Chapter 3

I had no idea how long I’d been in my silent cube. My heart was still beating at an insane rate. I sat on the bed for a bit, trying to stay calm, or as calm as possible in my current situation. If they were monitoring my vitals with their little bracelet, I had to be setting off bells and buzzers by now. I knew there was no way I’d get out of here if I freaked out, so I forced myself to lay on the bed, which I checked and was clean. I closed my eyes and willed my body to look relaxed.

The silence was nice. I could count on one hand, the number of times in my life I’d had complete and absolute quiet inside my head. The years I’d been locked up were an abyss of misery and torture, being in such close proximity to many truly ill people whose minds weren’t stable— It was a horrible nightmare that quite often resulted in me shattering and looking like a total lunatic alongside them. Faking the silence in my head had taken a carefully honed blank expression and three years of my life to learn. It could have been longer; I have no way of really knowing how long I had been locked up. The only way to tell how much time had passed was when celebrated Christmas was celebrated but I think I missed a few of those while I was trying to survive the never-ending screaming, crying and ranting inside my head.

A feeling prickled my skin. I opened my eyes and turned to see a very upset, however good-looking, blond man standing there looking at me. I was about ninety percent sure it was Rafael, but I was only going by the fact he was holding a bodkin point arrow in his large, white knuckled hand.

I moved slowly but his blue eyes didn’t falter. When my socks were on the cool floor, I stood up. Judging by his glare, I would not be shown mercy or be allowed out of here. I took a deep breath and tried to keep my level of panic from rising any higher.

Clasping my hands in front of me, I tried to think of something to say. How’s your butt didn’t seem like a good option. Before I could come up with some spectacular opening, someone else entered. He turned to talk to them and I couldn’t stop myself from looking where I’d shot him. He didn’t look injured at all, if the way he moved meant anything.

I glanced to see who he was talking to. It was the man with the brown hair that had been there when I shot him, and he still looked amused. Maybe he was my way out of here. He didn’t come off as brusque and as scary as the rest. Rafael turned back to me and reclaimed his glower. “So,” I stepped closer, “you must have buns of steel.” I motioned to him, “you’re not even favoring that side.” I realized after it came out, that it sounded less flippant in my head.

The man behind him covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking. I’m pretty sure he was laughing.

Rafael didn’t move.

“Is the speaker on?” I knew it was by the reaction of the man behind him, but was trying for humor, even though I really had no idea how to be funny. “Um, Rafael—” I shrugged, “sorry about your name by the way, but it could be worse, you could have a handle like Eugene or Herman…” He didn’t look impressed. I looked to see the other blond man was standing beside the brown haired one now, they both looked entertained.

I took a deep breath and exhaled. “Okay, so I’m really sorry I hit you in the tush—I honestly mistook you for one those disgusting slags that were after those idiot girls, figured they were sending the pretty face in to distract them…” He didn’t move. The one with the brown hair behind him however, was bent over his knees laughing.

Rafael turned around and looked at them. His arm was waving around. I didn’t know body language that well, but I assumed what he was saying to them wasn’t pleasant. He stopped and stood there looking off into somewhere I couldn’t see. I flicked my eyes to the other two, they were focused in the same direction.

I watched a clone of the man with the goatee come in, only he had no goatee. He paused and looked at me. The man with the long black hair was back. I don’t know what he said to Rafael, but Rafael looked angrier than he did a few moments ago.

The twins and man with black hair walked out. Rafael turned and crossed his arms over his rather large chest and stared at me. My arrow was still clutched in his hand.

A whooshing sound had me spin around. The opposite side, where I’d come in opened. I backed away from the door, not because I was afraid of the three men coming in, okay, not just because I was afraid, but because I knew the silence in my head was going to end.

They stepped in and the glass door closed. I regulated my breathing, waiting for the onslaught of nasty thoughts. There was only one…

…she’s not part of it. We’re wasting time here.

I looked quickly at each of them trying to see which one I was hearing. None of their faces gave away anything.

The blond man without the goatee stepped closer. “Kara…”

He said my name in a way that made it sound, fancier, regal, I suppose was the word. I nodded and hugged my waist.

“No one is going to hurt you…”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Yeah because I believe three complete strange men when they say that.”

The one with the goatee grinned.

Sarcasm wasn’t going to get me out of here, I reminded my mouth. “I’m-I’m really sorry I shot your brother.” I looked from one twin to the other.

He inclined his head and motioned to the other men. “Our brother.”

I looked at the dark haired one. “He’s your brother too?”

He nodded slightly.

That was bad for me. “I don’t suppose I could speak to someone not related to Rafael?”

