Ivan's Queen

Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five - The Queen's Rule

End of January.

"Liev has been brought to the castle as you requested." Lazarus states as he stands before me in the office.

"Thank you, Lazarus. Where is he being kept?" I ask as I get up and start making my way towards the door.

"Dungeons."

I lock the office and hand Benno the key before adjusting my jumper. Because my body has been going through rapid changes and weight gain, I'm wearing slightly baggier clothing today so that Liev won't be able to tell if I'm pregnant. It took some time to find him in the dragon kingdom but eventually, Ira brought him to me this morning.

"Amelia! Wait!" I hear Nova shout and turn around to see her rushing towards me.

"What is it, Nova?" I ask in confusion as she takes out a purple bottle made of glass.

She sprays a sweet-smelling concoction all over me as well as giving me a ring made from silver to wear. "This will mask your scent. He's met you before and will most likely figure out that you're pregnant."

"Thank you." I smile appreciatively. Had she not thought ahead I would've put the safety of my child in jeopardy.

We bid her goodbye and Lazarus guides me to the building where the holding cells are. Four guards greet us outside the entrance before letting us in. The place is dark and cold with narrow hallways. There are security measures in place everywhere I look and every corner we turn a metal door needs to be opened by a keypad pin. It's like something out of a movie.

Finally, the last metal door opens to reveal four warriors guarding a door. Greeting them, I wait for them to open it before stepping inside. Lazarus, Benno and Hendrix follow me in as I make my way up to the cell that Liev is being kept in. He's hanging from the ceiling by Wolfsbane laced chains with his eyes closed and his head dropped. His dark brown hair hangs limply across his forehead. Dirt and grass cover his skin and his clothes are tattered in places. It's clear that he had a scuffle with Ira before being caught.

But as soon as he hears me he opens his eyes to meet my gaze. I smirk wickedly when I catch the flicker of frustration and anger in his hazel orbs. How delusional of him to think that he wouldn't be caught, I scoff to myself.

"Holding up alright there, Liev?" I question as I take in the cell.

"What do you want?" He grunts when the chains rattle. A hiss escapes him as the movement causes his wrists to bleed even further.

"You know what I want. So, why don't you start talking and make it easier for yourself, yeah?" I take a seat when I feel my lower back start to ache.

"He deserved it!" He snarls angrily with hatred shining bright in his eyes.

"Are you fucking deaf? When did I ask for your opinion?" I arch a brow in a bemused fashion.

Benno openly snickers while Hendrix and Lazarus smirk as they shake their heads at him. Liev clenches his jaw as he glares at me which makes me sigh heavily. After much unsuccessful probing he still refuses to speak and I make the decision to force it out of him. I've had a god-awful migraine since morning, my back hurts and my baby's been craving pickles and mustard but this prick is adamant on making my life harder than it already is.

"Amelia, you cannot overwork yourself. Let us do it." Lazarus speaks in the mind link shared by us four.

I grit my teeth in anger, wanting to inflict pain myself but regardless I back down. "Waterboard him."