Chapter Text
{There is very little he wouldn't do, very few people he wouldn't kill, just to ensure his well-being.}
Consciousness returned slowly in fragments. There was a dull ache in his head, or maybe it was a ringing noise, Shane couldn't tell. He tried to open his eyes, but they felt heavy. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway, he seemed to be blindfolded.
He felt hands come under his shoulders, and drag him across the floor. He tried to lift his arms, or move his legs in protest but his limbs were limp, his brain not cooperating in making them move. He felt disoriented, not knowing which way was up or down. He felt like he had forgotten something. Something that was very important but he couldn't put his finger on it. It felt just out of his reach.
“Shane? Shane!”
A distant voice called him. He couldn’t tell what direction it was coming from.
Shane groaned in pain as he was thrown onto the floor, before he heard the sound of steps coming closer.
“Shane!”
Shane’s heart thudded, recognition slowly coming back. Ilya.
“Ilya.” Shane mentally groaned, his headache making it difficult to communicate back.
“Shane, my love! Where are you!” Ilya’s voice sounded frantic.
“I… don’t know.”
“Get me the potion.” A voice ordered. Shane flinched. This voice was definitely outside his head and not Ilya, it sounded vaguely familiar. “If you’re right and they’ve mated, then they will be communicating with each other.”
“Shane, tell me where you are! Tell me who did this!”
Before Shane could respond, his head was forcibly tipped back. Shane gasped at the sudden movement. His mouth was pried open and a bitter liquid was poured down his throat. Shane choked and started to cough, as he was made to swallow.
“Shane, answer me! I need to know….”
Ilya’s voice faded away, gone from his head.
“Ilya?... Ilya!”
Nothing.
Ilya’s voice, that had become a constant comfort in the short time they had been mated, now left a gaping hole.
“Lock him upstairs.”
Shane grunted as he was lifted by his underarms again and dragged. He struggled, trying to break out of the tight hold, but to no use, his arms felt weak, his head heavy.
Upon his weak attempt at struggle, he felt an elbow to his head making him promptly pass out.
***
A prod to his knee nudged him awake. At first he thought he had imagined it, then it came again, sharper this time. Shane’s eyes snapped open to find himself staring at a ceiling; the blindfold gone. The ceiling was high and Shane was pretty sure there was a small hole in it, either that or it was a large speck of dust. He smacked his lips together, his mouth felt drier than the Sahara Desert, probably because of that god-awful potion he had been forced to drink.
“Shane!” a whisper called out. Oh right. The reason that he had awoken. There was someone here with him. Shane snapped his neck in the direction of his name and then winced, the sudden movement sent a sharp pain across his neck and spine.
“Shane. Is that really you?”
Ignoring the pain, he focused on whoever it was talking to him. The room was dark, but his Vampyre vision began to clear.
“Holy shit… Rose?” He stammered out, not believing his eyes. His heart was in his throat as he took in his long lost friend. Her auburn hair, what used to be neat and silky, now was a mess all knotted. Her face was marked up with various cuts, one at her left eyebrow, one at her lip.
“Shane! Oh my god! You're alive!” Rose cried out, tears gathering at her eyes as she grinned in relief.
“I’m alive? You're alive!” Shane exclaimed, incredulous.
“I thought you were dead when they brought you in! You Vampyres tend to look so lifeless, I thought-”
“Rose! Do you have any idea how long I've been looking for you?”
He slowly sat up, taking inventory of his own body. His legs ached as well as his shoulders and back. But other than that, he seemed fine.
Rose let out a wet laugh. “No, but if I had to guess… Four months, three weeks and two days?”
“What? How?”
Rose pointed at something behind Shane, there on the wall were lines scribbled on, tallying the time she had spent here. Seeing physical proof of how much time had passed since Rose had been taken, made Shane’s heart hurt. He swallowed and pulled Rose closer.
“I’ve missed you.” He muttered into her shoulder. Rose hugged back, gripping tight. “I didn't know where you were. I looked everywhere for you.”
“I can’t believe you here.” She mumbled back in awe.
Shane smiled before he pulled back to look at her. “Speaking of… where the fuck is ‘here’?”
Rose winced. “I don't know!”
“What?”
“I’ve tried to figure it out but they’ve kept me up here ever since I was taken. There are no windows or cracks in the walls for me to look through. Sometimes I hear sounds through the pipes but they're too faint for me to make out. ” Rose frowned.
“But do you know who kidnapped you?”
