didn't know whether to shout her frustration at him or whisper declarations of love.

"Don't worry. I've got you now," Zion breathed tenderly, his hand on the back of her head hotter than the noon sun.

When she pulled back to look at him, she read more than relief in his gaze. There was a shadow of doubt, of questions. "You saw the photo..." she began, but he hushed her.

"Of you and Justin? It's okay. I spoke with him. He told me it didn't mean anything."

Savannah couldn't believe he truly meant that. Mates didn't usually let slide a direct challenge to their bond. If she were him and being totally honest, she would punch Justin for what he'd done, and demand he stay away for the rest of his life.

"I'm just glad you're okay. I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you," Zion continued, his soft words making Savannah more and more uncomfortable.

Parthia had been right--Savannah had drawn Zion here like a spider into its trap.

"Come on, let's go--"

"You shouldn't have come here," Savannah blurted, shaking her head as tears began falling from her eyes. "I'm so sorry."

"I don't understand..." Zion frowned, trying to tug her into his arms when she stepped back.

"Then perhaps I can explain."

The gravelly voice made Savannah wince, and she watched in agony as Zion turned to face the Prince of Vinlarhk.