Riley POV
I reluctantly took the female guard with me, cautiously keeping an eye out for Marigold, stepping into the bathroom with a sigh that changed quickly as the female guard was promptly hit on the head and fell in front of my eyes, a resolved Marigold stepping from the shadows, her lips twisted. "We don't have much time," she said, her voice filled with urgency "Riley you need to come with me, that is if you want to save Tiana."
"Marigold, what are you doing here?" I breathed, eyeing the fallen guard warily, my eyes rising, "what is this? I thought you had all been taken..." my voice trailed off.
Something was off. Marigold looked frightened. "Tiana?" I said, leaning forward and fixing my eyes on her "what do you mean save Tiana?" I demanded.
"Come," she said, heading out of the bathroom and beginning to run as I followed blindly behind her, my own feet pounding against the ground, feeling anxious as she headed off in the opposite direction to Bailey's territory.
It occurred to me that this might be a trap of some type, but Tiana needed me. That was all I could think about. She and Marigold were in trouble and I wouldn't hesitate to save the little girl. We practically flew and as we stepped out of Bailey's territory, I felt my connection to him, my mind-link fade, even as Marigold paused and several people came out of the shadows, Tiana held in his hands, wriggling frantically, her eyes wide open as she took me in, my own body stiffening. I should have seen this coming. My eyes fixed upon him, while Marigold stood still, nervously wringing her hands together.
"You did well" the man spoke quietly, Marigold ducking her head and avoiding my eyes as I turned to look at her in disbelief.
"Let Tiana go" I breathed, clenching my hands into fists, while several men began to surround me.
I noticed trucks nearby and cars. I gritted my teeth. Bailey was going to be pissed that I took such a dangerous risk. I opened my mouth and he shook his head, clamping his hand around Tiana and causing her to claw at his hands, her lips turning an alarming blue. She couldn't breathe.
"One move and I'll break her neck" he warned chillingly "don't even think of using that voice of yours against me."
"Coward" I spat "needing a hostage in order to get to me. Why don't you face me like a real man" I taunted while Marigold was dragged away, her eyes apologetic as she glanced over her shoulder.
"Put it on her" he spoke to the man closest to me "Reggie and make sure it's tight."
I felt the man move behind me. I looked desperately at Tiana whose eyes were bulging. She was close to losing consciousness. I gritted my teeth. I couldn't let her die. Not even to save myself. My hands were tied. I seethed as I felt the man behind me slip something over my head. A collar of some description. Only mine appeared to be lined with silver, burning the throat as well. I glared, wondering what kind of cheap trick this was. The man looked satisfied.
"Try and use your voice now or shift" he instructed chillingly.
I was glad to see him loosen his grip on Tiana and narrowed my eyes as I watched her desperately breath in much-needed oxygen. What was this man playing at? I opened my mouth, forming a song, and....nothing.
My mouth dropped open. No song burst forth, no haunting music to persuade him to do as I wanted. The silver burned whenever it pressed against my bare flesh. I could not hear my wolf. I could not hear my siren. It was like I was disconnected from both of them. What had he done? I stared at him horrified. He had taken away the only weapons I had to defend myself. As I felt myself beginning to panic, the man gave me a cold smile.
"Fantastic" he purred, handing Tiana over to one of the men who promptly dragged her away "it looks as though it works on you as well. Just as I imagined" he breathed, walking closer to me as I cringed "it's been a long time Riley" he smiled and I shuddered, even as I felt anger course through my veins.
I had never wanted to see this miserable excuse of a person ever again. I had thought he would have the sense to stay away. He reached over and touched my face and I recoiled, swatting angrily at him, causing him to chuckle in amusement.
"Still a bit of fight left in you," he said as I stood there unmoving, debating my best options "that's good, because you're going to need it."
"As if I would do anything for you" I sneered, as he raised a brow unimpressed by my defiance "I don't know what you think you are playing at Jaxon, but my mate will kill you if you lay a hand on me. The Lycan King is bound to be angry at you for what you've done tonight. You're about to learn a valuable lesson in overstepping" I warned as he grinned at me "walk away and leave the sirens behind and you might still live" I told him honestly.
He flung his head back and laughed. "But Riley, haven't you worked it out yet?" he asked as I glared "you're the very reason we are here. You are my mate," he said as I gasped "I never accepted your rejection and I refuse to accept it even now. Having you as my Luna will be handy. You have your uses," he said, his eyes glinting as I felt the hair on the back of my neck begin to stand out "but in order to get you to do anything, we need to leave," he said blithely, nodding to the man behind me.
I turned my head but it was too late. Something sharp pricked me in the arm and I felt myself becoming lightheaded and dizzy. As I swayed on my feet, I felt him scoop me up in his arms, causing me to look up at him dumbly. My body wouldn't cooperate and his eyes rested on my face, a smile curving on his lips.
"Just as beautiful as I remember you" he whispered as he carried me over to a truck and placed me in the back, alongside Marigold who was sobbing and Tiana who was curled up frightened in the corner, closing the door behind him.
I blinked, disoriented, the truck springing to life and roaring as it began to take off in a hurry. Marigold came over, kneeling beside me.
"Bailey" I managed to utter between quivering lips, Marigold reaching to take my hand and squeeze it "Need to tell Bailey" I whispered.
"We can't" Marigold said, angrily taking off the wig she wore and throwing it carelessly to the far corner of the truck as it turned, causing us to roll slightly, "we can't even sing Riley" she told me softly as I struggled to remain conscious "I'm so sorry but he was going to kill Tiana" she sobbed "I didn't have a choice."
I glanced at the little girl, curled up in the corner, her eyes staring off into the far distance. What had she and Marigold already been forced to endure at Alpha Jaxon's hand? I didn't blame Marigold for wanting to save the little girl's life. I couldn't. If I had been in her shoes, I would have done the exact same thing.
"The others" I mumbled.
"In the dungeon. But he's planning on taking us somewhere hidden" Marigold's voice rose in pitch "I don't know what the next part of his plan is but, we're a vital part of it. Riley, what do we do?" she whispered, her voice shaking "if we refuse, he'll kill us, if we do as he says innocent people die in our place" she let the tears trail down her cheeks as my body began to feel cold all over "either way we lose" she said sniffling.
I couldn't speak. Possibilities of what Jaxon might demand of me flitted through my mind. I looked closely at Marigold with my blurred vision and noted she had a collar on, though hers was slightly different. Another glance at Tiana showed she was wearing one too. Was it to prevent them from singing or to stop them being able to hurt Jaxon?
We were going to have to fight our way out of this, but Marigold and the others likely did not have much skills in the way of combat. Sirens relied on their voices during battle, not their bodies. I thought about Bailey. Would he find us? Would he have discovered me missing by now? My eyelids fluttered. The only hope that any of us had now, was escaping as a team, I thought grimly, or Bailey tracking us down and helping to rescue us. But to rely on my mate, could result in our deaths. We had to put a plan together and we had to work as one. I opened my mouth but nothing but a wheeze escaped as my eyes began to close.
"Bailey" I whispered, as darkness began to surround me.
I heard the distant sound of Marigold weeping and then silence as I allowed the blackness to consume me.