Chapter 54 - The Call
Athena's hands wouldn't stop trembling.
She sat at the small stone table in a private chamber Silas had prepared for her, staring at the strange device Rowan had set down in front of her.
A secured line.
Rerouted.
Untraceable.
Silas stood across the room, giving her space but not leaving. His presence was steady, grounding, but he didn't interfere.
"This will connect you," he said quietly. "You may end it whenever you wish."
Athena nodded.
Her throat felt tight.
She hadn't heard James's voice since the night she was taken.
Since the night he had handed her over without a fight.
Rowan gave a small nod and stepped out, closing the door behind him.
Silence fell.
Athena reached forward and pressed the call button before she could lose her nerve.
It rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then-
"Hello?"
James's voice.
Familiar.
And suddenly foreign.
Athena's breath caught painfully in her chest.
"James."
There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end.
"Athena? Athena, is that you? Where are you? Are you okay? I've been trying to-"
"I'm fine," she interrupted softly.
His words stumbled over each other.
"They took you. I didn't know who they were, I swear. I thought it was just a debt collection group. I've been trying to find out-"
"I know," she said.
And she did.
That wasn't why she had called.
James's voice slowed slightly.
"Where are you?"
Athena's eyes flicked to Silas.
He didn't move.
Didn't react.
She turned back to the device.
"I'm safe."
James hesitated.
"That's not what I asked."
Athena swallowed hard.
"I'm not coming back."
Silence fell on the line.
Long.
Heavy.
"What do you mean?" James asked slowly.
"I mean I'm not coming home," she said.
Her voice didn't shake.
Not anymore.
James let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
"Athena, you're confused. You're scared. Whatever they're telling you-"
"I'm not confused," she said calmly.
Another long silence.
"I want a divorce."
The words settled between them like a final door closing.
James didn't speak for several seconds.
Then-
"What?"
"I want a divorce."
His voice changed.
Tighter.
Panic creeping in.
"Athena, don't do this. We can fix this. You're just overwhelmed. When you get home we can talk-"
"I'm not coming home," she repeated.
"Where are you?" he demanded.
She didn't answer.
James's breathing grew heavier on the line.
"Who are you with?"
Athena closed her eyes.
She didn't lie.
She didn't answer.
And that was enough.
James went very still.
"...You're with him," he said quietly.
Athena's silence confirmed it.
"The Silverwood King," James whispered.
Silas's jaw tightened slightly across the room.
James's voice dropped.
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?"
"Yes," Athena said softly.
James let out a strained breath.
"You can't divorce me."
Athena frowned.
"Yes, I can."
"No," he said sharply. "You don't understand. My father-"
She stiffened.
"What about your father?"
James didn't answer right away.
And that hesitation made her stomach twist.
"You need to come home," he said instead.
"I'm not," she replied.
Silence again.
Then, quietly:
"Athena... you're in danger and you don't even know it."
Her voice stayed calm.
"I think I've been in danger my whole life."
She ended the call.
The silence in the room felt enormous.
Athena stared at the device for a long moment.
Then looked up at Silas.
"He knew," she whispered.
Silas nodded once.
"Yes."
?
James lowered the phone slowly.
His hands were shaking.
He stood from the couch too quickly and began pacing across the living room.
"She's with him," he muttered.
His mind raced.
She wanted a divorce.
She knew something.
Too much.
He grabbed his keys without thinking.
He needed to talk to his father.
Immediately.
?
Victor Whitlock didn't look up when James burst into the study.
"Father-"
Victor raised one hand calmly.
"I know."
James froze.
Victor finally looked up.
"She contacted you."
James swallowed.
"Yes."
Victor's expression darkened.
"And she is with the Silverwood King."
James's heart dropped.
"Yes."