Enemy territory

Logan knew Dianne wasn't going to like the fact that he brought the queen back to her chambers...alive.

He winced as he anticipated her reaction and did the only smart thing he could think of and sent a trusted messenger to her with the news instead of delivering it himself.

He stared at the Queen tied up in chains in a corner. He had somehow convinced the royal guard that it was better than throwing her in a filthy jail, suspected crime or not, she was still royalty.

It was better this way. Now he could monitor everything about her.

But small victory aside, Her alive would surely come back to bite him in the arse later.

"Leave us."

His guards nodded and complied immediately.

"Where did you take my guards?" She asked meekly as soon as the door shut.

"Shh-shhh." He silenced her.

"Don't ruin the pretty picture that is your scowling face." He smiled when she scowled even deeper.

He waved his palm in the air in a dismissive gesture."Fear not, your little entourage has been detained....pending investigation." He came closer, drawn by her eyes, and couldn't resist inhaling her scent.

She shivered in disgust, her body weak from being drugged.

His eyes expressed barely suppressed glee over her unveiled contempt for him.

His smell was disgusting and filthy, fit for a pervert with virtually no soul, she thought.

She wouldn't be surprised if he could use black magic. He could've sold his soul for that sort of power. It was either that or he was truly broken past the veil of the mortal body and fur.

What other explanation could there be for such a creature...

"Nevertheless, due to certain circumstances the lives of your guards and snazzy assistant are now unfortunately in your hands." He continued, idly.

She simply stared blankly through droopy eyes, waiting for him to elaborate.

"Apparently, if they were trying to help you escape, then the case is..." He started, sliding his forward fingers slowly over the center table.

"...A little bit out of my hands as they'll be charged with aiding and abetting a royal accused of treason and hanged, so that depends."

"On what?" She growled lowly.

"On whether they were trying to help you escape ofcourse." He grinned wickedly, letting his tongue run across his bottom lip.

"They weren't." She said hurriedly.

"Then they had kidnapped you then? Either way, hanging is very much on the table."

She willed herself to stay calm. Scowling and provoking him won't get her anywhere.

He had come up right infront of her now, his eyes full of laughter.

He placed his hand under her chin and searched her face.

"You know, when my sister asked me to look for you I tried nearly everything to get out of such a boring, menial task but who knew I'd come across such a rare...unexpected beauty."

He stroked her hair softly as he spoke, wallowing in amusement at her obvious contempt for him.

"Its such a shame though...I'd hate to see this head roll..."

He stood up now, walking over to pour himself a glass of wine. He leaned back and watched her from the hood of the glass, a smirk on his lips.

She tried to move, but the chains burned each time she struggles under their weight.

She looked out towards the patio. The darkened sky was oddly comforting in the moment as the rain poured relentlessly.

She didn't want to admit it but she wanted to see Dante. The upper hand she was hoping to have has been lost. The Roosevelt family will take over the werewolf empire and there was nothing she could do.

He needed to wake up.

"Why are you doing this?"

His smile thinned as if the simple question had hit a mark.

"That shouldn't be a concern of yours right now. You should think about the people that are going to die because of you."

Selene kept calm despite the chill that ran down her spine at the statement.

"Then? There must be something you want from me that'll buy their freedom?"

He drew a chair from the center table and sat regale, crossing his legs.

He regarded her snarkily. "Hmmm...that is a logical assumption."

She pursed her lips, feigning contemplation.

"What about Dante? Will he be included in any deal I make?"

Logan cocked an eyebrow, his facial expression one of confusion.

"Were you hoping to leave with the current dying king." He looked at her like she was crazy.

"He's my mate." She stated matter of factly.

"He's going to die."

The swift decisive statement sent a spear of ice through her heart.

"We're Bonded, if he dies so will I."

"Not necessarily, I'm sure you'll find someway-"

"What the hell is going on Logan?!" A brunette burst in, immediately shutting the door tightly behind her.

