Prologue
Silas
Twins! What an amazing stroke of luck! Honestly, the thought should have occurred to me that there was, in fact, the possibility of twins. My plans have to change a bit, but this will create a seamless getaway.
“Sarah, I need you to take the baby to my castle. Make sure no one sees you. I’ll be there in a few days’ time,” I quickly issue the command while my mind concocts new plans...
My servant quickly wraps the baby in a blanket and carries it out of the room with her, before our secret can be discovered.
I’ll wait to find out what my brother names his child, and I’ll give mine the same name. Hopefully, they are identical in looks. The boy I have will be brought up knowing the truth of the world around us. He will one day become the champion of our cause. He will be my weapon against those who hold power over our people.
Some day when he’s ready, I’ll slip him into his brother’s place and no one will know the difference, seeing as they never knew there were two of them. Yes, this plan is working out better than I could have hoped for.
Now I just need to stay here for a few days to greet their new bundle of joy and leave, with them none the wiser.
Chapter 1
Marcellus
Yesterday
The last century and a half have been utter hell...
There are many reasons why I believe I’ve found myself in an unending nightmare. Most of them are easily dealt with, like pretending I’m a prisoner in this cesspool pit of a dungeon. The results of my failure to protect my love, though, that’s the unforgivable consequences which make me feel like I’m in purgatory.
Things weren’t so bad in the beginning when her body was found. By the time I could escape, I couldn’t find her body. They’d already sold her and moved her to Fates only know where. My only saving grace is being able to be with her as I sleep. Then they brought in scientists to initiate testing on her to discover how it was possible for her to still be alive. All of that was fine... fine-ish.
What became hellish was when they upped their testing with more and more grotesque ideas—like an oxygen deprivation tank, every known poison, even the strongest acid placed on her skin. She never gave up, and certainly zapped those motherfuckers any chance she had. I’m so very proud of her perseverance to never give up, even when her magic started to fail her.
The moment things became even more unbearable was whentheyfound her. Don’t get me wrong, I’m ecstatic someone came to save her from the men whose only goal was to harm her, in any way they could imagine. My issue lies with the imposter within their group. The man who has my face, and a shortened version of my name. The man who holds our shared mark. The man who’s trying to weasel his way into her heart.
Since the four shifters found my Cecily, I’ve been trying to sleep as much as possible with the help of Thea. Thank the Fates my soul has sustained the power to follow Cecily as I’m asleep. I’m not sure what lengths I would resort to if I wasn’t still able to know she’s safe with someone running around acting like me.
The past few days, she’s been working toward coming back to me, although she has no idea. An alternate universe or timeline or whatever she settled on to reason away the memory differences of the imposter.Don’t worry, Darlin, I’ll be with you again soon.
I’m pulled out of sleep by my cell door being opened. If it wasn’t for the fact my girl will be here soon, I’d be pissed, but this actually works to my benefit. Silas’ guards don’t allow us to clean up often. With her impending arrival, I want to look my best. Sure, I could magically clean myself, but I should keep as much energy as I can. The future is uncertain, and I might be required to use my preserved magic to aid us in the coming days.
The guard pulls me by the arm, out of my cell, and down the hall to the single bathroom located in the dungeon. He shoves me inside before I can look back again. I don’t know his name. Not because I’ve never bothered to learn it, but because he’s never shared it. None of the guards have... there’s a whole new set of them working the dungeon from when I was in charge down here. Silas set to work ramping up his recruiting once he “imprisoned” me. He wanted to make sure I wasn’t able to corrupt any of his men while I was their leader.
Then there’s also his desire to still “free the magic.” The more I’ve learned about the world around us, through the adventures Cecily and I have been on while in soul form, the more I believe Silas has created a cult-like following of shifters who lost their magic. These people are willing to do anything and everything Silas asks of them without hesitation.
I walk to the shower to see if there’s a chance of any hot water left. My reflection catches my eye as I walk past the mirror. Ugh, yeah, I’m in desperate need of cleaning up before Cecily finds me in such a horrendous condition. Most of my haggard appearance is a glamour Thea put over me. The guards only feed us enough to keep us alive, therefore my looks need to match the perceived circumstances.
My muscles look nonexistent and there’s an emptiness to my face, with my skin hanging off my frame. Of course I have to look dirty due to the lack of showers. Then there’s also the length of my hair and beard. My clothes look threadbare and don’t fit quite right. Every aspect of my glamour fits what would be expected of my looks. Thea was even able to manipulate the glamour to change, based on factors such as me taking a shower right now.
I need to go through all of the motions expected of me, especially to cover my ass in case the pervs placed a camera in here. Modern technology can be a bitch to manipulate when you have to carefully hide learning the ins and outs of it.
Pulling off my clothes, I wash them in the shower. I feel like everything ends up being more filthy after having been in here. When I was in charge of the dungeons, I made sure to keep everything clean and orderly. Cleaning was one of the first things to go. Why would they want to waste time making sure an area for prisoners is clean? I mean, come on! There’s mold growing on the floor of the shower! Clearly, there isn’t a decent person among the lot of them.
After cleaning my clothes in the frigid water, which isn’t a surprise since they saved me for last, I spread out my clothes to let them drip-dry. I’ll instantly dry them when I get back to my cell. Next, I step into the shower to wash myself off. The glamour gradually drops the grimy look on my skin and the oil from my hair.
Fuck, I can’t wait to see Cecily again. I’ve waited five hundred years for the chance to explain what happened the night everything went to shit. I’m so close to being able to tell her what happened before she arrived in the dungeon. So close to being able to touch her again... She no longer flinches when the imposter is near her. Maybe I’ll be able to hug her before she remembers how much she loathes me.
Every so often at first glance of myself, I’ll see the glamour before the truth flashes through my vision. Holding up my left arm, I sneak a peek at my unhealed cuts, reminding myself I should act like I’m cleaning them out. All of my cuts are instantly healed as soon as the glamour memorizes their shape and slows down the appearance of healing.
Moving my body, I make sure my arm is hidden and then reveal my mate mark. My fingers trace the lines, and I can’t help but press a kiss on the mark, wishing Cecily could feel my love for her. “I’ll never stop being sorry, Cecily. One day, I hope you learn the truth of what happened. I love you, my Darling,” I whisper to the mark. One day, very very soon is my hope.
Hiding my mark once more, I rub at my chest to lessen my longing for Cecily. Mates are never meant to be apart for this long. What little bit of a budding bond we started to create, is now frayed. I know it will take work to build it back up to its full glory. I’m just not sure about this whole, multiple mates business. She’s mine and has been for way longer than any of them have been in the picture. Fuck, they wouldn’t have even become her destined mates if she never went into soul form in the first place.Batshit, crazy, lunatic Silas. I swear he’s going to pay.
