Forsaken & Claimed

Chapter 23

Abel

If I could gouge my eyes out or shove my blade into my ears, I would. I could've gone my whole life not seeing this and been happy—a silent prayer of thanks to the great Kokko that she's not as loud as usual. If Cairo's foot tapped any harder, he would stomp a hole in the ground. Out of nowhere, it stopped, and his frown flipped into a smile. That's not good.

"What is it," Cain asked.

"I know how to put Beta in their place and get her back," he said.

"How?"

"Let them get comfortable, that they won, then swoop in and crush them," Cairo said.

Glancing back out to the center, I instantly regretted it. Why was he fucking her so hard? It should be me down there with her, no one else.

"Wishing you did your job better," Cairo asked.

"Wishing I could kill them, " I said.

"If we play our hand right, we can."

Is Owen done yet? We don't have all night. I take a couple of slow breaths. The next time she and I meet, I will see if she changed her mind. I don't know how long I can deal with knowing all of the things they will do to her. The torture finally ended, and I was at the door in the blink of an eye.

*****

Three Months Later

Ares

"She's been doing well in training and her studies. She knows what's expected of her," Owen said, flipping through our report.

"Yes, I'm sure you two are proud, but she's not ready," I said, sliding the message under a pile of papers.

"A test then, with a few close associates. If she makes a mistake, they'll be more understanding, and she'll learn a lesson," he said.

I hate his mohawk makes his grin smug like the high-born he is. Not going through with it could prove worse in the long run. If she has an outburst in the wrong company, all of us will be on the chopping block. Our leadership will come into question.

"Fine, I'll send the invites, but she takes whatever punishment she earns."

"Of course. You and Casimir can handle the preparations. I'll be back later," he said, adjusting the collar of his ceremonial uniform in the mirror.

"Is there a chance they'll let up?"

No one from the council has denied one of my requests for a while well, besides General Rowen and Nastri. Their favoritism towards Alpha is sickening, but they would need the majority vote. Did they find out about the incident when we captured her?

"The council is adamant about making an example out of her to deter other females from getting any ideas about being more than what they are," he said.

"They live in fear of the past. We're in control now," I said.

"How we handle her transition will determine everything. That day was just the beginning. All that terrifying power waiting to be tapped into."

My stomach churned, remembering the icy waves of vibrations she emitted the day we recaptured her. Two sedatives did the trick but not before she made her proclamation. One that could cause a lot of problems. I hate it when the council butts in on personal matters. For once, I may not oppose their judgment. She's very odd; most in her position would have questions about relatives even if they have ill feelings about them. Maybe I will do it; if I help them, it will put all of this to rest.