Zara

"Now listen carefully, Zara," my father said clearly, enunciating each word so I could remember it. "Don’t overthink your goal. You will fulfill...On my terms, or you will be destroyed along with the other werewolves. I don’t believe for a second that you suddenly switched to my side."

"Side. As my firstborn, you wield the most power."

"Firstborn?" I repeated, my heart clenching at his blatant threat. "My mother didn’t have any more children."

She didn’t, at least not with the Demon King. I was sure he knew about Ryan, but I refused to speak his name, lest he give the King another man to use against me. My father’s lips twitched, and that dry, snake-like smile he loved so much appeared on his face.

"You’re not the only one who makes deals with the Shadows, Zara," my father replied, raising his hand to wave to Marcus. "You’d be surprised what they’re capable of if you just pay for it."

I watched as Marcus left the room, returning a moment later with someone else. Every muscle in my body tensed, every joint went rigid as I looked into the eyes of a girl no more than eighteen. My hair, my father’s, lay on her head in long, raven-black waves.

Her face was soft and round, like mine, with high cheekbones and long eyelashes. The only difference was our eyes. I inherited them from my father, and the girl must have inherited them from her mother, whoever she was.

"How?" The word escaped my lips in a broken whisper.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the girl. She looked at me with the same curiosity, though her gaze was wary and suspicious. My eyes darted to Marcus, silently begging him to tell me this was some kind of elaborate lie.

From the hardness in his eyes, I knew my father hadn’t lied to me once since his arrival—that everything he said was true.

"Two years after you were born, I tried tirelessly to bring you and your mother back, but the man she chose as her mate had a witch mother." My father laughed dryly, his eyes blazing with that uncontrollable, murderous light. "This woman had little power, but she was able to protect your mother and you."

I racked my brain, hanging on every word, until I finally understood. Grandmother, my father’s grandmother. She always seemed to know what was going on, that someone was hiding something from her.

I thought of her small house, the dusty old books scattered across the shelves, and the herb garden spread out behind the house.

Grandmother was a witch, a member of a line thought to have died out many years ago. I wanted to be surprised, but this information turned out to be the least surprising of all.

"I needed an alternative in case you proved unreliable," he chuckled. "I summoned the Shadows, who happily carried out my will. They offered me the chance to bear another child. Not as powerful as my firstborn, but not without potential. All I needed was a powerful witch who could father this child. I found one in Craiova, Romania. A blood witch, tired of hiding, accustomed to her habits. She didn’t have her mother’s gift of foresight, and she never saw my people approaching."

I felt nauseous again, and I pressed my hand to my throat, feeling the nausea intensify. He had found a witch and forced her to bear his child.

My brain refused to process the thought, to accept the fact that someone was capable of such a vulgar act. I knew without asking that his request had come at a high cost, but I couldn’t help but ask.

"How much did you pay?" I asked weakly.

"As you’ve already realized, the higher the request, the higher the price." He smiled grimly. "I paid ten years of my life. After the witch became pregnant, I slept for the next ten years. During that time, the witch used up her remaining power and escaped from my people. Ten years later, I tracked down the child she stole from me. I refined my plans, gathered all my resources, until I was finally able to come for you."

"You know why I’m here," I muttered, barely holding back the words to keep from thinking about what he’d done to the poor witch. "I’ll do whatever you need, just let Sophia and Govinda go."

"I’m a man of my word," he nodded. "Even though Govinda was one of my best men, I’ll let them go. I’m sure you want to see proof of that before you move on."

"I want, I want to know they’re still alive," I nodded, leaning forward in my chair.

"Fine, but I must take my own measures to ensure your obedience," he replied, his eyes flashing with deadly intent. "Nothing will stop you from betraying me once your comrades are freed."

"Marcus, you may go." My father nodded, his gaze never leaving my eyes.

I knew what would happen next, for Marcus had warned me before taking me to my father. I watched as he stepped forward and shuddered as he penetrated my mind.

I felt his fingers trace the shield surrounding my mind, the steel door that prevented him from penetrating my deepest thoughts and feelings. The door trembled and shook as I swung it open, granting Marcus access to my mind.

Marcus told me what to expect when my father finally called. My father had a backup plan that didn’t require me. It was in my best interest to prove my usefulness to him, to show that I was willing to do anything for their freedom.

I believed Marcus when he said the only way my father would allow them to gain their freedom was to penetrate my mind.

My father didn’t know that I had long ago learned to defend myself. In the few minutes I spent with Marcus, he taught me how to dedicate a small part of my mind to him. I would be able to maintain clarity of mind, clarity of thought, and composure.

The hardest part was pretending that Marcus controlled my mind, that he could make me submissive. I didn’t have time to practice, and unfortunately, I had to trust Marcus.