Chapter 37

37

KILLIAN

" O h really," I say, more than a little intrigued.

Alpha Webster sighs. "Cressida thinks he could do no wrong. She would never come forward with this because she's convinced herself that the rumours of what he was up to were untrue." He drags a hand through his greying hair and looks nervous. "My mate would take any attempt to blacken his name personally, but her father was not the man she thinks he was, at least, not to everybody else. And if we're to… work together in the future, it doesn't feel right not telling you everything I know."

This clearly weighs heavily on him. He's going against his mate's wishes but trying to do his duty at the same time.

"I appreciate you coming to discuss this."

Alpha Webster scoffs. "Thank me when you figure out the truth, and if I'm still alive to hear the tale." With a weary sigh, he settles back in his chair and rests his hands on his stomach. "George had a way about him, a charm, I suppose. Cressida saw him as all little girls see their fathers, as her hero. He could do no wrong." Shaking his head, as if he can't quite believe what he's about to do, he meets my eye. "And that charm, I believe, worked equally well on Queen Priscilla."

He looks at me carefully, expecting this to be some kind of bombshell, but when I say nothing, he simply leans back and laughs ruefully. "I can see you've been doing some digging all on your own."

"Some." I shrug. Anyone in my position would be doing the same. "But reliable information is hard to come by."

"George and Priscilla went to school together. They originally came from the same pack. Did you know that?" When I shake my head, he continues. "They were great friends, all the way up until George turned eighteen and got sent off to Alpha college. Priscilla met Morgan while he was away, and well, her family was extremely enthusiastic about the budding relationship, despite her lingering thoughts of George. Before he returned from Alpha college, Priscilla and the king were mated. She forgot all about Cressida's father until years later, when he himself had taken over his pack and started going to the meetings in the palace."

Giving the alpha my full attention, I wave away Edmund when he sticks his head through the door and attempts to interrupt. Nothing is more important than hearing the rest of this story.

"George made a point of seeking her out and reigniting their friendship, but in reality, he didn't take being dumped kindly, even if it was for royalty, and he was carrying a grudge. He made it his mission to attract Priscilla's attention once more, even though he was technically already promised to Cressida's mother."

"But not mated," I clarify, and Webster nods.

"Somehow, George managed to worm his way into Priscilla's affections once more, feeding her all sorts of nonsense about how they would have discovered that they were fated mates if he'd been around for her first shift, that kind of thing. And he started to convince her that once she gave Morgan an heir, he'd cast her aside and go in search of his own fated mate."

I wish I could say that was a far-fetched tale, but unfortunately, many monarchs have had multiple mates, seeing breeding a strong heir as something entirely separate from finding your happily ever after with your fated mate.

Producing an heir could not be left to chance.

"Priscilla became convinced that he would do exactly that and wanted to ensure that neither her nor her children would be cast aside when the king decided to find his true match. Knowing that Morgan was so eager to have a child, this was particularly cruel. George even went so far as to help Priscilla source birth control."

All the puzzle pieces slot into place. Those were the pills that my father found and brought to his friend to be tested. Instead of feeling angry, she went behind his back. I feel sorry for the queen. Someone she thought was a friend was feeding her lies, making her doubt the king's integrity, and her place at his side.

My father would never have left his queen, but that's not to say there aren't any other more roguish members of the royal family further back in our bloodline that would have made this tale a believable one.

"But do you think he did anything more than mess with her head?"

This was a cowardly way of getting back at Dad, out of spite for taking what George wanted. But being brave enough to actually try and kill the king is something else entirely.

Alpha Webster drums his finger on the arms of the chair, and after much deliberation, admits, "I honestly can't say. But I've heard the rumours that they were sneaking around together behind his back for more than just friendly chats."

That tallies with what the records are telling us, but how did the king not notice? Or maybe he did, and didn't care?

"And in the interest of openness, I figured I would share what I know. I'd like us all to become one big happy family when all this is done," he says. "So, I couldn't keep anything from you that would be a danger to either you or Charlotte."

"Is there any chance that Cressida knows more about what happened than you do?" I ask.

He draws in a sharp breath. I know that, as mates, if he asked her straight out, and she lied to him, he'd be able to tell. But maybe, he's never asked her because he doesn't want to know.

"I think she probably does," he admits reluctantly. "But whether it's just a salacious affair or something more sinister, who knows? I would like to think that my mate is not so corrupt that she would hold a murderer on such a high pedestal."

He leaves it at that.

Charlotte's dad can't promise she's not involved.

It's an interesting perspective I'm getting from Webster. He seems like a decent man, even if I don't agree with turning a blind eye to some of his mate's questionable activities as part of her council role. But I can't see him spending a lifetime with someone who would cover up her family's role in an assassination plot.

Or perhaps, Cressida is a better actor than he realises. And just like Priscilla, he's been fooled into thinking that she's something more than she is.

"I appreciate you coming to see me," I say to Alpha Webster, standing and extending my hand.

"You've given me a lot to think about.

He grips my hand firmly and gives it a solid pump.

"I'll be back for the ball. My wife would never allow me to miss such an occasion," he says, dryly with a roll of his eyes. "And I sincerely hope that my daughter will be available for me to visit with when I come next time."

I blink and say nothing.

So, he clearly asked about his daughter's whereabouts and was given the run-around by either Edmund or Zane. I'm sure he has a fair idea what's going on. The palace seems to have more leaks than a sieve, but I'm not going to be one of them.

"I sincerely hope so too," I say. And when he can sense no deceit in my words, Alpha Webster accepts that it's good enough and nods.

"Good luck, Prince Killian. I hope you find who you're looking for."

With that, he turns and leaves my office, and I sink back down into my chair with a loud groan.

He's given me some answers, but I have no idea where to even begin unravelling the web of lies and deceit that seemed to shroud the palace back in those days.

Or how to do it without hurting my mate even more.