Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 139 What Happened?
“There’s one containment facility in each Kingdom. It’s existence is a closely guarded secret and known of to only the royal bloodlines within each kingdom and the current ruling Royal Elder Council but if what Narcissa says is true and the Excidium Coven has infiltrated all areas of our infrastructure then, I’m not sure how much longer it will remain a secret.”
Ann sighed heavily again before turning to face them.
“I know you have a lot of questions, but even I don’t know the full details. I’ll have greater access to the information once I’ve been crowned, but I can tell you what I do know. The containment facility in our Kingdom is in an extremely remote location, fiercely guarded by specialist teams. The only way in or out is by air, and there is only one method of transportation currently cleared to make that journey. The prisoners housed there are some of the most dangerous shifters and other races that are known to us, and for whatever reason, it was decided that their executions would be postponed.”
Ann studied her friends closely as she spoke, waiting for any other questions that they may have, but there were none forthcoming so, resignedly, she continued.
“For Ada and Narcissa to be sent there, it will be under heavy guard, in magick-nullifying cells and their journey will be tracked from multiple fast response sites along the way. Even if they were to manage to escape en route, there isn’t a chance that they would be able to get away. I would a*s*sume that since Ada will most likely be in solitary confinement, once her baby is born, it will be taken from her and she will be added to the schedule for executions along with Narcissa.”
The frown on Adam’s face showed that he was more than uncomfortable with the idea of this facility even existing, but he nodded his head slightly to show that he understood.
“But I don’t understand Ann, why would the Elders want to keep dangerous criminals alive when they can just execute them?” Lexi asked in frustration. “Why would they leave themselves, and the Kingdom as a whole, open to something going catastrophically wrong, as you so eloquently put it?”
Ann shrugged noncommittally.
She knew exactly why, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell them just yet that sometimes the beings housed in these units simply couldn’t be k*il*led.
Sometimes the beings housed in there were the last of their kind, either male or female, and as a result, they were granted a stay of execution if they agreed to take part in a breeding program that saw either their eggs or their sperm harvested at regular intervals, and viable fetuses created and grown in a lab before implanting in a surrogate.
Right now, the truth was probably a little too horrific for them to digest.
“Your shrug isn’t answering my question, Ann.” Lexi said as she narrowed her eyes. “What aren’t you telling us?”
“I don’t know any more than that. I’m sure I’ll find out more after the coronation.” Ann answered as carefully as she could.
Lexi frowned and sat back in her seat in defeat.
“Fine. But I know you’re hiding something. I suppose I’m going to have to trust that you’ll tell us when we need to know.” She grumbled as an uneasy silence descended on the car.
By the time they arrived back at the Dark Moon Pack, the sun was already setting. It had been a long day and they were all exhausted both socially and emotionally.
Lexi and Allen headed off in opposite directions as soon as they were inside the Pack House, with Lexi uncharacteristically silent as she left.
Adam held his hand out to Ann with the faintest of smiles on his face as they made their way to the kitchen to grab something to eat to take to their room and enjoy in relative peace and quiet.
The Omega’s had left a few dishes in the fridges just in case something like this happened when they returned with note on the fridges detailing the various dishes and snacks that were left over.
With their trays laden with food, they headed up the stairs to their bedroom in a comfortable silence and flopped down onto the sofa.
Adam flicked the television on as background noise as they tucked into the meals that had been so lovingly prepared for them.
As they ate, Ann was suddenly reminded of something that she had wanted to ask Adam during the hearing earlier today.
“Adam… I know Lexi was quite upfront about asking questions, but, I have a question for you as well.” Ann tentatively said as she placed her fork carefully on the tray and set it on the table in front of them.
“Okay, ask away, Princess,” Adam said without pausing as he practically inhaled the food in front of him.
Ann smiled despite herself at his actions and felt a wave of unease wash over her as she prepared to ask the question that had been bothering her.
“It’s about Esmerelda… and Tomas.” she began, noticing Adam instantly freeze as he put his fork down carefully and swallowed what was in his mouth hurriedly.
“What about them?” Adam asked a little too casually for Ann’s liking as he leaned back in his seat to look at her. “What… Adam, you never told me what had happened during your questioning of them. Everyone implicated was taken to the cells, both the Elders and Esmerelda. What happened? What aren’t you telling me?” Ann pressed.
She wouldn’t have even thought about it at all if Narcissa hadn’t mentioned it during the hearing. There had been so much going on recently that the importance of asking about the questioning just seemed to drop lower and lower on her list of things to do.
Amongst all of the extra work required for setting herself up in a new business, she had never gotten around to asking and simply trusted that Adam would handle it and tell her when he found out anything else.
But he hadn’t mentioned them. Not even once.