1. Frederick

Chapter 1

Frederick

I hadn’t been with the council long. Less than a year, actually. Why I was what some would consider the “lead” for my team, I didn’t exactly know. There were more senior enforcers than I was; ones who had been with the council from the beginning. Then again, I was certain my family had everything to do with that. Did I let that bother me? Not much. I couldn’t change who my family was, so I dealt with it. But like anywhere else, looks were sometimes thrown my way. I’d talked to Sebastian, and Benjamin about it several times when I first decided to stay on. They said it just how it was at times, but to not let it bother me too much. I tried, but then we were given assignments like this and I had to question things again.

But I knew that Master Arthur and Patrick wouldn’t have any issues with me running my team. Master Arthur, like his father Master Edison was amazing. He was down to earth and very even tempered. Even in the most stressful times, he remained calm. And in the current situation, it was understandable that he was upset. There was a pair of possible questionable visitors at his coven, which was why we were now standing just outside the gates at Amherst coven.

I pressed the button and waited. I understood the need for security. The town of Amherst was only a fifteen-minute drive away, and humans tended to be curious about a large estate on the outskirts of their town. I glanced at the metal plaque on the brick pillar beside the gate.

Whitmore Private School for the Arts

I smiled. For the magical arts, for certain.

“Yes?” A voice said through the intercom.

“I’m Frederick Ashburn. Master Arthur is expecting me.” Seconds later, a tall, dark-haired man appeared on the other side of the gate. Immediately I recognized him and smiled. “Balthazar, it’s good to see you again.”

He grinned back. “The same, Frederick.” The gates started to open, and after I walked through the rest of my team joined me on the other side. “I do not know your team though.”

“No, I don’t suppose you do.” I turned and pointed to each as I said their names. The gate closed behind us as Balthazar greeted the team.

“How is Master Arthur holding up?” I asked.

Balthazar’s face changed. “Let’s just say that it has been a very long time since I heard such colorful words from him. All directed as his father at that.”

I bit my lower lip. I imagined there were very few people in this world that would ever contemplate telling off the created warlock. His firstborn was likely one of them. It was with good reason too. Master Arthur had agreed to house a few of the warlocks from the coven in Venice, and now it was possible that two of them were actually part of the issue and could be a threat toward the rest of the coven. That was what we were here for. It was to determine if they truly were going to be a danger to the rest of the coven.

“Shall we head up to the manor?” Balthazar asked.

“That’s what we’re here for. The quicker we can deal with this, the better as far as I’m concerned.”

Since none of my team knew where the manor was, I glanced at them before smirking and giving them a lift. We were standing just inside the gate one moment and outside the coven house the next. Brooks made a comment about how massive the place was, and I chuckled quietly. I followed Balthazar up the steps, still smiling at Evan’s comment about the place. It was all new for him. He’d been with the council for only a few weeks, and everything in this realm was completely new to him.

“Have they been questioned?” I asked Balthazar as we entered the manor.

“No. Dante has been sticking closer to the manor rather than patrolling the perimeter. Personally, I do not feel they are a threat. None of them have shown any sort of actions as if they were involved with their coven master. They do not act as if they are concerned. No sneaky phone calls, no unusual activity on the internet. Nothing. In fact, they have been great additions to the coven. They are helpful, and polite. I don’t believe they are responsible for that they’re being accused of.”

That was my feeling as well. The council had done extensive background searches on each of them before they were placed here. There shouldn’t be even a question.

“Salvatore and his team are digging deeper as we speak, but I’m not sure they will find anything different than what they have already found. There shouldn’t be even a question about their intentions. I truly believe they are simply looking for a secure place to relocate to.”

Balthazar nodded. We left the main foyer and entered the hallway on the left, behind the stairway. Balthazar turned into the first doorway on the right, and immediately, I saw a stressed-looking Master Arthur sitting behind his desk. Dante was sitting in the chair in front of him, his long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles. If you took in Dante’s demeanor compared to Master Arthur’s, they were complete opposites.

“Master Arthur,” I said as I approached.

His eyes moved from Dante’s to mine, and after a moment, he seemed to relax a bit. I raised an eyebrow at that, wondering what that was about. Master Arthur was an incredibly powerful warlock. He was the firstborn son of the created warlock. I would bet my life that the only person who was more powerful than he was was his carrier.

“I’m glad to see you again Frederick. I only wish it was under better circumstances.”

“It happens. I know you won’t believe me completely, but I do not feel you have to worry. I truly think those names were planted for a purpose. Salvatore is looking into the why, but their background checks were quite extensive.”

“He’s just worried about me because I won’t leave.”

I turned as the sound of the other voice and smiled. Patrick. I honestly could understand Master Arthur’s reasons for worrying. If I had a One, I would be just as concerned. Especially since it was obvious that Patrick was with child.

