Chapter 25

25

KILLIAN

M y newly established office seemed like a safe place to have this conversation. I'm already settled at the table, practically groaning under the weight of the files that Theo, Edmund, and Blake have sent my way.

All morning, I've been pouring over the files, and my head is pounding from trying to absorb so much information in such a short space of time. At least, I pretend my headache is from work, although it could just as easily be the lack of sleep.

After speaking with Zane, I thought I'd feel better, but all I got was another few hours of fitful sleep, tossing and turning, dreaming about my mate.

Charlotte has been absent all day. I know Zane was with her, keeping her up to date on our plans, and since I haven't heard anything to the contrary, I'm assuming she'll be at the dinner tonight, on my arm.

My wolf puffs up his chest with pride. He wants his mate to be seen with us. I'm going to have to be careful he doesn't give the reality of our situation away. It's one thing to be seen dating, but nobody can know we're meant for each other.

When Edmund returned earlier with her scent lingering on his clothing, it was a struggle not to snarl at him.

Hearing Elodie's footsteps approach, I close my eyes briefly, calming my thoughts, and sit up straighter in my chair. With a gentle knock, Elodie announces her arrival, even though she knows I'll have sensed her coming.

"Come in," I say, smiling as Elodie opens the door a few inches and peers inside before entering the room fully. "Thank you for joining me."

Elodie gives me a tiny curtsy and tips her head in respect. "Of course."

"I need your help," I admit ruefully, waving a hand over the mountains of information stacked before me. "Edmund said you'd be able to answer some questions for me, ahead of the council meeting tonight."

She walks forward and takes a seat when I gesture to the chair opposite me.

Edmund appears as if from nowhere, with tea, and after pouring some for both of us, he slips out again silently.

"I believe you're bringing my sister to dinner this evening," Elodie says, folding her hands demurely in her lap. Nothing in her body language gives away how she feels about this turn of events. She's a closed book, even as she gives me a small smile.

"Yes, I am." Clearing my throat, I sit back and rest my hands on my stomach. I'm surprised she brought it up so soon, but it's better to discuss it now, and get back down to work. "Zane told you?"

Elodie smooths back a loose strand of hair and gives me an indulgent smile. "There isn't much that goes on around here that I don't know about immediately, Your Majesty. I had an idea it was coming."

She chuckles softly when I blink but say nothing. "There's no such thing as privacy in this life. That's exactly why Charlotte pushes back against being part of it. But it looks like, for the right man, she's willing to compromise."

Now, it's my turn to laugh. "I don't think she has any intention of compromising." I watch Elodie closely for any signs of anger or disappointment, but she looks completely unfazed. Perhaps, deep down, she's not the ambitious social climber her mother wants her to be.

"That sounds about right." When she sees that I'm puzzled by her reaction, she sighs. "Charlotte is free-spirited, whereas I prefer structure and order. If I'm completely honest, I expect your life to have neither of those in the near future. I'd like to find a man to have a long, uneventful life with."

With a raised eyebrow, I lean forward. "You don't think I'll have a long, uneventful life?"

It's not a threat, but Elodie clearly has opinions on what she sees happening.

"Not really. Definitely not uneventful. We'll see about the long part. It probably depends on whether you can figure out what you need to know from all of this."

Very few people shock me, but Elodie is talking about my possible assassination like it's a certainty.

"You don't think whoever attacked my father is done."

She laughs and pulls the first dossier from the pile. "No, and neither do you, or I wouldn't be here." With one perfectly manicured nail, she taps the front cover. "The question isn't who had the most to gain from your father's attack before. That's done. Whoever orchestrated that is most likely dead. You need to focus on who has the most to lose from your return now."

Elodie's right. Perhaps I've been looking at this from the wrong angle. Intrigued, I wait for her to elaborate.

"Power is addictive. All of the council have it and want to keep it. Some, for financial reasons, others, because their personalities are so dull, they'd have nothing going for them without it." She's warming up to the theme now, her emotionless front starting to fade a little, as she lets her interest shine through.

"Take my mother, for instance." Elodie lifts the next file and flicks to the first page. "Without the council, she's merely a luna who married well. Status means everything to her. But she lives vicariously through her children now, so the question is, would she have the motive or the initiative to do something drastic to protect her position?"

I believe the answer to be yes, but I say nothing.

"Or Alpha Rhodes. His family was being investigated by King Morgan for diverting funds from their pack. If he feared you would look into that again, where the council has been happy to brush that under the carpet, would that be enough reason for him to go after you?"

It appears Elodie knows everyone's dirty little secrets.

"Let's not forget Alpha Teegan, who's been storing valuable antiques, but rumour has it, he's fenced most of it to fund a new business venture that's on the verge of going bust. He might not want you back and asking questions. Plus, nearly every council member benefits from free travel, essentially, being above the law, so they have the power to lean policy decisions in their favour."

Steepling my hands on the table in front of me, I frown. "Are you telling me everyone here has a reason to want me dead?"

"Pretty much." Elodie smooths a hand over her skirt and straightens the hem. "But not everyone is brave enough to act on it."

Brave is a funny word to use when it comes to something as cowardly as this. I would respect a direct challenge to my authority, but not a sneak attack when I'm least expecting it.

"Anyone else that stands out to you?"

Elodie shrugs one slim shoulder. "Zane Williams probably won't be too happy to absorb the cost of guarding the palace, but he seems to be pragmatic to a fault."

Edmund believed that Elodie would be helpful, yet now, I'm not sure helpful is the right word.

She knows well that Zane would never hurt an innocent person. Maybe she's not as okay with being pushed out by her sister as she's pretending to be?

Either way, there's no point in pushing her. I have lots of work to do, and with a diary full of engagements coming up, not that much time to do it in.

"Thank you for your time, Elodie."

Realising she's been dismissed, she stands and gives me her trademark meek smile. "I'm sorry I can't help you." She casts her eyes around the room as she rounds the chair, her fingertips dragging over the expensive fabric. "It's a shame it didn't work out. I really do love this place."

With one last look, her eyes burning into mine, she ducks out the door and walks down the hall, heels clicking on the polished wooden floor.

I consider her words carefully. She did seem genuinely regretful that she wasn't able to give me more information. Maybe she really can't. She did say the palace is always watching. If she were to point the finger, perhaps she'd be the one in danger.

With a sigh, I decide there's no point thinking about that. All I can do now is hope that if she hears something on the grapevine, she'll come to me or Zane with it.

Although judging by that performance, I think the only person she'd go to with anything, is her mother.