Page 39 of Alpha Queen
"I promise you, we will find her. No matter what it takes. I will bring her back to us."
Cherry nodded, blinking back tears. "Tell me everything you know. I want to help."
Apollo hesitated. "Cherry, I'm not sure that's a good idea. It could be dangerous-"
"Don't you dare try to sideline me," Cherry growled, her eyes flashing. "I may not be a Lycan, but I'm not helpless. I want in on this. All of it."
Apollo studied her for a long moment. He thought of all Cherry had done over the years to protect River, to keep her safe in a world that would have used and abused her. If anyone deserved to be part of this fight, it was her. He wondered how much more formidable she would be if he made her a hybrid. But as soon as he thought it, he dismissed the idea. She was hard enough to handle as a shifter. Gods help them all if she became a hybrid.
He nodded. "Alright."
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
RIVER
River had slowly chewed two small pieces of meat and mushed the rest of the food around her plate to make it at least look like she'd eaten. She'd managed two dry rolls and a large glass of cola, but that was it. She hoped it was enough to keep Titan's suspicions at bay for the moment.
"So, what now?" she asked. "Are we going to watch a movie together, continuing this charade, or what?"
Titan's eyes flashed, and he slammed his fist on the table. "Can't you just try?"
She narrowed her eyes. "No."
"Why? You tried with them."
"They didn't kidnap me."
"Ares all but kidnapped you. He hunted you down and found you at your exhibit and forced you to go with him to his hotel."
"Where I was free to leave whenever I wanted." With a bodyguard, of course, but she didn't mention that part. "You can't be comparing what happened with Ares and me with what happened with you."
Titan shook his head. "I don't understand. You are bonded to me."
"No, I rejected you."
His eyes narrowed and then widened. "But I haven't rejected you."
The words hung in the air between them. A cold chill shivered down River's body. That was it. She'd rejected him, but he hadn't rejected her. It was why he was still determined to have her, but she had little to no feelings for him at all.
The wheels turned in his head. Wheels trying to figure out how to undo what River had done. Wheels trying to decide if he bit her again, if it would change anything. Wheels that churned over the idea of how a fated mate could do what she did with no repercussions. Wheels she did not want churning at all.
River scraped her chair back and stood. "I'm tired. I'd like to go back to my cell now."
Titan growled. "The sun just went down."
"Yes, but-" River stopped. Out of the large picture window, blues, purples, and greens danced across the sky. She blinked, trying to process what she was seeing. Blues, purples, and greens? And they weren't static, they were… moving.
She took a step toward the window. "Are those… the Northern Lights?"
Titan glanced at them and back at her distractedly. "Yes, you can see them sometimes when the night is clear. River, I wish you would stop calling your apartment a cell. I-"
"I had no clue you could see the Northern Lights here."
Titan waved his hands and growled again. "It's not common, but it's been known to happen every once in a while, in Montreal."
River's gaze snapped to Titan. Montreal?
His eyes widened and then turned black. His nails lengthened as did his fangs. Quick as a blink, he was in front of her.