“No.” She shook her head. “The guards are really careful, always covered up when they come to give me my food. They don't come near me either, so I can't tell what species they are.”
Species. Shane’s memory jolted. Marley. The Were who had kidnapped him. The Were who was Ilya’s security and had betrayed him.
“Marley took me.” Shane replied.
“What? Who?”
“He’s a Were. He drugged me.”
“Wait. A Were? So we’re in Were territory?” Rose asked.
Shane shrugged. He sure hoped they were in Were territory since it could mean Ilya found them faster. Shane pinched his nose. “How did you get mixed in all this?”
Rose laughed nervously. “Good question! Do you want the short version or the long version?”
Shane sighed. “Have they hurt you?” He eyed the bruises on her face.
But Rose shook her head. “These are from when I first arrived. I think I was trying too hard to escape… you know what any normal person would do. But apparently they didn't like that so…” She pointed at her bruised lip. “But ever since then, they pretty much ignore me.”
“How did they take you?”
Rose shifted on the floor, fidgeting with her hands. “I was leaving home to go to yours actually. But as soon as I stepped out of my apartment. I was grabbed from behind. But…” she trailed off.
Shane leaned back, waiting for her to continue.
“I think I know why, and I’m sorry I didn't tell you. I-”
“I know why.” Shane interrupted gently.
“You couldn't possibly know.” Rose started.
Shane shook his head. “You were trying to find the family of Weres that you gave your baby to after her father died.”
“What?” Rose froze. “How did you…”
Shane smiled sadly. “It's been a… busy few months. But Ilya and I found out-”
“Whose Ilya?”
Shane felt a pang in his heart, missing the Alpha so suddenly. He fought the urge to press against his chest where it ached for the Alpha.
“Rozanov. The Were Alpha you gave your baby to.” Shane watched recognition bloom in Rose’s eyes.
“My husband.” He added.
“So how did you find out-” Rose stopped talking abruptly and did a double take, blinking at Shane multiple times. “Did you just say…”
“Yep.”
“Husband!?” She shrieked.
“Yep.”
“As in, I now pronounce you husband and husband?!…”
“Yep.”
“Seriously!”
“Yep.”
“I’ve been gone for four months, and after spending ages begging you to join dating apps and get out there, you come out with a whole ass husband? And a Were Alpha at that?”
Shane blushed. “Technically, this is your fault.”
“Excuse me?!”
“You think I got married to him because we bumped into each other on the street and then fell in love?” He shot her a deadpan look. “I was looking for you!”
Rose looked confused before she shook her head. “You’re going to have to start from the beginning, babe.”
Shane ran a hand through his hair. He was exhausted. “Everything went to shit after Cromwell was elected. The fate of the Vampyres was under threat, so my parents proposed I marry Ilya… to form an alliance.”
“But… you hate Weres. Hate him.”
Shane huffed a small laugh. “No. I mean… I get that. But no. I was wrong.”
Rose’s eyes softened. She squeezed Shane’s hand. “You fell in love.”
Shane bit his lip and nodded shyly, before his eyes grew serious. “I tried everything to find you. I didn't just agree to marry Ilya to make peace. I married him because I found his name at your apartment. I thought he took you or… or must know where you were.”
Rose winced. “Yeah about that…”
“You have a daughter.” Shane stated.
“I… have a daughter. Well… had.”
Shane shook his head. “She still is very much yours.”
“Wait. You’ve met her?” Rose gasped.
“She has your eyes.” Shane murmured softly. “And she is the sweetest little thing. Very clever.”
Rose’s eyes welled up. Shane felt his heart crack.
“And she calls me Sane.” Shane grumbled. “No matter how much I correct her.”
Rose laughed, wetly. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about her.”
Shane shook his head in rebuttal but Rose continued.
“I was so scared when I found out I was pregnant, still in high school with no way to care for a baby. But at least I had Niko.” She swallowed harshly. “But after his death… I… couldn’t do it. I couldn’t give her the life she deserved. Living amongst Humans hiding half of herself? Her dominant self? Going through full moons without her pack, going against her inctincts… I couldn’t force her into that. I knew she would be safe with Rozanov. So I… made the hardest decision of my life and…”
“Hey. I get it. You did the best that you could.” Shane reassured her.
“I wish I could meet her. That’s what I was doing. Before I got kidnapped. I got an anonymous letter in the mail one day, saying how the baby I gave up was in danger and that I needed to act now.” Rose wiped away a tear that fell down her cheek. “I was coming to you, to tell you about it and to ask for your help. But…”
Shane nodded. “Who do you think sent that letter?” He asked.
