"Urghh."

I opened my eyes to see the straw of the cell and groaned at how much everything ached from sleeping on such a hard floor. The ball had gone on until way beyond midnight and I had spent the majority of those hours dancing with the King. Obviously, it was he that had insisted on it and I that had been forced to begrudgingly go along with it.

"What time is it?" I asked the guard.

"7:30 am," he replied shortly.

"Is there any chance I'll be getting out of here soon or should I just kill myself now before either boredom, discomfort or the cold does?" I remarked causing him to smirk.

"Kill yourself and save the King the bother," he replied.

I rolled my eyes and wished for someone less intolerable to talk to.

It wasn't for another two hours that my wish was granted with the arrival of my Dad.

"Sleep well?" he asked with a mocking undertone.

"Fucking brilliantly," I remarked.

"I'll try to talk to the King again. Negotiate some way. You won't be in here forever."

I then suddenly remembered another reason why I wouldn't be in here forever. Max had been at the ball last night and Leo would now be on his way.

Leo was on his way.

"Anyway, when did you become such a graceful dancer?" my Dad asked.

"Leo taught me. We have balls and things at home," I explained. "Can't say I enjoyed last night as much as I do those- when I have my mate to dance with rather than that son of a bitch."

"Keep your voice down," my Dad said. "And Connor was worried about how he dragged you up to your cousin. He's never been the sort I'd want my daughter near and I hear he even tried to do away with you seven years ago?"

I nodded and looked to the floor.

"He's got something strongly against our family. What did he talk to you about?"

"Oh just this and that, nothing worth repeating," I mumbled vaguely.

My Dad narrowed his eyes at me but I was spared the ordeal of having to go any further by a set of heavy footsteps marching down the steps into the dungeon. Connor soon came into sight with a serious expression.

"He's two miles away," he stated as he pulled out a key from his pocket.

"Who?"

"Loren. Alpha fucking Loren," Connor said with spit as he unlocked the cell.

Dad jumped to his feet, his face immediately turning to match Connor's, "What? How does he know?"

"Nobody knows," Connor answered before unlocking the cell door. "He has 5000 men. They're readying the archers, cavalry and infantry as we speak but we aren't ready for him yet and we don't have enough time to get the defences up properly."

"Fuck," my Dad cursed. "5000?!"

"It isn't just the Stella Pack here. He's got allies."

"How many men do you have?" I asked.

"2000," Connor replied shortly as he opened the door of the cell. "Now come with me. I have to take you somewhere more secure," he added reaching for my hand.

"This is a suicide mission. You can't fight 5000 with 2000 even if Leonardo Loren wasn't their leader! You will certainly lose and he will certainly kill you," I said pulling my hand away. "It is not too late to let me go and surrender."

"I am not giving you back to him without a fight, Ella. Now come," he said in a harsh tone. "I don't have time to fuck about."

He then roughly hauled me out of the cell by yanking my arm.

"Connor," My Dad interjected. "That is your sister. Do not be so aggressive with her."

"A war is about to break out, Dad. I have soldiers I need to be organising, not my little sister," he said pausing but still with a tight grip around my wrist.

"I know and she will come. Just let us say goodbye for now first," he said stepping forward.

Connor let go of me as my Dad embraced me in a comforting hug.

"I love you, Ells," he whispered.

"I love you too," I replied a tear escaping my eye only to be soaked up by his shirt. This could be the last time I ever see him. I thought that time was twelve years ago but that didn't make it any less painful.

"Now go with your brother," he said firmly. "He only wants to get you somewhere safe."

I nodded and he kissed my forehead.

"Come on," Connor said in a much softer tone as his hand gently rested on my back.

We walked out of the dungeon and the bright light of the ground floor blinded me for a moment or two. It was approaching dusk but the castle was nosier than ever. There were people with serious expression marching up and down the hallways and outside the clatter of armour and weapons.

"These people are all going to be lead to their deaths. You are too outnumbered to win this," I said quietly as we turned into a narrower hallway. "It is not just any army you are facing too."

"We will see."

"Connor, you aren't listening," I protested as he grabbed my wrist. "If you don't die in the battle, he will kill you for this. He said he would seven years ago and he's a man of his word."

"I will kill him or die trying," Connor concluded beginning to march faster.

"Connor...what has gotten in you?" I asked stopping in my tracks. "Where has this hatred come from?"

"He ripped you away from me, treated you like shit, tried to kill my father and exiled me. What do you fucking expect!?" he roared seizing my shoulders. "I want him to burn in hell and I don't give a shit what you have to say about it! Now come easily or I will throw you over my shoulder like a child."

I shivered at the cold command of my brother. In seven years, he'd grown up a lot. He had stubble on his chin and cheeks and his boyish features of the past were long gone. Along with his kindness towards me apparently.

"Connor," I sobbed as I placed a hand on his cheek. "This isn't the brother I knew."

"When Leonardo is dead and this fury is released from me I will return to you but for now I have more important things to think about."

"If Leonardo is dead, I won't be the sister you knew either," I replied before he grabbed me around the waist and carried me kicking and screaming up a winding set of stone steps. "Just surrender me! I will end up back with him anyway so why not do it with 2000 fewer deaths?!"

"It's sweet how much faith you have in us, Ells," he remarked. "And surrendering would result in our deaths anyway. Loren isn't exactly known for mercy."

We soon reached the top of the very long twisting staircase to find one singular door. Connor put me down, unlocked it and pushed me in.

"Connor," I whispered tears now streaming. "Please."

He shook his head with a pained expression.

"I'm sorry that this hurts you but I'm not sorry for doing it," he replied breathing heavily probably from carrying me up all those stairs.

"There's nothing I can say or do to stop you, is there?" I asked.copy right hot novel pub