Chapter 15. Lavender Heir

Taken

Chapter 15 – Taken

Sasha sank into the steaming bath, letting the hot water soak through her aching muscles. Dust and cobwebs from the castle clung to her skin and hair, and she scrubbed at herself almost frantically, as though she could wash away the horrors she had seen.

She was tired. Scared. But most of all, horrified.

The image of the tiny bones hidden behind the castle’s walls haunted her. So many babies. So many lives stolen. There was enough now to have Cian arrested, she was sure of it—but the thought brought no comfort. She didn’t know who in Blackwater she could trust.

If Cian had his claws in the local police, she’d be walking him right into their hands.

Sasha dried herself and wrapped up in a towel before picking up her phone. She knew what she had to do.

She called Lydia.

Her best friend answered on the second ring, her warm voice a relief in the quiet cottage.

“Lydia… I need your help,” Sasha said, and her voice cracked as all the emotion she’d been holding back surged forward.

She told her everything—the discovery in the castle, the boy, Cian’s violence, his reach in Blackwater.

“Don’t trust the police there,” Sasha said, her voice shaking. “I can’t be sure they’re not in his pocket. Your husband—he’s not local. Please, Lydia. You’re the only person I can trust right now.”

There was a pause, then Lydia said, “We’ll work something out. I promise, Sasha. Just hold tight, and we’ll get back to you.”

Sasha exhaled slowly, relief flooding her for the briefest moment.

“Oh, and by the way,” Lydia added, her tone softening, “Moschops has put on even more weight. One too many treats. I told the kids to slow down, but you know how he is.”

Sasha let out a choked laugh. The normalcy of the comment felt like a lifeline. “I needed that. Thank you.”

“I’ll call you as soon as I can,” Lydia promised.

—

Heather came downstairs as Sasha hung up, her face drawn.

“I think we should leave the cottage,” she said quietly. “At least for a little while. My brother’s house—he’s away, but we can stay there. It’s safer than staying here if Cian… retaliates.”

Sasha nodded. She knew Heather was right.

Heather began packing quickly, handing Sasha a slip of paper with her brother’s address. “Meet me there,” she said. “I’ll go ahead and get things ready. Don’t take any chances, Sasha.”

“I won’t,” Sasha promised.

Heather hugged her tightly before leaving, the sound of her car disappearing down the lane.

—

Sasha took her time packing, trying not to rush, though her hands trembled as she folded clothes into a bag. She grabbed the paper with Heather’s brother’s address and slipped it into her pocket before heading into town.

The streets of Blackwater were unusually quiet. A few shops were closing, their windows dimming. Sasha kept her head down, clutching her bag to her chest, and moved quickly toward the bank.

She never made it.

Two men stepped out from an alleyway as she passed, their faces obscured by caps pulled low. She barely had time to react before one grabbed her from behind, the other wrenched her bag from her hands.

“Wait—!”

A hand clamped over her mouth, cutting off the cry.

They shoved her into the back of a waiting car, the door slamming behind her. She struggled, but it was useless against their strength.

A hood was yanked over her head, plunging her into darkness.

Sasha’s heart thundered in her ears as the car lurched forward, tyres squealing on wet tarmac. She twisted against the ropes now biting into her wrists, terror flooding through her veins.

She knew exactly who had ordered this.

They were taking her to Cian.