Fuchsia heard the stomping of feet as the guards moved up the stairs. "You can't hold us as prisoners!" Fear skittered down her eyes as she shot a glance at Olivia.
A deep rumbling sound came from Kaizan which caused icy needles of fear on her skin. He looked like he was still grappling with the drug. She had bought a lot of it. She knew that being a werewolf he needed a dose more than a human would need. So, she added a little more so that a werewolf like Kaizan could be drugged for a longer time. However, even though he was still under its effect, he looked ominous.
"I can hold anyone as my prisoner," he snarled. "And I am going to throw you in my dungeons where I have torture tables."
Fuchsia's heart might have stopped. "No, no!" she said, frozen to the ground. She stared at Kaizan as another low snarl vibrated from him, his lips peeled back, revealing his fangs that were sharper than a blade. Terror shivered through her and hair on her nape rose. "You can't do that to us." The guards had come to stand in front of the room. When awareness hit her about the magnitude of the mistake they had made, Fuchsia went all begging. "I didn't know that this small family situation would be termed a revolt. You cannot hold us against our wills. People at the Whiteclaw pack," she glanced at Olivia, "your parents and others in the family, the councilmen and other nobles—they are all looking forward to our return. What will you tell them about us?" Her frenzied gaze darted between Olivia and Kaizan. "I will go back and give positive reviews about you. If you are going to imprison us, they will surely think that you have jeopardized the peace treaty. They are going to come back to you, General Kaizan!"
"Fuck off!" Kaizan snarled again. "I don't care for it at the moment. And you both can go to hell! You drugged me and I won't take it easy!" He looked at the guards. "Seize them!"
Bernice let out a loud wail. "No, please leave us." She covered her breasts, all bloodied and bruised. She never expected that Olivia would hit her. That girl had never spoken a word against her back in the Whiteclaw pack. She was always the tame one. "We accept that this was a mistake, mostly because we didn't know that Olivia is your mate."
"Mate?" Fuchsia said with wide eyes. "What do you mean mate?" For god's sake. She pressed her hands to her mouth. "Those are very rare in the Lore. You must be jesting!"
Bernice shook her head as she tried to wipe tears from her eyes, and hissing at the pain on her skin caused by abrasion. "They are mates. I saw the mark."
Fuchsia's head reeled. This was not what she had expected. "Then why the hell didn't you tell me first!" she said to Olivia in an exasperated voice. "I would have taken Bernice away from here! She is smitten by Kaizan to the extent that she came up with this idea of drugging him."
Shocked at how her mother revealed the plot, her eyes widened. "Mother, what are you saying? I didn't give that idea." She looked at Olivia who was staring at them without blinking her eyes. "It was your idea, Mother, not mine. You wanted me to drug him because you wanted me to marry in this household."
"Bernice!" Fuchsia shouted and shoved her out of her lap. "How can you frame me into your schemes when all I did was to act according to what you wanted? You were the one who took this nightgown from the assistant of the seamstress, not me. You wanted to try them out and lure Kaizan!"
"That is preposterous mother!" Bernice yelled back at her mother. "The seamstress gave you the nightgowns and you were the one who went to the market to buy drug for Kaizan."
Fuchsia was so surprised and stunned at her daughter's blame that for a moment she lost all comprehension. Her mind became numb. "Bernie, how can you blame your mother? You forced me to go and buy drugs despite me saying that this is incorrect."
"Oh my god!" Bernice said, shaking her head. She looked at Olivia and played the victim card. "I don't want to argue anymore, cousin. I accept all the blame. You can throw me in the dungeon, but—," she knelt before them and clasped her hands to plead, "but, please let my mother go. She is, after all, your aunt, your mother's sister. You can torture me all you want, but my mother is too old. Think of all the times she stood up for you. Please sister, leave her. You can kill me if you want." Her tears ran down in streams as she looked at Olivia with puppy eyes. "Please…" Her shoulders shook with sobs.
"Take them down to the dungeons!" Kaizan barked the order to the guards. "And take this girl to the torture table!"
"Noooo!" Fuchsia screamed when the guards came.
"Stop!" Olivia said when the guards came inside the room.
Fuchsia and Bernice thought that Olivia had softened. The two had put on a great act while mind-linking with each other. They had shut out Olivia completely. Moreover, Olivia's mind link to them was weakening every day. Bernice maintained her puppy looks as she gazed at Olivia.
Kaizan snapped his head in Olivia's direction, his chest rumbling in a protest but he stayed quiet.
"Wait," Olivia stopped the guards from coming in. Her gaze went to her cousin and her aunt. "Who gave you the nightgown?" she asked Bernice.
"Neli's assistant," Bernice blurted. Olivia narrowed her eyes. And Bernice realized that she had made a big mistake. She had thrown the blame over to her mother that she had received the nightgown, but now under Olivia's stern gaze, without thinking she blurted the truth.
Olivia took a step closer to Bernice and tilted her head. Bernice's face blanched with fear. Olivia leaned over her. "You lying harlot!" she growled as she held the bowstring of the gown on Bernice. "You are the main culprit!" Bernice shook her head, but Olivia was in a frenzy. She held the gown and tore it with both her hands, exposing her breasts and stomach and panties. Bernice shrieked with embarrassment. Fuchsia watched her daughter's pride and honor and reputation sundering like the gown that Olivia sliced.
Kaizan caught Olivia and pulled her against his chest. The fury inside her had charged the air to palpable tension. Even the guards watched the rage of the lady of the house and flinched. "Shhh…" he whispered. She had done enough damage to Bernice's reputation.
But Olivia wasn't done. She looked at the two hussies in front of her who were numb. "If you don't want to go to the prison, then vow to the Lore that you will never come back to Silver Vales!"
Fuchsia and Bernice stared at her, too deadened. Olivia shot daggers at them with her glare as she raised an eyebrow.. "Vow to the Lore!" she raised her voice. "NOW!"