Aria’s POV
I followed Erinne up the creaking ladder into the treehouse, my heart hammering so hard it felt like it might burst through my chest. Every fiber of my being screamed to grab Edward, to snatch him away from this woman and run, but I couldn’t. Not yet. I had to play this smart. If I made the wrong move, it could cost us everything.
Erinne led the way, cradling Edward as carefully as if he were some sort of bargaining chip. In many ways, he was. The sight of him-my son, so close and yet so far-almost made me crumble. I had missed him more than words could express. His tiny face, his bright blue eyes. The love I felt for him was incomparable. How had I let this happen?
How had I allowed my child to fall into the hands of these monsters? Had I been a bad mother to him?
With every step, fear ate at me, but hope burned just as fiercely. We had to get out of this alive. Edward had to come home with me, safe. Denderick and I would make sure of it, no matter what.
The treehouse groaned as I reached the top, where a balcony sat. I peered down to see Denderick and Logan still in deep conversation. I could not hear a word of what they said, but I could see them, as clear as day. Logan still had that annoying smirk on his face that I’d come to recognize, while Denderick’s face was stony with determination.
“No, no.” Erinne snapped, grabbing my arm with her free hand. “You are coming inside with me.”
I silently jerked my arm from her grip and followed her into the tree house. When I stepped inside, my stomach turned. The place was disgusting!
The floorboards were rotted and warped, uneven underfoot. Rats scurried across the planks, darting in and out of holes in the walls. Every corner was thick with cobwebs, and dusty, moldy goblets and plates littered the floor, some still with the remnants of old food caked onto them. The stench of decay and filth was overwhelming. I had expected something bleak, but not this.
I glanced around, quickly cataloging the exits and the layout. There was nothing here but a few worn-out pieces of furniture-a sagging couch in the corner, a splintered table, and a couple of broken chairs. It was hardly fit for human habitation, let alone for a baby.
With a slow breath, I gingerly sat on the edge of the decrepit couch, its springs groaning under my weight. My eyes never left Erinne. I couldn’t afford to. Edward was still in her arms, and if she made even the slightest wrong move, I would have to act. Fast.
“So,” I said finally, “this is where you’ve been hiding.”
Erinne smirked, her eyes gleaming with condescension. “Not what you were expecting, was it, Aria?”
“No,” I admitted, forcing myself to remain calm. “I expected a little more dignity from you. But I guess I was wrong about a lot of things.”
Erinne cocked an eyebrow, her lips twisting into a sneer. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to keep my emotions in check. “I never thought you would betray me like this. I trusted you. You were supposed to be my friend, my ally, and you handed my son over to Logan like he was something for you to trade.”
Erinne’s face darkened, but the sneer didn’t leave her lips. “Aria, you never cease to amaze me. You’re so naive. You and Denderick think you’re so righteous, so noble. But I see things for what they are. Power is what matters in this world. Logan understands that and so do I.”
“Power?” I shook my head, disbelief washing over me. “This isn’t about power. This is about a child’s life. My son’s life, Erinne. And you’re using him to get what you want? I never thought you could sink this low.”
Erinne’s eyes flashed with something cold and cruel. “You’ve always been too soft, Aria. Too emotional. It’s why you’ll never win against someone like Logan. He’s strong. He takes what he wants and doesn’t look back. You and Denderick, on the other hand… you’re too concerned with morals, with doing the right thing. That’s why you’ll lose.”
Anger flared in my chest, hot and sharp. “You’re wrong. Kendrick and I aren’t weak because we care. We’re strong because we have something to fight for. We have people we love. We have Edward. That’s more powerful than anything you or Logan will ever understand.”
“Is that so?” Erinne laughed. “Well, let’s see how powerful your love is in about five minutes.”
Her words chilled me to the bone. My breath caught in my throat. “What do you mean?”
She looked down at Edward, her expression turning darker, more menacing. “Logan’s deal with Denderick is simple. Either he gives Logan back his kingdom, or Edward dies. It’s that straightforward. And guess what, Aria? Your five minutes are almost up.”
I froze, my body going cold. No. This couldn’t be happening. She couldn’t mean what I thought she meant. My heart jumped in my chest as Erinne’s hand moved, reaching into the folds of her dress.
“Erinne, wait,” I called out, as panic rising in my chest. “This isn’t what you want. Killing Edward won’t get you or Logan what you want. You don’t have to do this.”
But Erinne’s eyes were cold, unfeeling. Her hand emerged from her dress, clutching a small dagger. The blade gleamed in the dim light of the treehouse, sharp and deadly.
“I’ve already made up my mind,” Erinne murmured, her voice icy. “Logan’s given me the go-ahead. Time’s up.”
“No!” I screamed, launching myself off the couch. I didn’t think, didn’t plan. I just moved, driven by a primal, desperate need to protect my child.
Erinne raised the dagger, her hand moving toward Edward, who was still cradled in her arm. She was going to do it. She was going to kill him.
Without thinking, I threw myself at her, my body colliding with hers just as she brought the dagger down.
The blade missed its mark, but I heard the sound of tearing flesh.
I gasped, pain shooting through me as the entire room spun.