“I don't know. But I think it was a trap.”
Shane nodded. “We need to get out of here.” He looked around for something that might aid them.
Rose winced. “Yeah… or we can stay here and grow old.”
Shane huffed. “And that's why you're not in charge of making the plans.” He laughed and soon Rose joined in, both laughing like lunatics despite the situation. It felt nice, he thought, to just take a moment for themselves. God. Shane had missed this. His best friend and laughing with her until their bellies hurt.
“Another plan, actually… we can lure them inside and you can do your weird vamp compel-ey thing.” Rose suggested, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Rose. I’d have to be touching them in some way.” He grumbled, really wishing he had practiced mind compulsion more when he was younger.
“Okay…” Rose nodded, her wheels turning. “So we call them inside. They’ve been leaving my food through that opening.” She pointed toward the door. “Won’t come inside though, but if I can get them to come inside, I can distract them until you're able to get a hold.”
“This will end badly.” Shane muttered, already knowing he would agree to this plan.
“You’re Vamp royalty! Plus, you're married to the Were Alpha! They wouldn't touch you. You're more valuable. Me, on the other hand…”
Shane opened his mouth to respond when a loud bang came at the door, making them both flinch. The opening in the door slid open, light coming into the room.
“I have a blood bag for the Vampyre.”
“Whose that?” Shane whispered.
“Bob.”
“Whose Bob?” Shane tilted his head.
“Its a name I made up for all the guards. They're all Bob.” Rose muttered. And before Shane could stop her, she called out to Bob. “Shane isn't feeling well!” Which was true, he did feel like shit. “I think that thing you injected him with might be about to kill him!” Her voice was shaky as she winked at Shane.
Shane had to hand it to Rose, she made an amazing actress.
The guard shuffled his feet on the floor. “That’s not my problem. I can't do anything for the leech, anyway. That's above my pay grade.”
Shane rolled his eyes at the not so creative ways of insulting him.
“Your boss won't be happy if he died on your watch!” Rose retorted. “He’s Vampyre royalty!”
The guard muttered a few curses before he slowly opened the door and shuffled inside. He wasn't anyone Shane recognised. He wondered if this guard worked for the Oathbounds, but he didn't have much time to ponder as from the corner of his eyes, Shane saw Rose nod her head at him, signalling her plan into action.
“What’s the problem?” He grumbled, not stepping into the room fully.
“It’s… It’s my eye…” Shane was truly a horrible liar. If Ilya was here, he would have snorted in laughter.
The guard looked like he couldn’t care less, but still came closer. He squinted to get a look at what Shane was pointing at, frowning into his face. He was still too far from Shane, to be able to get a hold of him. Shane sighed, he would have to do this through the non contact way. He hoped he could, not having done this since he was a young fledgling.
Shane looked deep into the Were’s eyes, forcing the other’s eye to stay still. For a moment, it worked. Shane locked himself into the Were, feeling his confusion written on his face as his jaw went slack. He had him. Now, Shane needed to-
And just like that, the Were’s expression returned from lost to angry as Shane’s hold slipped.
Fuck.
“Did you… did you just try to compel me? You fucking leech!” The guard yelled, looking disgusted. He went to reach for Shane, but Rose was quicker. She grabbed the guard’s arm, and twisted it behind him, awkwardly.
The guard cried out in pain.
“Open the door and let us out.” She demanded.
The guard winced but did not budge. “No.”
Rose smirked and pulled his arm further behind his back, making the Were’s arm bulge out from where it was connected to his shoulder. The guard cried out harder and huffed a deep breath. “Okay! Okay!” He relented. It was clear he was not a trained fighter, he actually looked young and Shane couldn’t help but feel pity for the kid. He didn’t stand a chance against Rose.
Ross held onto his arm, as the guard opened the door, only letting go of him when they were both through. “Well… that was easy.” Rose stated to which Shane shot her a look.
They stood in a dark hallway that led to god knows where. Shane listened out for any signs that they were not alone, when he didn’t get any, he nodded to Rose and the pair began to move.
The hallway was long and narrow, with no windows to show them where they were or what time of the day it was. Still, they walked slowly, his senses high on alert. The further they got, a pit settled in Shane’s stomach. His nose twitched, he could smell danger up ahead. The ability felt foreign, but thanks to Ilya he now had a way of detecting threats.
The place was starting to look familiar. He prayed he was wrong.
“This can’t be.” He murmured.
“What?” Rose asked, nervously.
