"You will tell me what I want to know." Sweat dots Royce's bushy brow, and his eyes are wild. "The Council has approved my request to keep you until trial, and I can drag this out as long as I want."

"I'll kill you before it ever makes it that far," I snarl, snapping my teeth just to watch him stumble and shake. "These chains won't hold me forever."

He pats his sweaty forehead with his handkerchief. "Jasper," he barks, tossing the disgusting napkin toward my face. "You have until midnight to get me the answers I want."

I lung again, knowing I can't reach the pathetic man but enjoying his fright anyway.

"Yes, sir," Jasper says, stepping into the light. "I'll need to resort to harsher tactics since the timeline has been cut short."

"Whatever it takes," Royce commands before marching to the door. "But if I don't have my answers today, the Prince of Kingdom Cullen will be killed in a prison riot."

Jasper holds my gaze for a long five seconds before following his boss out of the dungeon. I deflate, eager to be dropped to the floor, but that doesn't happen. My arms are numb, my neck is wobbly and weak, and my legs can barely hold my weight.

I'm fading fast.

And for the first time since my capture, I wonder if I'll ever see my mate again.

Her swollen belly.

My cubs' birth.

Their childhood.

Greif swells inside me, and the floodgates open. I can't hold my emotions back anymore and I don't want to. Bella needs to know that I'm alive but afraid, that I love her more than myself, and our cubs are the highest priority.

She's strong.

And brave.

Caring.

She'll raise compassionate, smart, and sturdy cubs who'll one day rule my kingdom. She'll use my death as a driving force to fight and make this planet a better place for all the species that inhabit it.

And she will seek revenge.

The explosion of emotion that bursts from me is powerful and scary and I almost wish I could suck it all back in. But I can't, and I don't want to. Not really. I feel the exact moment it slams into her, and she drops the book she was reading to our cubs.

Dancing and weaving, the bond surrounds her in love and agony, lust and desperation, pain and ecstasy. She's overwhelmed and thirsty, inhaling everything I throw her way and demanding I give her more.

Her love charges through the bond, and when it reaches me, my entire body lifts. The chains still holding me tethered no longer cause me pain because her love levitates me.

Tears roll down my cheeks.

Emotion squeezes me in its tight embrace.

I'm delirious.

Overflowing.

Replenished.

I should've never kept her away.

She is my savior.

And my will to fight is reborn.

Jasper walks in then, and he rushes toward me. "One final act, Prince," he murmurs, cranking the gear to lower the chains. "Royce lied earlier. The Council has decreed your safe return to your kingdom, but Royce has ordered your death for tonight. His only consideration now is whether he'll push for an attack on your kingdom after they learn of your demise. If Rose is still there, I fear he will call for war."

I can feel Bella pushing for answers, but I don't have them to give, so I send patience through the bond. "And you intend to allow this?"

"I have no control over him," he snarls, delivering a kick. "Get up and answer me!"

"Never," I roar.

Jasper lowers down so he's near my face. "We need to appease him, send him on a wild goose chase, so I can get you out of this city tonight. It doesn't have to be true, it just needs to sound true." He swipes at my face, leaving three scratches behind.

I crawl to my feet, staring him in the eye, making a point to look weaker than I feel. Perform for the camera. "Make me an offer I can't refuse," I roar. "Give me a guarantee that the despicable humans will never come near me or my family again."

Jasper knees me in the gut. "Tell me where she is!"

"I'll do it," I finally say, gasping for breath. "Release me, and I'll tell you where to find Rose Hale."

"Tell me first," he counters, snapping for the guard to come closer with a plate of hot food. "A goodwill offering."

I'm ravenous.

But not enough to be truly swayed. "We've hidden her in the oasis camp between Kingdom Cullen and Kingdom Denali."

Jasper runs the piping hot plate of food under my nose. "How do I know you aren't lying?"

"He'd better not be." Royce strolls in the door. "If this information turns out to be true, we'll honor our word and release you." Jasper gives an imperceptible shake of his head. "But if you're lying, I will wipe out your entire race, save a few loyal members." He claps Jasper on the shoulder. "Good job, soldier."

Too eager to go after Rose, Royce happily leaves the room. Jasper steps forward and releases the shackles. Unlike last time, I've been rejuvenated by my mate's strength.

I won't return to the chains.

"Eat this, you'll need your strength," Jasper says, pushing the food forward. "How long will it take him to learn of the lie?"

"Hours," I say, accepting the metal plate. "What's the plan?"

"Be ready to leave as soon as darkness falls," he says, leaving me free for the first time.

I almost decide to escape on my own, but that would cost numerous lives and create an existential crisis for my kingdom.

So I eat.

And pace.

Count the minutes.

I don't want Bella to do anything rash, so I continue pushing love, patience, and calm assurance through our bond.

If I'm lucky, she'll be in my arms by sunrise.

See you in another 2 weeks :(

Sorry!