And Then There Were Four by Lilith Carrie
Chapter 227

Held back against my will, I watched Priscilla whisper something in my mother's ear and then watched my mother disappear up the stairs, more than likely towards the children.

Kate disappeared right behind her, as if unable to watch what was about to happen before her. As Priscilla stocked forward, though, she looked to Hale and nodded her head. Some secret untold agreement between them I wasn't privy to.

"Ivy, unfortunately, I understand how hard this is for you. But you cannot be given to them. It is part of the plan, and I need you to trust me when I say they will not kill him. They will not kill him because he is the bait they need to get to you." I didn't want to listen to her. No matter what she was saying, I couldn't listen to her.

"Bait or not, I am not going to let him sacrifice himself for me," I replied as tears streamed down my cheeks. This was the most agonizing thing I ever had to go through.

Knew I could save him, but also knowing they would not allow me to do so.

A rush of tingles crossed over my skin, and as I looked out the window, I watched a strange woman I had never seen before walking the perimeter of the house. A blue cloak over her head and sapphire eyes staring back at me. "Who was that?" I asked, watching as Priscilla's gaze turned towards the window and then back to me with a small smile.

"Unfortunately, that is an insurance policy that we had to make."

Insurance policy? What the fuck did she mean that was an insurance policy?

As James and Talon lost their hold on me, my eyes darkened over as the power and rage ran through my blood. Throwing James aside, I bolted towards the door only to be thrown back five feet when I met an invisible barrier. "What is this?" I screamed as I stood up, banging against the barrier once more, only to watch the blue-cloaked woman walk towards me, her dark black hair hanging loosely over her shoulders with a sorrowful look on her face.

"Hello, my queen," she breathed. "My name is Alavandra from the fae realm. We have allied ourselves in a way with your family. I feel for you when it comes to my mate because I to have lost my own, but this isn't about you. It's about your people."

Staring at the woman in disbelief, I smashed my fist into the barrier once more. "Unleash me now, or you will see what I think about alliances," I growled as I felt the darkness wash completely over me. The woman seemed slightly startled by my comment as she glanced toward the men I knew were staring behind. "I'm sorry, m'lady. I can not. This is to protect everyone."

She didn't give me a chance to say anything to her again before nodding her head and vanishing into thin air. "No!" I screamed as my legs collapsed under me, sinking to my knees. "Please let me out." "Alavandra is from another realm, Ivy. What is going on here is drifting elsewhere and has become much bigger than you can hope to imagine."

Priscilla's words weren't comforting. Damian's life depended on me, and while I knew the fate of the pack did as well, I couldn't just let things go.

"Ivy-" Hale said softly as he dropped to his knees behind me. "I'm sorry... please forgive me for what I'm doing, but promised him I would keep you safe no matter the cost."

I was speechless, and with a broken heart and tears flooding down my face, I didn't reply. Instead, I stood to my feet, slowly staring off at the woods that bordered our world from civilization and wept. I wept for the man I loved, and for the fate that was coming. But most of all, I wept for the future that wouldn't happen.

I knew my mates were trying to protect me, but I would tear apart the realms to get him.