Shane didn’t reply for a few seconds, now focused on the door at the end of the hallway. He pushed it open and froze.
“Shane, what is it?”
“I know this place.” He said, before he stepped through the door. He didn’t have much time to look around, as he stopped to a halt when he saw who was waiting for him on the other side.
“Ah! There you are.” Cromwell exclaimed as if he was greeting a long lost friend.
Shane swallowed. He wasn't surprised to see the face that had been taunting them for months.
“Wait… I don’t understand.” Shane heard Rose murmur. “Bob back there was a Were. But… but you’re…” she looked at Cromwell who smiled widely.
But Shane understood. He had known Cromwell to be working with the Oathbounds.
“Im going to need you to come with me, Shane.” Cromwell stated just as more Weres appeared and surrounded them and tied their hands together. Shane knew he couldn't do anything but follow.
***
Shane could fight them. Theoretically, he could fight them. But he was clearly outnumbered and if he got bitten, well, it's not like any of the Weres would be lining up to heal him with their blood. So he followed Cromwell, Rose walking beside him and shooting him nervous glances every now and then.
They were at one of his parent’s properties. A cottage in the middle of nowhere, with nothing but trees and a lake surrounding them. Shane could still remember when his father had bought it, how he had excitedly shown Shane and his mother the place. They had fallen asleep under the stars that night, recalling old tales of the gods. He clung onto the memory, his heart clenching at the familiarity of the corridors he now walked through, corridors he knew like the back of his hand.
Why was Cromwell at his parent’s property?
A horrible thought occurred to him. Had Cromwell taken his parents?
“What have you done with my parents!” Shane yelled at Cromwell’s back. The Human merely shot him a smirk before turning back around and leading him further into the cottage. He could feel the panic start to settle deep into his bones.
Cromwell led them into the large dining room that his parents mostly used for any formal meetings. Shane’s eyes darted around the room nervously, expecting to see his parents tied up somewhere. He found neither of them.
The room was lined up with Weres, all glaring at Shane, their nostrils flared as they scented him. Shane wondered what they smelt. Could they smell their Alpha on him? He hoped they could, just so they knew who they were messing with.
One of the Weres behind Shane and Rose pushed them further into the room. Rose tripped and fell, her knees scraping against the floor harshly.
“Rose!” Shane exclaimed, trying to help her up but his movements were restricted with his hands tied behind his back.
“I’m fine. I'm fine.” she rushed out, slowly standing back up. Her eyes were wide as she looked around the room. “Where are we?”
Shane opened his mouth to reply, when a sharp bang of a door opening made them both flinch and turn sharply in the direction.
A figure emerged from the door at the back of the room.
A figure that Shane knew all too well.
Lucien.
His parents’ advisor.
“Shane! My darling. I haven’t seen you in so long.”
Shane bristled, his blood running cold as he stared at the man he had known all his life, staring back at him with a smirk on his lips and an evil glimmer in his eyes.
“You…” Shane trailed off, suddenly feeling breathless. His mind struggled to catch up to what he was seeing.
Lucien’s smirk grew, his fangs twinkling in the light.
“You’re behind this?” Shane managed to ask. It felt like the ground underneath him had disappeared as he stumbled back a step. “How could you do this?”
“Oh Shane.” Lucien replied. “You’ve always been so naive. Too busy playing human.”
“Where are my parents!”
Lucien tutted, his eyes filled with mock pity. “They too were too busy at letting you live out your fantasies of being a normal human to realise what was happening under their noses.”
“It was you.” Shane repeated. “For-for how long?”
“From the beginning.” Lucien shrugged his shoulders, casually.
Shane shook his head. “B-but Cromwell. He led the Oathbounds, he was the one who- You're working together?”
Cromwell’s smirk grew, his chest swelling with pride. Lucien on the other hand looked annoyed. “Actually, no.”
Cromwell’s smile dropped as he shot Lucien a confused look. “What?”
Lucien sighed as if the whole thing was one big inconvenience for him. “You’ve served your purpose well, I’ll give you that.”
“What are you talking about?” Cromwell exclaimed. His cheeks reddened in anger. “You said we were in this together!”
“Yes, I did, didn't I?” Lucien replied softly.
“You can't cut me out of the plan now! You said we both wanted the same thing. You said you wanted the alliance to end! You promised me great power!”
Lucien sighed. “I lied. You were just so easy to manipulate, to use to my advantage.”
Cromwell’s eyes widened.
“Oh, you stupid human.” Lucien spat. “I just needed you to fund the Oathbounds. Create havoc for that idiotic Alpha, keep him distracted!”