The one with the goatee shook his head, then jerked his chin to the wall they’d been on the other side of. “Only relatives here.” He looked amused.

I turned to see where Rafael and one man had been standing was now filled with more bodies. Several large men and several concerned looking women. I immediately spotted the scary redheaded man that had done whatever he had to send me here. Standing beside him was the woman who had jumped down onto the fire escape. She was nodding to someone and looking at me, or above me.

With just my eyes I looked up briefly. A sound beside me made me turn back to the men in the cube with me. “That’s a lot of family.” I said quietly.

“Indeed.” The one closest to me said.

I felt a pressure inside my head. Rubbing my forehead, I silently prayed I wasn’t going to have a rush of intruding thoughts, because coming apart in front of these guys wouldn’t end well. I had to convince them I was sorry. “I…” The pressure increased. I squeezed my eyes shut and pushed on my temples for a second. Opening them, I tried to breathe it away. It left just as suddenly as it started. Talk fast I prompted my mouth, in case it comes back.

…oh that’s intriguing. Troy can’t get in…

I ignored the thought that wasn’t mine. “I—overheard those slags stalking those girls, who by the way shouldn’t be hanging out there alone,” I shook my head, “so I went up the fire escape to see how it played out… then this guy, your brother, comes slinking along in the shadows heading their way—” I lifted my arms out, “what would you think?”

“Troy?” The dark haired one said.

The one without the goatee turned to look at him and shook his head.

So, that’s Troy. What can’t he get into? I looked at the dark-haired man to see if it had been his thought. He was looking at me with an odd look on his face. I glanced over to the man with the goatee leaning against the wall with his hazel eyes locked on me.

…Kara…

My eyes went wide.

He grinned and looked at the floor for a moment. “Brother.” He straightened up, he looked at his twin. “I believe her.”

I tried not to look anxious. “I’m not in the habit of shooting people. Rafael was the…” I grimaced, remembering the Fitbit. “Okay, there was one other time I shot this freaky guy with glow in the dark eyes…” All three men looked at me all at once. “Pish,” I hissed, “tell me you don’t have a brother with glow in the dark eyes.” My luck was at an all-time low today.

“What color were they?” The one with goatee asked, “the eyes.”

“Purple.” I said quietly.

“She can see mages.” He said to his twin.

“I heard her, Chase.” He said still looking at me.

Someone knocked on the wall. All of us turned.

The scary redhead motioned with his head for the men to come out.

The dark-haired one and Troy left. Chase inclined his head to me, a slight smirk on his face.

When the door whooshed closed, my head snapped to look at the people on the other side of the wall. I didn’t know what was happening, but all of them were listening carefully to what the woman that had been mad I shot her Rafael was saying.

Chase moved closer to the wall, once again leaning on it. He said something and all heads in the room turned to him, then they looked at me.

My gaze darted around the group, from one to the next and next trying to find an ally. Someone had to feel pity toward the messed-up woman behind glass.

The woman that had asked me my name stepped to the wall. She gave me a curious look, then turned and said something to the black-haired man. He gave her a soft look, the kind of look only a man in love would have. Both turned and looked at Rafael.

I followed their movement and also looked at Rafael.

He didn’t look impressed by whatever they were saying. Dragging his gaze from me he looked at the scary redheaded man. With a brief nod, the scary one walked out of my view. Rafael turned to follow but was stopped when Chase put his hand out in front of him. With a jerky movement Rafael handed him my arrow.

The whoosh of the door startled me again. I turned. The scary man stepped in and crossed his arms over his chest, looking down at me. Rafael stood in the open door.

“I’ve been asked to hold judgement against you for the time being…” The scary one said with perfectly formed words.

…like to see one of them get shot in the ass and see how forgiving they feel…

I glanced to Rafael, then bit my lip and tried to focus on what the other one was saying.

“…should you step out of line, even in the slightest I will…”

…this is ridiculous. Embarrassing…

“I’m sorry, Rafael.” I said quietly. Honestly feeling it this time. “I can’t even fathom how humiliated you must be feeling right now.”

Rafael scowled at me.

“I was so—” I decided to tell a small fib, “afraid that those women would be taken. I acted too quickly without assessing the situation fully.”

The scary one turned and looked at Rafael.

Rafael’s expression was that of a stone statue. He looked away from me after a long glare to the other man and jerked his head. Spinning on his heel he walked out of my view.

“As I was saying…”

I turned my attention back to him, having no idea what he said.

“We need to ask you about some details. You told my brother Arius and his mate, Paisley, you were trying to stop more women from vanishing.”

I nodded.

