33

I knew I should have filled Khaos in completely on what all had transpired. I really meant to, but I didn't think we'd have to worry about another kidnapping attempt already. Even though I was obviously worried enough that I ended up calling Khaos to request his assistance. I start the car for the short drive back to the hotel, and I begin to fill him in.

“We don't know why, but it has something to do with my father.”

Khaos takes the news about as well as I did. I can feel his wolf trying to force a shift. “What the fuck does your father want with Leera?” he asks through gritted teeth.

“To kill me, I'm in the way of something of his...” Leera admits softly. “I heard him telling one of the kidnappers when they thought I was still knocked out from being drugged.”

“What the fuck do you mean in the way of something?”

“We don't have all the details yet, but we believe it has something to do with why I was arranged to marry India. A couple months ago, she and my father came to dinner to tell me that she and I would be taking the thrones if the heir wasn't found.” The thought alone still makes my blood boil. “What we don't know is why. Judging from India's reactions, we thought it was just a power move. But with new information from a local white witch, it seems there may be more going on than we could have ever anticipated.”

“Goddess,” Khaos sighs. “Are the King and Queen involved?”

“Not that we could find. So far the only ones involved are my father, India's father, and India.”

“Isn't India's father the King's advisor? So is he doing the King's dirty work or going behind his back?” he questions.

“I have to assume that he's going behind his back. I've spent a great deal of time with the King, and he's a good man. He cares for his people. I don't think he would do anything other than what he's always done. I don't know. Something just feels off. Like we're missing a really big puzzle piece.”

“W-wait...what if...oh, god!” Leera starts sobbing in the passenger seat just as I park the car, finally back at the hotel.

“Leera, baby, what's wrong? What is it?”

“Wh-what if my p-parents were killed because of me t-too?” she wails.

I want to tell her she's wrong and that her parents were just in an accident, but I don't know if I could even believe myself at this point.