Shane growled at the mention of his Alpha. His fangs dropping.
Lucien ignored him as he continued. “You actually thought I would work with you? A Human? I told you to get the Oathbounds to kill Shane! Giving me the perfect excuse to start a war.”
Shane’s eyes widened at the confession.
“But you failed.” Lucien sighed. “Looks like I have to do everything myself around here.”
“Its-its not my fault. The stupid Weres are all useless.” Cromwell sputtered. Around them the Weres bristled at the insult.
“Your hatred for all supernaturals, the one thing that you thought would be your salvation… turns out is actually the reason for your end.” Lucien’s eyes hardened.
“What? What do you mean!” Cromwell demanded, taking back a step, fear in his eyes.
Lucien merely smiled, fangs on show as he sped to Cromwell and tore into his throat.
Rose gasped. Shane froze.
Cromwell screamed and thrashed as blood spewed everywhere, Lucien only bit down harder, sucking him dry until the light left Cromwell’s eyes and his body grew limp.
Lucien let the body drop and straightened up, before he pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at the blood around his lips. “Ah. For someone so useless, he sure tasted good. Now… where were we?”
Shane slowly took a step forward, putting Rose behind him, as he eyed down the other Vampyre. “What do you want? Why are you doing this?”
“Hmmm. So many questions.” Lucien huffed a laugh.
“You didn't have to kill him.” Shane breathed.
“On the contrary. Yes. I did. Anyway, he was a useless pawn.” Lucien waved a hand dismissively, signalling the Weres to pick up Cromwell’s body and carry him out of the room.
“Why do all this?” Shane asked. He wasn't sure he wanted the answers but knew he needed them.
“Why orchestrate the alliance? Why put the idea into your parents' heads to ship you off to the enemy lands? Whilst simultaneously stimulating Cromwell’s hatred for supernaturals?”
Shane’s eyes widened. A lump had formed in his throat.
“Yes. I gave your parents the idea for this faux arranged marriage. Rather clever don't you think?”
Shane merely glared, too shocked to speak.
“I hoped that as soon as you entered the enemy lands, their hatred for Vampyres would be so strong that the Alpha would kill you.”
“Giving you the perfect excuse to start a war.” Shane whispered in disgust at being used like a chess piece.
“Exactly.” Lucien’s eyes gleamed. “But when I realised that the Alpha did not have the balls to do that. I had to get creative.”
“Cromwell and the Oathbounds.” Shane filled in the gaps.
“Hm, look who's putting the dots together.” Lucien taunted. “What I hadn't expected was your relationship with the Alpha.”
Shane startled, taken aback.
“Yes. I've known how you and that Alpha are mates for months now.” Lucien revealed. “I have spies everywhere. I’ll admit I was surprised, I mean what are the chances? The enemy you're made to marry ends up being your mate? Talk about starcrossed lovers!” He let out a condescending laugh, and Shane felt his blood boil. “But then I realised I could use it to my advantage. If the Alpha was distracted by saving you… It would allow me to get what I really wanted.”
Suddenly it dawned on Shane. “Lena.” Beside him, Rose bristled.
The twinkle in Lucien’s eyes sharpened and that was all the confirmation Shane needed. Lucien had been behind all the attacks, all the attempts to get Lena.
“You poisoned the cake.” Shane murmured. “You’re Ash.”
“Ding Ding! Ten points for you.”
“You sent me that letter, telling me she is in danger.” Rose spoke suddenly, realisation dawning upon her.
“Ah, beauty and brains, Miss Landry.” Lucien paced around the large table that was in the middle of the room and took a seat at the head of it. “I needed Shane to have a reason for agreeing to the alliance. What better way to kidnap his best friend and carefully plant the name of his enemy and future husband at her house.”
Shane could not believe what he was hearing. He felt like a puppet on a string held by Lucien. They had all played into his plan perfectly. “B-but what do you want with her? She’s just a kid, she's innocent.”
“She is the key to everything!” Lucien growled and Shane flinched at the words. “I know you know, Shane. What she is.”
Shane didn't give him the satisfaction of reacting, forcing his face to stay still.
“Truth be told, I was floundering my way through my plan before I found out about her.”
How did you find out about her, Shane thought.
"Of course, there have been many stories over the years. Rumours of reproductive compatibility. If there's one thing that Humans are good for, it's reproduction.” Lucien curled his lip in disgust. “But these stories came from other countries, interesting as they were, there was no proof. Here, Weres and Humans have never had a good relationship, everyone knows that. So imagine my surprise when I found out that we did have a case of our own.”
