Half-Blooded | The Dark Child Prophecy Series [✔️]

Chapter 32.5: Hell [Part 2]

After he put away the burn phone back in its hiding place, Jason set out in search of Thomas. Trying to remain calm, he left his room and headed down for the main hall. When the main security guard wasn't on the floor, he could be found in the office wing. Once Jason reached the banister, he looked around for the redheaded security captain.

"Ah, there he is. Back from playing Prince Charming?"

Jason turned to find his mother waiting for him, her gaze and smile expectant. He immediately felt anger burn his cheeks, and it was all he could do to not growl in her presence. "Mother," he answered, keeping his voice flat as he descended the stairs.

Vraal chuckled as he came up behind Victoria on her divan and kissed the top of her head. "Join us in our little celebration. You've been out looking for Miss Mezdor for what, forty-eight hours now? Come have a drink. You should be as excited as we are."

Jason dropped down the last few steps and came to stand just beyond them at the edge of the fur carpet. Its black thick strands made him think of Serenity, her body contoured by firelight. "Excited, about?"

Victoria giggled, leaning her head into her hand on the end of the little sofa. "Oh my, he doesn't know. I thought you would have been smart enough to smell it on her the last time you saw her. We just found out ourselves through the grapevine."

"Smelled what on her, Mother?"

Victoria lowered her drink, smiling at him with sweetness. "That you're bonded to the girl, of course." When he didn't respond right away, she blinked in surprise. "You really didn't know? The Mezdor girl is mated to you. Surely you knew."

"Congratulations," Vraal added. "We only assumed she's the one. You've been enamored with that girl ever since she flipped her tail for you."

Jason's face darkened. They knew his secret.

"Of course, she is part-vampire. I suppose there's no harm in believing that there may be another lover, perhaps two," his mother added. "Seems to be the norm."

He growled softly in his throat, his hands gripping into fists. "There is no one else. Serenity is Wolf."

"Oh, my darling, you really are tail over paws for her. She's a half-blood, Jason," Victoria replied, her head shaking.

"She's still Wolf," he argued, forced to look down when she narrowed her eyes at him. "I want her found."

"I'm sure she'll turn up somewhere," Vraal answered him, his voice calm as he leaned back against the bar counter behind him. "She has a tendency to disappear, doesn't she? Runs off on a whim to do whatever she pleases?"

Victoria looked up and over her shoulder at her husband, her eyebrows rising. "That isn't the makings of a mate, Jason. She's a half-blood. Her vampire instincts will always smother any wolf instincts. Her only purpose to us, and now this little accident of yours for bonding, is to serve and protect the Pack. And that is all. Her blood is the key to building our forces. And, of course, she won't be your public mate. We do have an image to uphold."

Jason growled softly. "You can't use her as a weapon. She's one of us. And with her as my mate, I don't want you near her, even if it means I renounce my Alphahood."

The queen alpha smirked again, hiding her mouth behind her hand for a moment. "Don't be so dramatic. If she is one of us, I am her alpha. I will command as I see fit. If that means I want to keep an eye on my new little prize, then I will command that she be kept here, no matter your objections. Both of you will learn your obedience to the Alpha. I told you I wanted to know everything about how to use her gene for our cause. You, my darling, have simply ignored that. However, I suppose your methods have yielded some results."

Jason clenched his jaw tightly.

Vraal watched his son as the younger man fought the urge to say something against the order. "Jason, you keep saying Miss Mezdor is Pack. She may not be a full wolf, but any children may be. If she is to be part of this family, she will abide by our rules. I won't have a grandchild raised by Dead Men. Am I understood?"

"Yes, sir."

Jason bent his head forward in a deep nod and turned to go after glancing at his mother's look of victory on her face. Serenity wasn't safe. His mother was toying with him, baiting him with her perspective: Serenity Mezdor, the Second Hybrid, was a weapon. Not a woman. If he obeyed and agreed that she needed to remain in the compounds, his mother would be one step closer to getting what she wanted.

He made his way into the guard offices above the basement doors where he found the redheaded guardsman sharpening stakes to place in the arsenal. "Thomas," he said, his voice cool.

Thomas stood swiftly in one fluid motion, his head lowering. "Master Alpha." He straightened and sat when Jason gestured him to. "What can I do for you, sir?"

Jason flicked his eyes over him, taking in his emotions and body language. He was calm, but somewhat on edge. "Serenity. I want her removed from Nelson's facility," he answered.

Thomas's mouth began to open, but Jason shook his head. He didn't want to hear the company line his parents had forced in everyone's mouths.

"I know she's here, Thomas. I know my parents ordered you and Daniel to abduct her. And I want your help getting her out."

Thomas sighed and lowered his head, looking at the floor. "I'm sorry, Jason. I had to follow orders," he said softly. "I don't agree with the Butcher's methods or your parents' plans for her. I don't understand the point of harming her." He glanced up to watch as Jason's face hardened. "How do you want to do this?"

"I've already called the Mezdors. If I can get her to her family, they will take care of her from there. Even if it means Lady Elizabeth withdraws our petition of peace between the houses," Jason answered.

The redhead nodded, the side of his mouth quirking.

"They'll be here by the time the run starts," Jason went on. "Maria will meet them at the edge of the property to get them to the pack house. From there, Luce and Lady Selway will join us here on the inside. I'm going to need your help in making sure the guards are gone or subdued. I don't want anyone to get seriously injured or sound the alarm. And I want it done as quickly and quietly as possible."

"Sounds like a good plan," Thomas said, nodding again.

Jason glanced away, unsure if he wanted to ask the question on his mind. He bit down on his back teeth again. "How bad is it?"

The guard paused from about to place the finished stake in a box off to his right. He sighed. "She's not well. I don't want you to torture yourself with the image. She's alive, and that's what matters. I wasn't going to let them kill her with pure indifference for her life, just to find answers."

He sighed, somewhat relieved by those words. "Thank you," Jason said softly, nodding. "Tomorrow, nine-thirty."