Chapter 85 Finding Leverage Against My Sister And Her Mate

Chapter 85 Finding Leverage Against My Sister And Her Mate
USHER'S POV

I don't know what to do to save my life again. It's a bad and complex situation I am in.

Mother never revealed to Hayden that she had used his feather to resurrect me. She lied to him and my sister. 

No matter how much she loves me, she can't go back to beg them not to get officially married so I don't die.

Would they even care? It's their marriage versus my life, what would they choose? 

If they wanted me alive, they would have given my mother a feather. But they made it clear that my face disgusts them, so they should never see it again.

They wanted me to stay dead, but I am alive and dependent on their decision to keep living. I have lost so much it's hard for me to believe. Because it's no longer about loosing a chance to live half a millennia, this time I will be loosing even the life I have. 

I don't think a life should be lost because of a ceremony that doesn't have to happen. The two would considered living together without an official marriage if it was someone else's life that will be lost. 

But since it is mine, I don't think they would care. No matter how much I plead with them. Hayden would probably cut my head off the moment I show up. 

I decided to try anyway. If he kills me then it's okay because I will die anyway when they get married. 

So I guess I have nothing to loose even if I go down to my knees and beg them not to get married and they spit on my face. 

Mother feels that I am risking everything by attempting to walk through the palace gates and beg for my sister and her mate to sacrifice their marriage so I can live.

But she is unwilling to do it on my behalf. Claims that she lied to Hayden in a way that he would be too pissed if he realizes she had used his feather to heal me.

It's like we have a series of wrongs we have committed against Hayden and my sister and it has come to a point that begging for mercy is impossible. 

I however can't sit back and wait for my death. I would rather die trying to do something.

So I am making my way towards the big palace gates. My heart beat is chaotic. I would have said a prayer if I thought Goddess Israel would listen to me. But I had never bothered to choose to do the right thing before so I feel I am alone in this.

I am a little far from the gates when I see the King's Beta and my sister's little step brother leaving the palace on horseback. 

The kid must be having all that he asks for. He is good at charming everyone with his sweet mouth and last time I was within those gates, it was hard not to notice that Hayden is really fond of him.

An idea suddenly strikes me. Do I really need to go in there and beg Hayden and my sister not to get married when I can force them not to? 

I have done some abominable stuff throughout my life. My reputation is at it's worst. I don't see a reason I shouldn't go ahead and do what my mind is telling me to do so save my life.

I am figuring out that both Hayden and my sister love her little brother. They would do anything to keep him safe, my sister has already proved that. 

She would even risk her own life for him. Would she also sacrifice her marriage to keep him alive?

The horse is headed in the direction of the river. Which is good because the road is usually very isolated. 

West is likely going to put up a fight of course. He can be very stupidly loyal sometimes. I am however an angel and he wouldn't stand a chance if he decided to protect the kid.

I turn around and follow the horse. I can't fly after it because everyone will then notice it's me even before I get a chance to grab the kid.

I keep a steady pace, only making sure I don't loose sight of the horse or it's riders as they negotiate corners and go down steep slopes. 

There is absolutely no one else around apart from the two riders and me. It is exactly the moment I was seeking. 

They stop when they reach the river. West helps the kid dismount and holds his hand as they walk to the river bank. 

"Are there any fish in there? Hayden said we will come fishing one day." The kid asks in an excited, innocent voice.

"You need to learn that even Hayden lies sometimes. There are no fish in there because the river is too shallow. But you can ask him to fly with you to a bigger river if you're interested in eating fish." West answers.

"I don't want to eat fish, I only want to catch it." The boy let's go of West's hand and picks up a long stick. "I need a string to attach to this. And an insect to attach to the string." 

"You don't believe there are no fish in the water? Why not get closer and see for yourself?" 

The boy approaches the edge of the river, keenly look at the flowing water.

I pull off my coat as I approach so my wings have room to spread. I think the Beta just caught my scent because he looks back instantly.

Horror flashes on his face as he realizes who it is behind them. 

"I think I saw a frog, can we fish it out?" The kid asks excitedly.

"Not now Skylar. I think we should go back home." West answers, his eyes still fixed on me. There is shock and confusion in his eyes, but I know he won't give up the kid without a fight. It's just the kind of man he is.

"But we just arrived!" The boy protests. He then turns his head, sees me and smiles. 

His smile only lasts a second before he starts to notice that I am not his sister.

I forge a kind smile to see if I can convince him I am her. "I will help you fish out the frog." I say. My attempt to fake my sister's voice fails awfully and the kid frowns. 