“It was Marley who told me.” Lucien added, as if he had read Shane’s mind. “Of a Were-child who your Alpha turned up with one day, with no history of her biological parents, who did not turn at fullmoons, and so protected by your Alpha that she was never seen with anyone but him. So I decided to monitor the situation. My perfect spy, Marley, snooped through his Alpha’s things until he found out the truth about Niko and Rose and how they shared more than just young love.”
Both Rose and Shane sharply turned to look at Marley who stood at the side. He had the decency to look ashamed, his eyes low.
“How could you? Ilya trusted you!” Shane asked, his voice breaking. Shane wanted to scream at him, yell how much he hated him. But he stopped himself when Marley looked up, his eyes filled with self disgust.
“I had to. He has my wife.” Marley shot Lucien a hard look. Lucien looked as if he had just won the lottery.
“Then you should have told Ilya!” Shane roared back. “He would have helped you find her.”
“Ilya couldn't-"
“Yes, he would have! He would do anything for his pack and you know it.” Shane felt as if steam was coming out of his ears. “You've known Ilya since you were all young. You know, Ilya would die before he let anything happen to his pack members!”
“Yes… Yes. It's all very heartbreaking.” Lucien interrupted.
“And you.” Shane turned back to Lucien. “How could you betray my parents like this?”
Lucien merely snorted. “Your parents don't have what it takes! Why do you think we still hold power? Why has our territory stayed ours? When all over the world, our Vampyre community is dying, Vampyres are being forced to live amongst the Humans.”
“Because you selflessly kill anyone who comes in your way?” Shane sneered.
“You and your parents are a disgrace to Vampyre. I knew I had to do something, lead the Vampyres into a new age. Where we hold the power!” Lucien slammed his fist onto the table. “Especially when I found out about that… abomination."
“Don’t you dare speak like that about her!” Shane took a step forward, his fangs bared out.
“That’s exactly what she is! She is a threat to us, Shane. Don't you see? Right now, Humans don't have any supernatural powers. They have to rely on their technology if they want to defeat us. But if they were to find out that they can mate with Weres, produce these… hybrids with powers? We Vampyres will lose our hold, Shane.”
“Cromwell-” Rose began.
“Cromwell didn't know shit.” Lucien scoffed. “I wouldn't dare tell that buffoon something so important. Besides, his hatred for us supernaturals was so strong, it was a gamble that he even decided to work with me. But thankfully, his greed for power was stronger. He wouldn't have believed me if I had told him of the existence of the child.”
“So what's your plan? You can't get to Lena. She’s with Ilya. She's protected.” Shane retorted, smug.
“Hmm. Is she?” Lucien tilted his head to the side.
Shane quickly felt the smugness rub off, an uneasy feeling settling in his belly.
“I have you. Which means Rozanov won't be far. Not when his mate is in danger. Do you know how protective Weres are with their mates?”
Shane felt a shiver down his spine. He refused to answer.
“I actually read somewhere that it used to be frowned upon for Alphas to mate. Because when it comes down to protecting their pack or their mate, they would always choose their mate.”
The words would have been reassuring from anyone but Lucien, and if their circumstances didn't mean that Lena would be in danger if Ilya were to leave her alone to come find Shane.
“Well… I’m counting on that. Especially since your special connection has been severed.”
Shane’s heart skipped a beat. “What did you do to me?” Shane demanded, recalling the potion he had been made to drink which had cut Ilya’s voice from his mind.
Lucien grinned, manically. “I’ve been around a long time, Shane. I've picked up a thing or two about how to stop truemates and their annoying habit of speaking telepathically. I couldn't have you blabbing all of this to your Alpha before I had my fun.”
“What? How long?” Shane panted. Had he lost the ability forever? Panic settled inside him.
“Oh relax, the effects only last a day or two, unfortunately. I’ll just have to keep giving you the potion until your Alpha gets here.”
Upon hearing the words, Shane’s panic only heightened. At the beginning, he would have given anything for Ilya to come and save him. But now, he needed Ilya to stay away, to stay with Lena. Fear gripped him so harshly at the thought of Ilya coming to save him, only to put his own life and Lena’s life in danger.
Shane tried to reach Ilya, pushing past the barrier that had settled into his mind, and tried to send him a message.
Don't come! Don't come! Stay with Lena!
But to no avail. He knew the message hadn't been sent. He had no way of reaching his Alpha, no way of telling him of the imminent danger.