As soon as the shock wore off, anger surged through Violet like fire.
"You!" Violet jabbed a finger at the girl. "She’s Angus’ daughter! She was sent to kill ."
Violet didn’t just say it, she announced it.
Imdiately, the cardinal alphas’ posture went taut. Their eyes hardened like steel, and the temperature in the dungeon dropped with how lethal they suddenly felt.
If looks carried physical power, Hannah would’ve been six feet under already.
"What?" Hannah blanched. "No! I—"
But Violet let out a humorless chuckle. "Please. Do you think I don’t know about the army of children Angus manufactured? What did you expect? That I’d welco you with open arms just because we share DNA? So you can stab in the back later? News flash, I saw that one coming before you even opened your mouth."
"No, no, you don’t understand," Hannah said quickly, desperation bleeding into her voice. "I wasn’t sent here to kill you. Sure, Ziva sent to keep an eye on you—"
"Ziva," Violet hissed, the na tasting like poison on her tongue. She had never even t this sister of hers face-to-face, yet
hatred spiked in her chest.
Hannah swallowed hard at the murderous look in Violet’s eyes. This was not going how she planned.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Taryn smirking, clearly enjoying her misery way too much.
Her jaw tightened. "The point is..." she managed through gritted teeth, "I followed you here on purpose to talk, and tell I’m on your side."
Taryn chid in. "It sure didn’t look that way when you were sneaking around like so sewer rat trying not to be seen."
Hannah closed her eyes and dragged in a long, suffering breath. That fucking bargain-bin Mufasa was beginning to get on her nerves.
"I don’t an any harm!" Hannah blurted.
"I’ll be the judge of that," Asher said, stepping forward, a nacing energy around him.
It was instinct the way Hannah retreated deeper into her cell quickly. She already knew what Asher was capable of, and didn’t like him one damn bit.
Asher’s gaze followed the motion like a predator noting prey. "You wouldn’t be afraid if you had nothing to lose."
Hannah hissed back, lowering her gaze from Asher, "Sorry if I don’t trust you enough not to compel into killing myself. I know exactly what you are, puppet master."
Asher didn’t even flinch at the insult. He replied unbothered, "Perhaps, you should."
"Fine," Violet said. "I’ll vouch for you. Asher won’t harm you, and only ask the necessary questions."
Hannah stiffened, unsure.
Alaric picked up on it imdiately. "It’s the only way we’ll trust you."
"Yes, Violet’s little sister," Roman chid in, stepping behind Asher and placing two large hands on his shoulders as if warming up a fighter before a match. "We can do this the peaceful way, which is honestly easier for you." His thumbs pressed into Asher’s tense muscles. "Or Asher..." he squeezed pointedly, "...will still break your will and get what he wants."
Roman ended with a bright, unhelpful grin.
Hannah’s eyes flicked between all four alphas, panic and calculation warring in her expression. Finally, her gaze landed on Violet, the only lifeline in the room.
"You’d really not allow him to hurt ?" she asked, cautiously hopeful.
"If you’re afraid of him ending your life," Violet said simply, "then you’re safe."
Hannah swallowed hard.
Because she understood what Violet was saying : She - Violet - would keep her alive. But "alive" did not an "unhurt."
With the four alphas, she had absolutely no leverage. And she knew it.
All Hannah could do was nod slowly, resigned. She was painfully aware that she was very much at their rcy.
"Fine. Let’s do this." Hannah said, stepping out with a brave face she absolutely did not feel. Honestly, what more could they do to her that her siblings hadn’t already perfected? Pain was practically a family tradition.
"Your Majesty," Taryn called, drawing the Queen’s attention.
Seraphira blinked out of whatever thoughts had dragged her away. "Excuse ?" she murmured, clearly not having heard him. She looked shaken but Taryn, ever disciplined, didn’t remark on it.
Violet and the cardinal alphas exchanged glances. They said nothing, but it was obvious that discovering her mate had fathered other children—children she knew nothing about— definitely shook the queen.
So much for lecturing Violet earlier about "Angus" fatherly love.
Taryn clarified, "Permission to release the prisoner for questioning by the West Pack Alpha."
A heavy silence followed long enough for Violet and the alphas to tense. For a mont, it genuinely looked like the Queen might deny it.
Then, finally, Seraphira nodded once. "Release her for questioning."
The dungeon chanisms responded instantly as tal groaned, gears clicked, and the lock disengaged. The iron bars slid apart with a slow, ominous scrape.
Hannah hesitated only a heartbeat before taking a few steps that officially put her outside the cage and fully inside the lion’s den.
All her bravado vanished the mont she stood face to face with the Queen, the annoyingly handso Mufasa, Violet Purple, and her n. It was seven against one.
Her pulse raced, her palms turned clammy, and for a split second Hannah was genuinely tempted to bolt. But common sense reminded her that running would only make things worse, so she might as well face her enemies now.
She lifted her chin and showed no fear. "Well, let’s get the party started."
Asher smirked, amused by the girl’s fake bravado.
He stepped in front of her. "Stare into my eyes and leave your mind open. It’ll make things easier for both of us."
Hannah took a deep breath and t his gaze as requested. She couldn’t help but admit—his eyes were strange, and hauntingly beautiful. It was the kind of sight that carved itself into the mind and never left.
Except the longer she stared into those slitted eyes, the more the edges of her thoughts blurred until her will slipped right out of her hands.
Just like that, Hannah was compelled.
Then Asher began, "Who the fucking hell are you?"
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