Chapter 39

39

KILLIAN

A s guests trickle into the ballroom, I remain standing against the far wall, greeting everyone as they enter.

Theo stands at my back, and Blake Steel at my side, keeping a watchful eye over the room.

Members of Blake's pack are scattered amongst the guests, working alongside my immediate security team. They're here to help, just in case, but are remaining discreet while those who are obviously guards verify everybody who's arriving is who they say they are before searching their cars for weapons.

My nieces and nephews are here, keeping up the pretence that we think Charlotte was the attacker the other night, and that there's no immediate threat to my life. Their mates are here, along with all of the Joneses head family, and something most of the wolves in the room are finding unsettling, includes Natalie and Marcus Lennox, two bear shifters with some shady relatives in their family tree.

"Bears, Your Majesty?" Cressida says as she enters the room, a pinched look on her face as she escorts her parents through the double doors.

George is a tall, thin man, but with a steely look in his eye that leaves you under no illusion that he was once a strong and powerful wolf in his youth.

"Bears. Natalie is mated to my nephew, Chase, and Marcus Lennox is the sheriff of Grey Ridge, and mated to Leila Jones. Although, you already knew that." I shake the hand of George's mate, a small woman with a strong grip. "It's a pleasure to meet you both," I say to Charlotte's grandparents, watching and waiting to see how George reacts to me.

Does he look guilty? It's hard to tell. His attention is on the other wolves filling up the room, in particular, some of the former alpha's from his time at the helm.

"Bringing back some happy memories being here?" I ask, interested to see what he has to say.

The palace has been largely closed since my father left. Inviting them was my way of seeing how these former council members would react. Would any of them give themselves away? Or cough up information that's been troubling them for decades?

"Some. Others, not so happy." He stares off into the distance, looking almost sad, and casts a sharp glance down at his mate before Cressida loops her arm through his, and they carry on to their table to keep the queue moving.

Not what I expected.

Max, Steel's beta, stands on the far side of the room, keeping a close watch on the goings on, while simultaneously shoving as many canapes as he can into his mouth. He's wearing a tux and looks impressively sharp, despite the top knot and tattoos peeking up over his shirt collar.

He's somehow rocking a tux and looking like a bad boy, all at once. Even when his mate passes by, and he dips his head down for a quick kiss.

"You don't mess with that woman." Steel warns. "Or her sister." He tips his head toward another blonde seated close to Cressida, who looks as bored as I feel. They don't look particularly dangerous, but as Steel continues to shake his head, I believe him.

Don't mess with the cute, blonde witches.

I tug on my cufflinks, uncomfortable in this get up, and smooth back my sleek, dark hair.

Looking at all the happy couples, being here doesn't feel right without Charlotte by my side.

Is this how I'll feel all the time when I go back to Ireland? If I can't stand her being in the basement, how will I cope when we're an ocean apart, and I don't know what she's doing?

It's going to be hell.

My plan had been to break the bond, but I know I can never do that now. I'm not sure I can abandon her, either, despite what I told her before.

That's a problem for future Killian, though. Tonight, I just need to work out who's trying to kill me, and stop them, ensuring nobody else is going to come after my family when I leave.

"Focus Killian," I say to myself, taking another sip of my drink.

"So, what's the plan?" Steel asks as the last of the wolves enter the room and find their places. "Do we just stand around staring at everybody until somebody tries to kill you?" Steel's expression is deadpan, only a slight twitch of his lips gives away that he's joking.

But really, that's exactly what the plan is.

I go about my business as normal, just being polite to the people who spent the last couple of days coming to me, confessing their deepest, darkest secrets. And judging half of the room who I now consider pieces of trash for what they've done to either their packs or their families.

The other half, however, I now consider friends. These are the alphas and council men and women who dedicate their lives to making things better in a not so perfect system.

Hopefully, I can make things easier for them from now on.

"We just try to work out who looks the guiltiest, then figure out who's to blame before they get to kill me."

"And what if they don't make their move tonight?" Steel asks. "Are we going to have a ball every week? Not that I mind a good party, but it's going to play havoc with my schedule. Tonight is date night with Zoe, and much as I love your company, I was rather hoping our next one will be just the two of us."

He smiles fondly down at his mate, who's sitting at the back of the room, sandwiched between Chase Walker and Marcus Lennox, the dour looking grizzly, who looks like he'd rather be anywhere on this earth but here.

