The feeling of something limiting the flow of blood to my hands woke me from my slumber. I inhaled sharply and quickly attempted to stand up to assess my surroundings, only to be held firmly in place by some sort of restraint system. My hands were bound in front of me. The leather around my wrists was affixed firmly with a chain to an anchor set into the stone flooring. I was in a chair, so the downward pressure of the restraints on my hands made them painfully numb. My legs were also affixed with chains that were bolted to the floor. I guess whoever these people are thought I had some sort of super-strength. At this point in my life, I was no longer the malnourished, ninety-five-pound, five-foot-tall child I had been before, but I also was not some kind of freaking bodybuilder either. Currently, I weigh around one-hundred and twenty-five pounds and stand at five feet two inches tall. I am not about to snatch chain restraints apart. I blinked a few times and relaxed my arms to regain circulation in my hands.

The room that I was being held in was huge. The stone floors were a shiny brown, with swirls of green, and they had glistening flecks of red throughout them. The light-colored walls must have been twelve feet tall and, thanks to the bright white vaulted ceilings, seemed taller. I searched every corner and crevasse I could find with my eyes for any sort of weapon or any means to escape. I found nothing of use in this room. I bent down and attempted to use my teeth to loosen one of the restraints on my hands. My attempt at escaping began to seem useless when I discovered that even the leather around my wrists was reinforced with a metal core. Who do these people think I am, and where did the golden eye guy go?

"HEY! HEY GOLDY! YOU GOT THE WRONG GIRL!" I shouted to gain the attention of my captor, but no one responded.

After a while, I decided that it would be best to conserve my energy so I would be ready for any possibility rather than continue to struggle against these impossible restraints. I closed my eyes and feigned sleep while I rested my body. Later I heard footsteps approaching from in front of me but slightly to my left. When I opened my eyes, I saw no one, but the sound of footsteps was getting louder still. Finally, I heard a large door creaking open and closing heavily again. I looked towards the sound and waited.

A small elderly-looking man with thinning gray hair appeared, and he was followed by a very fit-looking woman with long blonde hair who was probably two inches taller than me. I immediately recognized her from the coffee shop that I had gone to this morning. The golden-eyed kidnapper from earlier came in quietly behind them. Goldy was tall, muscular but slender, and had fiery dark-auburn curly locks of hair framing his face. I made eye contact with him and did not break it.

"Why did you kidnap me? Gustav wants me dead; he will not pay you any ransom for this," my statement came out so calmly and matter-of-fact that I slightly shocked myself.

He did not shift his gaze from mine, nor did he speak. I got the impression that this man was trying to intimidate me. The older man cleared his throat, breaking the silence in the room before he spoke.

The old man's voice was a gentle and calming tone, "Alpha, perhaps we should let our guest in on why she's here and chained up? She seems confused, and despite her outward appearance of aggression, I sense an emotional fear that is quite strong. Why don't we try to calm her worries a bit? Hmm?"

That made my head snap to look incredulously at the older man who had just left me a bit bewildered.

"You can read emotions? That is quite the gift," I addressed him about what he said before anyone else could speak, but I directed the conversation toward him and away from myself.

"Yes," was the only answer he provided as his posture changed abruptly.

He visibly stiffened as if he had been chastised. His eyes were on Goldy, but his head was bowed in what seemed to be a submissive posture. He did not say anything further. Goldy circled me at a safe distance and chuckled a bit before stopping in front of me. His eyes danced as if he were inspecting a prize he had just won. He smiled at me, and I felt something stir inside myself. My mind began to relax, and my body felt warmth for the first time all day. Goldy took a deep breath through his nose and then turned abruptly and left the room, followed by the older man. The blonde woman stayed.

"You're lucky, you know," it was a statement, not a question when the blond-haired female spoke. "Challenging an Alpha is incredibly dangerous, especially Lorién."

When she said his name chills covered my skin. Lorién was almost like a legend in vampire courts. They called him "The Lost King" in all their stories. The stories came along with the description of a bloodthirsty murderer, terrifying warrior, Lycan-born terror, or anything else that would make him sound like a ghoul to a vampire. It was said that The Lost King Lorién once reigned terror upon the vampire courts on the southwest part of the island. Supposedly he even went so far as to eliminate every person in Saffir's court including the slaves. The stories said he was insane and lived in the forest alone murdering anyone who dared to cross his path.

