Melora couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her father had had this plan with Alathic since he discovered Drystan was his son. She couldn't believe it. That would mean that her father was planning to sell her to Alathic years ago. She ran her shaky hands through her hair. "W-What did Alathic tell you that he wanted to do with Drystan?"

Ba Coford nodded, his eyes watching her closely. He took a step back as if he feared what she might do. "He did."

"What was it?" she hissed through her teeth.

Ba Coford hesitated for a moment before responding. "He told me that he wanted his head. He wanted to kill him."

Melora shook her head and closed her eyes. "Even after hearing what Drystan and I told you back at the compound, you still wanted the money. You still decided that I wasn't worth listening to." She stopped her movements and looked up at him. "My happiness doesn't matter to you."

"Melora," her father started. "You'll learn to be happy here."

"No, I won't!" she growled. "I was happy, father. I was happier in our little house next to Drystan than I was back at our clan." She didn't care that the look on her father's face looked like she had just slapped him. He lost his chance for her to care about his feelings, especially since he didn't care about hers. "Get out," she hissed lowly at him.

"What?" her father snapped at her.

"Get out!" She pointed to the door. "Get the fuck out of this room!"

Her father straightened and took a deep breath. "I'm not leaving, Melora." He motioned to Dante and Draco, standing behind her next to the door. "You cannot order these guards around and kick me out. I'm staying. Besides," he folded his hands in front of him. "I didn't come to say what I was told to say."

Melora's eyebrows scrunched together. "What are you talking about?"

"Alathic sent me here to talk to you about the plan he came up with." Ba Coford took a deep breath. "He has figured out a way for Drystan to stay alive so you can still see and be around him. The way for that to work is if Drystan forces the bond between the two of you to break."

Melora shook her head. "Drystan would never do that."

Ba Coford shrugged. "That's what I told Alathic, but he still wanted to see if he would agree." He gave her a sharp look. "Drystan would then be allowed to come into Alathic's court as head of his army. Alathic would then offer Zaya, his second in command, as his wife. You, of course, would build a bond with Alathic as his mate."

Melora took a step back and shook her head. "That's a ridiculous plan I've ever heard. I'm not going to agree with that plan, and I know that Drystan isn't going to agree either." She continued to back away from her father when the doors to her room slammed open. Spinning around, she saw Alathic storming into her room, his eyes red with anger.

"Leave us," Alathic ordered. At first, no one moved. Melora could see how stiff Dante and Draco were now, but she hoped they wouldn't blow their cover. Alathic spun around to look at them. "Leave!"

Melora nodded while Alathic's back was turned, causing Dante and Draco to leave the room quickly. Ba Coford followed them. Before the door was closed, Melora looked into Dante's eyes, sending a silent plea to him. Her body relaxed as she saw a slight nod in response. He would stay close. They both would stay close. She trusted them.

Alathic whirled around to her, his eyes still red. He was seething with anger. It was practically flowing off of him. "I trust your father could talk to you about my plan?" It wasn't necessarily a question more than it was an order. She gave a timid nod. "Well? What did you say?"

Melora took a step back away from him, but he quickly followed her. There was no getting away from him this time. Her hand instinctively moved up to Drystan's mark, cupping it gently as if he would appear to save her. She took a deep breath and straightened. Drystan wouldn't want her to be afraid so she wouldn't be scared. She took another deep breath before composing herself and glaring at him.

Alathic growled. "I'm taking that as you refused." He shook his head and ran a hand down his face. "You both are idiots, but I don't care." He began to chuckle. "It will let me have more fun breaking you both. This is going to hurt bad."

Melora shook her head. "Fuck off, Alathic." She held her head up high. "The only one who's going to feel pain is you when Drystan rips your limbs from your body."

Alathic seethed as he lunged at her. He gripped her throat tightly as he lifted her off of her feet. Melora grabbed his hands, trying to pry them off of her throat. He brought her closer to his face and hissed, "You have no choice in this matter. You will become my queen. I advise you to close your mouth and keep your opinions to yourself. Whether you agree with my plan, you will become my queen. Drystan will die, and you will bear my young, not his." He sneered at her as he threw her onto the bed.

Melora controlled her breathing and calmed herself down as she watched Alathic stalk towards her. She wasn't going to let him have a hold of her. If Drystan couldn't come and save her, she would save herself. She squealed as Alathic climbed over her and moved closer, trapping her with his body. Melora glared at him as she spread her fingers down at her sides. She worked to control her body as her nails grew.

"You will be my wife, Melora," Alathic sneered. "If I have to break you, I will. I will put you back together, and you will thank me."

"I will never be your wife, Alathic," Melora answered him. She slowly brought her hand up, and when Alathic wasn't paying attention to her movements, she slashed her nails across his face, spraying blood over her face.

Alathic hissed and groaned as he pushed himself off her and the bed. He grabbed his face, blood pooling out between his fingers. Melora sat up quickly and moved to the other side of the bed, growing the space between them. She didn't know that she could cause that much pain and damage to Alathic with just her nails. She watched wide-eyed as he glared at her before turning to the door.

"You're going to wish you hadn't done that, Melora," he growled. "I can make the pain last for a long time." He stormed out of the room, locking the door behind him.