12. Talia

CHAPTER 12

Talia

" Y our majesty," I say by way of greeting as I enter the king's study, finding Alek behind his desk. "Lyric said you wanted to see me?"

"Please," he says, nodding to the seat across from his desk. "Sit."

I glance around the study, half expecting to find Zachariah waiting somewhere.

The memory of my first night here calls to the forefront of my mind. The way Zachariah had wended to this residence, had dragged me before the king, frantic with panic and worry. That felt like years ago rather than the month it's been.

So much has changed since then. So many things I promised I wouldn't allow myself to do when I first laid eyes on him.

"I wanted to check in with you," Alek says, thankfully pulling me out of my thoughts. He leans back in his chair, relaxed in a way that tells me this isn't him about to pitch me another mission. "Are you enjoying your stay in my residence?"

"I am," I answer honestly. "I adore your mate," I continue. "As well as the others here. But if I've overstayed my welcome, just say the word and I'll be on my way."

Alek furrows his brow and shakes his head. "Quite the contrary," he says. "I was hoping we could discuss the matter of your seat that has remained open for the last century in my royal court."

Apprehension immediately tightens my chest.

"That seat has remained empty since your last living relative passed."

"Aunt Charlotte," I say, nodding. "She lived a very long and happy life. When her time came, she was more than ready to go."

"Quite," he says. "I don't know the full reason behind you spreading the rumor that you'd passed as well, but did you do that because you didn't want to step in and take that seat?"

I glance down at my huntress attire. "I figured that much was obvious," I say, and he arches a brow me. "I left that life a long time ago," I relent.

"I've heard some of the stories," he says. "After your parents passed, you burned down your family's estate in London?"

I chuckle softly, then shrug. "My parents and I never really saw eye to eye about my future and my role in this world. I'd never go out of my way to cause them harm, but there was too much negative energy in that place. I thought burning it to the ground and donating the land and a new construction build was a much better use of that part of my inheritance."

"I understand that," he says. "Families can be complicated. Especially when they span the lengths of time that ours do. But you've seen my family. You've been welcomed into it with open arms. And you're clearly not dead, like you had so many believe."

"I knew I'd never live that rumor down," I say, sighing. "After Zachariah went into stasis and I joined the huntresses…I grew tired of everyone looking at me like a wounded creature. I killed the Talia Ashcroft who'd made plans for a future as a noble mate, so it was partially true."

"And now?" he asks. "Has time soothed that sting?"

"Partially."

"Would you reconsider taking your seat in my court? We could certainly use someone with your unfiltered and unbiased opinion. Someone who hasn't lived their life for the courts despite being born into them. It would give me a fresh perspective."

"I'm not saying it's not tempting," I say. "But I didn't plan on sticking around. The life of a huntress and all that. I'm constantly on the move." I tilt my head. "Though, the superiors certainly understand when someone wants to leave the cause…"

"Wouldn't you say that you have a reason to stay?" he asks, his eyes too knowing as he looks at me.

I shift uncomfortably in my seat, that unsettled feeling I've had regarding my own emotions prickling the second I give them any attention. A battle rages inside me, two opposite sides warring with each other over what is easy and what is safe.

"That's a complicated question," I finally answer.

"I understand that," he says. "Mates are a tricky thing?—"

"He's not my mate anymore," I say, hating that it hurts to make that declaration.

My eyes fall to my wrist. No mark has appeared, refreshed and renewed at our rekindling. Nothing to indicate we are still fated.

"Fate doesn't change its mind that easily," Alek counters. "But I won't push you. I just want you to know that you're always welcome in my home and in my family. Lyric is practically begging me to order you to stay and take the seat so you'll stick around." He smiles. "I'm here if you need to talk."

"I appreciate that," I say. "You certainly are my favorite king that we've ever had," I add with all sincerity.

"Well, I may not be after I get to the next reason why I called you in here."

My shoulders drop. "Oh, God, what now?"

"After all of the research we've done on the artifacts, and the local ones that we may be able to spring a trap for, it came to my attention that the Ashcroft line, your line, has an artifact of interest."

I blow out a breath and nod. "I've been thinking about that little jar of ancient, enchanted rosemary my mother kept for emergencies," I say, remembering how she guarded the healing remedies.

"I just wanted to confirm that it was burned along with the estate you inherited," he continues. "If we can rule it out, then we know Conrad won't be heading that direction."

"It didn't burn," I say. "While we spent my early childhood in that estate, we lived most of my life in the family home."

"You're kidding," Alex says, clarity reaching his eyes.

"Nope," I say. "The artifact in question is likely still in my family home. The only problem is?—"

"The Ashcroft family home in Edgemont is a historical landmark," Alek cuts over me, laughing sharply. "There are humans crawling all over that every day."

"And night," I amend. "The last time I checked, ghost tours are a profitable business."

"I didn't have it on the list of sites," Alek explains. "I didn't think the artifact would be kept there, so I doubted Conrad would head that direction. But now that we know...catching him is still of the utmost importance," he says. "But keeping these herbs and ashes and blood away from him is also a priority."

"Understood," I say, pushing back from his desk to stand. "I'll head that way now."

"Talia?" I make it to the door before Alek calls my name.

I pause and glance over my shoulder at him.

"Don't go alone," he says with no room for argument in his tone.

"Of course not, your majesty," I say, then head out the door.

I can grab any rookie assassin, or even ask Jocelyn or Lyric or Cassandra to go with me.

But even as those options present themselves, there's absolutely only one person my heart is calling out for.

I'm half tempted to reach internally and see if that connection between us is strong enough to be felt through separation, but I'm too scared to touch it. Too scared to acknowledge what I feel brewing deep in the recesses of my soul.

Instead, I go the traditional route, easily finding Zachariah in the library.

"Want to go on a mission?" I ask by way of greeting.

"Shall I wend us there or would you like to do it?" he answers, closing the tome he'd be studying and crossing the distance between us.

His lack of hesitation flares through me, and I wrap my arms around his waist. "Let me do it this time," I say. "I have a clearer picture of where we're going."

He returns my embrace, and I draw my power, sliding it around us and wending us across the city, feeling the weight of him as we move, all his powers dragging us down in a way that almost makes me dizzy.

And I can't deny how endearing it is, that someone as powerful as him has no qualms bending to my every whim.