A gunshot cracked through the air. The ear splitting sound woke me with a start. Every sensation seemed heightened - the blue hue of a bedroom bathed in moonlight, the cool sheets against my skin, the searing pain in my stomach.

My hand found the injury in my abdomen. It returned to me damp with fresh blood. With a sharp breath I remembered. Kael shot me.

Now my eyes searched the room frantically, taking in every facet of my quarters. High four poster bed, carved wooden furniture, and scrolled wallpaper that traveled the length of the high ceiling were little indication of my whereabouts. My head spun.

How long have I been out? Where am I?

Swinging my legs to the side of the bed, I cried out, clutching the stabbing pain in my core. Doubled over, I let my forehead rest on my knees for a moment and tried to remember.

In my mind, the scene played clearly. Kael's eyes were cold and emotionless as he turned and shot me. There had been a moment between falling and losing consciousness that I'd reached for him, but he only watched me. Gideon said something but it was lost in my haze. Then, the world went black.

With a shudder I forced myself to sit straight, even though the effort sent a piercing pain through my core. Whimpering, I slid forward until my bare toes touched hardwood floors. Stretching far before me, wide panelled wood planks lead to a door on the far side of the room. Deep down, I knew my situation was bleak. This injury meant little hope of discovering where I was and no chance of escape.

Still, I had to try. With my fist pressed into the painful and bleeding wound, I slid my foot forward. My lungs sucked in air. I dropped my other foot to the ground with every intention of it bearing my weight. But it did not.

I hit the floor hard, first with my hip, then with my outstretched arm. Crying out, I felt my wound stretch at its borders. A sticky liquid trickled between my fingers.

For a moment I could only stare at it, half of me in denial that the injury even existed. Kael wouldn't betray me. He couldn't. He was the only person I could trust. There was a reasonable explanation. There had to be.

When a door outside my room slammed shut I jumped, a reflex that sent grey spots into my vision as my pain intensified.

A couple pairs of footsteps shuffled beyond my door then stopped without entering. Their low voices were hard to understand. Straining, I leaned toward them.

"It's easier to do it... she's still weak." Kael's low voice sent my racing heart into my throat.

"You're right of course. You're always right. You know I'll struggle because she's my daughter." Gideon's was a voice I hardly knew, but emotion made it just as poignant in my memory.

"That's why we're taking our time. Making sure it's the right move."

There was a pause. I scarcely breathed, fearing to miss the next statement. At the same time, hearing more filled me with dread.

Finally, Gideon spoke. "You're sure she wouldn't trust you again? She trusted you implicitly before."

Someone shifted, causing the wooden floors beneath him to moan. "Would you trust me old man? I shot her. She can't doubt where my loyalties lie now."

"Yes." Another pause. "I'll do it. When the time comes, I have to be the one. But if I'm not thinking or he tells me to do the wrong thing -"

"I'll know."

Footsteps crossed the floor, coming toward my door. Panicked, I didn't have the time or ability to move before the door swung wide across from me.

Slowly, I raised my dipped head toward the door. The two men across from me filled the doorway with their broad shoulders. Sprawled on the floor, my position made their forms more foreboding than I remembered. Vulnerability squashed me into the wooden planks like a mere ant. But I couldn't stop my wide eyed stare, even if it gave away how helpless I felt.

Even as my ally, Kael had an intimidating presence. Now his muscular build and unreadable hazel eyes seemed powerful and merciless. As my hand pressed against my wound, I resisted the urge to cower away from his hard look.

Gideon had an element of unknown that had always made him a fearful presence. The long, jagged scar that stretched from his temple to his jaw line gave his already chiselled features a haunting appearance. As he watched me, his gaze was softer than Kael's. The conflict in their depths sent bumps up on my arms.

"I'll get Cameron," Gideon said with a glance in Kael's direction. "Stay with her."

I started at the name of Kael's strange uncle. What was he doing here?

Kael gave Gideon a curt nod. Kael's hazel eyes narrowed at me. As the door outside my room slammed closed behind Gideon, Kael stepped toward me. For a moment, silence enveloped the room. Wind rattled shutters outside the window and brought leaves to brush against the glass. Unable to stop gaping, I jumped at the sound of his voice.

