Chapter 149: No one is safe

Soren was led through the corridors toward Lucius’s chambers. He did not say a word as he walked.

Something about the guard’s urgency bothered him. Lucius had summoned him before but this felt different.

The moment they reached the chambers, the guard opened the door and stepped aside.

Soren walked in and stopped.

Amara was standing to the side of the room. Her arms were folded across her chest, her expression grim. She did not look at Soren when he entered.

Lucius was pacing back and forth muttering under his breath.

And then Soren saw Ayla.

She was tied to a chair in the middle of the room. Her wrists were bound behind her and her ankles were tied to the legs of the chair.

A piece of cloth was wrapped tightly around her mouth and the skin around it was red and raw where she had been straining against it. Her hair had come loose from its pins, hanging in tangles around her face while tears streamed down her cheeks.

She was shaking her head violently, making muffled sounds behind the gag.

Soren stared.

What the hell?

"What is going on?" Soren asked.

Lucius turned toward him like he was only just realizing Soren was there.

"Thank Goddess, Soren." Lucius crossed the room in three strides and seized Soren by the shoulders, his grip tight enough to bruise. "Soren. You need to take us to the tunnels now. We need to leave."

Soren looked at him.

"Leave? We agreed we would leave during the festival when the crowd would give us cover to..."

"We cannot wait that long." Lucius cut him off.

He jerked his head toward Ayla without looking at her. "She remembers everything. It is only a matter of time before they come looking for her.

Lucius released him, running a hand though his hair.

"Amara has been fucking useless in recreating the spell."

Amara’s expression darkened. "I told you it was not something that could simply be recreated."

"I do not care what you told me." Lucius turned on her.

Soren looked from her to Ayla, and the pieces began to fit together with stark clarity.

So that was what Lucius had done... a spell.He had taken her memories away.

Ayla made another muffled sound, her body jerked against the ropes.

Lucius turned toward her.

"Shut up."

She froze.

Soren looked at Lucius. There was something about the way he said it that made Soren’s stomach turn.

Ayla’s eyes squeezed shut and more tears slipped down her cheeks.

For the first time since all of this had begun, Soren felt actual pity for her.

She looked terrified.

Knowing what he knew now about Lucius, he could imagine why the man was panicking. If Ayla remembered everything, then his safety here was over.

Soren’s mind raced.

He had to tell Kieran... he owed that much to his friend.

Whatever had happened between them, whatever had made him stand on the wrong side of this conflict, Kieran was still his friend and Lucius was his enemy.

He had to warn him.

But your daughter, another part of his mind argued. If anything happened, Willow would be in danger.

Soren closed his eyes for a moment.

She was in danger either way, he thought.

That was the truth he had been refusing to accept. Whether he helped Lucius or not, Willow’s safety was not guaranteed but if Lucius succeeded, no one would be safe except for him and whoever he wanted to be.

"Don’t you worry about it," Soren said, clasping Lucius on the shoulders. "I am going to check on the tunnels, see if it is safe for us to use tonight."

Lucius stared at him, relief washing across his face.

"That is a great idea." He nodded. "Take one of my men with you."

Soren immediately shook his head.

"No. The last thing I want moving around in this place is to look suspicious and moving around with a guard is definitely suspicious."

Lucius considered it before he nodded.

"Fine."

Soren turned toward the door.

"I will be back. Give me a moment."

He paused at the door to cast Lucius a reassuring smile before he walked out.

The moment the door closed behind him, his expression changed.

He walked faster to find Kieran.

...

The guards stationed outside immediately straightened when they saw him headed in their direction.

Soren stopped in front of them.

"Announce me." he said.

"Lord Kieran is unavailable to see anyone at the moment." The guard looked him up and down and Soren could see the sneer on his face.

He knew by now half the people in the palace were aware of his betrayal.

"Do you really want to try that with me?" he glared at the man whose expression faltered.

He may be nobody in the pack anymore but he used to be their superior and they both respected and feared him. He could see that that had not changed yet.

"In the gardens," the guard said at last.

Soren did not waste another second.

He turned and walked away. He needed to find Kieran before Lucius realized what he was doing.

Soren reached the gardens, stopping at the entrance.

He had expected to see Kieran but not the rest of the people gathered there.

There was Master Aldric, Ares, Cassian and even Damon and they all had grim expressions on their faces.

Something had happened, something serious.

He took another step before he saw what they were all looking at.

A body lay on the ground... was that Henry? A cloak had been thrown over him but he could see his face, bloated with blood on every corner and opening.

Kieran slowly looked up, his eyes settling on Soren. His eyebrows furrowed.

"Soren, what were you doing here?"

Soren turned his attention to Kieran. He took another step forward, urgency now returning to him.

"You need to come with me... all of you. Lucius is about to escape."

"Escape?" Damon eyed him in suspicion.

"Yes, Ayla remembers everything."