Word Count: 1550

~Kezziah

The plan has been decided without me.

Luckily, Alden gave me another night with him before he approached me with it. Clearly Thought had been to visit him after I was taken by Time. The immortal would have informed my mate on the perfect plan to get Time alone to admit defeat and remove the brands from us, and hopefully everyone else.

However, all I could care about that night was the feeling of my mate against me, his warmth, his scent, and the way he whispers comforting words in my ear. I told him about what happened to Rosie, and thankfully, he understood.

By the time morning came, I was prepared for what need to be done. It didn't take much to summon Thought, since it seemed like he was already lurking around waiting.

It's the perfect time for this.

We all sat around the table discussing how we were going to do this. I'm hoping Time will be too distracted with his mate to notice us planning. I'm sure he assumed I will be too shaken to even think about the brand right now, but little does he know, I have revenge bubbling up inside me. For my parents. For everything.

"I have a place we can isolate Time. It's already been doused with magic to keep him in, so that shouldn't be an issue," Thought tells us, sitting back in his chair. "The only issue is I'm not quite sure how to lure him there."

We all look at each other for a moment, considering Thought's issue. What could possibly lure Time out of whatever he is doing?

It suddenly hits me. "I know what to do."

Everyone looks at me expectantly. This might not be the smartest idea, and it might just get me killed, however, it's guaranteed to work. From what I've noticed from Time, he might be smart, but he's too easily tempted by getting what he wants. I could see it enough with what he did to his mate. He couldn't wait until she passed naturally.

"I'll lure him. I know exactly what will tempt him. It's just you might not like it," I say uneasily, looking toward mate. I doubt the silver eyed immortal on the other side of the table will care much about what happens to me. As kind as he may be.

Alden furrows his brows at my admission. "Well are you going to tell us? If it puts you in danger then no way."

"I'm going to tell him I want him to kill me."

Both Thought and Alden look dumbfounded for a moment, looking between each other, then at me as if I'm crazy. "I know it sounds strange, but Time offered to take my life to reunite me with my parents. I'm sure he knew I wouldn't take the offer, considering I have a mate, however, that's what will get his attention."

No one speaks for a good few moments. I'm sure Thought is busy sifting through my mind right now, trying to find out what is going on within my mind. Alden is just staring at me blankly.

"It's too dangerous. And even if things were okay, why would you even want him to kill you. Why would he believe that?" Alden questions.

I sigh. "I think I know."

***

Luckily, Thought chose a place within the mortal world to lure Time. He has less power here, and the cell Thought has cursed with magic Time can't get out of, is perfect. Right at the bottom of the Independence Pack mountains, carved within the side of a cliff, is a cave in which all I need to do is lure Time into it.

This plan could use some more work, so I'm just hoping Time goes along with it. As I stand with my ankles deep within snow, Alden and Thought miles away from me so they wouldn't be detected by Time, I realise how nervous I am.

What if Time kills me immediately? What if he doesn't wait around, or what if he doesn't even believe me in the first place?

A million things could go wrong.

It seemed like the strangest stroke of luck that Time actually appears. He must have been lurking, waiting for another moment to terrorise me. I was leaning back against a large boulder, trying to fight the cold off, when he appeared right in front of me, so close I nearly screamed. Placing my hand over my mouth, I look up at the golden eyed immortal.

"Well, isn't this an interesting turn of events," Time murmurs, placing both hands on the rock, pinning me against it. "Wasn't it just yesterday when I dropped you back off at your mates? And you're here...How is that?"

"When you dropped me off, Alden wasn't there. They entire time I was gone he couldn't care less. He cares more about his work," I tell him, trying to seem solemn.

Time doesn't say anything for a moment.

"And I thought about what you had offered me, about ending my life. All this time I've only lived out of fear, then I was living for Alden. But he's never done anything for me like my parents did," I say in one breath, hoping I hadn't just blown it with a useless excuse that he won't believe. Time just stares at me, impassive.

"And you've suddenly just realised this now?" he asks, folding his arms over his chest. He is giving nothing away on whether he believes me or not. I'm simply grateful he has given me some more room to breathe, and isn't fully in my face.

"I didn't know anything about him," I tell him anxiously, rubbing the back of my neck. "I didn't know he would be like this, is what I'm saying.

Time nods blankly.

"And why are you here, exactly? How did you even get here?" he questions looking around us. We are in the depths of the Independence Pack, which isn't exactly the first place he would have expected me to be. Cold wind blows around me, snow at my feet. Time doesn't seem bothered by it, at least.

I kick at a clump of snow by my feet. "Fate. He's been into helping me a lot recently, which I'm not sure why. And Alden is clearly after me right now, which means I needed to find an isolated place."

Again, Time doesn't say anything. He is weighing the benefits within his mind. I can tell he is tempted. He must be wanting to kill me so bad, and with no consequences, he must want to take it.

This is my time to strike.

"God this snow," I complain, pretending to shiver despite my layers. Quickly ducking into the cave, I look to see if Time has taken the bait. Naturally, he strolls after me, seeming unbothered by where he steps into. I only loosen a breath of relief when he steps over the threshold.

The moment he does so, I skip right out again, before he can grab me and kill me right there. When he tries to follow me, he startles back, hitting the wall of magic Thought but up. He's look of confusion turns to something like admiration.

"Interesting. I didn't see this coming," Time comments, looking around the cave for any other hint of an escape. He doesn't look frightened, though.

He will be soon.

"Well, I guess sometimes bad things do happen to bad people," I comment, folding arms over my chest. Time smiles tightly at me, although I can tell he is starting to worry. Clearly he is sifting through his mind, trying to find ways to outsmart me and get out of this place, and starting to realise he can't.

"I think it would be in your best interest to contact who did this, and have them remove it immediately. That is, if you value your life," Time comments, raising an eyebrow at me. I would be intimidated if he weren't behind this magical veil.

I was about to make a comment on that when Alden and Thought suddenly come around the corner. Time mutters something under this breath at the sight of them.

He knows there's no hope for him.

"Ah, my darling brother. Working with the wrong people as usual," Time comments, raising his eyebrow at Thought. Seeing them next to each other, I can tell they are surely related. They are around the same height, accept Thought's hair is slightly longer and almost curly. Even their facial features are similar, aside from the eyes. They both have straight noses and graceful mouths.

"Says the one trapped in this dismal prison," Thought comments, looking awfully charmed seeing the sight of his brother helpless.

Time rolls his eyes. "Alright, I get it. You can let me out now. Unless of course, you want something."

I step forward, smiling at him sweetly. "You're going to take off my brand. Now."

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If you guys want more of Alden, the rest of available now on Radish (:

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Sinful's own story is up now on Radish! I wanted to make it apart of the Seven Sins series (which will have stories involving Cian and other characters you've seen before)

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Instagram: Sophie_Midika

~Midika 💜🐼