Chapter 95

Chapter 95
Mae PoV

I stop on the stairs to wait for Dren as he calls after me, I have a lot of planning to do, and I need to do it quickly, Mihai isn’t going to like it, but I plan on sticking to the councils condition of going alone.

The council don’t fuck around, if they tell you to come alone, you come alone. I don’t plan on pissing then off right from the start, but I will be giving them a piece of my mind.

Mihai thinks it’s all a trap, and it could be, but I still have to go. I have to try and broker peace before everyone I love is murdered.

I have only just found out who I am, what I am, I have a family who wants me. I have a big sister, and brothers who want to help me, not ones who want to hurt me. It’s all new, and terrifying, but I want it. I want a family who loves me for who I am, not what I can do on the battlefield.

That’s all I ever knew growing up, be strong, be merciless, don’t show weakness. It was hell. I hated it. I hated what my father did to me. But that’s the thing isn’t it? He was never my father, he was my captor. He was ordered to keep me alive, and to train me to my absolute limits.

I was an experiment to him, nothing more.

But Luthor, he wants me because he loves me, not because he’s been ordered to get close to me, but because he wants me for who I am. I’ve never known that kind of love before.

“Mae.” Dren puffs and pants. “You sure are fast.”

I laugh. I’ve been told that a lot. “I waited for you when I realised you were following me.” I offer, my only apology. “Did Mihai send you after me?”

Dren shakes his head, “he didn’t, I came because I wanted to warn you.”

Here we go, he’s going to tell me not to go through with my plan. He’s going to tell me it’s too dangerous.

I don’t want to hear it.

But I force a small smile anyway, “warn me about what?”

“Mihai is planning to intercept you.” He lowers his voice and starts walking up the stairs. “He doesn’t think you can handle this alone.”

Anger builds in my chest, hot and blinding. “How do you know this?” I ask.

“I could see it in his face, whatever he’s planning, I know for a fact that he won’t let you walk out of this door alone come nightfall.” Dren indicates for me to follow him. “But I have an idea, if you’re willing to listen.”

“Why would you help me?” I ask, cautiously following up onto the second floor. “You told me yourself that my plan was dangerous.”

What’s his angle? What is he planning?

I swear to god if Dren is working with the council I will tear out his throat myself.

I hate traitors… though I suppose in the eyes of the council I am one myself. I betrayed those who raised me, but they left me no choice.

They tried to kill me, and failed, and now they want something from me, and I have a feeling I’m not going to like what they have to say.

“I did tell you that, because it’s true, your plan had too many holes in it.” Dren says, turning back towards me. “That’s why Mihai is stepping in, he doesn’t think that you are ready for something like this.”

“You all seem to forget that I have dealt with the council my entire life.” I growl, struggling to control myself. “I know how bad they are because I have lived it. I know how cruel they are because I have faced it. I’m not a stranger to what they are willing to do to get what they want.”

Dren holds up his hands, “that’s not what I meant.” He sighs. “I’m just trying to say that we need another plan, one that Mihai won’t be able to argue against.”

I’m silent for a moment, “there’s not long before nightfall.”

“I know.” My brother nods, “that’s why we have to work quickly.”

“Why are you helping me?” I ask, my heart unwilling to accept he’s helping me because he wants to. “What do you gain from this plan working?”

There has to be some sort of angle that he’s playing, I’m not stupid, I know this isn’t a good gesture from the kindness of his heart. It can’t be.

People don’t help me unless they have something to gain, that is how it has always been.

But I can’t figure out what he will get from all of this, does he want the council to back down? Does he want them to attack? I can’t get a read on what he wants.

“I’m helping you because you need it.” He says, voice soft. “And because you are my little sister.” He steps closer. “I know you haven’t had it easy with the family they gave you, but in this family, we help each other. We love each other. We don’t ask questions; we just provide help.”

My heart stops, could what he’s saying be true?

Is he helping me just because he wants to?

Impossible.

He has to have a motive, and I will find out what it is, even if it kills me.

But for now, I will accept his help, because he’s right, I do need it. I need all the help I can get.

The council don’t fuck around, and neither do I.

They’re going to learn that the hard way.