Chapter 622: LEVERAGE

His Xaden’s jaw clicked and she found herself being more terrified than ever

“You hurt the woman I vowed to protect,” he said, voice dropping to something terrifyingly quiet. “You touched her. Beat her. Tormented her. You killed my own child. And you dared to laugh about it.

Lisa stepped back instinctively.

“Alpha, I… I can explain—”

“Explain?” Xaden repeated, raising a brow.

He looked almost amused.

Almost.

And then he did the scariest thing.

He laughed.

Laughed so hard she became worried.

No one said a word.

By the time he was done laughing, he looked at her with cold hard eyes.

He leaned slightly, as if observing a fascinating insect.

“Explain how you orchestrated my child death?”

Lisa’s breath shattered.

“I-I didn’t. I swear. I didn’t mean those things I-

“Explain how you set up Jasmine again and again?”

Lisa’s palms began to sweat.

“Alpha, I-

“Explain how you thought you were untouchable.”

That stopped her heart entirely.

Her breath stuttered.

Xaden’s voice had no heat, only a deadly certainty.

“You’re not.”

Lisa opened her mouth

but nothing came out.

No excuses.

No lies.

No charm.

She didn’t have anything to use or say again.

She was alone.

It terrified and baffled her how she had worked so hard for everything and yet it had all come crashing down by the slip of a tongue.

She wanted to take her life this very instant.

Her mind raced in circles, collapsing.

She tried again. “My Alpha, please-

“Guards.”

The word cut through the hall like a blade.

She couldn’t believe it.

She had played every card in the game!

She had manipulated everyone to the point she had become indispensable.

And now she had spoken without thinking.

She had been too excited about her victory she had exposed herself.

Two omegas appeared instantly, stepping from behind pillars she hadn’t even noticed. Their shadows swallowed her.

“No…. wait please•

Lisa jerked backward. “Xaden, listen to me-“

“Don’t you DARE call me by my name!” He warned sternly his finger pointed at her in warning. “You have no right.”

She swallowed.

“Take her,” Xaden said, not even looking at her. “Restrain her. She will be interrogated immediately.”

“No!” Lisa screamed as hands clamped around her arms.

He paused and his eyes went dark. “In fact, you will take her to the cell Jasmine lost my child. Let her feel the ghost of my child before she heads to the caves of chaos.”

She twisted, kicking, thrashing. “You can’t do this! I helped you! I saved this pack! I-

“You destroyed it,” Xaden said and then gave a wry smile. “Almost. But you would never succeed.”

He seemed to hover for a split second as if unsure of what to say until he breathed. “You see, I never had a heart to begin with. But I’m now a man who has lost everything. I’m the worst kind to make an enemy.”

His voice finally shifted… just slightly.

Not with anger.

With hate.

And that broke her.

The man she had dreamed one day would make her his Luna.

The one she had seen herself beside his throne one day.

“Mercy,” Lisa whispered, desperate, shaking. “Please… please, Alpha, don’t do this. I can give you information. I know everything. I know about Jasmine. About the jewels. About you. About-

Xaden’s eyes flicked to her.

Dangerously.

“You’ve said nothing new.” Xaden said and then he turned to the guards. “Take her away.”

Lisa froze.

She began to panic.

Her mind racing in frantic.

What could she do?

What could she say?

He already knew about everything.

Aurora, Anna, Jasmine, Uther.

Who?!

Who could she expose that would save her skin.

Her mind started to race as they approached to her.

She stepped back and bumped into Fiona who pushed her back to the path of the guards.

And then it hit her!

The very moment the guards grabbed her, she screamed. “I KNOW ABOUT PRINCESS CHERRY!”

Xaden froze.

The aura became tensed.

She knew that she had caught his attention.

He turned back to her and glared his eyes spitting fire.

“What?” He asked.

She was breathing heavily now.

“Yes. Princess Cherry is involved. I can tell you everything.” She managed through the grasp of the guards.

He marched up to her and caught her face in his hands.

“Tell me now!” He hissed.

She knew she had caught him hook like and sinker.

“I’ll only tell you if you promise to let me live.” She said.

He squeezed her cheek, his claws digging inside so hard she bled.

“I’ll rip the skin off of your Face if you don’t speak.” He promised.

Already bloodied and in pain, she managed to say. “Well if you do, you’ll never know the truth? Especially considering she is the reason your parents are dead.”

“You’re lying.” Xaden said with rage.

Fiona gently touched Xaden’s shoulder. “She is just trying to get to you with lies. You shouldn’t believe her.”

To Lisa’s horror, she saw Xaden begin to change his mind.

No no no.

He was starting to not believe her anymore.

Her mind began to race again for something to hold again.

“Take her away.” He spat. “All she does is lie.”

The guard started to drag her away.

She kicked and kicked again.

And then she remembered what Uther had said one night.

How she had overheard him.

“She also killed your adoptive mother Eleanor!” She screamed.

He paused.

“Yes! She did! If you think I’m lying you can ask the witch Marie, she knows everything. And I know all the plans about Jasmine. I know who she truly is and why Princes Cherry wants her dead!” Lisa said.

She had heard from a discussion between Uther and a hollowed shadow of Princess Cherry that Jasmine was a princess.

She had believed it to be absurd and ridiculous.

But slowly she had started to see the truth in it.

And now she realized it made sense.

“If you let me live. I’ll tell you EVERYTHING!” She promised