Chapter 139 Chapter 139

Chapter 139 Chapter 139


Hayley's POV

The voice behind the door made everyone turn.

Ariel's face had a look of relief.

“Mark,” she whispered.

Before anyone could ask who he was, the door opened.

Mark stepped into the chamber.

He looked exactly as he had when he left us earlier, except for the tension in his shoulders and the two warlocks standing behind him.

Wales relaxed.

“You took your time.”

Mark lowered his head.

“I had to make sure they reached the fortress without being noticed.”

Wales nodded approvingly.

“Good.”

My eyes met Mark's.

He gave me the smallest glance before looking away.
Something clicked in my mind.

He had been with us earlier and then he'd disappeared.

Ariel had sent him right?

And now he had returned with the Alpha warlocks.

Damon seemed to understand at the same time.

His fingers tightened around mine.

Wales stepped towards Mark.

“Did you find the others?”

“Yes.”

“And the Alphas?”

Mark looked at Damon and Zyran.

“They're here.”

Wales smiled.

“Excellent.”

Ares frowned.

“Something feels wrong.”

Wales glanced at him.

“You've always been suspicious.”

“It's kept me alive.”

Mark moved aside.

That was the signal.

The doors on either side of the chamber burst open.

Warlocks poured in.

They moved with frightening speed, surrounding Wales before he could react.

“What—”

One grabbed his arm.

Another forced him away from the table.

Wales fought back immediately, but there were too many.

Ares drew his weapon and Damon stepped forward.

“Don't.”

Ares looked at him.

“You're enjoying this.”

“Not particularly.”

“You should.”

Ares was tackled from behind before he could say anything else.

He hit the floor hard.

The warlock who pinned him twisted his arms behind his back and fastened enchanted cuffs around his wrists.

Wales stared at Mark.

“You.”

Mark finally looked directly at him.

“Yes.”

“You betrayed me.”

Mark's expression remained calm.

“I never belonged to you.”

Wales' face darkened.

Ares looked from Mark to Ariel.

“You knew.”

Ariel nodded.

“I sent him.”

Ares laughed bitterly.

“Of course.”

Wales struggled against the warlocks.

“Do you think this changes anything?”

Zyran walked towards him.

“It changes where you're sleeping tonight.”

Wales glared at him.

“You'll regret this.”

Damon folded his arms.

“Get in line.”

One of the warlocks pulled Wales towards the door and Ares was taken in the opposite direction.

He stopped beside Hayley.

For a second, neither of us spoke.

Then he said quietly, “You really have no idea what you've stepped into.”

Hayley looked at him.

“Maybe.”

He gave a faint smile.

“But you'll find out.”

The warlock dragged him away.

The doors closed behind them.

For several seconds, nobody moved.

Then Leo broke the silence.

“So…”

Kai looked at him.

“What?”

“Are we going home?”

Kai shrugged.

“I'd like to.”

Damon laughed under his breath.

“Finally, someone sensible.”

Ariel looked at Mark.

“Thank you.”

Mark nodded.

“The Alpha warlocks were already stationed nearby. It wasn't difficult once we had the location.”

Zyran looked at him.

“How long have you been in contact with Wales?”

Mark smiled.

“Long enough.”

“That isn't an answer.”

“It wasn't meant to be.”

I looked at Ariel but she sighed.

“I'll explain everything when we're home.”

Damon groaned.

“Please don't say that.”

Ariel raised an eyebrow.

“You'd rather hear it here?”

“No. But every time someone says that, another secret appears.”

Mark chuckled.

“That's fair.”

Ariel gave him a look.

“You're not helping.”

“I know.”

Leo pointed at him.

“I like him.”

Kai nodded.

“Me too.”

Mark looked amused.

“That's unfortunate.”

Leo grinned.

“I've decided you're my favourite warlock.”

“I didn't agree to that.”

“You don't have to.”

> > > > >

We finally left the chamber.

The journey home was quieter than the trip there and by the time we reached the Order's territory, the sky had darkened.

Everyone had gathered outside the main house.

The warlocks who had remained behind came forward when they saw us.

Ariel immediately began giving instructions about Wales and Ares.

Damon disappeared with Zyran to speak with the senior Alphas.

Kai and Leo stayed with me.

For the first time since I had been taken, I felt like I could breathe properly.

Leo stretched his arms.

“I missed my bed.”

Kai looked at him.

“You were unconscious for hours.”

“I still missed it.”

“You're impossible.”

“I've been told.”

I smiled.

“Go get some rest.”

Leo looked at me suspiciously.

“Are you coming?”

“In a minute.”

He nodded and pulled Kai towards the house.

“Come on.”

Kai followed.

Before they disappeared inside, he looked back at me.

“Don't stay up too late mum.”

“I won't.”

They left.

I turned around.

Damon and Zyran were standing a few steps away.

Damon walked over first.

“You okay?”

“Yes.”

He studied my face.

“You don't look convinced.”

“I'm tired.”

Zyran came to stand beside us.

“You should rest.”

I nodded.

Then I remembered the map.

“The mountain.”

Damon's expression changed.

“What about it?”

“We still haven't figured out where we're going.”

“We will.”

“And Wales knew about it.”

Zyran nodded.

“So did Ares.”

I looked towards the house.

“And now they're both locked up.”

Damon reached for my hand.

“Which means we finally have time to ask questions.”

Ariel appeared at the doorway.

“Hayley.”

I looked at her.

“Can we talk?”

I hesitated.

She noticed.

“Just for a few minutes.”

I followed her into the house.

We entered the sitting room and Ariel closed the door behind us.

For a moment, she simply stood there.

Then she reached into her coat and pulled out Drake's map.

“I need to tell you something about your father.”

I stared at her.

“What?”

She placed the map on the table.

“Drake didn't create this map.”

My brows drew together.

“Then who did?”

Ariel looked towards the closed door.

“Your father found it.”

“Where?”

“He took it from someone.”

“Who?”

She looked at me.

“Celine.”

My heart stopped for a beat.

Ariel continued before I could speak.

“And that's not the worst part.”

I waited.

She lowered her voice.

“Celine didn't steal the map from Drake.”

“She gave it to him.”

I stared at her.

“Why?”

Ariel's fingers tightened around the edge of the table.

“Because she wanted him to find the Seal through me.”

I frowned.

“That doesn't make sense.”

“It will.”

She looked directly at me.

“Because Celine wasn't trying to keep the Seal from your father.”

Ariel swallowed.

“She was trying to use him to reach it.”