Alex’s POV
I felt so stupid. How could I let this happen? My whole kingdom was under attack, a silent attack where one by one they were cast under a horrific spell, under the hands of this cretin. Tara.
The twins remained oblivious to what was going on thank goddess, but I worried for my Queens safety. There was no way that I could be mindlike with her, and it was driving me crazy. I needed to know she was safe and alive. This witch was powerful, and I had totally underestimated her. She had tricked me and the kindness of my kingdom. We had fallen for her trap so easily that of course she would be standing in front of me laughing.
How could I have been so blind? Tara had played me like a fool, using her cunning and deceit to infiltrate my kingdom and cast her spell. And now, I was left to deal with the consequences.
I couldn't help but blame myself for our predicament. As the ruler of this kingdom, it was my duty to protect my people, to anticipate any threats that may come our way. But I had let my guard down, too trusting of Tara's seemingly innocent facade. She had fooled us all, and now my kingdom was paying the price.
But it wasn't just my kingdom that I was worried about. My Queen, my beloved, was in danger. I couldn't shake the feeling of helplessness, knowing that I couldn't even mind link with her to ensure her safety. Tara's power was immense, and I had underestimated her abilities.
I clenched my fists, my jaw tight with determination. I couldn't let Tara get away with this. She had manipulated our kindness, taken advantage of our trust, and now it was time for her to face the consequences of her actions.
I could feel the weight of responsibility heavy on my shoulders. It was time to rally my troops, to devise a plan to defeat this witch and free my kingdom from her clutches. No longer would I allow myself to be fooled by her tricks. This was war, and I was ready to fight.
“If you want Lochlan, go and find him! Get him and get the hell out of my castle.” I growled.
Tara seemed shocked by my outburst. “He is all I ever wanted but Catarina had to go and ruin that. She was once my friend like a sister to me and she had it all. He won't want to let her go now that she had these heirs to his pack.” Tara started to tear up showing me a weak spot. I could use that to my advantage. If I acted like I were on her side perhaps I could buy some time and get a hold back on my castle.
I stared at Tara, my anger boiling beneath the surface, but I had to maintain control. This was a delicate dance, a dangerous game I needed to play. If I wanted to protect my kingdom and save my Queen and twins, then I had to play the part.
"All I wanted was Lochlan," Tara whispered, her voice filled with a twisted sense of longing. "Catarina had everything, and I couldn't bear to see her happiness. But now, with these heirs, Lochlan will never let her go. I need him to be mine."
Her tears seemed genuine, yet I knew her true intentions were far from innocent. She had caused enough pain and destruction already, and I wouldn't let her hurt the Twins or anyone else in my kingdom any longer.
Motioning towards Mindy, who clung tightly to the children, I could see the fear in her eyes. She had been vigilant, keeping the Twins safe from harm while chaos untraveled around us. I couldn't risk their safety any further.
I held Tara's gaze, my voice steady but filled with conviction. "I can take you to Lochlan, right now. But you must promise me, swear on whatever is left of your humanity, that you will not harm those twins or anyone in my kingdom. I will help you and Lochlan escape this place, but only if you promise."
Her expression turned thoughtful, uncertainty flickering across her face. The weight of her decision seemed to weigh heavily upon her as she weighed the consequences of her choices. After a lingering pause, she finally spoke, her voice wavering.
"You have my word," Tara replied, her voice laced with tentative determination.
I saw a flicker of hope in Tara's eyes, a glimmer of trust that she had placed in me. It was a risky move, but I had to seize this opportunity to gain control and buy some time.
"Good," I nodded, feigning a sense of relief. "Now, we must act swiftly. I will help you and Lochlan escape, but I need you to cooperate fully and follow my lead. Understood?"
Tara nodded; desperation etched across her face. "Yes, yes, anything you say. Just get me to Lochlan."
With caution, I approached Tara, my heart pounding in my chest. I had to play this perfectly, maintain my role until the right moment presented itself. I extended my hand toward her, signalling for her to follow.
"Come," I said in a hushed, conspiratorial voice. "We'll go to Lochlan together. But remember, any harm that befalls my people or the Twins, and all bets are off."
She nodded, her fear mingling with determination. "I understand, Alex. I won't cause any harm to anyone else. Just lead the way."
She gave her guards a nod and they immediately backed down allowing us to plod on.
As we made our way through the corridors of the castle, my mind raced with possibilities. I needed to bide my time, gather my allies, and devise a plan to take down Tara once and for all. She had underestimated me once, but she wouldn't make that same mistake again.
I was disgusted by the unconscious guards laid all over the place, I knew that I could not let Mindy and the children witness it any longer. Mindy's eyes widened with shock, her grip on the Twins tightening.
"Tara, you promised," I reminded her, my voice holding a steely edge. "No harm shall come to them."
Tara glanced at the children, her expression softening for a moment. "I won't hurt them, Alex. They are innocent." she rubbed her own belly, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for the child growing inside her.
She pointed to one of the bedrooms and gestured for Mindy and the twins to enter. I hoped they would be ok until I could return to them.
“Are we going to see mummy?” Nadia suddenly asked in her small voice which pulled at my heartstrings.
“Soon, sweetheart. Soon. But I need you to stay in here with Mindy and your brother. I need you to stay safe and brave. Can you do that for me?”
Nadia and Nathan both looked at me with their wide innocent eyes and nodded in unison.
With one final look, I turned to Mindy. "Take care of them, Mindy. Keep them safe." And with that, I led Tara out of the castle, into the uncertain path to the cell block where Lochlan was chained up. He belonged there and I despised him for everything that we were being put through.
But I had to set my anger aside for a little while longer. This was my chance to regain control and save my people. The battle wasn't over yet, but I was ready to fight. Tara would soon realize that underestimating me was the biggest mistake she could make. Let the games begin.