Claimed By The Mistborne Alpha-Chapter 58: Play

I shoved Darek as hard as I could, my eyes bulging out of their sockets, my breath coming out in furious pants.

"What did you do? You can teleport now?" I screamed in half fury and half disbelief. "You kidnapped me...again! You..you think you can do anything like I’m just some thing you own?"

He didn’t even flinch as I spat the words on his face. Of course, he wouldn’t. He just stood there with his jaw set, breathing controlled, and looking like he was out here taking a stroll in the woods and chanced upon me by accident. The fresh night air clung to both of us, and if it wasn’t for that particular situation, I would have even enjoyed it.

"Maeve, listen–"

"No! I don’t want to listen to anything you say. I don’t want to look at you, I don’t even want to breathe the same air as you."

"Just stop yelling before they find us and come to take you back again," he snapped, his teeth clenching and his last shred of patience draining from his body.

"Oh really? You’re worried about my safety now?"

"I’m worried about the both of us. I don’t want them corrupting you again back there underground."

"You do realise it’s you who’s corrupting me, right?"

Darek rolled his eyes as he let out an audible exhale. "Okay, that’s it. We need to get to the White Hall first. Kinley will be there."

I stopped in my tracks. Kinley.

According to Avelora, Kinley was supposed to be their most successful and trusted inside man. Darek...he couldn’t know. He probably didn’t know that with the way he trusted Kinley and called for him every time.

My face smoothed instantly, my anger draining away.

There was still a chance.

I was tired of escaping Darek but if I played it right, I could still be a part of the Rebellion as long as I got back to Kinley again. There was still a chance I could return to Valden and the others.

He could save me.

"Kinley?" I asked carefully, making sure to keep the eagerness out of my voice. "Why should we meet him?"

"Because we just got mated under questionable circumstances. So both of us need to get tested, and we need him to assess the bond. And also because we need him to help figure out our plans going forward."

I let a beat pass, pretending to think about it before sighing in defeat.

"Fine. Let’s go."

Darek stared at me, suspicion flickering in his eyes as it raked up and down my face. "Just like that?"

"Just like that," I said meeting his gaze calmly. "You want to talk to Kinley? Let’s go do that. I need to know how bad my situation is, being mated to you right now. And if there is a way to get rid of this bond between us, rest assured I’ll find it, Darek."

He wasn’t convinced. I could tell. The way that his shoulders stiffened and his eyes lingered on my face for a little too long...he knew I was plotting something. But he finally shook his head and gestured for me to follow.

We didn’t change back into our wolves this time as we made our way out into the lights again. But Darek moved like he knew every path and every root and crevice of the woods. If I had ever lost sight of him I was sure I would get lost in no time.

By the time the pale spires of the White Hall building appeared, the moon still hung above it like a glowing emerald stone.

And Kinley was right there, waiting outside the doors like he expected us. His coat was rumpled, his glasses looked slightly crooked, and his thick and greying brown hair looked like it had been in a state of disarray for quite some time.

When his eyes finally landed on us, they widened in relief.

"You got out," he breathed. "Thank God, both of you’re alive."

"Can’t believe you doubted it, Kinley," Darek muttered as he brushed past him.

"Yes, well you never know," Kinley’s gaze darted to me nervously. "Anyway, we’ve already made all the arrangements you had asked for through your guards. I’ll need Maeve to come with me."

Darek pursed his lips like he wasn’t sure he should let me out of his sight so easily after going to all that trouble. But then he seemed to think better of it and walked back into a separate lab after giving a nod of appraisal to Kinley and shooting a ’don’t try anything’ glare at me.

Kinley gestured to me to follow him and I did so, walking through the familiar path of the White Hall where I once walked as a measly Omega.

The moment we entered the lab, he turned around and grabbed my wrists, his eyes wild and skin pale.

"Holy hell, Maeve, what happened? He’s not supposed to be here."

"He somehow got me here, I’m not sure how. He also manipulated me into completing the mate bond which means I’m mated to him now under the Green Moon. You need to tell Avelora. Now."

Kinley clenched his eyes shut, rubbing his temple with the tips of his fingers as he realised everything was falling through the cracks.

"Alright, for now, you’ll have to play along and just pretend to be on his side. He trusts you. Just use that to your advantage. I’ll try to contact Avelora as soon as possible and make arrangements. Just don’t let Darek suspect that I’m part of Rebellion. Ever."

I swallowed hard. The idea of pretending to side with Darek made bile rise up my throat. But Kinley was right. If Darek wanted to use me, I’d just have to use him first. That was the only way I could see Valden again. The only way I could bring him down.

"He’s unpredictable, Maeve. If he suspects me then..."

He didn’t have to finish the sentence. I knew what would happen.

But I was going to play this right this time.