Resisting the Moon (Royal Shifters #2)(43)

“Fucking cocksucker,” I growled low.

She pointed to Amelie. “I was also the one who linked the moonstone to Amelie’s mind. I knew you and Tyla would find it. It was the only thing I could think of to keep you informed and also keep my distance.”

I pulled the moonstone out of my pocket. “What’s the purpose of all of this? Are you with your brother, or against him?”

“You should know the answer to that, Sebastian. My mother loved you and your brothers.”

We loved her too, but my affections weren’t that of a lover. She had captured Zayne’s heart when we were kids. I didn’t tell my brother what’d happened to her until after I’d killed Vincent. Ever since then, he hadn’t fully forgiven me for not telling him sooner. I also never told him she’d given birth to a child—a child I didn’t believe to be his, until now.

“She died when you were an infant. How do you know that?”

She cringed at my words, her pain filling the room. “I’ll tell you everything when time allows. Right now, you have to trust me.”

“Don’t believe anything she says,” Amelie snapped. “She’s no better than her brother. Can’t you see it’s just a scheme? Jaret probably put her up to it.”

Tears filled Laila’s eyes and she turned to Amelie. “I know you don’t believe anything I’m saying, and I don’t blame you. Just know, I’ve lost more than you could ever imagine. But your forgiveness is what I’ll seek when all of this is over.”

She paused and her gaze flitted down to her clasped hands before addressing her again. “And there is something you should know.” She glanced at me and then back to Amelie, ashamed. “You’re not pregnant.”

Amelie gasped and clutched her stomach. “What are you saying?”

Releasing a shaky breath, Laila closed her eyes. “I originally told you and Jaret that because I knew it would keep you alive. It was the only thing I could think of at the time. The tea I gave you to drink each week had an herb in it to keep you from conceiving. I couldn’t let him have that kind of hold over you.”

Amelie dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I’ll be free of him then?”

Laila nodded. “As long as my plan works.”

“Which is?” I asked.

“Getting us all out of here alive. I’ll do everything I can to keep Tyla and the baby safe. But when the time comes, I’ll need your—”

“Stop,” I shouted, my heart racing. I looked over at Amelie and judging by her wide eyes she had to have heard what I did. “What baby?”

Brows furrowed, Laila glanced back and forth at us and then sighed. “I didn’t realize you didn’t know. But then again, I guess it is a little soon for that.”

“Tyla’s pregnant?” I asked, hardly believing the words coming out of my mouth.

Laila smiled and nodded. “It’s not every day the father finds out before the mother.”

Footsteps sounded from above and she gasped. “Dammit, they’re back. I don’t have time to explain the rest. Whatever I do, you need to play along, both of you.” She tossed a quick glance at Amelie, before focusing on me. “This is probably going to be worse for you. Can you handle it?”

“You don’t even have to ask.” I would give up my life in an instant to save Tyla and my unborn child. They needed me and I wasn’t going to let them down.

Laila nodded, her gaze sad. “Here we go.” She closed her eyes and whispered words under her breath. The last thing I heard before the darkness took over was Amelie’s scream.





Tyla

I woke up in a daze, hoping everything that had happened was just a bad dream. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. I found myself in Jaret’s bed, reeking of his scent. I was fully clothed, and thankfully, untouched. If he had raped me in my sleep, there would’ve been nothing I could’ve done. Whatever Laila had given me to drink wiped me out. I looked at the clock, eyes widening at the time. I’d been out for almost twenty-four hours.

“Sebastian?” There was no answer, just a black void in my mind where he used to be. Panic set in. “Sebastian!” Where was he? Jumping out of bed, I started for the door, but it opened and Jaret waltzed in.

“Good morning, sunshine. Ready for the finale tonight?”

“Where’s Sebastian and Amelie?” I demanded, refusing to answer him.

His grin widened. “Amelie’s being taken to the barn as we speak. She’s fine for the moment, but I can’t say for how long. Sebastian, on the other hand, isn’t doing so well. You should’ve seen his face when he smelled you on me and I told him I f*cked you last night.”

My body shook, fire bubbling in my veins. I needed Sebastian to hear me so I could tell him the truth. Why was our connection still gone? As hard as I could, I lunged and punched Jaret in the face. His head snapped to the side and he laughed. Before I could make another move, he grabbed me around the neck, his movements a blur. He was stronger than me.

“You think you can fight me?” he growled, pushing me back toward the bed. I couldn’t breathe; his grip was too tight. Digging my claws in his hand, I was able to pry them apart to get some air.

“I know I can.”