Page 26 of Stolen Choices
Jessica immediately extinguished the energy ball, and Ciaran reluctantly did the same.
“Take a seat,” Nuka offered with an elaborate wave of his hand. “Can I get you a drink? A plate of seal blubber maybe? I seem to remember your penchant for it being far greater than mine.”
“Probably because you were too fond of pussy to think about eating a decent meal.”
“Touché.” Nuka laughed and took a sip of his drink. “I have plenty of that to offer you as well if you desire.”
“No, thank you,” Kas growled.
Jessica and Ciaran were standing at opposite ends of the tension filled room. The air heated with the hatred they felt for each other.
“I’m going to ask you a question, and if you have any respect for the fact we’re the same blood, I want the truth from you,” Kas demanded while still standing.
He didn’t feel like sitting when all he really wanted to do was try and shake some common sense into his twin brother. The fact Katia was missing and possibly with Weston twisted in his gut. He knew what happened to her last time, and she’d already been gone for a couple of days now. That was more than enough time for the evil brothel owner to have reversed all the healing the tigress had previously undergone. He wasn’t sure whether his legs would hold him up if Jackson had been telling the truth, though, so he reluctantly sat down.
“Just get on with it, Kas.” Nuka took another sip of his drink and motioned for Ciaran to refill his glass. “I’ve got better things to do than listen to you wax lyrical about how wonderful humans are.”
“Are you expecting my question to be about Katia?” Kas wanted to throw his brother off guard first.
“Should I?” Nuka narrowed his eyes.
“So you’ve nothing to do with her disappearance then?”
“Brother, if you’re here on speculation, I’m not going to entertain you any longer. I’ve got better things to do.” Nuka pushed up from his seat and motioned toward the door.
“Did you resurrect our grandfather?” Kas’ words were designed to knock his brother off kilter, but Nuka didn’t flinch at all. However, the evil smirk he allowed to cross his face told Kas everything he needed to know.
“Ciaran, would you fetch our house guest please?”
Ciaran clicked his fingers, and Kas watched in horror as his previously deceased grandfather appeared in the room. The older man he’d once worshipped was buried balls deep in a young woman who was thrashing about and screaming. She was clearly trying to get away from him.
“For fucks sake. I was just getting to the good bit.” Kas’ grandfather withdrew himself from the girl, and she scampered quickly from the room. Ciaran clicked his fingers again, and a dressing gown wrapped around his grandfather’s naked form.
“We have a visitor, Grandfather,” Nuka stated, and his grandfather looked over to where Kas was standing.
“Oh, the disappointment I feel, having a grandson destroy the pack I worked so hard to build.”
Kas shook his head. The person in front of him did indeed look like the man he’d worshiped as a little boy, but his character was completely different.There was nothing of the man who’d taught him how to catch seals and explained to him what he’d need to do when he came to power.
“What did you do to him?” Kas spoke directly to Nuka.
“Nothing. This is the man he always was. I’ve simply allowed him to return, so he can help me destroy the world. A desire he put aside before because of your sensibilities.”
“What?” Kas was glad he was sitting down. He was pretty certain his legs wouldn’t be able to hold him up. His stomach was churning, and the seal blubber he’d eaten for breakfast was threatening to re-emerge.
Jessica had slumped back against the wall behind her. She knew the immense power Ciaran must possess to be able to bring back the dead. Her face was ashen. The druid stood on his side of the room with a smug expression on his face. His victory over Jessica was complete.
“He died the first time because he wanted to try and make the world a better place for you to govern our pack. It was a stupid sacrifice at the time. A pact between humans and shifters to co-exist in peace could never work, and that was proved when the human’s betrayed him. Now our grandfather is back, and he’s come over to my way of thinking this time. Destroy all the humans before they harm us.” Nuka picked up his glass of brandy and took a sip of it before handing it to their grandfather.
“I was a fool back then. I believed in the rights of the first born and all that. I should have known from the start you’d never be a good leader. Too much compassion in your soul, and not enough of the darkness it takes to rule a pack. You don’t possess the iron fist or lack of morals needed to protect what is important. My pack is destroyed. It has become little more than a bunch of misfits now—strange wild animals and humans living together isn’t right.” Kas’ grandfather accused. He then downed the rest of the brandy and threw the glass into the nearby fire. The residue of the alcohol exploded as a sign of his fury. “You are an embarrassment to me, Kas. But not any longer. The human’s time on this earth is at an end. I will see to that. There is just one final piece to put into place, and then we will rule.”
His grandfather and Nuka stood together, side by side—the epitome of evil. Both laughing about their plans for world domination. Kas had seen enough. He got to his feet and reached out for Jessica’s hand. She took it quickly.
“Take us home, Jessica. I’ve heard enough”
Chapter Fifteen
Visions of his parents and Katia haunted the nightmares Jackson was having. How had he been so wrong? So trusting? He’d been played by Nuka all along. His body still hurt—the pain was unbearable, but he needed to wake up. He had to fight his way through the suffering because he’d put Katia back in the same position she’d been before, and it was his job to get her out. His heart hadn’t been wrong when he’d kissed her. Despite what he’d said and done to her, he knew she was his mate. Fate was cruel in that way. He knew she’d never forgive him, but he’d spend the rest of his days protecting her from afar if he had to. It was the least he could to do to make it up to her.