Screw My Childhood Sweetheart His Alpha Brother Marked Me First novel Chapter 159

Chapter 159

Mason held up a hand to silence them. “Gregor is the worst of them. Greedy, power–hungry, and only out for himself. But he has wielded control of the Quad for decades. It will take a miracle for them to fully break from him. And if he’s in league with Kaleb…”

Knox’s grip on my legs tightened as his father’s words trailed off. “None of the council wants the upheaval that trying a member of the Quad would bring. But if Kaleb has support from the inside? I don’t know how we’ll get to

him.”

“We have to understand the plan,” I said quietly. “He talked about it some, but I know who would know more.”

“Who?” Caspian asked.

“My mom.”

Anson dove onto the bed,quickly pulling me against him. “Never showered so fast in my life.”

“And you stole all the damn hot water,” Caspian muttered as he climbed in on the other side of me.

River grimaced down at Caspian. “You took my spot.”

“You snooze, you lose.”

I couldn’t hold in my laughter. I turned in Anson’s arms so that I was facing Caspian and held out a hand to River. “There’s plenty of room.”

“Not where I want,” he grumbled as he climbed on the bed.

I locked my fingers with his. “Love you.”

His frown melted, and he let a trickle of warmth bleed through from his hand to mine. “Missed you so damn much.”

My throat tightened. “I know.”

The moment was broken as Knox and Vaughn strode into the room. Vaughn wore a pair of low–slung sweats and Knox perfectly worn flannel pajamas. I swallowed hard. “Hi”

My voice had a little squeak to it. Vaughn’s lips twitched at the sound. I patted the bed. “Plenty of room for both of you.”

The hint of a smile slipped from Vaughn’s lips. “I’m gonna cash on the couch.”

My chest tightened. “Please?”

char My Childhand Cuinathaar. Alaha Berthan arbor a Tirars.

Chapter 159

“It’s not because I’m holding myself back. I have nightmares. I could hurt one of you without meaning to.”

My heart ached for Vaughn. Keeping himself separate as a way of protecting us all. I bit my bottom lip. “I’ll miss

you.”

His expression softened the barest amount. “I’ll be right here”

“Not close enough.”

Knox climbed into the bed next to Anson. He leaned over and pressed a kiss to my temple. “We’ll get there.”

I had to hope we would. I wanted all my mates around me. I wanted to know what it was like to sleep in the safety of Vaughn’s arms. And more than anything, I wanted to rest without having world–altering things hanging over our

heads.

Caspian traced circles on my arm. “Are you sure you’re up for seeing your mom tomorrow?”

I’d wanted to go tonight, but everyone had put their foot down at that. Mason had argued that we’d need medical supervision for the visit and that wouldn’t be possible until tomorrow. But it felt as if we were racing against an invisible clock. One that had started running long ago when none of us had any idea.

“I have to. If anyone knows what Kaleb is up to, it’s Abigail.” I just hoped we’d be able to decipher her ramblings. She hadn’t been informed that I’d been taken, her doctors had been too worried about her mental state. I still wasn’t

sure what we’d be able to share with her.

Anson’s arm wrapped tighter around me. “If you’re too tired tomorrow, we can wait. Or Mason will go and report back. None of this will help if you push yourself too hard.”

“I’ll be fine after a good night’s sleep.”

His lips skimmed my ear. “Then let’s get you to dreamland.”

Knox flicked off the light. “I think we could all use a little of that.”

I thought it would be hard to fall asleep after the adrenaline dump of the past twenty–four hours, but unconsciousness pulled me under almost instantly. Only it wasn’t a sea of nothingness that greeted me.

I was back in the cell. The dank smell filled my nostrils. My bare feet padded on the cement floor. I searched for

Rezah but she wasn’t there. I was completely alone.

“Hello?” I called.

My voice echoed off the cinder block walls. But there was no answer.

Panic grabbed hold, my heart rate picking up as I moved towards the door. I tried to open it but only got a rattle of metal.

Chapter 159

A laugh sounded from down the hall, dark and menacing. “I’ll always find you, daughter. You can never truly get

away.”

Kaleb said “daughter” as if I were a possession, not a living, Breathing human being.

He held up a hand and one of the batons that Garrison had been so fond of appeared in his grasp. “Did you miss

this?”

I fought the urge to shudder. This wasn’t real. I told myself the same thing over and over. I tried to remember what I had read about how to wake yourself up from a dream. The first thing was to acknowledge it. “This is a dream.”

Kaleb grinned. “It is.”

He looked too happy. Almost gleeful.

“A special dream.”

My stomach sank. “What do you mean?”

He waved a hand at the cell door and it opened. “It means I can do this.”

Kaleb leveled the baton at me. Electricity crackled, striking across the space and landing square in my chest. The force of the blow sent me crumpling to the floor. Blinding pain coursed through my muscles. I couldn’t hold in my

scream.

“Sever your bond.”

“No,” I croaked, barely able to get the single word out

He shot another blast into my shoulder. “Break it!”

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