10. Adrianna

10

ADRIANNA

“ N ews?” The question is nothing more than a breath as adrenaline instantly thrums through my veins, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Beau scrubs at the back of his neck. “Sorry, it will only be a moment. He wants to tell you in person,” he offers, a weak smile on his lips before he heads back toward the door.

“He?” Kryll asks, just as confused as me, but he’s gone before he can offer an answer.

An awkward silence blankets the room as everyone looks at each other, confused as hell, with no answer in sight. It’s on the tip of my tongue to dismiss Beau all together with every second his presence no longer lingers, but he’s at the doorway once again before I have time to think straight.

“Sorry about that. They have no patience,” he offers, pointing over his shoulder. The second he steps aside, it all makes sense.

“Addi!” Nora squeals with excitement, barreling toward me, and I brace for impact just in time for her to wrap me in her arms. I squeeze her back just as tightly, a strange sensation washing over me at the knowledge that we’re both back here, where it all began.

Peering over her shoulder, my father enters the room. The grim smile set in a straight line across his face reminds me that Beau left in a hurry, only offering a hint as to why he was leaving, and that he wanted to explain something to me.

My hold on Nora loosens, but our fingers instinctively intertwine as she remains at my side.

“Dad?”

He sighs, stopping a few feet away from me as he acknowledges the whole group first. “Clementine broke into the council building and took the mage.”

She did what?

“My father?” Brody blurts, eyebrows high as he gapes at my father, who nods in return.

“Orenda, yes.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Tingles shoot up my arm as two questions rattle in my mind.

How and why?

The why quickly registers in my mind: because he’s a mage, against us and what we stand for, and comes from a position of power. He’s useful, with an intimate knowledge of the kingdom and all of its players. I don’t like it, but it makes sense. But how?

As if sensing my thoughts, my father clears his throat. “She is believed to have stormed the council building with Fairbourne, using their magic to penetrate through the small defenses that were left after you were declared Queen. I’m assuming it was a matter of negligible power for Fairbourne to get through them. He was head of the fae origin during his time at the academy, after all. They didn’t just hand those positions out for no reason.”

“How do you know this?” Raiden asks, and my gaze flashes to his. There’s a tiny part of me that wants to gape at him every time he blurts a question at my father in his vampire-ish way, needing to defend the man who raised me, but there’s an even bigger part of me that appreciates the fact that he doesn’t let anyone’s stature change how he approaches them.

His brashness would probably even be hot if it wasn’t being aimed at my father. That’s the conclusion I come to as my father turns to answer him.

“Fairbourne wanted to make sure I knew,” he offers, making my eyebrows pinch in confusion.

“How?”

My father holds up his cell phone. As old as it is, it can still receive an image, and there it is. Clementine is beaming from ear to ear, her signature deranged expression consuming her entire face as she points at Orenda. Standing side by side, it’s clear they’ve left the council cellar on excellent terms, given the menacing smile on his face.

“Casualties?” I ask, my pulse ringing in my ears as I let the information settle in. They’re making moves, plays I haven’t been anticipating, and now it suddenly feels like they have the upper hand.

“Two,” my father explains, and I nod.

“Send care to their families immediately,” I reply, my gaze latching onto Raiden to confirm it’s him I want to handle this. As the head of defense, I want his first official act to be showing that he cares about those risking their lives for our kingdom.

“That’s never been done before,” Beau murmurs, and I shrug, not tearing my gaze from Raiden.

“I know, but we’re doing things differently this time, remember?”

My vampire saunters toward me, not stopping until we’re toe to toe as he peers deep into my eyes. Nora snickers from beside me, releasing my hand to cover her mouth as she speaks. “Fangs,” she breathes, earning a glare from the man in question.

“I’m going to think of an excellent nickname for you, and it’s going to suck so hard,” he promises, making her snicker launch into a giggle, and it warms my heart. Opting to ignore her before she can reply, his eyes come back to me. “I’ll handle this, Adrianna. It will be good for me to start connecting with our existing defenses and make any necessary adjustments now so we’re locked down tight.”

My chest aches knowing he has to leave, but I nod. It’s what the kingdom needs and exactly what we set out to do. “Thank you.”

He nods in return, eliminating the remaining space between us to press the softest kiss imaginable to the corner of my lips. I hum at the contact, but he’s gone in the next moment. Before I can even catch my breath, Flora steps toward me.

“I’m not going to part ways with an epic moment like that unfortunately,” she muses, winking at me as I shake my head at her. “But I think now is the perfect time for me to reach out to the different origins, begin liaising with everyone so we’re all on the same page. Any aid we can offer to stop Clementine’s power from spreading needs to be taken. The quicker we can eliminate her, the better,” she offers, giving me a half squeeze before heading for the door.

“Be safe,” Arlo hollers after her, but she doesn’t turn, simply waving a hand over her head.

The lovesick puppy eyes he’s rocking are something I can connect with.

“I need to reach out to the mages. It’s important for my role, to establish connections and all of the other boring shit, but it’s going to be infinitely more helpful if I can get some information on my father. Someone within the mage community must know more about his antics because it’s more than clear that I don’t know anything about that man,” Brody states, his shoulders slumped as he offers me a tight smile, and I nod.

He takes that as his invitation to come closer to me, and when he embraces me, his hold is tight, the strain and tension easing from his body as I stroke a hand up and down his back in comfort. I don’t know how much good it does, but a beat later he’s kissing my cheek and sauntering toward the door.

And then there were seven.

My adrenaline curls through my veins, eager to take action, but there are so many different directions I’m desperate to seek, I don’t know where to turn. My head is spinning.

