Born Mine
Chapter 65

Darius left immediately and the atmosphere went damp. I didn't realize how much of

an influence he had on my mood until that moment. The table remained silent for the most part. Serena and Amy tried to make breakfast lively but after they realized it wasn't working well, they decided to let it drop.

As soon as I was done with breakfast, I decided to tag along with Amy to drop Serena off at home. I didn't want to be around people but I also didn't want to be alone. Serena and Amy filled the car with chatter while I was mainly quiet. I enjoyed listening to their conversation but I didn't feel the need to join in.

"Are you alright?" Amy asked once we were alone in the car and I shrugged. "You've been unusually quiet this morning. Did something happen?"

"Do you know what emergency they were called out for?" I couldn't stop myself from blurting out the question and I saw Amy smile.

"it's alright to be worried about Darius. No one is going to crucify you for it."

"That's not what this is."

"Okay." She raised her hands in mock surrender. "I heard Darius say something about Faye's men but I don't know. We would have to wait for them to return to replace out."

"When will they return?"

"I don't know, it depends on how serious it is but I doubt it would be anytime before evening," I huffed in frustration and it was at that moment she realized what was wrong. "You don't like an empty house, do you?"

"I don't mind it sometimes but usually, no. I got used to it but it still irks me."

"We could go out or something. Darius would be pissed but what he doesn't know wouldn't hurt him, right?"

The offer sounded tempting and before I would have taken it without a moment's hesitation but something stopped me. I realized that there was a lot at stake and I wasn't willing to put Amy in danger just so I could have a few minutes of fun. I shook my head and I saw the shock settle on her features. It was almost like she couldn't believe that I had refused.

We drove back the rest of the way in silence. When we got to the house, we hesitated in the car. I wanted to ask her a question but I was unsure of how she was going to react to it. After a moment of silence, she turned to me.

"Spit it out," she said. "There is nothing you could ask me that I would replace weird or offensive."

"Are you sure?" I asked and she nodded. "How do you feel about this thing with Faye? She is your sister after all and it can't be easy knowing that she is behind everything."

A dark look crossed her features. "I will always love Faye but she made her bed and she has to lie in it. It is a great crime amongst our kind to harm the mate of another and that is what she has done. In a typical setting, she would be punished by death." "Is Darius going to kill her?"

"I don't know," Amy admitted. "I don't think Darius knows what to do with her if I'm being honest. He still tries to see her as our little sister but I don't think she is anymore. Our main focus right now is replaceing out where she is and that man in the dungeons will be able to help."

She got out of the car right after that but my mind was stuck on something she said. I briefly remembered someone telling me something about the man who attacked me in the mansion hallways being in the dungeons. I was shocked that he wasn't dead yet and more shocked that they had not been able to extract answers from him yet.

"Do you think he would give me answers?" I asked and Amy turned to me in alarm. "I was the one he was sent to kidnap, right? It only makes sense that he might talk to

me."

"I don't like this idea and if I don't like it then Darius will hate it. He will have both our heads on spikes and that is not a metaphor."

"Think about it, Amy. This is our only chance to try."

"Even if I agreed to it, there are guards in the dungeons. They would never allow you to go in there alone."

"But they will allow you."

Despite her protests, I was able to convince her that it was a good idea. I hid behind the wall while she went down to speak to the guards. It took five minutes before I heard footsteps and I saw the guards coming up the stairs. I had no idea what she told them but I was grateful they had listened.

Once they were out of sight, I hurried down the stairs. I could vividly remember the last time I was down there and I tried and failed to push images of Liam out of my mind. I could still hear the echo of him killing himself but this time, it didn't have the same effect.

Amy was biting her fingernails when I got down. "I'm having second thoughts about this so you better be quick. We have ten minutes tops."

"Thank you."

She led me towards the last cell, the same cell where Liam was kept. Unlike Liam, he was very recognizable. He had bruises and dried blood all over his body but his features were intact. I was surprised because I expected him to be in worse shape than Liam considering that he almost killed me.

"Color me intrigued," the man mused. "Darius Lunar sent his precious mate down to see me. This was a tactic I did not expect."

"He didn't send me, he doesn't even know I'm here."

"Well, you just signed my death warrant. I should thank you for that. A quick death would be very pleasant and much appreciated."

I could see Amy glancing at her watch anxiously. I needed to stay on track before the guards got back.

"Why did you attack me?" I asked and the man laughed. It was a painful sound because of how hurt he was and he clutched his side but did it anyway.

"You really have no place in this world," he managed out once he had finished. "I was sent to take you dead or alive. There are no hard feelings, I was just doing my job. My mistress does not take too kindly to sloppy work."

"Faye," I asked to confirm and he nodded. "Did she say anything in particular when she asked you to kill me? Is there anything that she wanted me to know?"

"You're as subtle as an elephant," his voice was cold and I flinched from it. "If I haven't talked after everything Darius has done, what makes you think I will start talking now? Did you think if you just asked, I would tell you?"

"No, but I know she asked you to deliver a message for me."

I was bluffing.

At first, there was silence. I thought he would call me out on my bluff, but to my surprise, he sat up straighter and smiled widely. His teeth had begun to yellow and his gums were dark but I forced myself to stay rooted and not show any signs of fear.

"You are good, I'll give you that," he cleared his throat. "She did have a message for you actually. It would have been sad if that message died with me."

"What did she say?"

"She said to tell you that you are on borrowed time. Everything you have will be taken from you and she will make sure you suffer a slow and horrific death. Once again, it is nothing personal, but you're standing in the way of what she wants. However, if you step aside, she will gladly put down her arms."

"Step aside?" I asked incredulously. "This fight isn't even about me. It is about her and Darius."

"Is that what you think?"

He was about to say more but footsteps cut him off. Darius and Ian walked into the dungeons and from the look on Darius' face, he was furious. He glanced between Amy and me before finally settling on me. He stalked over to me, grabbed me by my upper arm and began to drag me away.

"Darius, please, it was my fault," Amy began but he cut off with a withering look.

"I will handle you later," he spat then turned to Ian. "Take Amaris to her room and make sure that she doesn't leave."

Ian nodded and he held onto Amy albeit a bit softer than what Darius had done with me. The man behind the cells began to laugh loudly. The sound grated on my nerves and in my ears.

"Remember what I said, Leindra. The choice is yours," he called out before dissolving into another fit of laughter.

His voice echoed up the stairs and even though I couldn't hear it, it played back in my ears while Darius dragged me towards his wing. I expected him to take me to my room but to my shock, he pulled open the other door and dragged us both inside.

"You have five minutes to convince me as to why it is not a good idea to fucking strangle you and Amaris right now for what you did."

"Darius, I-"

He took out his phone and pressed a timer. "Five fucking minutes, Leindra, tick-tock because it is counting."