Riannon tried not to display her emotions in front of the fox king, as his mendraggedHarper into the room.

Not that she experienced a lot of emotions.

For a secondthere, she was afraid that it could be Maya.

But seeing her ex’s sister actuallymade her feel relieved.

That was the sacrifice she was willing to make if sheabsolutely had to.Harper looked even worse than the last time she saw her.

It had probably beenhours since she switched off in the woods.

And Ria guessed that Castiel didn’thave a luxurious room“What is this?” she co.cked her brow and stared at the fox king, absolutelyunimpressed.

“Riannon!” Harper whimpered, but she ignored that.

The lessattention she paid to her,the better.

She couldn’t show Castiel that she cared even one bit.

That wouldseal the girl’s“You know exactly what this is,” the man in front of her sneered, brushing hishead over his medium-length hair.“What does Brayden’s sister have to do with me?” she shrugged her shoulders.“You came to save her, remember?” he reminded her and she let out a littlelaugh.“Seriously? That’s your leverage?” she scoffed.

“You know very well why I camethere.Not for her.”“You b*tch!” Harper screeched and Riannon rolled her eyes.

“I knew you werelike this!You worthless...”magic

“Then if she is this insignificant and has no use for you, I don’t think I have usefor her as well anymore.

She played her part.” Castiel clicked his fingers and oneof the warriors hit the back of Harper’s knees, making her fall down.

The othergrew his claws and grabbed the girl’s hair with a free hand, digging them into herflesh almost to the point of bleeding.Ria pursed her lips.

She did not owe anything to Harper.

Especially not after whatshe saw in her past.But she wasn’t a murderer.

And Harper hadn’t done anything yet.

Maybe...

justmaybethere was still a way to save her.However, letting Castiel think that Harper meant something to her would be amistake.He would then use the girl against her again and again.

And she didn’t evenknow yet what hewanted from her in the first place.Everything was a game to him.

The smirk on his face was the proof of that.

So,she decided to try and play with him as well.indifferently.

“But I am surprised you think that she played her part already.”Her opponent chuckled and she locked eyes with her ex-sister-in-law just for asecond.

The girl clearly wanted to say something but clenched her lips as theclaws dug a bit deeper into her neck.“Elaborate on that, please,” Castiel encouraged her.“Just because she doesn’t mean much to me, doesn’t mean she has no use foryou.” She was choosing every word carefully.

“She is still Brayden’s sister.

AndBrayden is still the Alpha of The Silver River pack.”

“Which is bankrupt now.

How long is it until his own people turn on him or otherAlphas come to claim his land?” the fox king smirked, looking at her withamusement.“My Beta or Gamma will give him the money due after our divorce,” Ria liedcalmly.

She was thinking of it but did not give such an order yet.

But those wereinsignificant details now.“ His pack would be thriving in no time.

And no onewould start a war, knowing that we haveanother one looming over us.”He watched her as she spoke and she did not like his gaze on her.

She did notlike hisinterest.

She did not want it.“Take her back to her cell,” Castiel commanded, and his men obeyed, yankingHarper back to her feet.

She had tears rolling down her cheeks that ruined theremnants of her mascara.

But at least, she wasn’t shouting any insults anymore.And the last look she exchanged with Ria was perplexed and lost.The door behind them closed and only now had Riannon released that the two ofthem had been alone in this strange room.“Onyx, are you there?” she called her wolf even though she felt her inside.

Butshe needed to hear her voice inside her mind, she needed the confirmation thatwhat happened last time wasn’t happening again.“Present,” Onyx replied immediately.

“Do not worry, I am never leaving youagain.”“How are you feeling? Are we...”capable of taking care of ourselves.”It was good and she let out a sigh of relief, which Castiel took differently.

“S0,” he taunted her with a vague smile on his lips.

His eyes were travellingaround herHowever, she did no such thing and only straightened her back instead.

“What doyou want from me?” she narrowed her eyes at the arrogant man next to her.“Isn’t it obvious?” a sneer formed on his handsome face.

Even now she couldn’tdeny that he was ridiculously good looking.“Nothing is obvious until you say it out loud,” Ria rolled her eyes and watchedhow the fox king stood up and started pacing around the room slowly.

He wasn’tnervous though.

It was another game for him.

So, when he turned sharply to faceher and his stormy grey eyes almost pierced her, she gulped, feeling uneasy.

