Chapter 205
Claire’s POV
091
55 vouchers
We had a handful of hours before we needed to leave for the exchange. In that time, George had me fitted for body armor.
“They will likely attempt to remove it from you,” he said. “But try to keep it on for as long as you can. I don’t know what kind of torture they will attempt, but this will keep your vital organs safe for as long as you wear it.”
Near the door to this room, Gideon winced at the word torture. I ignored him for now, twisting in the armor, becoming accustomed to the feel of it. It was only slightly restrictive. I would still be able to move quite freely while wearing it.
“Thank you,” I said.
George touched my arms at the elbows. “You are as brave as your mother was,” he said. Then, after giving me a sad sort of smile, he walked away, leaving me alone with Gideon.
Since agreeing to this plan, Gideon had taken a kind of grumpy stance. His arms were crossed, his face downturned, his brow furrowed. He frowned at anything and anyone who dared get too close. Even me, as I walked to him now.
“Gideon,” I said, hoping to help him find some comfort. If something were to happen, I didn’t want my last memory of him to be him upset with me. When he didn’t loosen up at my saying his name, I leaned up and kissed him on the cheek.
He glanced at me with some surprise, his face softening slightly. Finally.
When I had his full attention, I said, “I want to give you an answer to your proposal. In case something happens to me.”
In a flash, he surged forward, his lips covering mine. He swallowed my words with a kiss.
I fell into it, into him, pressing more firmly against him. His arms went around me. I clutched at his collar. We both held on, clinging and kissing. He licked his tongue over the seam of my mouth and I opened my lips at once to allow him entrance.
The kiss was deep and passionate, but still ended much too soon. As we both came up for air, Gideon said to me, breathlessly, “Tell me when this is over.”
When the time came to leave, Gideon walked me to George’s car. As per the agreement with the rogues, the two of us were to go alone. No guards. No servants.
George was the strongest Alpha in the kingdom. Even at his advancing age, it would take more than silver bullets to bring him down. It wasn’t his life that anyone was concerned about.
It was me.
Gideon had held onto me since our kiss. Now, when it was time for us to part, it was a struggle, like trying to pry apart something that had been glued together.
We had our plan. George and I would make the exchange. Gideon and George’s royal army would track me to the rogue base where they would strike, rescuing me and destroying the rogue army.
All we had to do now was actually start.
I kissed Gideon’s cheek again and then softer, his lips.
He turned into me, chasing my lips to claim them again. As we broke, he said, “It doesn’t matter where they take you. I will find you.”
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Chapter 205
“I know,” I told him and kissed him once more.
George cleared his throat. It was time to go.
56 voustars
With a low growl deep in his throat, Gideon released me and backed away. His hands were in tight fists. He walked across the driveway to a tree and punched a hole in it.
I couldn’t look at him. His sadness and his worry made me want to stay, but I had to go. I scrambled into the car, closed the door and my eyes, and waited for George to start driving.
Only when I could feel the distance stretch between Gideon and me through the mating bond did I open my eyes again.
George glanced over, seeing me in the dim interior light.
“He loves you,” he said.
“He does.”
“Do you love him, too?”
“Yes,” I said. It came out easier than I thought it would. “Yes, I do,” I said again, to be sure. This time was just as easy.
“Good,” George said. “Gideon is a good man, a brave and bold Alpha. More than all that, I can see the way he adores you. He’s the reason I agreed to this plan. Though I know you are capable, I also know how dedicated he is. He will find you and he will keep you safe.”
I nodded.
“You have to hold tightly onto the kind of love you share with him,” George said. His firm voice started to waver, taking on a kind of melancholy. “You have to protect each other. Better than I protected your mother…”
“Dad…” I said softly. “You didn’t know.”
“I should have,” he said. “I was so concerned with the war up north, I couldn’t see the dangers I’d welcomed into my own household. Not only did I fail in protecting Lena, I allowed myself to believe that you had also died, even without proof. Then, as if that shame wasn’t strong enough, I married your mother’s killer.”
“She deceived you.”
“I am Alpha King,” he said. “I should not be deceived.”
“You were grieving,” I told him. “Victoria knew what to say, how to act. She manipulated you, Dad. Mom… I know I didn’t know her, but I feel like Mom would understand. I read the diary. I saw how much she loved you. She would forgive you this.”
“She would,” he agreed. “But I will never forgive myself. At least, not until I set things right.”
We drove for a time in silence. As we reached the exchange point, George looked over at me again.
“I am going to have to pretend you mean nothing to me. You understand it will be an act.”
We’d already talked about this, so I understood.
“Yes,” I said. “We need them to believe that you still want Victoria. And that you are willing to trade me for them,”
George nodded, even as he seemed disturbed by what he must do.
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10:51 am
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Chapter 203
“The only way this works is if you are convincing,” I told him.
He steeled his face. “I know.”
ER 55 voucheri
We reached the exchange point at the agreed upon time. It was the unassuming edge of a forest. We pulled behind another car that was parked on the side of the road. George and I both exited the car. At the same time, two unknown men exited the car ahead of us.
George came around the car to roughly grab my arm and drag me forward.
“Where are they?” he demanded. “Where are my family?”
“Please don’t do this,” I begged George, laying on thick my fake fear. “Please…”
“Quiet.” George said to me. “I want my wife and daughter back.”
The strangers looked at each other and then opened the trunk. At once, Victoria and Susanne came bounding out.
“My love! I knew you would come! I knew we were more important to you than her!” Victoria threw her arms around George. Susanne hugged him from the side. George wrapped his arms around them, keeping up appearances.
The two strangers grabbed me by the arms and shoved me forward. I was tossed into the trunk and the lid slammed down
over me.
We drove for a while. An hour, maybe two. Then the road turned bumpy. A dirt path? Off the road entirely? After a few minutes like that, the car finally came to a stop.
The trunk popped open, and as I blinked to see in the sudden light, a familiar silhouette stood over me.
“Rough ride, Claire?” Daphne mocked. “It’s about to get rougher. Welcome to your own little hell.”
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AD
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