Chapter 105

Cassie

Being a mum was hard. Much harder than I had ever imagined and being locked up and not being able to feel the cool wind on my face was making it even harder.

Not that I was chained up in the room or anything, Ian had taken me out to explore the labryth of secret tunnels daily because I had to know how to escape with the babies if we were ever found.

It still confused the hell out of me but a week in and I was getting there. But a week after being inside was more than enough for me. I needed fresh air.

"No." Ian said when I glanced up from the book I was reading and opened my mouth to ask him for the millionth time since I had given birth whether I could just go outside for a few second. Or just by an open window or something.

Anything.

"I didn't say anything." I muttered under my breath.

"You didn't have to. I know that look." With a sigh he shook his head. "I know it's hard to be cooped up like this but it's just to risky right now. When things calm down." Another sign and he went back to pensively staring. I grumbled something under my breath and Ian snapped his eyes up to me and glared.

"Something you want to say Cassie?" He asked with a sneer. I hadn't seen him look so angry in a long time. Recently, for months in fact he had been kind and understanding but that phase seemed to have passed because now he just looked pissed.

Unluckily for him, so was I.

"Yeah I have plenty to say, Ian. You brought me here and now I'm trapped. I'm a prisoner here." My voice was rising rapidly. "I don't want my children to die here."

His eyes flashed. "And I don't want to die without meeting my child either but it's not safe. The twins are too small and the palace is under complete lockdown. Believe me when the time is right i will get us out."

I opened my mouth to shout a retort and snapped my lips shut. My eyes appraised him. "You're-" I swallowed down my retort . "Yana is pregnant?" I finished in a lame whisper.

Ian's flicked up to mine for a second and then he nodded.

"Yes." He said simply.

"Why didn't either of you say anything?"

"She's only a few weeks gone. We haven't told anyone." He gave a small shrug that was meant to put me at ease but was somehow the most heartbreaking thing I had ever seen. He had left his mate, his pregnant mate to bring me here to help the late king. He had left them even knowing the risk and now he was trapped here.

Maybe if he had been by himself he could have gotten out. Hell, I knew he would be able to get out but Ian was a man of tremendous loyalty. He would not leave me or the babies.

"You shouldn't have-"I began to say and he cut me off with a glare. His lips thinned.

"But I did Cassie and now we are here and she is there. Do I want to get back to them?" He cocked his head to the side. "Of course I do. Yana is my mate. She is my family but my duty is to my king and to his queen." His eyes levelled on me and I averted my eyes. "That's you. I won't leave you. Julian wouldn't want me to abandon you. Not that I ever would." The sigh rattled his body. "We will get out Cassie." He said softly. "I promise you I'll get you all out. I need to be free as well. I have more -" he trailed off with a shake of his head. "It doesn't matter. Just trust me."

I stared at him for a second and then nodded my head. I did trust him. I had to because he had never once let me down before. Ian had always been my friend even before I had known it. He always looked out for me,

"Will you teach me how to protect myself?" I asked after several minutes had passed with no one speaking.

"You've just had a baby." He didn't even look up. "Two of them actually." Ian pointed out.

"I am aware." Laughing I glanced towards the bed where they were sleeping. Part of me wanted to go over there and check they were still breathing. Press my hands to their little chests even though I knew it would wake them up.

"They are fine Cassie." Ian murmured and again I nodded.

"I wish I could speak to Julian about what to call them. I wish i knew his favourite names." I changed the subject and lifted my eyes to him. "Do you know-"

"Did I have in-depth conversations with my lord and prince about baby names?" Ian shook his head. "No Cassie, we didn't really talk about those things. I can tell you the royal family names but I don't think it will really matter. You could name them anything and Julian would love them just the same. But they do need names soon. What are your favourite names?"

It was my turn to shrug. "I don't really have any. I just wish I knew where he was. That he was ok. I think if I knew that I would be able to think more clearly. It's the not knowing,you know?" I met his eyes and Ian's danced away. Frowning I leant forward. "Ian?"

Why wouldn't he meet my eyes?

"Ian, do you know where he is?" I asked after several seconds of heavy silence. That silence spoke volumes. In my chest my heart took off at a gallop. "Is he hurt? Is he ok?"

"Yes." He answered softly. "Yes he's hurt and no I doubt very much that he's ok."

My mouth fell open but no sound came out.

"He can handle -" Ian began to say and I cut him off with a growl.

"Do you know where he is?"

"Yes I know where they have him." Ian sounded so tired.

"Take me to him. I need to see him."

"No."

I was on my feet in a second. Hands on hips I glared down at him. "Take me to my husband. Take me to the king now."

"They have been torturing him, Cassie." He began to say and my hand swung forward to connect with his cheek and rocked his head back.

Breathing heavily he looked up at me. Rubbing the red spot on his cheek. "Don't make me do this too you Cassie"

I didn't understand the look on his face and honestly I didn't care. "Take me to my husband."