chapter 7: Legacy of visions

Stephen's POV

I did not answer Selena's question. I went right to Elyse's bedside. Her pulse was stable; she was asleep-most likely from the sleeping pills the doctor gave her. That was a good thing; she needed the rest to get better.

Next, I looked back at Selena. Though a while ago she had cleaned her hands free of the blood, her eyes never once left mine; her gaze an accusing glare.

I asked you a question," she said sharply. "Where is Alpha Kael? And instead of answering me, you go straight to that nobody?" Her voice was cold. "Is she more important than me?"

I didn't react to her anger. Instead, I asked my own question. "What are you doing here? And whose blood was that on your hands?

She was on me in a flash before I could even move. In a split second, she clutched my throat and threw me against the wall. She held tightly, and her eyes seemed to fill with something dark, dangerous.

"I'll ask one more time," she hissed. "Where is Alpha Kael?"

I just smiled, totally unbothered. She was strong, but she was messing with the wrong person.

"Let go," I said sharply. "If you weren't Kael's betrothed mate, your hands would have already been gone for touching me." I inched closer; my voice sounded low and controlled with a sharpened edge to it. "Don't get ahead of yourself. You are strong, but you cannot overpower me."

And then, still, she'd faltered-so that her hold was released bit by bit.

Smiling at me, in less than an instant, like none of those exchanges had gone on. The timbre lightened, nearing playfulness.

"Relax," she said. "I was only teasing. I know you're the most valued warrior of Kael, and I respect that."

I wasn't in the mood for her games.

I narrowed my eyes on hers and pressed on with my previous question, "Whose blood did you have on your hand earlier?"

She shrugged. "Oh, that? It was from the girl you were so concerned about."

She rolled her eyes. "Nothing. I was just checking if her wounds were real or if she faked them. Anyway, why are there so many injured people here? Where exactly did you guys go?"

I dismissed her question, giving her the final warning, firm and low.

"Stay away from Elyse," I said. "Unless you want to face Kael's wrath.

She rolled her eyes and then walked away, as if my presence disturbed her.

Later that day, I was outside the clinic, standing guard, when a guard came up to me.

"The Queen demands your presence in her chamber. Immediately," he said sternly.

I let out a sigh; I knew this would happen. Saying nothing, I followed him down the halls while my mind worked over what was going to occur.

I wasn't at all surprised when I entered the Queen's chamber to find that Selena was already there. She sat alongside Queen Elizabeth, looking smug as usual. The moment she saw me, her lips curled into a smirk.

"Stephen," the Queen's voice cut sharp and impatient. "I assume you have something to report."

I crossed my arms. "Not in front of her." I nodded toward Selena.

Oh, don't be so melodramatic," Selena returned, rolling her eyes. "I am a part of this family, too, you know." She sat back, a smile still dancing on her face. "I will be your queen soon. You should be showing me the respect due to me now."

The Queen inclined her head. "She is right. Selena is Kael's mate. The next Luna. And you will treat her as such.

I ignored them both. "What do you want to know?" I asked the Queen directly.

She leant forward, eyes keen. "How do we get Kael back?"

Selena's smirk faltered. "Wait-get him back? What do you mean?"

I gritted my teeth. There was no avoiding it now. "Kael stayed behind. He got us out. He's still with Peter."

Selena's playful smile vanished in an instant. "You left him there?" Her voice was icy.

I turned back to the Queen. "Kael will return on his own."

The Queen's face darkened. "What kind of nonsense is this?"

"I trust him," I said firm. "He knows what he's doing."

Selena shook her head in disbelief. "So your grand plan is to just wait? That's pathetic.

She surged forward, eyes aglow. "We attack. We strike Blood Fang when they least expect it. Either we rescue Kael, or we take something precious from them." Her lips curled into a wicked smile. "Like Peter's mother."

I met her gaze without blinking. "No."

Selena's smile fell. "Excuse me?"

I repeated myself. "No. We're not doing that

The Queen slammed her hand on the table. "Are you even hearing yourself?! My son is out there, and you want us to do nothing?",

I took a deep breath before answering her question. "There's a reason this is happening. Kael's friend is a seer. She told me he'll return safely."

Selena frowned. "A seer?"

The Queen's eyes narrowed. "Where is this seer?"

I hesitated. "She's been through a lot. She's not ready for this— "

The Queen cut me off. "Not ready?" Her voice was glacial.

Then her expression changed, the understanding breaking across her features like the sun rising in the morning. "Wait… is she human?"

I clenched my fists. "Yes."

The room went silent.

The Queen took a deep breath, and when her voice came, it was dangerously calm. "You have three hours to bring her to me." She met my eyes, the tone of her voice leaving no room for argument. "Or face the consequences."

I didn't argue. I just gave a slight nod, turned around, and left the room.

A few minutes later, lost in thought by what had taken place, I re-entered the clinic and found Jane on a seat next to Elyse's bedside. She sounded somber upon seeing me - her eyes alert, wary eyes watching my each move.

I did not waste any moment. "Jane, the Queen wants to see you."

Her eyes became slits. "Why?

"She knows about your visions. She wants to hear what you've seen about Kael." I sighed. "And she's not the type to take no for an answer."

Jane took a deep breath, considering for a moment. Then, she nodded. "Alright, let's go."

I studied her carefully. "Are you sure?

She gave a small, nervous smile. "Not really, but do I have a choice?

I admired her bravery. Anyone would be in a state of terror to stand before the Queen. But Jane? She held her head high and followed me without so much as a bat of an eye.

The minute we were inside, the keen eyes of the Queen settled upon Jane. Yet, the more she looked at her, something in her face changed. It paled somewhat, her stance straightened even further, and for the first time, she looked. shocked.

"Amanda?" the Queen whispered.

Jane frowned. "You must be mistaken ma," she said in a measured tone. "My name is Jane."

The Queen's gaze met hers, full of incredulity. "No. You are Amanda.

Jane shook her head. "No, I'm not. Amanda was my mother."

There was a total silence in the room.

Clouds furrowed the Queen's brow as if a ghost had just appeared before her eyes. "I thought so, she whispered. "I watched Amanda die with these eyes of mine.

Her words cut Jane's breath. "What?

I stared at her; for the first time, she looked utterly startled.

The Queen took a slow step closer, her eyes impaling Jane's face. "Your mother… What do you know of her?"

Jane swallowed hard. "Not much. I never got the chance to talk to her. She died when I was young."

She blew a harsh breath and closed her eyes as if fitting something together. When she opened them again, her face was unreadable.

"That doesn't matter now," she said in a very steady tone. "What concerns me is my son. Tell me, Seer, what do you know?"

Jane's voice broke. Still reeling with shock, she regained her poise fairly quickly. "Kael lives," she declared confidently. "Peter won't kill him."

The Queen studied her intently. "And how can you be so sure?"

Jane met her gaze unwaveringly. "Because it is not his fate to die by his hands."

Something danced in the depths of the Queen's eyes: a mixture of relief and suspicion. Slowly, a smug smile pulled at her lips.

"So Amanda's gift now lives on, in you," she whispered, still nodding in a manner such that something at last fell in place. "Now, really, I believe you."

Jane tensed up, my mentioning her mother once again, but she said nothing.

I watched the Queen with guarded eyes; something was creeping up inside my gut.

There was more she wasn't telling us.