"I told you that you should have executed some of the higher ups..." Ajax started with snarl.
"Don't." Metas barked and clenched his teeth.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Jyriah asked and looked between the two brothers.
"I don't know. I'm not sure about you, but this is my first attempt at rebuilding a society that just came back from an intense revolution." Ajax retorted sarcastically.
"Ha. Ha." Jyriah replied flatly.
"Shut up." Joss intervened from the corner and sucked in a deep breath between his teeth. "This isn't a time to be funny."
Jyriah just darted a gaze towards his mate, but when Joss returned an icy glare, the coal-fire haired male flattened his lips and looked away.
"What we need to do is figure out how to rescue Myranda, and keep what we have safe. I've already been talking with the Jhinto and the other mages. We'll come up with something, but until then - we need another plan." Joss continued.
"Metas - thoughts?" Veltar asked the giant male who seemed completely zoned out as he stared forward.
"Metas?" He repeated.
No answer.
He was completely catatonic - and his milky irises only alarmed the four males as they shook their Alpha and best friend, desperate for him to answer or show some sign of life.
"...Do you think they..." Jyriah asked with a tremble in his voice.
"He's still breathing. That means she is, too -- this is something else," Joss replied hastily and put a hand to Jyriah's shoulder sympathetically.
"Metas - what the actual fuck, dude?" Ajax hisses and put both of his hands to both sides of his brother's face. "Make up your mind. Do you want me to have to have a heart-attack the rest of my life, or are you going to nut-up and snap out of it!"
No response again. Metas was completely out of it to them - but behind his eyes, so much more was going on.
"Metas?" The Luna's voice echoed around total darkness as though her soul had left her body and was merely 'being' as it floated in the ether.
"Metas - I need you to hear me..."
He could hear her, but was absolutely confused on how, or why. Instead of giving in to her call, he tried to shut out the "intrusive" thoughts and focus on the conversion at hand, but it was hard with Myranda's words in his head. He wasn't sure where it was coming from for a moment.
"Alpha King Metas of the Lycan Mountain, you listen to me right now" Myranda demanded with more concentration.
"Mandy?"
"Yes, please listen to me - I need to tell you everything before they open the doors again..."
"Who? Who has you. I'm going to gut them publicly." Metas demanded.
"I don't know, Metas - I don't recognize their voices. They are of the upper class, though. They plan on marching me to the castle tomorrow to use me as a bargaining tool. They plan on distracting you with my humiliation and have their inside agents kill you from within."
"How did you find this out?" He asked with surprise and delight.
"....I'm going to smack you for that question later....but they think I'm asleep. They killed the maid who brought me here to keep her from talking, and then discussed their plans."
"Are they planning on killing you?" He asked immediately with concern.
She hesitated, which gave him his answer.
"Very well. What would you like to do from here?" The Alpha asked as gently, but as stoically as possible.
"What we planned. We'll become martyrs, and Ajax will reach out Vincent and your allies. Or...we could sever our bond-"
"No. Never." Metas answered firmly, and sounded hurt by her suggestion.
"You're the entire force behind the new kingdom, Metas. You will be needed. It would make it a lot easier for everyone..." she started.
"Except for me. Ajax will grow into his role. You and I have been apart so long. I'm not letting go of you now." He insisted.
"Metas....they're going to....defile me..." Myranda's voice shook. "I don't want you to feel that. I don't want you to know when it is happening. That would be worse on you than missing me, I assure you."
"They're not going to touch you, my love. They're not going to do anything to you. I'm coming with rage, and they're welcome to try and stop me." He answered with fury that she could feel. Even if she begged him not to, she knew he wouldn't be dissuaded....because she wouldn't be either if the roles were reversed.
"Hold on, Mandy. I will find you." Metas swore, and pulled back from her, which left the poor female alone on the ground in the dark space again.
It would be okay, though.
She knew he would get to her, and he didn't need fear clouding his head - so instead, she smiled and thought to herself, 'I know you will'.