“Patrick, it is nice to see you again,” I said. “Where is it that you are supposed to have gone though?” I glanced back at Master Arthur.

“Seattle. He could very easily go visit our son and be completely safe. He would be away from the council and everything involving it out at Vincent’s pride.” Master Arthur looked at Patrick. “But he’s stubborn and won’t leave.”

“I don’t need to. I’ve spent time with all of them. Their aura’s are too pure to be involved in what they’re being set up for.”

I had to agree. I sighed. This was going to be a headache, I could already tell. “Where would you like me to start?” I asked.

“Whatever you need to do, do it. I just want the security of my coven back. I do not like feeling as if I might be housing those involved in trafficking. I want the assurance that I can let my child run freely through the coven. I want to know my pregnant One isn’t under threat of being taken for obvious reasons. I need to know for certain they truly are who they say they are. My coven members all depend on me for their safety.”

I nodded. I understood that completely. He was coven master, and was responsible for everyone here. He needed to know if there was a threat among them or not.

“Very well. Is there any particular way in which you wish for us to go about this? Discreet? Just outright ask?” I glanced around the room. “None of this makes sense. You are a coven full of warlocks. They are only two that are to be questioned. What is the concern really?”

“I like them personally. I do not wish to make them uncomfortable if they are innocent as they seem to be happy here. But I cannot have them here if they are guilty of what this new information says.”

I nodded. I looked at Dante who shrugged. “I’m just doing what I’ve been told to do. I’m the muscle here for extra security. I don’t know what’s going on any more than you do.”

“Very well. We’ll set it up as if I have additional questions from the council. Evan will be here with me, since he’s so new to the council. The others, I’ll send out around the manor and they can be here simply for extra security for the moment.” The meeting with Master Edison had pretty much given this scenario as the cover while Salvatore and his team dug through not only the laptop but the new businesses and their workings.

“You can use my office for the interviews,” Balthazar said. “I’ll have Fenwick show the others around.” He glanced at the watch on his wrist. “This time of day the majority of them are most likely at the dining hall eating lunch.”

Immediately I looked at Evan, who seemed to always be hungry. It wasn’t unusual for a paranormal to have a large appetite. But Evan seemed to take it a step further with the amount of food he could eat. I shook my head when his eyebrows rose. We had just had breakfast not long ago. We were here to work, not join the coven and have lunch.

“You are all welcome to join them in the dining hall,” Master Arthur said. “In fact, that might be a great way for you to meet our newest members.”

I shook my head and rolled my eyes at Evan’s enthusiasm. I had no idea where he put all of that food. He was tall and slender, about the same height and size as I was. But he could easily eat double what I did in any meal, and then be hungry again in an hour.

“Is everything all right?” Master Arthur asked.

Immediately I glanced back at him. “Of course. We’ll go to the dining hall and see if we can’t mingle our way into some answers.” I much preferred to just ask our questions, and then be on our way. I was more than ready to get things over with and get back to the council so we could move forward with the other assignments. I didn’t mind the rotation to and from Italy. In fact, I rather enjoyed it. It put me a bit closer to home, and even I could admit that I was feeling somewhat homesick lately. Like Sebastian, I was close to my brothers. It had been a big change for me to not be near them every day. Sure, I could pop in and visit, but it wasn’t the same.

I was beginning to think I was just moping because not only had Sebastian found his One, but so had Caspian. That was to of my cousins. Younger cousins at that. Both had found their Ones, and although Caspian hadn’t given birth yet, he was mated and happily pregnant. I wanted that.

Well, maybe not the being pregnant part. I would carry my children if I happened to be chosen for that roll, but I was hoping that I would be gifted a sweet omega for my One. Someone that I could absolutely dote on and spoil. And spoil I would. I already had plans on how I would romance my One. All the things I would do for him every chance I had.

“Are you all right?” Balthazar asked, pulling me from my thoughts.

I sighed. “As much as I’m going to be. I am feeling a bit wistful lately. First Benjamin, then Sebastian, and now Caspian have found their Ones. And my next older brother Emmet has been mated for close to a decade now. I’m incredibly happy for all of them, but I cannot help but feel a bit melancholy about it. I know that not everyone finds their perfect other half, but I’ll admit that I’m being selfish and hope that I am one that is gifted someone to spend the rest of my life with.” We were immortal now. The thought of living the rest of my days without a meaningful connection to someone was depressing.

Balthazar nodded slowly. “I understand. I did not think I would find my One either. Then suddenly Grant was here. His mother was and still is a nightmare, but it’s better with her and John in Florida. They visit a few times a year, but everyone was in agreement that coven life simply wasn’t for her.”

