“Ah, we have visitors,” Heinrich, the man who runs the meeting rises and stalks toward us. He’s draped in a dark robe, the hood covering his head, but his deep blue eyes shimmer with amusement as he reaches for Isaac, and they shake hands. I didn’t realize my father was friends with this asshole, but it seems I don’t know much about him.
“We’re looking for your newest contact,” Dad tells the man who’s regarding me with an inquisitive stare. “He’s done a few things that are rather… uncalled for.” I want to rectify that statement with the truth, but I don’t. Instead, I wait for Heinrich’s response.
“Mmmm,” he turns away, looking at the men around the table as if he’s waiting for one of them to object. Heinrich chuckles as he turns toward us once more. “There are far too many rumors flying around that your friend, Fergus Harrison, is attempting to overthrow one of the societies.”
My father steps forward, his brow creased in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Heinrich sighs. “He’s playing both sides of the fence. Even though he’s one of Lancaster’s soldiers, there’s another man who we’ve found him meeting with—Thane Calvert. The partnership soured when Abner was arrested, and they found names in a logbook he’d kept hidden.”
“But that doesn’t mean Fergus was involved.”
“On the contrary.” Heinrich rounds the table, shuffling pages on the desk. After he grabs the one he wants, he nears Dad once more. Handing it over, he gestures toward the photo. “This shows Fergus and Calvert meeting two days ago. I was promised Harrison would be here tonight with his daughter, but they didn’t show.”
“Where are they?” It’s my turn to step forward. My muscles ache with tension and frustration as the man with the bright blue eyes glares my way.
“You’re the son?”
“Yes, this is my son, Etienne,” my dad introduces me with a pat on the back. “He’s taken over as a Crown in Tynewood.” The introduction makes my chest tighten; he sounds so proud of me, and I wonder if I ever chose to not become a Crown would he still love me.
“Well, it is good to meet you, younger Durand.” Heinrich grins, offering me his hand, which I accept and give it a shake before he continues explaining, “Fergus has taken one of the private jets, and he’s on his way back Stateside.”
“That makes no sense,” Dad responds.
“We kept an eye on them, and unfortunately, we cannot stop him as Abner has put the order out to have him returned unharmed.” The men around the table murmur an agreement at Heinrich’s response.
“And he’s just escaped after all he’s done?” I can’t keep my mouth shut as frustration ebbs and flows through me. I know I’ll have to wait a few hours before I can get on a flight, but perhaps if I can get Tar and Ares on it, they’ll find the asshole before he can meet with Abner Lancaster. I know for a fact Ares will not let his father near Rukaiya.
“We cannot do much. The rules still come from Tynewood.”
“But Abner is no longer a fucking Crown!” My voice is high, peaked with the rage that’s been fueling me since I learned Rukaiya was taken out of Tynewood. I’m tense with emotion, and I can feel my father staring at me from beside me. “He has no say in this society anymore. The Sovereign no longer acknowledge him as a member, much less a Crown.”
“That may be true in Tynewood, but here,” the older man waves his hand over the table. His almost white hair luminous under the flickering flames of the torches that surround us. His pale skin glowing as he stares my way once more. “We still see all those fallen and those risen up as part of the faction.”
“You may see him as a Crown, but he doesn’t hold any power over who does what,” Isaac informs Heinrich. “As one of the last remaining Elders, I need you to offer us all the information you have on Fergus.”
Heinrich regards Dad for a long while, and I’m sure he’s about to deny him, but the man nods silently and makes his way back to the head of the table. We wait in silence as he opens the folder, and I watch him leaf through the pages on the wooden top.
I’m not sure what Heinrich can give us that we don’t already know, but I allow my father to take the lead. My body is tight, coiled like a sleeping serpent, ready to attack. I want to find my little wolf and keep her safe.
She’s pushed me away numerous times. But I’ve never backed away from a challenge. Whether she likes it or not, I’ll fucking kill for her. Never once have I wanted someone the way I do her. She tests me emotionally, and she taunts me physically, more than any girl who’s ever crossed my path, but I know she’ll give in soon. I’ll wear her down until she’s beside me, as a Crown herself.