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Chapter Seventeen
Xander
“Any clues why the queen demanded you bring me?” Xander asked.
Madison looked over at me for a second before returning her eyes to the road. “She said you were the only one of any value.”
“I wish I could be flattered,” I said.
“Whatever her plans are for you, they can’t be good,” Madison said.
Our drive was fast. It was still dark. Hours before sunrise. It was the time the vampires thrived. Even if the queen herself could be out in the daylight, most of her lackeys couldn’t.
“You know we can’t afford to blow the cover until the last moment, right?” Madison asked, her gaze forward.
“If it means getting the stone away from the queen, I’ll do what it takes.” I knew she understood what I was saying. This was bigger than me. Lola had already lost her life for the stone and while I didn’t want to join her yet, I knew I would if it was the only way.
I could see the looming structure of the queen’s palace ahead. My stomach tightened as anticipation and fear took hold. I pushed my emotions away, forcing myself to stay in control. My wolf was already anxious, waiting to strike. It wasn’t the right time, though. I had to maintain control and a clear mind if we were going to pull this off.
The plan was simple, get inside, find the stone, find out where Clara was being held. If we had a chance to spring the stone and the girl on our own, we’d take it. If not, we’d find weaknesses. Ways to help defend ourselves when the others arrived.
The time was short, sunrise would be here before long and I had to do whatever I could to keep Skylar from making a suicide run into this place.
Madison pulled the car in front of a set of towering iron gates. The lights around them showed the twisting vine pattern in sharp relief. I knew the queen hadn’t built this structure for herself, but the black vines were a good symbol for her. Instead of giving the illusion of lush, living plants, they looked dead and cold and dangerous. They reminded me of all vampires.
Once you saw them for what they were, you couldn’t unsee it. They were death and destruction. They were unnatural. I’d never liked vampires, but until this recent ploy, I’d been fine enough to let them do their thing. Now, I wasn’t sure I could ever look at a vampire as anything other than a threat.
Madison rolled down her window and pressed the button on an intercom box. Static hissed from the little box until a voice broke through. “Who’s there?”
“It’s Madison, I have a special delivery for her majesty.” Madison’s voice was cold and harsh. Nothing like the tone she’d used while speaking with us for the last few days. If I didn’t believe it was all an act, I might have been concerned about the change.
The static returned for a moment, then the sound cut out. It was replaced by the groaning and squeaking of the metal gates opening. Madison drove through slowly, inching forward as the gates parted.
Once we were through, I could hear the sound of the gates closing behind us. It wasn’t the world’s greatest security, but considering the queen was also employing several of my pack mates via brainwashing, I’d say the true security was ahead of us.
I had no idea what to expect and Madison wasn’t any help in predicting what might come. All I knew was that I was buying us some time and that I had a shot at keeping Skylar out of direct harm.
A group of shifters was waiting at the front entryway of the palace. I recognized my friends and my inner wolf instantly bristled. Involuntarily, I growled.
“Simmer down, there,” Madison warned.
“That’s my cousin and my best friends,” I said.
“Don’t you think the queen knows that? Why do you think she put them there?” Madison said as she stopped the car. Her hand hovered over the ignition key. “Oh, shit.”
“What? What could possibly beoh shitnow?” I asked.
“She’s been after you.” Madison looked at me, her expression startled. Fear rolled off her in palpable waves. I’d never felt her scared before. For a human, Madison was tough as nails. Screw that, for anyone she was tough. I’d met wolves who would have buckled under half of what she’d faced.
“Elaborate. Fast.” I noticed my pack mates had walked closer to us.
“She didn’t have any interest in Skylar or the others. She brainwashed your closest companions and she specifically asked for you.”
“Fuck me.” I felt like an idiot for not seeing it sooner. We’d played right into the queen’s hands. She needed me for something and she’d gotten me alone and away from anyone who could help me. This whole time, I’d agreed because I thought I was helping Skylar. Turns out, I’m the dumbass who was conned.
“We have to be extra careful,” Madison whispered as she killed the engine.
“I will not go through what you went through,” I said. “I would rather die. Are we clear?”