"Lorién!?" I gasped.

Eliza had taught me that staring directly into the eyes of someone you believed that you could overpower was a way to get them to back down. She also taught me to never do that to a wolf because there was no way that I could overpower a wolf as a human. Getting this man to back down was exactly my play when staring into his fire-flecked gaze. I am not bigger or stronger, but I have overpowered men bigger than him with only my agility and quick thinking. I did not realize that the person I had been staring at was a wolf, let alone The Lost King Lorién. I thought he was just a legend, and this man did not have a wolf mark like all the other wolves I have met.

The blonde-haired female laughed a little and said, "Yes, that is my brother's name. I have never seen anyone other than vampires react with such fear at hearing it, though."

"I am not a... a whatever you people think I am. I do not have any markings or powers. I am not even strong or anything like that," I insisted to her as I remembered Lorién's words at the docks.

"Markings? Neither do I or most of the wolves here either. Many blessed creatures are born with pure skin whether they are a part of the Wolves, the Fae, or the Arhaten. Only a few of our bloodlines were cursed with such markings as those in the courts were," she said that last sentence with such disdain that I blinked.

The female pulled her sleeves up to show her forearms to me. She had ignored the rest of my statement. She did not have any markings on her milky skin aside from a scar that ran the length of her left forearm from elbow to wrist. I was confused as this information went against everything that I had learned about blessed creatures and how to identify them from humans. The blonde woman appeared observant of my reaction to this information and tilted her head slightly.

"If you don't believe me, I can show you," she said, as she started to unbutton her top and remove it.

I blinked a few times at her, but before I could respond, she was nude. The sounds of bones cracking and shifting in her skin echoed throughout the room, but her transformation into a huge, brilliantly striking, white wolf happened so quickly that I almost did not see it at all. The wolf walked up to me and put her head in my still bound hands. I petted her as much as the restraints allowed. She really was a wolf.

After she seemed satisfied that I believed her, she backed up a few paces. Her fur shimmered in the light for only a moment before a smooth transition overtook her, and it disappeared into her soft pale skin. Once she was back in human form and dressed, she took out a key from her shirt pocket and released the restraints from my hands.

"Lorién wants you to know that we mean you no harm. The restraints are for your own safety. These restraints are usually used for wolves that we find on the verge of starvation. We only use them to keep the wolves from shifting and going feral. Taking prisoners is not typically our style, and it should be made clear: you are not a prisoner," she spoke in a tone so beautiful and clear that I could not do anything but give her my undivided attention, but when she met my eyes, I tilted my head slightly in a silent question.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"You are being held for your own protection," she reiterated.

The blonde smiled, and the soft features of her face lit up, revealing her as a timeless beauty, "My name is Lisana.”

"I am Kasia Elise. Though, I assume you know that already seeing as you have been stalking me, Lisana," I returned the introduction out of general politeness but did not waste time addressing the elephant in the room.

"What exactly makes you think I'm a Fae or any kind of blessed creature at all?" I skeptically asked her.

"You are of a High bloodline. I do not think it, I know it," Lisana responded, and I could only gape at her like she must be mad.

"High Fae are nearly undetectable to an untrained eye, similar to how Alpha Wolves do not have the wolf mark or any other identifying traits. No one would even realize it, especially if even you did not know about what you are. It is like how other wolves could mistake me for a human if I had not shifted yet. Only a handful of wolves would be able to smell it. The scent is not noticeable to anyone without alpha bloodlines in their lineage. It is the same for high blood in Fae. Only an Alpha Wolf, an Arhaten, or a High Fae could have identified you. Once you had shifted, though, others would have known," Lisana explained further, trying to make her answer into something I could understand.

"You think I'm a... a High Fae?" I laughed out almost too loudly at the thought, “Maybe I am high but certainly not Fae. This has to be some kind of joke, right?”

Lisana's voice cut through my laughter like the sharp blade of a knife slicing through soft butter, "I know you are."