"You couldn't have made it more obvious that you're expecting something to kick off," I comment, looking at the way Zoe is protected on all sides.

"Well, look. If somebody takes you out, that just leaves her and Chase as targets. They're easier to protect together."

"You're supposed to be keeping an eye on me," I say, dryly, knowing though, that if it was me, I'd be doing exactly the same.

His mate comes before all else.

"And where's your date? I thought Charlotte was to be on your arm. Or are you still pretending that she had something to do with the attack?"

"She's still in custody," I say primly, not wanting to get drawn on the fact that I'm a complete coward, and I've resorted to locking up my mate, rather than attempting to keep her safe.

"I'm sure she's thrilled." Steel smiles. "Did you know I briefly did something equally stupid? When my brother was threatening to take my mate away from me."

I baulk at his use of the word, mate, but don't correct him, itching to see where he's going with this story. I have no experience with newly found mates. Maybe this will be helpful.

"I sent her away. I told her that it couldn't work, and that she needed to leave." He shakes his head like he can't quite believe he was that dumb.

"But you changed your mind?" I say, looking at Zoe laughing with her family, while sneaking adoring glances over at the big alpha at my side.

"Indeed, it took me about twenty-four hours to realise I was a fool, and that she was safer by my side. And that if I left her on her own for any length of time, and something happened to her, it would be all my fault."

His face turns dark as something else crosses his mind.

"And don't forget, Your Majesty, these women that have been chosen for us, they're powerful and attractive and smart. While we are being idiots, someone else, with all the right moves, could swoop in there and try to steal them away. Don't forget that."

I glance over my shoulder at Theo, who swallows hard and stares at the door, like he hasn't been listening to every word we've been saying.

"Surely, anybody who knows that I'm dating Charlotte wouldn't be stupid enough to do anything like that," I say loudly, for Theo's benefit.

Blake stares at me like I've lost my mind.

"Wolves respect hierarchy and mating bonds, but they're also instinctual animals. The opportunity to breed with a prime female like ours is a temptation too great to resist for most, even if it means blowing up their entire world. And let's not forget, if they don't know your mated, they're not to blame."

Maybe my dad overexaggerated how much respect other males would give to my connection.

I stare at him, blinking hard, as something tickles the back of my brain, an idea that I can't quite grasp.

Something about strong females and breeding and being willing to ruin it all.

Was Priscilla, another strong female, enough of a temptation for George to be stupid enough to ruin it all? Did he think my father was standing in their way? Possibly. But then, he went on to mate with another. And if George adored the queen so much, how was she killed? Surely, he did it all, so they'd be together.

Frowning, I stare at the floor as I try to order my thoughts. But before I can drag forth the idea that's percolating in the back of my mind, Edmund rings a bell calling everybody to their tables, then the crowds start to move.

Everybody stands and waits for me to do the same.

Duty calls.

I move to the head of the table and thank everybody for attending before taking my seat, uncomfortable with the pomp and ceremony. Everybody else sits, and conversation resumes between wolves that haven't seen each other for a long time.

Despite the close connections, some are even doing introductions.

Elodie sits a few seats down on my left-hand side, and when I catch her eye, she gives me a small, sympathetic smile before resuming her chat with a tall, powerfully built wolf to her left.

He seems completely engrossed in what she's saying, while Elodie smiles and surreptitiously takes in everything going on around her.

That woman is a shark, I think to myself.

Whatever man she decides is worthy of her is going to be in for a run for his money.

As the meal starts, I watch everybody else picking up their knives and forks.

And as I lift mine, I hesitate. Somebody's trying to kill me. I stare at my meal and try to imagine how my father lived like this for as long as he did. Imagining a threat at every turn.

Everybody slowly realises that I'm not eating and turns to stare.

So, I cut a slice of meat, and I'm just about to bring it to my lips when Theo leans over my shoulder and takes a small piece of meat and some mashed potato onto his fork and shoves it into his mouth.

Zane scans the assembled guests with an unconcerned look and laughs when Theo grins, and bows in greeting to the watching shifters.

"Compliments to the chef."

The tension eases when Theo doesn't keel over dead, and I give him a grateful nod as I begin eating.

Yes, the sooner this is all over, the better.