BETRAYAL

Chapter 64

KAYA's POV

The moment I realized I was tied to the bed, I began to panic.

I strained against the bonds, but they held firm. Elior's soft baby whimpers beside me heightened my desperation. I had to get us out of here but I couldn't even move an inch of my body

Poor me.

A low creak of the door interrupted my thoughts.

It was Allie, she entered, her face a mask of cold look.

"What is this?" I demanded, my voice a harsh whisper to avoid waking Elior completely. "Why are you doing this?"

Allie didn't move an inch or try to be all emotional about it. "You were too trusting, Kaya. Lucia's influence is strong, and not everyone who claims to oppose him truly does. Some of us are just trying to survive, and alliances shift."

My mind raced. "So you're working for Lucia?"

Allie sighed, her expression conflicted for the first time. "It's not that simple. I did what I had to do to keep my people safe. Lucia promised us protection if we delivered you and your child."

Betrayal burned hot in my chest. "And you believed him?"

"He has resources, power," she replied. "More than we could ever hope to muster. It's a cruel choice, but a necessary one."

Footsteps echoed from the hallway, and Quincy appeared at the door, his face ashen with guilt. "I'm sorry, Kaya," he murmured. "I didn't know Allie would do this."

"Enough," Allie snapped. "Quincy, you brought them here. You're as much a part of this as I am."

Quincy’s eyes darted between me and Allie, torn. "There has to be another way."

Allie shook her head. "Lucia’s men are already on their way. We need to prepare."

With a grimace, Quincy stepped back, leaving the room. Allie followed, casting one last glance at Elior before shutting the door behind her.

I struggled again, tears of frustration and fear burning my eyes. But then, the door creaked open slightly, and Quincy slipped back in, his expression determined.

"I can't do this," he whispered, hurrying over to untie me. "You need to get out of here, now."

"Quincy, why?" I asked, confusion mixing with gratitude.

"I couldn't live with myself if I let this happen. Feyi and the others are already being held in another room. We need to free them and escape."

As soon as the bonds were loosened, I rubbed my wrists, then scooped up Elior. Quincy led the way out, moving stealthily through the dimly lit hallways.

We reached a room where Feyi and a few others were restrained. With swift, silent movements, Quincy freed them. Feyi looked at him with a mixture of relief and suspicion.

"We don't have much time," Quincy said urgently. "Lucia's men will be here soon."

Feyi nodded, his eyes hardening with resolve. "Let's move."

Our group moved through the shadowed corridors, hearts pounding with each step. At one point, we heard voices approaching and ducked into an alcove, holding our breaths until they passed.

Finally, we reached a side door that led to the alleyways outside. Quincy eased it open, peering out cautiously. "It's clear. Go."

We slipped out into the night, the cool air bracing against our heated skin. But our escape wasn't over yet. We needed to get far away from this place before Lucia's men caught wind of our disappearance.

We made our way through the narrow alleys, sticking to the shadows. As we moved, Feyi leaned close to Quincy. "Do you know of any safe places where we can regroup?"

Quincy nodded. "There's an old mill on the outskirts of town. It’s abandoned and rarely checked. We can hide there for a while."

We followed his lead, moving as quickly and quietly as we could. The sounds of the village gradually faded as we reached the mill. Quincy led us inside, and we huddled together in the darkness, catching our breath.

Elior stirred in my arms, and I rocked him gently, trying to calm my racing heart. Feyi sat beside me, his hand on my shoulder, providing a silent reassurance.

"Thank you, Quincy," I said softly. "You saved us."

He shook his head. "I owed you that much. But we’re not safe yet. Lucia will stop at nothing to find you."

Feyi's jaw tightened. "Then we need to stay one step ahead. We can't let him win."

As we settled in for the night, a sense of grim determination filled the air. We had narrowly escaped a trap, but the fight was far from over. With allies who could betray us and enemies closing in, we had to stay vigilant and ready.

I held Elior close, feeling his breath against my chest.

Allie came back and discovered we had disappeared, she laid a spell on Quincy and he fell and died at a spot, as she knew he aided everything that had happened.

“Move”. I heard Feyi say “There's no time for emotions or situation blaming, it's not ours neither is it, anybody's but Allie, not a single clue of her being wicked”.

I didn't say a word. Yes. I didn't have anything to say

Elior coughed a bit and I patted him gently on his back and we kept moving. I looked at Feyi for the second time, really closely. He was aging and he is supposed to be nominated to be an Alpha by now.

“Why don't you have a mate?” I asked out of the blues and that obviously threw him off balance.

“Wait, why?” He looked at me with a playful smirk on his face.

“Yes, why don't you?”

He let out a loud laugh, looked at me with eyes that looked like they were in love, pecked me and said.

“I may be too old for a mate right now, but I think I would have one to cross soon, or later but crossing is not all I want in a mate.”

I looked at him, sounds very cryptic.

“Oh.. oh well, it's very important you have one” I said looking down.

“Not at the moment, it's been chaotic for sometime now.” He added “I actually had a maid but she passed on months after I crossed her, it hurts but I've learned to live with it”.

Really? Who could that mate be? How come I didn't know her? What's this tinge of jealousy I feel?

“Hmmmm” I absentmindedly said.