Arlo turns to me, jaw falling slack, but I rush to speak before he can breathe a single word. “Where am I needed most?”

The tight smile that flashes across his face is my only warning. “You get the grand tour of your new office. The communication systems are all set up and ready for you. You’ve got back to back meetings with all of the origins. It’s important for you to show your face and start creating a bond. I’ll still be in the castle, though. I’m going to find the advisor’s office and see what I’m working with.”

“Back to back meetings?” I repeat, the adrenaline tightening around my throat as I swiftly realize any form of action I was hoping to take is muted.

“You’re starting with the fae, so that should be fun,” he says, the smile turning genuine on his face as I glance between him and my father.

I was raised to… fight, take action, and make calculated moves, but when the situation takes its first turn I’m supposed to… talk with people?

“As the queen, shouldn’t I be helping with more urgent matters?” The words fall from my lips slowly, and I note the slight wince crinkling the corners of Arlo’s eyes.

“Meeting with the different origins is urgent, Addi.”

Fuck.

I sigh, my lips twisting as I stress. I’m used to solving situations with action, not words.

“Okay,” I breathe, turning to the rest of the group who are yet to disperse.

“I’m going to check in with my mother before I meet with the commander. If Clementine’s willing to make moves like this, we need to learn to be one step ahead,” Beau states, and I nod in agreement. He doesn’t wait around, marching outside in a flurry before he’s gone.

“I should probably check in at The Council’s building, see what information I can gather,” Kryll explains, and my chest aches with panic as he nears. “I know I’m going on my own, but it’s fine. Traveling in a larger group will only draw more attention to the situation,” he adds, anticipating my objection, and I instantly sag in defeat.

“Please be safe. If anything seems out of the ordinary, call someone else in to help. Make it me. Please,” I breathe as he steps into my space, towering over me.

“I’ll be safe if you be safe too,” he offers, cupping my cheek, and I give him a pointed look.

“I’m going to be here it seems. Nothing can get to me inside those gates. There are plenty of protective layers at play to keep me out of danger,” I remind him, and the corner of his mouth tips up before he leans in and claims my lips. He brushes his mouth over mine once, twice, three times, before he takes a step back.

“Just because you’re my favorite doesn't mean you get to smooch her so close to me like that,” Nora says with a chuckle and a hint of sass, and Kryll doesn’t even attempt to argue with her.

One wave and he’s gone.

Then there were four.

My inner circle is divided and scattered in a million directions, leaving me feeling exposed without them by my side. At least Cassian is…

The wolf in question stuffs his hand into his pants pocket, retrieving his cell phone as a frown darkens his face. The look in his eyes as they collide with mine roots me to the spot and I know before he even speaks that he has to leave.

“I’m needed on the compound,” he rasps, guilt flickering in his features, and I know it’s because he can see the pain in my eyes. I try my best to blink it away as I nod.

“Of course. Go, take care of what you need. You know where I will be,” I offer, forcing a smile to my lips, but I know it doesn’t even come close to meeting my eyes.

I need to get a grip.

I’m embarrassing myself more than anything. More than that, I’m supposed to be a strong independent woman, and right now I’m far from it.

“I love you,” he whispers, capturing my chin between his thumb and finger as he tilts my face up, and I smile, his words warming me.

He kisses me before I can say anything back, before his touch leaves my skin. I blink my eyes open, not even sure when they closed, only to find him gone.

“I’ll leave you guys to it, but if you need me to aid with anything, you know where I am,” my father states, squeezing my arm in comfort, but before he can head for the door, I stop him in his tracks.

“I could probably use a little bit of your knowledge and wisdom right now, Dad.”

His kind eyes find me, but they quickly shift to Arlo. “I’ll help set her up, Arlo. You head for the advisor’s office. Make sure to take a right, the left will have you searching for hours in the wrong direction,” my father offers, amusement lacing his words as Arlo spins on the heels of his boots and stomps in the other direction with a shake of his head.

And now there are three.

My father, Nora, and me.

“Why is everyone doing something… grand, but me?” I blurt, my gut twisting in knots as I try to remain positive, but something doesn’t feel right.

A sympathetic smile graces my father’s lips as he joins Nora and me, and he plants his hand on my arm, attempting to comfort me. “Take it as a sign that you chose well, Addi,” he offers, and I find myself frowning once again.

“Huh?”

“Truly, the more you’re doing, the less you’re delegating to those around you. Which means you can’t trust in them like you need. The greatest honor comes from knowing your inner circle is strong, unwavering, and dedicated,” he offers as Nora reaches for my other arm, attempting to comfort me too, but the both of them together only seem to make me feel claustrophobic.

“I don’t think I like it,” I admit, stepping out from their hold as I fold my arms over my chest, the weight of the crown on my head feeling heavier than ever as I pout like a damn child.

“That’s because you’re a control freak,” Nora declares, and I can’t even deny it. It’s true. I know I am, which only makes this harder.

“I am n… so what if I am?” I grumble, my fingers flexing at my sides as I try to will away the itch of irritation under my skin, but it’s no use.

“Let’s get you to your office, Addi. Maybe once you’re in your seat, you might feel differently.”

I doubt it. I highly freaking doubt it, but I take his offer and head toward the door with him.

“It feels wrong to not be taking immediate action,” I mumble, my chest easing just a little at the admission, and the smile on his face is a knowing one.

“It’s far from it, darling. Place the crown on your head, and instead of feeling the weight of your new role, embrace it. You don’t get to be Addi or the queen whenever you want, they’re one and the same now. It’s just that sometimes you don’t get to handle a situation as you initially anticipated, but trust me when I say these meetings will be important. No monarch wants to be their own demise. Trust me, I should know.”