Kiara's POV
Another sharp shove at the back of my knees and I took a few more steps forward.
As I looked up, my eyes stared at the endless sea- of sand and thorns, and my heart skipped a beat!
My hands were bound tight behind my back, silver biting into my bones. I barely felt it though. Not with David's claws digging into my face.
"Look at that carefully," he murmured from behind me, his breath hot against my ear.
His hand clamped around my jaw, forcing my head further up.
"Take it all in."
I gritted my teeth as he turned my face towards the eastern part of the desert, my cheek literally grinding against his claws. Blood trickled warm down my skin.
"That," he continued lazily, "is where your Caspian loiters these days."
My chest tightened even more despite myself.
"He's gotten real fond of the sand," David went on, amused. "Running wild. Playing rogue king with his little band of mutts." He chuckled. "Still causing us a lot of trouble."
His claws dug deeper, piercing the inner lining of my flesh this time.
I hissed.
"Funny thing is," he added, jerking my head too much, "all that trouble can end real quick."
Another violent jolt snapped my teeth together.
"If you want your little boy to live," David whispered, voice dropping into something ugly, "you will convince your baby daddy to give up that rogue Alpha title. Him. His pack. All of it."
He leaned closer. "You understand?"
Blood dripped off my chin, dotting the sand below. My vision swam, but I forced myself to turn…inch by painful inch…until I could see his face.
Don't show fear! Never show fear, though my heart was hammering. I could clearly understand what I had gotten myself and my Mat into. This was bad. As bad as it could get! But I could not let it show on my face.
"Don't," I swallowed hard. "Don't you dare touch Mat. He's got nothing to do with your dirty politics."
For a heartbeat, the world held still.
Then David laughed out loud.
A sharp crack exploded across my face as he backhanded me, claws slicing fresh lines along my cheek.
"Shut up, bitch," he snapped. "Do you think you are in a spot where you can negotiate?!"
He leaned down until his eyes were level with mine, smiling slow…ahh, damn cruel. "It won't take me long to send your boy's little parts back to you."
My breath caught.
"In installments." He added.
Something inside my chest shattered.
Around us, the others burst into laughter…too loud. Disgusting. Wolves doubled over, slapping each other's backs, hooting like this was the best joke they had heard all week.
I stared at them, frozen, my heart pounding so hard it hurt.
Mat.
My baby.
Their laughter shattered my ear drums as the desert burned on before me.
Nevertheless I stared at it because if I looked at them any longer, I'd snap. And snapping right now would get me killed. Or worse…get Mat killed.
"Aw, look at her," one of them jeered. "She's gone quiet."
Another snorted. "That's what fear smells like.Hhhhmmm!Yummy!Love that smell!"
David straightened behind me, finally releasing my jaw. My face throbbed where his claws had been.
"Good," he said lightly. "Means it's sinking in."
I forced myself to breathe.
Three,two,one…slow. "Control…Kiara, control."I told myself.
Every instinct in me screamed to turn, to rip his throat out, silver or not. But instincts wasn't going to help me save Mat.
"You really think Caspian will listen to me?" I said hoarsely. "After everything I did?"
David clicked his tongue. "Oh, sweetheart." He stepped around me, crouching so we were eye to eye once more. "You are underestimating yourself."
His gaze flicked pointedly to my bound hands. "And him."
"He never stopped loving you," he continued, voice almost conversational. "Men like him? They rot from the inside when they lose their mate. Makes them reckless. Makes them stupid."
I glared at him. "You don't know a damn thing about him."
David grinned wider. "I know enough."
He rose and snapped his fingers.
"Bring her closer to the edge."
Rough hands grabbed my arms and shoved me forward. My boots scraped against stone, sand shifting beneath my feet. One wrong step and I would tumble straight into the thorn field below…poisonous spikes, and death waiting patiently for me.
"See that ridge?" David said, pointing lazily. "That's where he runs most days. Same time. Same route. So predictable."
My stomach twisted."So predictable yet you need me to tame him?" I wanted to say but swallowed my words. This wasn't just about Mat anymore. Caspian was in danger too.
"You will go to him," he went on. "You will cry a little. Beg if you have to.Strip tease. Rekindle your love life…I don't care," He shrugged. "Whatever works."
"And if he says no?" I asked quietly."I mean even if he still loves me, like you claim, he isn't an easy person to manipulate!" I tried to push.
David's smile vanished.
"Then I start cutting," he said flatly. "One finger at a time. Maybe an ear. Wolves heal, right? Keeps the kid alive longer. Gives you time to rethink.And I believe Caspain won't be heartless enough to let his own blood die!"
My vision blurred, but I clenched my jaw so hard it hurt.
"You are insane," I managed to whisper.
He leaned in close again."No. I am efficient."
He straightened and waved a hand dismissively. "Take her back. Chain her up. Let her stew in it."
The guards yanked me away from the edge. As they dragged me back, I stole one last look at the desert…the endless sand, the distant ridges, the place where Caspian apparently reigned.
I had no idea what had gone wrong or why Caspian had given up his throne for a rogue title. But what mattered was that he did build something for himself.A place where he ran free and clueless about what was coming for him.