Chapter 200: Hidden Agendas

Not ready yet?

Amara slammed her fist into the stone wall.

Pain shot through her hand and up her arm and she welcomed it.

Not ready? She thought, breathing heavily as she stared at the wall.

Does Ayla have any idea... any idea at all what she had sacrificed to get her here?...

She turned away from the wall, her head throbbing.

Her powers were not as it used to be ever since that spell and she could not simply take what she needed to refill it.

The last thing she wanted was fingers beginning to point at her. They did not trust her yet and she saw it in the way they all ignored her most of the time.

Amara began pacing, back and forth, her mind a jumbled mess.

They were all waiting for her to make one mistake and reveal her true intentions. But they did not understand.

She was not going to destroy Ayla.

She was going to make her powerful...powerful enough that no Alpha would ever be able to control her again.

Amara stopped pacing.

The plan had always been simple.

Come with Ayla, train her and help her master her powers.

Lucius might be dead but Amara’s plans was still the same, it had not changed. She wanted a world where the Omega Dualis reigned supreme and all Alphas were brought to their knees.

She wanted her revenge and it was so within reach.

Only Aylawas getting on her last nerve.

The girl had been standing there in the hallway with Damon... flirting.

She was the most powerful being to exist in centuries but she was currently more interested in kissing the princes in hallways than master the power burning inside her.

"Unbelievable." Amara rolled her eyes. "Shameless."

She stopped then sighed.

Perhaps she was being too harsh.

Ayla was still young...barely nineteen.

Of course she wanted to experience life and she wanted love.

After everything she had endured, perhaps it was natural that she would want to enjoy the little things like laughter, romance and freedom.

Amara understood that more than anyone else considering what she was about to do... Ayla deserved happiness and she wished she could give it to her but she could not afford that.

She needed her to understand what she is for what she has planned to manifest itself.

She could not do that if Ayla was still a weak, simpering love struck fool.

Amara closed her eyes.

She needed patience so she would wait for a few more days. She would give Ayla time to rest and collect herself but not forever.

If she still refused to train in a couple of days then she would have to intervene.

If Ayla forced her hand then she would do what needed to be done and make her see reason.

...

Ares sat across from his father in the private study, his expression was serious.

"There was an attack yesterday." he said.

That was the reason Ares had left the banquet hall.

A man had been caught trying to sneak into the palace and the guards had taken him before he could. After they had questioned him thoroughly, the man had revealed that he had been sent by the Alpha council.

He had lied to Ayla.

He hated doing it but she had been absolutely terrified and he could not have told her that a man had been caught trying to infiltrate the palace.

His job was to protect her and sometimes protecting someone meant keeping certain truths away from them until they were strong enough to face them.

Ayla needed to live, laugh and feel safe.

She needed to experience the life that had been stolen from her.

Powers or not, she was still a young woman who had been afraid for most of her life and had suffered for that much.

Ares wanted to give her peace and if that meant he had to lie to her, then so be it.

"It was only a matter of time," Kieran muttered.

"Yes." Ares sighed.

He knew it had only been a matter of time but he had not expected it so soon.

"What is the plan?" Kieran asked his son.

"I have sent men back to Emberfall to find Miranda. She is the one person who has interacted with them. She said so herself when we spoke and we would need her to give us names. They are anonymous now and it does not put us in the best position."

"How do you intend to find her?" Kieran frowned. "For all we know, she could be far away already."

"No." Ares shook his head. "I am almost certain she is still there."

"How?"

"Her relationship with the Alpha Council is nonexistent." Ares folded his hands. "And after everything that happened, she knows we are looking for her. She is trying to evade us and she would think Emberfall the last place we would expect her to remain."

Kieran nodded slowly. "That makes sense."

"I wrote a note to Alistair and Willow. Alistair knows Emberfall better than anyone and Willow knows Miranda."

Kieran nodded.

"That is good work, son."

For a moment, neither of them spoke then Ares looked at his father.

"So..."

"What?" Kieran suddenly looked uncomfortable.

"What is with you and Brenna?"

Ares watched his father’s face heat and Ares’ own eyes widened.

"You cannot be serious." Ares stared at his father.

"What?" Kieran glared at him. "She was here for me when we... when Ayla was kidnapped. And we have been here for each other since. We kind of have been, Ares."

"I am not arguing the fact, Father but... it is Brenna."

"She has changed."

"Has she? Or is she simply satisfied with where she is now?"

Kieran was quiet for a long moment.

"You did not see her, Ares." he finally said. "You did not see how torn and broken she was when what happened, happened. She blamed herself for everything...for Ayla being taken, for not protecting her. I held her while she wept, son. I have seen the woman underneath the armor. She has changed."

Ares studied his father’s face.

There was something there...something he had not seen in years.

"I just want your happiness, Father." Ares sighed.

"I know." Kieran smiled, reaching across the table, his hand settling briefly on Ares’. "I am happy."