Chapter 116: Release her

Dorian had not anticipated Alyssa stepping into the Conclave at that exact second. In his blind fury and beastly impulse, his mind had completely forgotten the order he had given Alec earlier; that if she requested his whereabouts, she was to be brought straight to meet him.

As he slowly turned his head to meet her horrified gaze, his eyes caught Jake standing stiffly to the side.

The beta was staring at Alyssa with a wild, unnerving expression Dorian had never seen on his face before. It was an expression rooted in shock, disbelief, and terror.

When the realization suddenly clicked inside Dorian’s mind, a muffled curse slipped past his lips. Fuck!

In his rage and impatience, he had interrogated Melinda directly in front of Jake. And she had spilled the entire truth about Alyssa being a Hybrid.

He flicked his gaze back to Alyssa, whose eyes were wide with shock, and then back to Jake, his mind pulling in two directions. In the end, he turned his full attention back to his wife. He would deal with Jake later.

"You weren’t supposed to see this, Alyssa," he muttered.

"Release her," Alyssa whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "Please."

Her eyes gleamed with unshed tears. For a moment, Dorian couldn’t discern whether she was weeping from the gruesome scene before her, or out of pity for Melinda’s agony.

"Please, Dorian," she whispered again, taking a step closer. "I know you need answers. I need them too, but not like this."

"How can you stand there and say that?" Dorian questioned, his voice suddenly turning harsh with protective anger. "After everything she did to you? The memories you cannot recall are a thousand times worse than what you went through."

"I’m not asking you to release her because I feel bad for her," Alyssa said, shaking her head as she closed the distance between them. She reached out and wrapped her soft fingers around his blood-stained hand. "But if I allow you to torture her with the same cruelty she used against me, then I am no better than she is."

Her eyes flicked past his shoulder toward Melinda who was still sobbing against the cold stone wall. The silver collar had seared deeply into her neck, leaving severe, blistered burns behind, while blood still dripped slowly from her severed thumb.

Dorian stared down at Alyssa, frozen in place. He still held the pincers in his right hand, their heavy jaws smeared with fresh blood. He had not squeezed all the answers he needed out of Melinda, but looking down into Alyssa’s pleading eyes, he found himself incapable of refusing her anything.

With a deep exhale, he tossed the instrument aside. It clattered loudly against the table as he pulled a black silk handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blood off Alyssa’s hand.

"Take off the collar, Jake," he commanded coldly, keeping his golden eyes locked on Alyssa. "And lock her up until she is prepared to speak truthfully."

Jake hesitated for a long, uncomfortable silence, his wide eyes still glued to Alyssa.

"Jake!" Dorian snapped, his Alpha command jerking the beta.

Jake finally tore his gaze away, snapping to attention and focusing on Dorian. He nodded once, his expression quickly slipping back into a guarded mask.

"Yes, Alpha," he replied.

"When you’re done with that," Dorian continued. "Meet me in my study." He didn’t wait for a response. He turned back to Alyssa, resting both hands around her waist. "I am sparing her life only because you asked. If the choice were mine alone, I would not allow her to draw another breath."

Alyssa lifted his hand to her face, gently pressing her cheek against his palm. "Thank you," she whispered softly.

Dorian’s harsh features softened. He stroked his thumb lightly over her cheekbone and sighed deeply.

"Come with me," he murmured. "There are several crucial things she confessed, things you need to know."

"I will," Alyssa nodded gently. "But first, I need to speak to her alone. Please."

Dorian studied her face. He knew deep down that she needed this moment; she required some semblance of closure after suffering a lifetime of abuse. He would not deny her that right.

"Come to the study when you’re done," he murmured, leaning down to press a kiss to her lips. "Do not step within her reach, okay?"

Alyssa gave a single nod. Her eyes followed him as he brushed past her and exited the Conclave.

Jake stepped over to Melinda and unlocked the collar from her blistered neck. He tossed the device into the box, flipped the latches shut, and lifted it by its handle.

Alyssa watched him walk toward the door, wondering why he was suddenly looking at her as if she were a ghost. But as the door clicked shut behind him, she pushed the unsettling thought aside and turned to face her stepsister.

Melinda’s weeping had completely stopped. She leaned her head back against the wall, her eyes dull and red-rimmed. The pitiful, tearful facade she had put on minutes ago for Dorian was gone, replaced by an expression of her usual venom.

Alyssa walked forward until only a few inches separated them. But she did not utter a single word. She simply stood there, staring quietly at the girl who had made her life a living hell.

"What are you waiting for?" Melinda snarled suddenly, whipping her head up. "Say it! Gloat as much as you want! You’ve successfully climbed into power, so you have every right to command my execution!"

Alyssa shook her head slowly, her eyes filled with a quiet sadness. "Is that what you believe I came here to do? To gloat? To revel in your plight? We spent years growing up under the same roof, Melinda, yet you still understand nothing about who I am."

"Save me the lecture!" Melinda snapped. "Being crowned Queen doesn’t change a single fucking thing! You are still the same weak little brat I used to beat up. If you hadn’t thrown yourself into the Alpha King’s bed like the desperate whore you are, you would be dead in a ditch!"

Alyssa’s fists clenched tightly at her sides. Melinda’s venomous words ignited a sudden, scorching fury deep within her chest, one she couldn’t contain.

Before she could stop herself, she swung her arm back and slapped Melinda forcefully across the face.

The sharp crack echoed loudly. Melinda’s head snapped violently to the side. Her eyes widened in utter disbelief, her chest heaving as she stared at Alyssa with indignation.

"You should be thankful that I walked into this room when I did," Alyssa continued in a tight voice. "Honestly, I don’t know why I am incapable of being as cruel as you are, why I cannot bring myself to inflict the endless torment you caused me for all those years. Even after everything, I still look at you and feel pity."

"I don’t want your pity!" Melinda yelled, her voice cracking. "I don’t need a single thing from you!"

"Why are you so cruel?" Alyssa shot back. "After all the horrific things you did to me, all the suffering you forced me to endure, I shouldn’t even allow Dorian to show you a shred of mercy."

She paused and took a deep breath to calm herself. When she spoke again, she was more in control.

"But I’m nothing like you. I am not evil, and I am not cruel. That is the reason I will always be better than you, Melinda."

"You think you’re better than me?" Melinda suddenly let out a chilling laugh that sounded insane. "You really think you’re a good person? You have no idea what is coming, Alyssa. Just wait until your powers awaken fully!"

Alyssa frowned, a cold spike of unease settling in her gut. "What are you talking about?"

Melinda laughed again, a sharp, hollow sound that echoed through the empty room.

"I cannot wait to watch the entire kingdom turn their backs on you! You might think they love and revere you now as their Luna, but once all of Wintercrest discovers the monstrosity you truly are, it will be over. And your precious husband will be the one to drive a blade through your fucking heart!"