“I want you,” Castiel said plainly, but in such a tone that there could be nomisunderstanding between them.“Don’t be ridi...” She started saying, but he was the one to interrupt her.“You asked me and now you will listen,” he stepped closer, and she wanted toleave that chair to be able to walk away from him.

Yet the fox king bent lower,towering over her and pinned his hands at both sides of her.

“I have been lookingfor a worthy woman for quite some time.

You see, I need a Luna myself.Someone who I can admire and rely on.

A partner.”“Then it’s definitely not me!” she snorted, but instead of backing off, he grabbedher chinto make her look at him.“But you could be.” His eyes lingered over her lips as his thumb brushed over thelower one, parting them.

She yanked her head away and to her surprise, he

didn’t insist, returning to the armchair next to her, only a sigh of disappointmentleaving him as proof that he cared.“Hardly,” she turned away from him.“I was watching you and I have to say that you surprised me more than once.” Hesaidwhile rubbing his chin.

“I’ve never met anyone so...

captivating.”“Is this why you cancelled your order to get rid of me?” Ria taunted him but hedidn’t“Yes,” he replied honestly.

“I saw you as an obstruction before.

But after I actuallymet you, I changed my mind.

I am rarely this interested in anyone.

And the moreI find out about you, the more I want you by my side.”“Too bad that I have a mate,” she interrupted him.

She did not need anyconfessions from the enemy.

Although she suspected that he had beeninterested in her for a while already.would lose their advantage and influence.

The era of wolves will be over.”“Charming!” she dug her nails into the fabric of her chair, almost ripping it.“But for you, I am willing to make an exception,” he stretched his hands towardshers, but she jerked it back.

He took it well, not pushing further.

“Become myLuna and I will make sure that your pack survives.

Your little feisty friend andeven your Gamma too.

They will all keep their lives if you are next to me.

Justimagine what the two of us could do together!”“How tempting!” she didn’t even try to hide the poison in her words.“I will make it more tempting when you are more accustomed to me,” he smirked,and that smirk sent a chill down her spine.

“If you so much as...” she started speaking, but Castiel interrupted her.“I am not going to force you to do anything.

I don’t need that,” the fox kingchuckled lightly.

“I will find a key to your heart now that you are here.

And we...”“In your dreams!” she wanted to let Onyx out now simply to shut him up, butmanaged to stop in time.

Attacking him could ruin everything!“It’s enough for now,” Castiel stood up again and walked to the door, placing hispalm on the doorknob and ready to leave.

But at the last moment, he turned tolook at her again, “I will give you as much time as you need to accept me.

I amnot in a hurry.”She wanted to slap him, kick him...

rip his throat out.“This will never happen!” she told him firmly.“Never say never,” Castiel laughed openly, “I take it as a challenge and only wantyou more.

I still remember how you touched me for the first time and called mehandsome.

And I sure as hell remember you in that little silky thing in yourbedroom.

Don’t get me wrong, but donot provoke me.

It’s already hard to stay away from you.

And I detest forcingwomen intoanything.”“Then don’t!” Riannon stood up as well.

“Let me go.”His gaze traced her from head to her feet and a lazy smile danced on his lips,“No.You will stay here until you are ready.

I am not in a rush.

I want quality.”“Are you seriously going to keep me locked in that room?!” she scowled.“Of course, not,” he gave her a sly grin, “You are welcome to roam freely aroundthis house.

Meet its residents.

I am sure some of them will help you speed upyour decision.”

This was exactly what she needed, so she did not object this time.

“You are alsofree toweapons, of course.

But other than that – no limits.”To that Riannon nodded quietly.

She definitely could use that too.“In the evening I would want us to have dinner together.

We have a lot to talkabout,” Castiel informed her, “Change into one of the dresses I got for you.

Youwill look lovely...”“And if I don’t?” she raised a brow but it only widened his grin.“Then Harper’s stay here will be way less comfortable.” That was a pure threatand he left the room before she managed to form a snarky reply.

So much for nottrying to force her...Gideon was wiping out his bloody knuckles after yet another unsuccessfulinterrogationwhen he saw the pack’s doctor.“My king,” the doctor bowed politely, “The pregnant girl is properly healed now.The babyis in no danger and she is feeling better.

You can talk to her if you like...”