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Chapter 3

Sasha lay on her bed after the evening’s events, staring at the wooden slats that held Kalani’s bed up. She counted the lines she had put into the wood after each and every single one of Tiffany’s attacks. 477 vicious attacks in 5 years. 9 of them had almost ended Kalani’s life. Her hands fisted. Oh, yes, that bitch was gonna pay. She would see to it, even if it killed her and it was going to. The look on her face when she named her, had made her whole evening more bearable. She thought she had been safe. Winning was supposed to be a guarantee of survival, not a death sentence.

Nobody had ever chosen all the available females from a single family to go before, but two things were not going to happen on her watch. Kalani would not be left here to suffer abuse alone and that cunt of a sister of theirs was not going to get to live if they couldn’t. She had been asked all evening to reconsider, but it was done. It was already in the breeder ledger and there was no undoing it now. She was beyond tired of giving the same answer to everyone. ‘It is our honor to represent our people as a family. I cannot imagine anyone better to be at my side than my sisters.’

Just thinking the words made her want to vomit when all she longed to say was that she wanted the piece of shit dead. She chuckled to herself as her fingers moved over the marks again, taking pride in her ability to be politically correct when she needed to be. Tiffany will die before Kalani did, that Sasha promised, even if she had to sneak into her bedroom and slit her throat while she slept. A soft knock on her window snapped her out of her angry thoughts. She climbed out of the bed and made her way cautiously to it. She peeked through the curtains and smiled softly when she saw Ethan standing on the ledge outside of her window. She threw the curtains back and opened it.

“What are you doing here?,” she hissed.

“I wanted to see you.”

She shook her, sighing.

“You coming here put both of us at risk to be punished.”

“I know,” he whispered, reaching out to cup her cheek. “I can’t believe they are forcing you to go.”

“Me either. I wonder what changed.”

His thumb stroked her bottom lip. “Let’s run away. Just get some stuff and come away with me.”

“And what of Kalani?,” she asked, gesturing over her shoulder. “I will not leave her.”

He sighed and stuck his hands in his pockets. “You know I can’t provide for three people right now, but I can save you. Come with me, Sash. Let me take care of you.”

“No, Ethan. I can’t. If I left with you, you know Tiffany would go after her. She would blame me for stealing you away from her and will kill Kalani. I will not let that happen.”

“Why are you so protective over her?”

“Because nobody else will protect her. I am all she has.”

“Sash, please.”

“No!”

She glared at him as he tried to convince her with his eyes to leave with him. The door was flung open behind them and she jumped. Her mother’s guard stomped across the room to grip her arm. His hand bit into her skin and she swallowed a cry of pain.

“What are you doing here boy? Don’t you know that being caught in the presence of a chosen female will result in both of your deaths and there are two of said females in this room, so you will be tortured before you die.”

Sasha rolled her eyes behind the man’s back. “He was just-”

“I was trying to say goodbye to my girlfriend. I did not realize her sister was awake nor was I expecting to get caught. This garbage was just telling me to go home before we got in trouble. She’s all about honor, decency and all that, you know.” He rolled his eyes at the guard. “She never liked me, so I am sure she took such pleasure in sending Tiffany to the slaughter.”

The guard looked at her and shook her a little. “Is this true?”

Ethan nodded behind his back and Sasha internally sighed. “Yes.”

“Get lost, boy before I report you.”

“Can I ask her to pass her a message along to my girlfriend?”

“Make it fast.”

“Tell.. tell her that I love her and that I will miss her. Tell her that I will always love her and there will never be another.”

Sasha met his eyes. “I’m sure she knows.”

“I hope so, because I do.”

She watched him drop off the balcony and the guard slammed her window shut. The glass cracked and started to spider out. He glared at her, before dragging her out of the room. He took her to her mother’s office and shoved her roughly inside, before slamming the door shut behind her as she stumbled. She ended up sprawled on the ground. A hand took hers and gently helped her to her feet. She was startled to find herself looking up at Councilman Slonsky. She immediately dropped into a curtsy.

“Councilman,” she looked behind him at her mother, “Madame Anastasia.”

“Cut the bullshit Sasha and sit the fuck down,” she snapped.

She tilted her curiously. “Ma’am?”

She pointed to the black leather seat in front of her desk. “Sit. Now!”

She sat. Her mother was livid and she refused to infuriate her anymore. Everytime she did, it came back on Kalani. Goddess, she hated it here. If she could send her mother, she would. Her mother tented her fingers and put her chin on them.

“Why did you choose Tiffany?”

“It is our honor-”

Her mother lunged across the desk to slap her in the face. The hit almost knocked her out of the chair. She took in a deep breath before sitting back up to meet her mother’s eyes.

“Because it is our honor to go,” she repeated stubbornly.

Her mother grabbed an envelope and threw it in her face. She bent down to pick up the papers before tapping them on the table to smooth the pile out. Councilman Slonsky took them from her and quickly arranged them back in order, before handing it to her. She stared down at the stack in her hands.

“What’s this?”

“Your assignment.”

Her head snapped up. “Excuse me? What assignment?”

She leaned across the desk. Sasha held her gaze, refusing to back down. Dangerous waters that had always ended up almost drowning Kalani. Her mother knew that she was Sasha’s only weakness and used every opportunity to exploit that.

“Your assignment. Stop feigning stupid, child.”

The councilman stepped up behind her and put his hands on her shoulder. Sasha had to swallow down the bile that rose in her throat at the familiarity in the way he touched her.

“You are being sent to eliminate the new king. Cassidy took out the last one. This one is the last male of the royal line. We need him gone, before he produces any male offspring.”

“Why?”

“That’s for me to know and for you not to worry about.”

“And how in the world am I supposed to do that, Mother?”

“Everything you need to know is in that file.”

She opened it and began to quickly skim it. She flipped through the 9 pages, before lifting her eyes back to her mother’s face.

“What kind of shifter are they?”

“You have to figure that out on your own.”

“Then how am I supposed to kill him?”

“Ingratiate yourself to him. You are smart. You will figure it out in no time. Tell no one about your task.” She held out a small container. “You will wear these from now on.”

She opened the container and cursed silently when she saw the white contacts. “What are these?”

“Tomorrow, we will tell everyone you woke up blind, having been cursed by the Goddess for choosing your sisters.”

“Mother, don’t you think I-”

“Get out,” she ordered as his hands began to rub her shoulders in small circles.

She immediately stood up and walked out. No sooner had the door clicked shut than her mother’s moans could be heard clearly. She gagged as she hurried back to her room. She settled back into bed to read the file and Kalani popped her head over the edge.

“Aja?”

“Yes, Lani?”

“Can we cuddle?”

She slid the folder under her pillow and scooted back. She patted the bed beside her.

“Come on.”

Lani nuzzled into her side, yawning.

“Hey, Aja?”

She stroked Kalni’s hair. “Yeah?”

“Why didn’t you tell Tiffany you were dating Ethan behind her back?”

She smiled in the dark. “Because I will tell her at the right moment.”

"What moment is that?”

She kissed Kalani’s forehead. “The moment that will crush her the most. Now, sleep, little one. Tomorrow, we will have a very busy day. We have a lot to prepare for.”

“Aja?”

“Yes, Lani?”

“Why didn’t you go with Ethan?”

Sasha took her hand and put it over her heart. “Because you're the only forever I want and without you, forever isn’t worth it.”

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