The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Your Blood, Serena. Your Goddamn BLOOD.

The words washed over Serena but didn’t sink in. Surely not.

Garrett cut in immediately. "No, Riven, it was not her fault. It had to do with power and a vendetta."

"Of course it wasn’t her fault," Nightspire said, voice dripping with something that could almost pass for sympathy. "The lamb is never at fault when wolves come calling. That doesn’t make the lamb any less dead."

Hyran studied Nightspire the way you study a puzzle where someone has added extra pieces just to watch you fail. "And which are you, Nightspire? Wolf or shepherd?"

"I’m family." Nightspire placed a hand over his heart. "Concerned family."

"Ah. The most dangerous kind."

"There’s a bounty for her alive. I doubt Tiberon knows that." Nightspire turned his attention to Serena, tone soft. "Are they aware of that?"

Garrett spoke before she could answer. "Riven, there are less than five kings here who know who she is."

"Six if you include me," Nightspire said. "I doubt he is aware. Based on the silence from your Gamma and Master Mage." He considered them. "I mean no offense by that."

"None taken," Hyran said flatly. "I’m sure you mean no offense by anything you say. That’s rather the point, isn’t it?"

"Let me save us all some time," Hyran continued, leaning forward. "You’re going to reveal something distressing. Then you’re going to offer help. Then there will be a price, though you’ll frame it as mutual benefit. The question is whether the information is actually valuable or whether you’re manufacturing urgency to position yourself as a solution to a problem you’re creating in real time." He smiled. "How am I doing so far?"

Nightspire laughed. "I like him," he said to no one in particular. "He’s going to get himself killed, but I like him."

"I get that a lot."

"I’m sure you do."

"Enlighten me, why is there a bounty for Serena’s head?" Hyran asked.

"Her father refused to give her to Orosia. A choice that resulted in a consequence," Nightspire said, taking another sip of his whiskey.

"Why does Orosia want her?" Gavriel asked, jaw tense, but his tone was casual.

"Are you going to pretend you don’t know? And we dance this dance," Nightspire said, smirking. "Her mother, Seraphine, was similar."

Serena’s heart was thudding against her chest. She actually hadn’t been aware she was the reason. She knew there was a bounty... but she always assumed it was because she survived and was the heir.

Many in Drakenfell knew she was a Frostborne now.

Hyran addressed her as Frostborne at her crowning ceremony. He asked her beforehand and she said he could. She also openly admitted it in front of Agnes.

Not hiding who she was, was a weight lifted off her chest. Something she felt secure enough to do with Dexmon.

She shook her head at her own stupidity. Of course she would never be able to own it publicly. She was foolish by allowing that. And worse, she put Drakenfell at risk. Unintentional or not.

She swallowed down the lump in her throat, refusing to let her eyes redden.

No, she would not feel sorry for herself.

The real question now was if the damage was reversible.

Elara and Garrett glanced at each other, clearly aware of something. Serena looked at them, confusion, followed by betrayal written on her face. What were they not telling her?

Hyran’s voice interrupted her thoughts. "Fine, we’ll speak plainly. Are you insinuating there’s a link between her and Orosia attacking Skardos?"

Nightspire swirled the whiskey in his glass before answering. "Even if it isn’t that. When they learn she is alive, they will come after her," he paused, letting that land. "And they won’t stop until they have her."

"You seem to know quite a bit," Garrett commented.

"I have sources. Excellent ones." Nightspire’s smile didn’t waver. "But it’s not me you should be worried about. It’s the fourteen other Alpha Kings who didn’t know her father. If they find out handing her over is all they need to do to make this war go away, they won’t hesitate."

Garrett glared at him. "Giving her over wouldn’t make this go away. Orosia has been on a tour of conquest. And it’s been six years. Doubtful they’re looking for her."

His words hit hard. Garrett just confirmed essentially that there was some truth to what Nightspire was saying. Gods.

"Can you clarify why exactly they are after me?" Serena asked. Clearly she was in the dark.

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