I nodded slowly, not really understanding what he was really talking about other than his in-laws not living in the close vicinity. I sighed, thinking about my own parents. They were in Europe, Spain specifically at the moment.

“Here’s the dining hall,” Balthazar said as we approached a set of double doors. I’d been to the coven before, but the others on my team hadn’t. “It smells as if Grantham has gone all out for lunch today.” Balthazar looked at me and smiled. “I do love it when he puts out a barbeque spread.”

I nodded, because I didn’t know what else to do. We had a similar set up at the council, but I had found there were certain days that I didn’t enjoy the theme of the food. Barbeque was one of them. I sighed, but entered with the others in hope of there being something, anything that I would enjoy eating. Immediately upon entering the dining hall, I felt off. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was, but something was different.

“There’s Dominic,” Balthazar said. I followed the direction he’d indicated and noticed the man immediately. It wasn’t that he stood out drastically. But he certainly…well, stood out among the others he was with.

“He’s one on the list,” I said absently.

“Yes. Perhaps you could join their table and ask him some questions while you eat.”

I glanced around, looking for my team and realized they were all in line to get food. “Perhaps,” I replied. “Barbeque isn’t necessarily one of my favorite cuisines, but maybe I can find something that interests my stomach.”

Balthazar gave me a look. “I’ll introduce you, and then you can decide what you’re going to do about everything. Just between us two, I agree with you though. I’m not sure why all of the secrecy, or the need for this.”

My shoulders dropped a bit as I finally relaxed. Dominic had looked our way, and although he was still across the room, I could tell his eyes were chocolate brown and they hadn’t pulled away from me since they’d met mine.

I managed to look away, something that I didn’t exactly pick up on right away. I had started to respond to Balthazar when I realized that I was acting strange and off. It caused me to pause for a moment, and even Balthazar seemed to pick up on it.

“Are you all right?”

I thought about it a moment before I shrugged. “I’m not sure.” I looked back to Dominic and found him staring intently toward us. “I’ve felt a bit odd since I entered the dining hall with you.” I broke eye contact again and looked back to Balthazar. “Will you introduce me to all of your new members? I’m curious about them.”

“Certainly. There are several new members since you were here last.”

I nodded as we started walking toward the table that Dominic was sitting at. I recognized Cornelius already, and his little fae One, Matthew. But there were two others with them that I’d not met before.

As we got closer, I realized why I’d felt off when I entered the dining hall. My body started vibrating, and although I was thrilled with the prospect of finally being gifted my One, I was terrified it was going to end up being someone that I could never have. Would the fates be so cruel?

I froze, stopping some feet away from the table. Balthazar realized and turned back toward me, but I must have had a certain look on my face because when he met my gaze, his eyes widened.

“No.”

I sighed. “I don’t know who. But somewhere close. That’s why I felt off. My body wasn’t quite close enough, but now that I’m farther into the room, it’s someone in here.”

“You’re certain?”

I leaned closer. “What do vibrations coursing through your body normally mean to a warlock?”

Balthazar nodded. “We’ll figure it out. There are a few unmated warlocks here,” he told me. “Actually, all of the ones from Italy are still unmated. But there are also a few shifters from nearby that are also single. Perhaps it’s one of them?”

I could only shrug because I truly didn’t know who it could be, nor did I really care all that much. As long as my One wasn’t evil, I could deal with anything that was thrown our way.

“How about we start with some of the newcomers?” Balthazar asked. “Dominic and Elio are here from Italy. Although, I do believe Elio is quite interested in the ladies, if you understand what I’m saying.”

I chuckled. I did indeed. As we approached the table, a feeling of dread overcame me when the vibrations coursing through my body intensified. One of the unknown men seemed completely oblivious to our approach while the other was quite interested. That was my One, I had no doubt. With the little tidbit from Balthazar about Elio, I had to go with the assumption that my One was none other than Dominic DeLuca. Now wasn’t that just perfect. I sighed when we stopped next to the table.

“Dominic, Elio,” Balthazar said. “This is Frederick Ainsworth. He’s a council enforcer and has a few follow up questions for the two of you.”

I glanced at Balthazar, nodded once, and then looked back to the pair. “I’ll be in Fenwick’s office when the two of you are finished here,” I told them. I realized I needed to get out of there as quickly as possible. There was absolutely no way I could interview any of them, because it could be used against the council if someone ended up having issue with it. It certainly wasn’t my proudest moment, but I had no idea what else I could do so I turned and left as quickly as I dared, hoping that I didn’t bring too much attention to myself as I fled. I needed to talk to Dante quickly. He would have to do the interviews, and I needed to talk to Master Arthur. What a mess. Why? I’d been patient. I had thought I’d been understanding and overall, a good person. Then why was my One someone that I was here to investigate?