She looked at me with an expression filled with so much pain that my stomach turned, and then her voice slightly faltered, "I... I knew your older brother. We were mates. Kasia Elise Lofanti is your full name if you didn't know."

A tear rolled down her cheek as she breathed a soft, "Excuse me," and quickly exited the room.

I was left in more disbelief than previously, and the only answers were the salty smells of the tears that trailed behind her. Her tears smelled like lies to me but I don't think the Fae part was what she lied about. Wait, why do I know what a lie smells like? Could today get any weirder? Sitting alone now, quite dumbfounded by the information I had just been told, I began to try and remember my past. I was the only Kasia Elise on the island, but I was registered as a human with no surviving family, not a Fae. I know because I looked into it once when I was trying to make a plan to escape Gustav's court. There were no members of any Fae bloodlines registered on our island, in fact. There were only wolf, human, and vampire records available for search when I checked. According to our taught history, there had not been living Fae in hundreds of years. They did not exist anymore. All that I could remember of my past was my time in Gustav's court. I never knew my biological family.

I shook my head and growled, trying to process the information. Lisana told me that I have a brother. A real, blood, family member. Why did she start crying, though?

~~~~~~~~~~

"Kasia," hearing my name sounded like heaven coming from the lips of whoever had just spoken.

"Kasia wake up," they demanded in a tone that made me want to hang on to their every word.

I opened my eyes only to find Lorién's golden gaze staring down at me. He was in white sweatpants and shirtless. I blinked, and then my eyes trailed up his body, lingering a little too long on those sweatpants, before moving up to his face. I was unsure whether I had been dreaming or if he was actually speaking to me just now. When did I fall asleep again, anyway?

"Good, there you are," his voice was smooth and gentle, yet it was also deep, and there was a commanding undertone to it.

He sounded different from the whisper-yelling earlier, "I apologize for my sister abruptly leaving you with such heavy information. I would not have left her to speak with you had I known... about your lineage."

"It's okay," I yawned involuntarily, "I am fairly used to getting heavy information thrown my way. Just skeptical to believe it. Just like I don't believe you didn't know exactly who I was when you kidnapped me. Or who you think I am anyway."

I paused for a moment, remembering being informed of my impending death less than a full day ago, and I looked at his expression to identify any changes, "Did your sister drug me at the coffee shop? I know you wolves have been stalking me. What I dont know is: why?"

"You are tired because you're slightly malnourished, and your pending shift is pulling what strength you had managed to gather away from you in preparation. You need to eat something to help keep up with the demand. Most of the Fae spend months in preparation for this. What is your favorite food?" His expression only softened but he clearly avoided my question.

I paused for a moment feeling unsure of myself. I had never been asked what kind of food I liked before, but I knew the answer. The rest of what he said I ignored. This Fae nonsense is getting old, fast.

"Um, I like Mediterranean quinoa salad with steak. A side of honesty would be nice too oh and how about a handcuff key with that?" I sounded aggravated and skeptical as I answered him.

I would also like that with a side of you, I did not say aloud, as my lustful gaze swept hungrily over the beautiful creature before me. I had never really been interested in sex, relationships, or even friendships. Despite that, something deep in my core stirred when I looked at Lorien standing before me in all his half-dressed glory. There were swirling black tattoos across his shoulders with an intricate pattern of mountains and trees woven throughout them. I studied them before moving lower, his skin seeming to give off a golden glow that matched his eyes. His chest and abs were sculpted to rippling perfection. I noticed a few more hints of swirling black ink peeking over the edge of his sweatpants. I imagined tracing my fingers along those intricate swirls moving lower and lower before his voice pulled me back to reality.

"The chef would like to know if you want Italian dressing or olive oil?" Lorién said as he opened his eyes.

A playful smile curled the corners of his lips when he observed me become startled and snap my eyes quickly up to meet his. A blush heated my cheeks. What are you doing Kasia? This guy kidnapped you and is avoiding answering anything regarding why. Get it together, girl.

I swear I heard him almost purr at me as he surveyed my expression and waited for a response. I was taken aback, for a moment, at how he had known what the chef wanted to ask me. Then a memory of Eliza talking to her brother and others from her pack on mind-link flashed in my mind.