"Stay away from him!" West roars, stepping in front of the boy.

I let my wings out as I step forward towards them. "You're going to risk death to protect my sister's little step-brother? Don't you have people you care about more?" As usual, words doesn't unnerve him.

He doesn't even have a sword yet he stands firm between me and the child.

"It's baffling to see you alive, but I won't mind ripping off your throat again if you take one more step forward!" He snarls.

The kid behind him looks terrified. 
I hope he doesn't decide to turn and run because the river is right behind him.

"Stop being stupid!" I snap at West.

"You're the one being stupid. But that isn't new, is it?" He dares mock me. "You're the girl that foolishly rejected 
her mate only to be embarrassed in front the biggest gathering ever. Did you really think Hayden would choose you?"

Anger overtakes my thinking and reach for his neck. He jumps back.

"Skylar run!" He yells as he starts to shift into his wolf form. The kid takes off towards the horse. 

He is forgetting he can't climb on it's back without help. He can't also run too far for me to catch him, so I return my attention to the Beta who is now in his wolf form.

He immediately lunges for me. I catch him by the neck and toss him backwards. He crashed on a stone and I am certain one of his bones is broken. But he has also left me wish a huge scratch on my arm. 

I ignore the pain and march forward. He instantly gets back to his feet and charges. The last thing I want is another scratch on my smooth skin, but his claws dig deep into the fresh around my left shoulder.

I put a big amount of strength in my punch that lands on the wolf's chest, making him fly backwards. 

He lands with a bang, knocks his head against the same rock he had hit and lets out a loud growl. 

I don't want to injure him badly, so I feel glad when he shifts back to his human form and doesn't attempt getting back on his feet. 

I walk closer, see that his face is contorted in pain. But since there are no broken limbs, I assume it will take only a few hours for him to heal, he is a werewolf after all.

"Told you fighting me is a bad idea. You never listen, now look at yourself!" I say, frowning down at the panting wolf.

"Hayden will skin you alive if you touch his brother-in-law!" He says in an angry voice.

"I wouldn't hurt a child, it's mortifying to know you think I am so evil." 

"You're wicked and stupid. That will never change!" He mutters with a smirk.

He just keeps provoking me even at a time that I feel like anger is totally the one in control of my actions. 

If I hurt him more, he may not be able to make it back to the palace and deliver my message. I need to cease control of my emotions so I can make the right decisions.

"Tell my sister that I am alive and will be taking care of her little brother as long as she and Hayden doesn't get married." I say.

"Envy is still your best virtue I see!" He mutters and snorts.

"I am doing what I have to do to keep living." I defend. "I was brought back using Hayden's feather. All I ask is they don't get officially married because it will be the same as killing me again."

He bursts out with laughter. I wonder what's so funny.

"So now your life depends on two lovers not getting married? You're such a loser!" He says and even though I had decided not to hit him again, I kick the side of his abdomen. 

He groans, clenches his jaws in pain. He will still be okay in a few hours.

I turn to go find the kid. Seems he realized he can't get on the horse and ran away instead. 

I take off into the air, it's easier to spot him when I have a bird's eye view.



HAYDEN'S POV

We were having one of those meals I don't enjoy because my parents are in the room and they turn every gathering into a political meeting. 

I know we have a responsibility to serve the people in our Kingdom. But that doesn't mean we can't have a good family meal without talking about matters of the Kingdom or our relations with other Kingdoms. Family makes us better leaders and we need to give it a little more attention.

Everyone jumped when West burst into the room, looking like he has been to hell and back.

"Angel Usher is alive! She took Skylar!" He announced, breathing hard.

It took me a full minute to clearly process what he had said. I hate to panic, but it's not a feeling you can resist when someone utters such shocking words.

"How can Usher be alive?" Father asks, sounding skeptical.

"She said Hayden's feather was used to bring her back to life." West answers. "She is using Skylar as leverage. She doesn't want Hayden to get married to someone else because she will die if it happens."

"That's madness! I want my baby boy back!" Bella's mother bursts out.

We are all appalled. Usher isn't the kind of person to trust with a child's life, especially Skylar's. 

I wish I knew her mother was lying when she said she was looking for a way to save her daughter from death. I was convinced she didn't have a way of doing it, otherwise I would never agree to giving Usher another chance to live among people.

She didn't say she had my feather. And she promised to keep her daughter out of Scorpion Kingdom. Yet the evil angel is back here to inflict more pain. 

Of all other people she could have kidnapped, she chose the sweetest little thing in the world. It's pains to imagine Skylar in the hands of someone as wicked as Usher.