Logan sighed.

"Dianne, I had no choice-"

"You had one job-"

"Dianne?" Selene said the name out loud without thinking.

This woman has been by Dante's side since.

She reeked of him.

Her stomach churned with jealousy and territorial rage.

Pale blue eyes snapped to hers. The panic and animosity in them clear.

She put a finger to her temple and let out a long breath. "I've done everything perfectly..."

"Nothing is going to go wrong," Logan shrugged. "We have enough people in court to tip the tides should anything happen and quite frankly I don't understand why she has to die for this to work."

Selene was amused by their current panic and tense situation.

Dianne said nothing, she kept her eyes on her with a blank expression.

"General Weiss is here." She stated.

Logan's eyes widened.

"I thought he was attending to some business in the west?! How?"

"We can't dwell on that now, we need to prepare for every single scenario. Father does not forgive mistakes remember?"

His face darkened for a moment but he said nothing.

"By your conversation, Im guessing I'm not supposed to be here? Is that right?Tell me how much my life has come to inconvenience you." Selene chuckled darkly.

Logan's glare threatened to tear her open.

"Logan." Dianne cut him off.

"Give us the room."

Selene was shocked when he didn't question her and merely turned around and walked stiffly away, muttering under his breath.

As soon as the door was shut, Dianne bent low enough to be at face level.

"You seem to be under the misconception that your being alive has caused an irreversible hindrance In our plans." Her voice, like her eyes was carefully neutral.

"You also seem to be unclear about your position in this palace." She placed a hand on her shoulder tightened her grip.

Selene gritted her teeth to avoid groaning from the pain.

"You lost power the minute the king fell unconscious. Not that you deserved any in the first instance...I hear you moped around like a rejected mate for days on end. How pathetic."

Painful memories and shame assaulted her mind.

She sneered viciously in retort.

Dianne smiled a little. "You were meant to be silenced quietly but I'm open to a little suspicion if it means erasing such an embarrassing stain on werewolf history."

"And you believe you'd do better?"

"Without a doubt and with such a capable and strong ruler I wouldve brought our world back to its original glory in little time."

"We are wolves. We are born to hunt not for docile living. We are beasts from birth, the pinnacle of all supernaturals, the Apex of Apex predators and when I'm done everyone will know it. Humans, vampires, dragons, lycans-"

Selene laughed immediately, interrupting her.

"You must be truly stupid to think we can conquer every supernatural race." She said.

"Don't get me wrong, It is very possible to decimate the human race and kill off the already dwindling population of fairies. But the dragon king is rumored to be a war God and he even has the cold wizard with him and I know a lycan that can tear wolves apart with her bare hands...so don't get ahead of yourself and don't waste bodies trying to make a silly fantasy come true."

Dianne didn't look the least bit worried or threatened. "Its hard to believe, I'm aware but its very possible because I've already seen it." At that moment they locked eyes and selene witnessed Dianne's sear into a bright purple.

Black magic, she concluded.

"You've tampered with powers, you have no comprehension of." Selene warned.

"Oh trust me I didn't tamper with anything. This power was given to me by the Gods and they have shown me exactly what I need to do to bring about this apocalypse."

Her eyes turned crazed as she spoke with immense pleasure.

"But the prefect ruler has been tainted and for that you will have to die."

"So you want to kill me because you think I damaged your king?" Selene interjected, eyes narrowed.

Dianne looked at her like she was stupid.

"I want to kill you because for some unfathomable reason...In every scenario I've been shown even if my plans were to fail or succeed...your death alone was enough to start the Apocalypse."

Selene tried to contain her fear as she stared into Dianne's purple hues. She stank of lust, power, desire and something mixed, something far worse than her brother. Just pure sadistic cruelty reinforced with sheer determination.

And even through the haze of confusion and fear...It was clear...

...that Dianne wanted her life more than she wanted her next breath.