"Oh, either is fine but Italian sounds perfect," I answered quickly, trying to avoid looking directly at him.

"Ten minutes," Lorién told me.

"Thank you," I responded quietly.

"Lisana told you that you have a brother," Lorién asked, although he already knew the answer, "She didn't tell you everything, though?"

"She said they were mates, but then she ran out crying. You havent answered my question," I answered as I again met his golden gaze with the most defiant look I could muster.

"His name is Malakar, and you saw him earlier today in the shipyard. He tossed that young wolf into the sea. I am worried that he caught your scent while you were there. He is dangerous in his current state, and he will likely not recognize you as family. Please, Kasia, do not seek contact with him," Lorién's voice sounded demanding despite the implied plea.

He continued, "He killed your father in front of Lisana the same day she found out they were mated. He rejected her immediately afterward, but she refused to accept it. She is in agony every moment of her life because of him, but she has learned to control the pain if no one brings him up. Today was extremely hard on her."

"This is a lot... What made my brother turn on our father? You are giving me more questions than answers," I felt my head begin spinning with the flood of thoughts and questions that all of this new information brought me.

Then the heavy door opened, and a silver dining cart was pushed into the room. The person delivering the food stayed in the doorway, bowed, shut the door, and left. Lorién ignored my question and went to retrieve the cart. He pushed it over in front of me so that I could use it as a table. He lifted the cover off the food, and the vibrant smell of my warm salad filled the room. I instantly forgot my one million questions, and I was suddenly salivating at the aroma. Lorién handed me a fork and napkin. I dug into the food like I had not eaten in a week. I was almost embarrassed at my vigor in eating, but I was too hungry to care. The steak was a perfect medium-rare, and the dressed quinoa was warm and fluffy against the cool, crunchy cucumbers and acidic tomatoes.

When I had finished my entire plate, I finally remembered that I had an audience and dared a glance up at him. I found Lorién's golden gaze seemingly full of... was that admiration? This guy is weird compared to what I had expected of The Lost King. He is calm, cool, and calculated, but he is also, at the least, pretending to be kind. I wonder if the kindness was genuine and if any of the people telling his legend had ever actually met him. Then again, it was primarily vampires who spoke of him. Maybe they saw a different and more vicious Lorién. Absolutely nothing about him currently said bloodthirsty, though. I cleared my throat, and he offered me the iced coffee I had not noticed on the tray.

"I smelled chocolate, coffee, cream, and raspberries on you earlier while bringing you here. I asked the chef to make you a cold drink using those," he explained.

"Thank you," I took a sip of the most divine iced coffee I had ever tasted and smiled, "it's heavenly. It's not poisoned is it? Are you going to answer me about why your sister drugged me? You avoided it earlier so now I'm sure that she did. I would like an explination, now."

Lorien growled and gnashed his teeth before stomping towards the exit while pushing the dining cart. He slung open the door and nearly flung the cart into the hallway. I winced. Clearly, I had pushed some buttons, but I wasn't quite sure how. Maybe my persistence in getting an answer to my question was annoying him. Either way, I didn't really care. It's not like I have anything to lose. Some sexy man and his macho attitude aren't about to intimidate me.

When Lorien came back in from the hall he slammed the huge door behind him. I did not flench. I met his stare and did not back down. He moved closer until we were nose to nose. His eyes held a challenge in them that I wasn't sure I would win. I didn't dare back down now though. After a few moments of staring at each other, the anger behind his gaze softened and he let out a long slow breath. I held mine. Lorien took a step back and sat down on the floor in front of me.

“Yes, she drugged you. Why? I dont know. Why does Lisana do anything? But whatever she was trying to do didnt work because you made it to that bus and I had to come save your ass from getting tossed into the sea... or worse captured by your traitor brother. By the way, I don't know why he killed your dad. So you don't have to repeat that question too,” he blurted out and placed his head into the palm of his left hand before letting out a huff.

“Oh,” I said.

“Oh? You challenge an Alpha King who no one has dared to challenge in over a decade and when I allow you to win all you can say is oh?” he laughed and looked up at me with a strange admiration in his eyes.

“You are definitely High Fae, Kasia. I have no doubt of that,” he said before pulling a key from his pocket and releasing me from the restraints.