“You’ve witnessed this happening?”

I opened my mouth, then shrugged, “kind of, but I don’t know how much help I’ll be. I don’t stick around when strange things start happening.”

He nodded slowly, considering what I said. “We’ll be able to ascertain if you have any useful information after you tell us more.” He unfolded his arms and started to turn, then paused. “Are you able to hear what I’m thinking?”

I shook my head. “No.” It was the truth, but I was worried what would happen if I said yes.

“You don’t need to fear if you can.” He titled his head to the side. “You are not the only person we’ve known with an ability of sorts.”

I stood there, then realized he was asking me again if I could. “I can’t hear what you’re thinking.”

“But you could hear what Chase thought?”

I looked to the wall that Chase was on the other side of. “Not much. Odd things here and there.”

He inclined his head to me. “Very well.” He motioned to the door.

I looked down at my feet. “Can I have my boots back?”

“We’ll stop and get them.”

I gave him a hopeful look. “And my gear.”

He gave his head a quick shake. “Not at this time.”

“I figured.” Taking a deep breath, I walked through the open door and stopped outside it. I realized he intended to follow me and went a few more feet until I could see the space all those people had been in. Only Chase and the dark-haired man stood there. Chase motioned for me to come through. I did with hesitant steps.

“We always knew someday a woman would bring Raf down,” Chase said with a slight grin, “we never imagined it would be with an arrow.”

I chanced a glance at the dark-haired man on the other side of me, he looked like he was smirking. “You’re Arius?”

His grey eyes locked on my face.

I pointed behind us at the scary one, “he said I told Arius about women vanishing.”

His posture relaxed, slightly. “Yes, I’m Arius.” He looked straight ahead again. “And that is Victor.”

I nodded and kept walking. We were going through halls of glass rooms, either they were all empty or I couldn’t see into them. I kept control of my breathing so I wouldn’t panic. I glanced to Chase, he didn’t seem as tense as his brother.

We stopped by a door and Arius went in it. Before I could figure out what was going on, he came out and handed me my boots.

I took them and bent down to put them on, not wanting to annoy any of these large men that would make them put me back in that cube.

…relax, cupid, I’ve got your back…

I looked up to Chase. He raised one eyebrow quickly at me, acknowledging I’d heard what he was thinking. I took a deep breath and turned my attention back to getting my other boot on.

“Your majesty.”

I glanced up to see a man standing there with his head bowed.

“What is it?” Chase asked.

Majesty?

The man handed him a tablet, then bowed and backed away.

Chase put the arrow under his arm and took the tablet, tapping the screen a few times. He looked bored. Holding the tablet out to the man, he nodded. “If this is what was requested, then make it happen.” He lifted his hand like he’d dismissed him.

The man bowed his head once more and walked back down the hall and out the doors.

Chase shook his head and glanced to Arius. “The move of the furniture.”

Arius took a deep breath. “At least Paize controlled what she wanted.”

Chase chuckled, “my beloved did as well, or the entirety of both sides of the chambers would be redone.”

I stood up.

Chase motioned to the doors. “Shall we?”

I started walking.

“You’re not complaining about furniture Victor, did Cutie not find anything?”

“Bookshelves,” he replied. “An entire wall of bookshelves.”

Chase smirked. “At least you won’t have piles of books to step over now.”

We just kept walking, through miles of halls. I kept quiet, fitting pieces together while keeping an eye out for a window to see where we were. I knew most of the city, so if I could see outside, I might know where I was.

If Chase was a majesty, I guess that made him a king? At least I had a king on my side, that was something. I frowned at the carpeting. Rafael was his brother. I stopped walking abruptly. “I shot a prince in the tush.” With huge eyes I looked up at Chase.

He smirked. “Yes, you did.”

With my mouth open I looked at Arius, he also looked amused. “I-I…” I turned to look at Victor, he didn’t look entertained by the idea, but he wasn’t giving me that death-to-you look. I put my hand over my mouth then dropped it. “I didn’t know we had a royal family…I mean, yeah I know there’s royal families, but-but…” I looked back to Chase.

He gave his head a slight shake. “Let’s continue, we’ll cover who is who later.”

I took a shaky breath and started walking, then stopped again. “Should I bow? Curtsy?” I frowned. “Do people still curtsy?”

Chase chuckled, “many do attempt to, and shouldn’t.” He put his hand on my shoulder. “Let’s not get hung up on things like that right now, all right?”

I nodded again. “Okay. Yes. Pish. I can’t believe I shot a prince.” I put my hand on my forehead and started walking. Leave it up to me to shoot an arrow into the butt of a prince.