“She’s still my fucking mate and she’s still the Queen. Kiara is not fucking weak,” I growled, my eyes flashing.
“I get that,” he replied, frowning.
“Rayhan’s concern is fair, too,” Scarlett said quietly.
“The Luna won’t fail us,” Drake added. “We will await your plan Alpha, and act accordingly.” I nodded.Yeah, that’s fucking more like it.
“I agree. Luna Kiara is strong, she is the Queen for a reason. Let’s not forget she is a blessed wolf,” Carmen added, crossing her arms.
“What is the cost to kill him anyway?” Darien asked.
“Just that blade, and it’s got to be done in one stab,” I replied lightly, not wanting to share the actual fucking price. I knew I had people who would try to take that chance in my stead… and I couldn’t do that. Not to any one of them. Plus I needed to make sure it gets done. I was the fastest and most powerful…
We talked for a little while longer, and I told half of them to wait outside. I gave Elijah, Scarlett, Liam, and Darien one plan, which was actually the fake one. Then I called the others back in and told them the real plan.
“Dismissed,” I said, taking a drag on my cigarette and motioning for them to all leave.
Rayhan nodded, about to walk out. He paused and glanced at Maria, who was holding a book from the shelf behind me.
“You go along. There are a few things I wanted to discuss with Alejandro, Ya Hayati,” she said, giving him a small smile. He nodded, although I knew he was curious as to what we wanted to talk about.
“Run along, kid. It’s adult talk,” I mocked.
“You know, I’m the same age as Kiara, right? Ah, I guess compared to the old man you are, I must seem like a kid.” Smirking, he shut the door before I could reply.
“Fucker,” I growled as Maria shut the book and slid it back onto the shelf. “What did you want to discuss?”
“I want to know the actual price of killing a djinn.”
My stomach twisted, caught off guard. Like always, she had that emotionless, perfectly sculpted face that didn’t betray any thoughts. Our eyes met, and in that fucking moment, I realised she had been the one in the garden earlier, as quiet as a fucking assassin. Which meant Maria already knew what the price was…
“You already know what it is,” I said coldly.
“A life. The wielder will die, correct?” She asked. She walked over to the desk, standing on the opposite side, her hands folded in front of her.
“That’s not your concern. I will handle it.”
“You will die to save Kiara, Delsanra, and Dante,” she stated, her eyes hard.
“Three lives in return for one. It’s pretty fair…” I replied emotionlessly.
It was fucking weird, but there was once a time that I didn’t care if I died… but now… I wanted to live. For them. For Kiara, for my kids, for my family. I wanted to be part of all the weird family shit we did together. The celebrations, the movie nights, the meals, and time together. I wanted to see Ray and Raihana’s kids grow up. I wanted to play that role as their grandfather, to be there for them where I know Rafael would have been… I wanted to show Leo he fucking isn’t alone. To bid the kids goodnight, to wake to Kiara’s smile every fucking day…
“Fair. Then I will ask you to allow me to do it.”
Her words sent a flash of coldness through me. My eyes were blazing red as I looked at her, narrowing them.
“No,” I growled, but she didn’t even flinch.
“Why not?” She asked icily, folding her arms. Even with her sparkly dress, she meant business. “Do not forget that I am from the Ahmar Qamar pack. We pride ourselves in stealth. Where do you think Rayhan gets it from? I can sneak up on him when others keep him busy,” she snapped as if she was talking to a fucking kid.
“I don’t care if he got it from you or fucking Santa Claus. I am not letting you fucking sacrifice yourself,” I growled, my aura rolling off of me. That made her step back, but even then, she stood her ground defiantly.
“I have far less to lose, Alejandro. Unlike you, my children have grown up, started lives of their own… I am not needed –”
“I don’t care if they are ten or fucking fifty, they will always need you. You can’t leave them when they have already lost their dad.”
“But your children are barely even ten! Kataleya needs you now more than ever… Dante is holding the world upon his shoulders. He will need a father’s guidance. That much power in such a young boy, he needs a father to support him, to be there for him, to show him the way and tell him that it’s going to be ok-”
