Antiope

There are people around, they come and go, they all talk at the same time, they argue, they shout, some cry. All I do is sit on a chair and stare at the wall across me. Magnus. Magnus is taken. We just found each other and he is taken. By the same people that killed every other member of the Royal Family.

"We need to find them. We need to-"

I block Maximo. It's one of the few times I had to. Her pain is profound, her rage too primal. I need my head clear. I need to think. I have to find a way. A way to either get Magnus back or kill those who hurt him. And for that, I need the logic of the human not the instincts of the animal. But the time will come to unleash Maximo. And it will bring death to all those that dare hurt Magnus.

The Council is gathered in Magnus's office and they all have a different course of action to offer. Anger and rage are the main feelings and the scent of their beasts is prevailing. They talk to me from time to time but I give no reply. All I can do is think of the few precious moments I had with Magnus. Goddess, I beg of you!

I am ready to break down in tears but then I hear it. Amongst the noise and the chatter and the screams of the Council and the pack members, the phone is ringing. I smile bitterly. I still remember the phone calls we shared while he visited the neighboring pack, demanding that their Alpha bare his neck to him. We were like teens that had a crush on each other but continued to pretend we hated each other's guts.

I get up from the chair and grab the phone. It's him. He is calling to tell me he is OK. To mock me for worrying. To remind me that he is the Butcher and that no one can harm him.

"Luna Ulfisson," I say, still smiling while remembering how he has asked me to answer the phone.

"Just the person I wanted to talk to."

I freeze. Not Magnus. That is the first thing that registers. I put my palm on the desk to keep my body from falling.

The second thing that I notice is a harsh coldness to the man on the other side of the phone.

"Who is this?" I make sure I swallow my panic.

"The one holding your mate," he says expecting me to drop down and cry.

I don't. I have one shot at this. He said "holding". Magnus is still alive and he is keeping him as a bargaining chip. Oh, the irony.

"Is he dead?"

A chuckle.

"Not yet."

"Damn it," I whisper.

Pause. Exactly what I was aiming for.

"You did not hear me well, Luna. Your mate-"

"He is not my mate," I deliver coldly. "He forced me to be his Luna. Go ahead and kill him. I will gladly rule over what was his without his annoying presence. Anything else?"

Another pause. I can almost hear the plans he had in his head blown to smithereens. He has been planning for this too long. Blackmailing me was part of that plan. Now he has to improvise. And mistakes are made when someone is forced to do that. Mistakes that might save Magnus.

"I will not hesitate to kill him," he says though less convicted.

"Good."

By now, Egil has noticed I am talking on the phone. I wave to him to keep the noise coming. He frowns.

Someone has Magnus. He wants to blackmail me. Keep the noise going. I have a plan.

He nods and mind-links everyone. They all turn to me while they keep their chatter and arguing.

"I see," the man finds his icy coldness once more. "Well, I can always destroy your pack the traditional way."

I laugh.

"That's a good one, man. I may hate Magnus but he has trained his people well," I whisper to keep up appearances. "Even the kids know how to fight in this pack."

Pause. He knows I am telling the truth. I don't know what his plan exactly is, but part of it is to incapacitate Magnus's pack. He is scared of us. And he should be. If led to battle to avenge the death of their Alpha, it would take a seriously huge army to stop the trained fighters of this pack.

"Why don't we help each other?" I propose.

That was a bold move. But I am scared that this guy might roll the dice. Kill Magnus and risk it. I need to keep Magnus alive. Aliva and well and by my side till the end of our days.

"Help?"

He is intrigued. Good.

"You need Magnus out of the way. So do I. You want the pack pacified. So do I."

"You have no idea what I want!"

The fierceness of his voice makes me tremble. His beast is on the surface. He is right. I have no idea who he is and what he is after. He was bold enough to plot against the Royal Family and find a way to do so under the nose of the Royal Guard or even worst with their assistance. But his motives and endgame are beyond me. Does he want the throne? He was just after revenge?

"You are right," I am opting for honesty. "I don't know what you want. But I know what I want. And I want this pack. I want its wealth and power all to myself."

"Funny," his voice is anything but. "I want the same thing. LIke you said, a pack of warriors. I want them."

An army. He is building an army.

"You think that you holding their Alpha would do the trick?"

"Yes."

It's true. My and Egil at least would do anything to keep Magnus alive. So will the rest of the pack. But that is not a leverage I am willing to give him. So I laugh. I laugh through my heart. I let the agony and crazy-worry wash over me and I laugh. Egil turns to me but keeps the arguments going. He is worried. He should be.

"You are laughing I see," his voice drips poison. "I guess it's what little girls do."

I gasp.

"Oh yes. It's the only thing he whispers between tortures when he is conscious that is."

I swallow. No, no, no. My heart is ready to sink, I hear it tear at its seams. Magnus must have sealed me off. Even that far I would have sensed his pain. Stupid man! Now, I need to get him out. And to do that I need to steel myself. I grind my teeth and place my palm on the desk to support me. Breaking down now won't help Magnus.

"I hate that nickname," I hiss. "That overbearing asshole dared call me that. Tell me you cut that dick off."

"Not yet, but don't think I won't."

"I couldn't care less. Now, to the point."

The man growls. He was hoping that he would break me.

"You can't blackmail these people. If their Alpha died a horrendous death, they will bring it down on you tenfold. But if you made him your bitch, they would consider him a pussy, spit on him and organize one of their tournaments to replace him. Simple as that."

"Lies."

"Really? Their Alpha is the Butcher. The Goddess herself does not cast her eyes on him. He is keeping my sister in a dungeon in chains so that he would have a mate. You think that his pack is any less ruthless accepting this behavior? I am telling you. Keep him as your pet and you lose all your bargaining power. Plus, they would know you are there and would be ready and prepared."

"So?"

"I have a plan. But we need to make a deal first."

"Talk."

He is desperate or he is playing me. But it's my only chance.

"Bring Magnus here. Face him in the circle. Humiliate him. The pack will turn their back on him and name you their Alpha."

"And you?"

The tone of his voice sends chills down my spine. I presented Magnus as a vicious predator but the man on the other side of the line is the real thing. And yet I have to do what I have to do. Anything to keep Magnus safe.

"Do you have a mate?" I lower the tone of my voice.

Seduction is not my cup of tea but I have to try. Power and sex. Two things to lure lesser males with. And he sounds like the lowest of lows.

"Are you offering, little girl?"

I want to scream. I want to reach over the phone and rip the spine off his body, tear the skull off his body. My nails elongate and I scratch the wooden desk. He is soiling Magnus nickname for me. He is going to pay.

"You sound like a real male," I say swallowing my bile. "One to be able to hold onto a female without threats."

His breathing goes heavy. Disgusting!

"What are you proposing, Luna Ulfisson?"

I smile despite my shot nerves and agony. And it must be a terrifying smile because I see Egil scowl and take one instinctive step back. He should. Everyone should.