Her Games
Xander
My wolf is prowling beneath my skin, he’s snarling low and pacing the fine between fury and confusion. I don’t let him out, I push him back further I get it, he’s been making me trust her and now that trust has just shattered.
I can’t think clearly when she looks at me like that, like I’m the one who is betraying her. Like I’m the one who has been lying all this time.
“I swear, I didn’t tell him anything,” she says quietly, her voice is raw and cracked and it sounds like the words are scraping out of her. “Please, I swear, I never spoke to him.”
“Don’t do that. Don’t insult my intelligence,” I growl, stepping in front of her to shield her from Giddeon’s smug expression, 1 don’t mean to it’s instinct. “He knew things no outsider would or should. You’re the only new variable, and you’re tied to him by blood. I gave you so many chances, and you chose to lie to me repeatedly!”
“She always does,” Giddeon drawls from behind me, and the sound of his voice makes every hair on the back of my neck stand up. “She lies so beautifully, doesn’t she? I raised her so well.”
Serafine’s breath catches, sharp and fast, but she doesn’t move.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she mutters.
“Oh, you don’t?” he says smoothly, stepping closer. The amused smirk never leaves his face. “You were quite the little shadow, weren’t you? Always listening through doors, always trying to act like you were invisible. You weren’t very good at it, just so you’re aware.”
“I was locked away,” she whispers. It’s so quiet it’s like she’s saying it to herself more than either of us, like she’s giving up the fight.
Giddeon laughs, it’s low and cruel. “Is that the story you told him?” he asks, nodding toward me. “Let me guess, I locked you away for life. I kept you hidden and abused you right? I’m guessing you were also starved.” He laughs and shakes his head. “Oh, sweet girl. You really are your mother’s child. Always rewriting the truth to suit your own selfish needs.”
“I was locked up,” she hisses, finally turning to face him. “You told everyone I was sick, you kept me out of the meetings, out of the house, out of sight. If I tried to do anything you would hit me, not feed me!”
“For your own safety, yes I did, it was needed at times” he interrupts smoothly. “Do you think I didn’t know what kind of target you’d be? With your bloodline, with the way people whispered every time you entered the room?” He shakes his head and tuts. “You were rarely locked away and that was to protect you, and you know. We agreed to it, you agreed!
“You used me,” she says, voice shaking now.
“Oh come on, you agreed! Don’t complain now, you didn’t when you benefited from it,” he replies. “That boy James? You liked him, didn’t you? But he never knew the truth, he never saw the real you because you played the part so well. You liked feeling important.”
What? I look at her, and a knot forms in my stomach. What is all this about? She’s not protesting, not about that. She just looks shattered, her hands clench around that damned book like it’s the only thing that is keeping her upright.
“I never lied, I told you the truth,” she says. It’s quieter this time, and she turns to face me. her eyes shine not with tears, but with anger and desperation. “I never told him about your pack, I never spoke to him after I left. If he knows things, it wasn’t from me. I would never-”
“Then explain how he knows everything, Serafine,” I cut in, harsh and sharp. “Explain how he knew about the guardians, about the protections around my lands. About the fact I’m not a rogue. That information is locked to the pack. It’s not gossip passed around markets and at meetings. I kept it hidden for over a decade then you show up and he knows.” She just stares at me briefly before turning back to look at her father. I see it, that flicker of something deep in her eyes. Fear, it’s not fear of what he’ll do, but more like she doesn’t understand what is happening.
“Whatever this is,” she whispers, “I didn’t give it to him.”
Giddeon snorts. “Poor girl. Still pretending you aren’t what I made you. You can tell him whatever story you want, Serafine. The truth and the fact is, we both know you were never as innocent as you pretended to be.”
I’ve had enough, I can’t have him near me anymore.
“Get him out of my sight,” I order the guards without turning around. “If he opens his mouth again, I’ll rip out his tongue.” I can’t stand here and listen to his smugness, et Successfully unlocked!ed his daughter and handed her a death
sentence and he doesn’t seem to care about th
Giddeon chuckles as they grab him. “Oh Xander,” he says over his shoulder, “you’ve only just begun to realise what she is. I look forward to watching it all fall apart.”
He walks away, and I don’t bother to look at her yet. I can’t, my pulse is pounding so damn hard. My wolf is screaming for
1/2
Her Games
clarity, but there’s none left to be found Serafine stands there queat, still holding onto that wyk into wheth
is
She’s lied, I know that much, but there’s too much to unpack, to understand She didn’t argue ove the ta boy, James So she did do something, which means she lied, she wasrit treated badly
Subscribed
