Chapter Twenty-Two
When they pulled up in front of the Para Council building, it looked just like it had on any other day. The streets were bustling downtown and the sidewalk was filled with people all going somewhere. They were all carrying on with their lives, oblivious to the fact that her life and freedom were all about to end. Halle had been here several times in the past and was always amazed at how beautiful the building was. The most important people in their community made decisions here every day that affected the lives of every paranormal on this continent. But today instead of wonder, the building just felt dark and ominous. Her cat was pacing and snarling inside, wanting to lash out at the horrible man sitting beside them.
Kill him, it said. Free us from his plans, it pleaded. But the picture of her brother bleeding and weak was seared into her mind.
When the car came to a full stop, Conrad turned to look at her. The expression on his chiseled face was calm, and he just watched her for a moment.
“Are you ready for this, my dear?” he asked in such a reasonable tone, it just made her hate him all the more. “We have an appointment with the council, and you will be required to give your consent and sign the mating papers of your own free will. The Council members present cannot think I have coerced you in any way—do you understand, Halle? Do you understand what will happen to your brother Tavin if you fail in these tasks in the next thirty minutes?”
She felt the wave of panic rise in her chest as his words sank in. Can I pull this off? Inside she was screaming in rage, and her animal side was getting frantic now that it knew the cage door on their freedom was about to close. What if I lose control of my beast and shift in front of everyone?
“Do you need another moment?” he pushed, one eyebrow raised as if he doubted that she could do this.
Focus, Halle. She didn’t need to appear happy to be doing this. It was for all intents and purposes supposed to be an arranged mating by her own family, so she just needed to hold it together enough to not look like she wanted to tear out her prospective mate’s throat with her teeth. I can do this. I have to do this—for Tavin’s sake.
“I’m fine, let’s get this over with,”
“Indeed.” Conrad opened the car door and got out.
Halle was surprised when he offered her his hand to help her, whether it was to put on a good show, or simply because he thought she might bolt—she didn’t know.
She already knew that there were wards on the building that didn’t allow outside weapons through the front door. So, the two thugs that were accompanying them wouldn’t have their guns with them. Even the enforcers had to use alternate entry points to check their weapons in. That had been explained to them on the very first school tour of the council buildings she’d had when she was a cub. She hadn’t thought much about it at the time, but now, she wondered if these rules were even able to protect people at all?
Halle felt the tension in Conrad’s arm beneath hers, so he was still nervous about something, even if his face didn’t betray it. The lobby wasn’t very busy today. There were only about a dozen or so people milling about, probably waiting for their own appointments with the council. Conrad directed her past the general reception desk, straight on to a smaller kiosk that stood in front of the elevators that led directly to the council registration chambers.
“Conrad Dair and Halle Briggs. We have an eleven o’clock appointment with the council,” Conrad said in a snooty tone, as he stared down the young wolf shifter working the desk.
“Ah, yes, Mr. Dair. I see your appointment right here,” the attendant said, with a nervous voice that made the hair on the back of Halle’s neck stand up in alarm. “The council seems to be running a bit behind with their previous appointment this morning. Would you like to take a seat until they’re ready for you?”
“No,” Conrad replied in a stone-cold voice. “Do you know who I am? You will open this elevator and let us up into the council chambers immediately, or I will separate your head from your body.”
Wow, that escalated quickly, Halle thought as she watched the color abruptly drain from the attendant’s face and his sheer panic set in.
“Still threatening innocent children, I see, Conrad.” Halle’s heart skipped a beat when the glorious sound of Viktor’s voice came from behind them.
Conrad’s grabbed her arm and spun them around to face Viktor, and Halle almost collapsed in relief when her cat scented her brother and she saw Tavin being held up by a giant grey man in the shadows near the front entryway. He looked horrible, but he was safe, and Viktor had come for her.
“Call security,” Conrad barked to the desk attendant behind them. “This rogue vampire is trying to abduct my mate!”
When Conrad’s head turned back around, however, there was a sadistic smile on his face, “Trying to take once again what doesn’t belong to you, Krescech? Halle has made her choice. Are you going to slink back to the cave you’ve been hiding in, or am I going to have the pleasure of watching security remove you?”
“We all know you never gave Halle or her father a choice, but she has one now.” Viktor extended his hand towards her. “Do you trust me, Halle?”
Almost all of the other people who had been minding their own business in the foyer were now watching the drama unfold. Could it really be this easy? Can I just take Viktor’s hand? Will Conrad let it happen? Surely with this many witnesses, he wouldn’t cause a scene?
Halle quickly found out as Conrad’s sharp nails dug painfully into her arm when she tried to take a step towards her mate.
“I don’t think so, kitten,” he sneered in a low voice, next to her ear.
****
When Dori popped into the foyer of the Council Building, she was careful not to be seen as she stuck her head around the corner from the washrooms. This was the big showdown moment for Halle and Viktor, and they needed to prove the fates that they deserved their Happy Ever After—which meant they had to do the rest on their own, without her magical intervention. The first rule of thumb for Fairy Godmothers—even ones with her badass powers, was that you can set the fated couple on the path to their happy ending, but you can’t just hand it over to them. Happiness had to be won with courage, strength of character, and more often than not, a sacrifice of some kind. Dori knew that both Halle and Viktor were worthy of their future together. They were both prepared to sacrifice all for the ones that they loved, but would Halle find the courage to fight for it as well?