Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
“You’re the only one who has seen this?” I asked, my wolf pacing within me.
“Yes.”
“Did you look through his house? Was there anything else?”
“I was told there wasn’t, but I figured we should go over it in greater detail in case something was missed.”
“Do it.” I stared at the likeness for another moment before rolling it back up. Myriad emotions rolled through me: fear, anger, urgency, frustration. Granny had her hooks in almost every kingdom, every market. It had only been a matter of time before someone drew Aurelia’s likeness and sent word.
I wasn’t sure why this felt so jarring. We’d known this would happen. I needed to shore up our defenses to make sure that even if they knew where she was, they couldn’t slip through the cracks and grab her.
“Check all the carts and stalls in every city, town, and village. Make sure the guard is thorough.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ll talk to the royals about doing a search in the castle, just in case.”
“Begging your pardon, Beta,” Dante said, “but maybe Hadriel is the best bet. The royals will make people rush to hide things. Hadriel has that way of digging in the right places without raising suspicion.”
This was true. There was no sense in creating intrigue within those who didn’t already know what was going on. They’d just gossip, and news we were looking for intel would spread more quickly.
“Given the timeline of the merchant’s death, this had to have been sent before our arrival,” I said, thinking everything over. “It must’ve been disseminated when the one in the Red Lupine town was. It was part of the wide net Granny first cast after we discovered Aurelia and the village. Given how hard people who distribute Granny’s products in this kingdom are punished, and given the way this was stowed away, there is no way Aurelia’s face would be displayed anywhere public. That means only a select few will have seen it, and those are all people who keep their heads down to avoid the dragons’ wrath. Unless we find something in the castle, she is safe. For now.”
For now.
Was that truly even the case? And if so, how long would it last?
Dante nodded, slowing to a stop. “I heard how it went with the dragons. The dragon queen is ruthless when someone threatens her people. Hadriel thinks she can be reasoned with, though.”
“It’s too early to tell, but let’s hope so.”
Dante faced him directly, his gaze intense. “Just know, if they are unreasonable, I’m with you, sir. Getting her out would be the easiest course of action, but whatever needs to be done . . . I’m with you.”
I held his gaze for a moment but didn’t nod, looking away before Dante was forced to drop his gaze. Basically, letting him know that the sentiment was appreciated without putting a voice to it. This conversation was dangerously close to treason.
I hoped it wouldn’t come to any of that.
“Get after those markets,” I told him. “I’ll talk to the royals and employ Hadriel. Let’s button this kingdom up.”
“Yes, sir.” Dante turned back the way he’d come without another word.
I walked for a moment longer, turning over the many possibilities. The queen was ruthless when protecting her people, that was true. She was renowned for it, exceptional because of it. Stubborn about it.
Aurelia needed to become one of her people, turned from the enemy into an ally. Then maybe Hadriel and I, and maybe even the king himself, could talk her down from her wrath.
We had to try. My true mate—and the whole kingdom—were at stake.
I disrobed and handed the slip off to the first guard I saw before shifting and heading back to the castle.
Time to see if they had any Granny-sized rats lingering around.
Aurelia
I felt the warning as the emotions registered through the bond, frustrated anger mixed with fear. It was the second time in the space of an hour, once when he seemed pretty far away, and this time within the castle somewhere. A moment later, Weston was on the move.
“Vemar, go,” I said quickly, motioning for him to put down the books he carried. We’d been in the library since the last contraption had exploded, killing any further research I could do until I could replace my materials. I’d had to really juice it up to get a reaction.
I now knew the boiling point of Granny’s concoction, and I knew that the toxicity was a by-product of heat. What’s more, I had a strong suspicion she was taking my preliminary drug-making methods and then amping them up with extra, heat-altered ingredients. I also had a strong suspicion how she’d gotten the idea. Her clues were easy to spot once you looked, and her finished product lacked any sort of finesse.
She’d hired hacks, and why? Because she must’ve known that I would not intentionally make this stuff. I would’ve told her how dangerous it was, how it would ruin the product, and refused. I’d done something similar when I accidentally made the concoction that I bet had given her the idea in the first place.