Chapter 153: The sins of the father (ii)

"Open the gates! Open the gates!"

Willow was out of bed immediately, her heart slamming in her ribs.

She crossed to the window to see men running toward the gate. When it swung open, a horse came through with a lone rider and a cart ratting behind it.

Lucius was back.

Relief washed over her so quickly. It could mean her father was back too.

Every day since they rode out she had been waiting for their return.

She had been unable to sleep soundly due to the guards that had been put on her. They followed her everywhere she went. If she went to the dining hall, they were there and even now, they remained in front of her door.

No one had said it outright, but Willow was not stupid. She knew better than to believe it was for her protection.

She was a prisoner.

No one else would speak to her. The women of the household looked through her when she passed. News traveled fast in a palace and everyone knew now who she was. The girl from the enemy pack.

Willow quickly turned away from the window, grabbed her robe and rushed from her room.

Everything would be fine and she had been worrying for nothing.

The guards outside immediately followed her.

She hurried into the courtyard just as Lucius dismounted from his horse with several of his men surrounding him immediately.

She slowed down as she looked him over. There was blood on him and his shirt was torn in several places.

"You are back," she said, forcing a smile onto her face.

Lucius did not answer. He did not even look at her.

Instead, he turned toward the cart that had entered behind him.

Willow frowned as she watched him reach inside it and pull something out.

Her smile disappeared.

Ayla.

Willow stared.

Ayla was unconscious. Her body hung limply in Lucius’s arms and her hair was disheveled.

Willow’s stomach twisted.

What had happened?

She looked toward the cart as Amara climbed down, exhaustion boldly written on her face with the way she stumbled forward before catching herself.

"Take her to the room," he said to the nearest guards, and passed Ayla into their arms like a sack of grain. He jerked his chin at two more men. "And carry the witch. She cannot walk."

Amara opened her mouth, and whatever she meant to say died unspoken as two guards took her by the arms and half-carried her across the yard.

Willow watched them.

She had so many questions.

What had happened?Where was her father?

Her eyes moved around the courtyard.

She did not see him anywhere which could only mean he had not come back with them.

She turned toward Lucius.

"Lucius, where is my father?"

He finally looked at her and Willow froze at the rage in his eyes.

He stared at her for several seconds, saying nothing before he laughed.

It was a cold sound.

"Your father?"

Willow swallowed, trying to keep her voice steady.

"I thought..."

"Your father proved to be exactly as unreliable as I assumed him to be."

Willow blinked. "What?"

"He sided with the enemy."

Lucius took a step closer.

Willow shook her head. "I don’t understand."

"What do you not understand, my dear Willow?"

His voice was calm now and that somehow made it worse.

"Your father did not care whether you lived or died in this place. He sold us out to Kieran."

Willow shook her head from side to side. "He wouldn’t..."

"He did." Lucius’ eyes narrowed. "Even while knowing you were here. He made his choice and it wasn’t you."

Willow’s eyes filled with tears.

"Lucius..."

"I suggest you return to your room and you stay out of my sight. I do not want you to pay for your father’s sins."

He signaled to the guards and they stepped forward.

One of the men cleared his throat as a signal for her to get moving.

Willow watched as Lucius walked away, her mind refusing to process what she had just heard.

Her father had betrayed Lucius and sided with Kieran and he had left her here in enemy’s territory where she was hated by everyone.

"Lady Willow?"

She turned without answering and allowed the guards to lead her back. They got to her room and she was ushered in, the door closing behind her, this time unlike before she was locked in.

Willow stood in the middle of the room for a long time.

She should have known, shouldn’t she?

It wasn’t surprising what her father had done. He had always put himself first her whole life even going as fat as killing her mother to protect himself.

Willow walked to the window and lowered herself into the chair beside it.

The moment she sat down, she began to cry. She covered her face with both hands and her shoulders shook.

She hated him. She hated her father.

How could he do this to her?

How could he know she was here and still betray the only person powerful enough to keep her alive?

How could he leave her behind like she meant nothing?

She cried until her head hurt and her eyes burned. Until she could barely breathe.

Fathers were supposed to protect their children. Her father apparently never got the memo.

When evening came, a maid brought her food but Willow would not touch it.

Lucius’ words kept ringing in her head.

I do not want you to pay for your father’s sins.

What did that mean?Was he going to kill her?Would he lock her in the dungeon?

Would he decide that she was just as much of an enemy as her father?

She had no idea and that uncertainty terrified her.

By morning, Willow was exhausted.

Her eyes were swollen and her throat hurt. Her body ached from sitting in the same position for so long but one thought had finally taken root in her mind.

She needed to see Lucius and she had to fix this. Her father might have betrayed him, but she had not.

She had served Lucius and she had helped him as best she could. She had proven herself useful over and over again.

He could not possibly throw all of that away because of her father’s actions.

Could he?

No. She would not let that happen.

She would beg if she had to. There was absolutely no shame in it.

What good was pride if it got her killed?

She needed to survive and Lucius was the only person standing between her and whatever fate awaited her now.

She would remind him that she was not her father and she had nothing to do with his betrayal. She would swear her loyalty to him and tell him she was ready to serve him in any way he wanted.

If he wanted proof, then she would give him proof. Anything at all to prove she was not like her father.

She rose to her feet, crossed to the door, and lifted her hand to knock when the door was flung open from the other side.

Willow jumped backward as two guards stepped inside the room.

"Alpha Lucius has summoned you to his study."

Willow’s throat closed.

Had he already made his decision? Was she too late? Had he decided she was a threat?Was he going to punish her for what her father had done?

"Of course," she said, her voice shaking just a little. "Lead the way."