Go With Him

Go With Him
\[Pandora’s POV\]
“Let her go!”
My voice rings out, echoing off the walls around us. It mixes with the cries of fear that escape the other children as they cower away from Lux.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“Will you obediently come with me?” Lux asks, keeping his hold of Emily. “Or…”
He doesn’t finish his words, but I don’t miss the flex of forearm muscles as his fingers tighten around Emily’s neck, causing a hiss of shock to escape her.
Eyes widening, I take in the scene while remembering that Lucian and Victor were just outside the door fighting off the mage. If I could just hold Lux off for a bit longer, I was certain that they would appear and help me, but…
I turn my gaze to Emily, whose face is starting to turn blue. She wouldn’t be able to make it until someone came in to help us.
That means I only have one choice. I think, knowing that it wasn’t the most ideal decision, but if it meant that I wouldn’t have the lives of these children on my hands, I was willing to make it.
“Alright,” I say slowly, lifting my hands in defeat. “I’ll do whatever you want; just let her go.”
For a moment, Lux doesn’t move; he doesn’t speak as he takes me in. I’m certain that he is searching for some sign that I’m up to something, and when he doesn’t find it, he nods.
Smiling, he releases Emily, and when she falls to the ground coughing, I want to check on her, but I don’t move.
“Smart girl,” Lux murmurs, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Now, we should get going.”
“Go where?” I ask. “And how?”
Giving me a look that screams, "You poor thing," he pulls what looks like a crystal out of his pocket, and when he crushes it, I feel magic press against my skin.
“What?” I hiss as my clothes and hair begin to whip around me. “What’s happening?”
“We are leaving.” Lux responds, wrapping a hand around my waist and pulling me against him. “Father is waiting for us back in Onyx Moon.”
Eyes widening, I watch as the world around me begins to swirl and shift, changing from the panic room to what seems to be a library. And when everything calms, I feel my stomach twist.
“Ugh,” I groan, fighting the urge to throw up all over Lux even though it would bring me some amusement. “I’m going to be sick.”
“It’s an aftereffect of the magic.” He explains as though I asked him. “It will fade soon.”
Like I asked. I think, starting to take in the library around us. It’s completely different from the one back at Crimson Moon, and it gives way to the extravagance that Lux and his father have favored for a long time.
“Come along,” Lux continues when I don’t speak. “We are to go see my father.”
He doesn’t wait for me to speak before he releases me and grabs my hand, and after making sure that he has a good hold of it, he tugs me along behind him.
As we move, I rack my brain with what I can do next. As it was, Crimson Moon was still under attack, but I could only hope that since Lux got his hands on what he wanted, he would call in for his men to retreat. That was the best-case scenario, but there was a chance it wouldn’t happen. If I didn’t, I could only hope that everyone was able to fight off the enemy and would soon come to save me.
Until then, I needed to make sure that nothing happened, but I was more than aware of how vicious Lux and his father could be if you didn’t go along with them.
“He’s just inside,” Lux announces when we reach a door. “Please, go in first.”
For a moment, I don’t move as I look from him to the door and back.
“Would you prefer I force you in?” He asks, his voice dripping with promise. “I’m giving you the chance to do things willingly, but you must remember how short my patience is.”
“Right,” I huff, my need to survive kicking in. “I apologize.”
Sucking in a breath, I head into the room as instructed, where I find none other than Alpha Alexander sitting at his desk. He looks like he is busy writing something, but when he spots me, he pushes it aside and motions for me to come in.
“It seems that Lux has managed to find you.” He beams as though this is the most normal thing. “Good, I feared that if he didn’t, we would have a full-blown war on our hands.”
“And you think you won’t just because I’m here?” I ask in amusement. “Do you really think my parents will just sit back while their daughter is being held captive?”
“You’re hardly a captive.” Lux counters, coming up beside me and grabbing my hand once more. “You willingly came. Did you forget?”
Did that really count as willingly to him? He used a child to get me to come with him! Crazy bastard.
“Come, take a seat.” He urges me. “There is much that we need to get done.”
“Get done,” I repeat, frowning. “What exactly is there to be done? Wouldn’t you simply lock a captive away until you were ready to do what you want with them?”
“We can’t possibly be discourteous to the princess of Crimson Moon.” Alpha Alexander chuckles. “You are our esteemed guest.”
Guest. Was he really calling me a guest? I could see where Lux got his delusional thinking from. The apple didn’t fall too far from the tree, it seemed.
“You will be staying in the best room we have to offer.” Lux explains. “And come tomorrow, you will begin your etiquette training for becoming the luna of Onyx Moon one day.”
Wow. They were making it sound like my parents willingly sent me here to prep to become Lux’s bride even if they called off the engagement. This was crazy, but it was better than being locked away in some cell waiting for my rescue, I guess.
“We will also be going ahead and doing our marking ceremony.” Lux continues, causing my heart to drop.
“What?” I gasp, fear rushing through me. “What do you mean we will be doing our marking ceremony?”
“We need to cut your connection with Crimson Moon as quickly as possible.” Alpha Alexander explains. “Otherwise, I fear that they will be able to track you if we don’t.”
“They know where Onyx Moon is.” I growl, wondering if they had gone mad. “There’s no reason…”
“I never said you would be staying in Onyx Moon, child.” Alpha Alexander chuckles. “We can’t risk Crimson Moon taking you back, so for the time being you will be moved elsewhere until everything is done and settled.”