"What are you doing, Harper?"

Recoiling as he advanced, I pushed myself back, an action that elicited a pathetic cry of pain.

"Stay away from me," I said, gritting my teeth against the agony.

Another foot came forward. He was getting too close.

"Everything was a lie." Low, my words came between gasps. Even though they were quiet, they sounded stronger than I felt. "I trusted you. But I shouldn't have, and I'll never trust... If you come any closer, I'll - Kael don't!"

His larger hand slid under mine and over my injury. Before I could retaliate, his other arm eased me back. There was a second where I had the dizzying sensation of falling. A moment later, my back rested against the frame of the bed.

It hurt so much, but my fists balled at my sides, aching to strike him. His face was so close to mine. When he dipped his head to look at my wound, locks of hair fell toward his forehead and brushed my cheek. Keen eyes searched a gaping hole in my abdomen.

Watching him, I was surprised when his eyes flicked up to mine.

"You made a mistake," he said, "trusting me. And now things have changed."

The hand not occupied by my wound reached over my head. A huge wad of white blanket came down.

My eyes closed as the material wrapped against me. "Why? What's changed?" I slurred, unable to move but craving answers.

"Hey, Harper, stay with me." A hand came up to my cheek. My eyelids fluttered open.

Even though his palm was large and warm, I tried to pull away. My efforts to turn were more of a twitch than intentional movement. I was incapable of fighting him.

His conversation with Gideon replayed in my mind. His betrayal was real, not imagined. Nothing between us had ever been genuine. The reality hit me like a second bullet in my gut.

"What's changed?" I croaked my question again and forced myself to meet his close gaze. "Oh. You want me dead."

"My alliance is with Gideon. It always has been. You're still here because of him, not me."

My breath was coming too fast. If I wasn't careful, I would hyperventilate. With the bleeding and pain already trying to steal my consciousness, I pulled my focus away from him. The branches tapping the windows looked like long, dark fingers, reaching out and trying to trap me.

Trapped. It was true; I was at the mercy of Gideon and Kael. Playing the victim had always been my role and had never felt as natural as it did now. But I'd come through so much, learned so much about myself and what I could be by surviving this underground world where my family thrived for centuries. This knowledge was what I needed to survive.

We were players in a game Kael had played all his life. I looked back at his unreadable face. Ava told me, but I hadn't listened. He played the game well, beating all of us without being challenged. Calm, controlled, and unexpected, his calculated moves were the reason he'd caught me completely by surprise. He'd played me a fool, but no more.

Hardly knowing what I was saying, swelling conviction gave me strength. "Thank you." The words were forced from my lips.

The surprise in his face flashed quickly before it disappeared behind his mask.

Encouraged, I pressed on. "Kael, you've kept me alive this far. It's only because of you that I can even imagine surviving now. You've taught me to fight back and how. So I'll use that and get through this."

Looking down through my lashes, I saw the tear that escaped and fought back more. Throwing him off guard suddenly seemed unimportant and juvenile. Memories of all we had been through together played in my mind's eye. Always lurking, the memory of his kiss pressed into my senses. He'd been drugged and didn't remember how he'd pulled me against him, how his lips had moved so passionately over mine, but for some reason it haunted me.

"I hope one day you'll look into your soul, find something good, and feed it. Then, perhaps who you used to be can be real again." Feeling I'd undone every ounce of ground I'd claimed, I looked up, keeping my head low.

His true feelings never showed. Without comment he lifted me off the ground and placed me back onto the bed. Even though the softness of the mattress was a welcome comfort, I felt uneasy at the way he was looking at me. A million thoughts or questions hid behind a masked expression. Anger, confusion, regret - nothing explained the look in the depths of his eyes.

When he spoke, his voice was deep. "It's my job, Harper. Don't fool yourself into thinking it was anything else." 

*****

Back to Wattpad after a nice little holiday with the fam! Let me know what you think of this first chapter and the direction of the new book. Harper's fighting denial, anger, and regret. How do you feel about Kael's revelation?

Writing as I go for this one so bear with me. And thanks for waiting for this lovely readers :)

Special thanks to @bibliolumbricus for my cover!! Getting back to reading your series is one of the joys of being back on here. XD

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