Chapter Five

The potential threat to Henri had always been there, but something about Wingspan getting a note gave it life. Rocky was on edge because of it.

He stood in the corner, away from the others, because he still hadn’t calmed down enough to be good company. Bandos stuck close for support. Or to stop Rocky from burning an innocent person to death for looking at him wrong. Rocky wasn’t sure. Either way, Rocky appreciated Bandos being there.

He’d like it if Henri glued himself to his side. It would give him peace of mind. But he was safe with Sully. It would have to be enough.

Everyone in the room steered clear. They weren’t idiots. No one in the room wanted to deal with Rocky.

It was best if he stayed to himself and kept his mouth shut until he needed to talk. He’d make himself the center of attention and he didn’t want that. The meeting wasn’t about him.

One thing he didn’t like was the conversation revolving around Henri. And it would at some point because of the message Wingspan had received. Maybe it made Rocky a territorial asshole, but Henri was his mate. No one else needed to have an opinion about him. And also, Henri was part of the family. Rocky’s family.

Rocky growled.

Bandos glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, scowling. He worried about Rocky’s mental health. He wasn’t the only one. Rocky worried about himself.

The proximity with no intimacy or bonding had gone on long enough. After the meeting, Rocky and Henri were going to have a conversation about keeping secrets from each other and about their relationship expectations.

Rocky sighed.

Some of the fight went out of him. It was as if deciding to end their little standoff was all it took to bring himself back from the brink.

“First things first. We need to talk about Fowler.” Ladon started the meeting.

Ladon held the meeting in the kitchen. While anyone could walk into the room, Ladon didn’t seem to have any problems with it.

“Has the investigating team been able to find out who Fowler was working with?” Laden asked Rocky and Bandos. Rocky let Bandos answer.

“We have a few names. Taylor has been a big help. But we still haven’t been able to find out who’s running the show since Fowler’s capture.”

Taylor nodded when several heads turned his way, but otherwise, he didn’t comment.

“Is the council questioning these people?” Garridan met Rocky’s gaze.

“The short answer is yes. Sully’s been talking with Quidel and some of their investigators every day. We’ve been sharing information.” Rocky tried to focus on answering the question and while he did a good job, it was a struggle. His mind never strayed from Henri. “Fowler’s not giving anything away and no one knows who his second in command is.”

Taylor spoke up. “I know who my commander was. That was it.”

“Is there a second in command? Maybe Fowler gave orders and people followed,” Ramsey said.

His mate nodded. “We may be searching for someone who isn’t there.”

“Who sent the message to the Wingspan alpha, then?” Ladon asked.

“Someone in charge of making more enhanced humans?” Lucas hadn’t attended very many meetings until a few months ago when Echo had become a part of the clan. Together, they were a bomb waiting to explode. People learning about Lucas’ special abilities was how Saint Lakes had gotten involved. Lucas and Echo needed to be a part of the discussion because they would be the ones to save everyone’s life if the worst happened. Rocky didn’t doubt it. “Maybe Fowler was the only one pulling everyone’s strings. Maybe he had a lot of seconds-in-command.”

“There’s a way to find out.” Fane met Lucas’s gaze as if he were communicating with him.

Lucas nodded and then turned to Bennett, who growled. Their conversation was internal and between them, but it was obvious Lucas was trying to convince Bennett, his dragon shifter fated mate, to not stand in his way when he tried to enter the mind of a power-hungry sociopath.

Rocky wouldn’t have let Henri do it either. But it was a good idea.

Ladon met Rocky’s gaze before speaking. “I’m worried about stepping on the council’s toes. We’re all working together. Which means we won’t send our witch to their headquarters without permission. And I’d like our investigative team to continue their research.”

Rocky nodded. “I’ll have Sully contact the council as soon as I relieve him of guard duty.”

Since Sully’s been a liaison between Saint Lakes and the council and he’s built a rapport, he should continue talking with them.

“What about using Wesley to talk to Fowler?” The question came from Ramsey.

Rocky growled. “That monster traumatized Wesley. He won’t get within a hundred miles of Fowler.”

Ramsey held up his hands. “It was just an idea.”

Rocky shook his head but didn’t comment.

Ladon raised his eyebrows and met Rocky’s gaze again. “Okay, I think we’re done for now. Let’s meet next week. Same time and place.”

Everyone filed out of the room. Rocky followed Bandos and Echo, but he didn’t get very far.

“Rocky. I’d like a word.” So they would talk about Henri finally. At least Ladon didn’t have the conversation in front of the group.

Rocky hung back. As soon as everyone but him and Ladon left, Rocky handed the evidence Bandos had found exonerating Henri.

Ladon took it, raising his eyebrows until he began reading. He read the entire conversation before meeting Rocky’s gaze. “So you thought I was what? Going to throw him in the cells in Mom’s basement.”

Rocky lost all his steam. “I’m fighting the mating pull and trying to protect my mate all at the same time.”

Ladon put the papers on the kitchen island. “This is still good information.”

“It’s Bandos’s doing.”

“I trust you.” At least someone did. Ladon sighed. “When will you start to trust me?”

Rocky’s gaze snapped to Ladon. He growled at the implication. “I do.”

Ladon put his hand on the papers. “This suggests you don’t.”

“If Henri had given Perkins his notes, we would consider him a traitor.”

“But still your mate. I trust you to handle the situation with Henri.” Ladon ran a hand through his hair and slumped. “I’d be in way over my head if not for Magnus and the rest of you guys.”

Magnus sat at the kitchen table but closed the distance, wrapping his arm around Ladon’s waist. “You’re doing an amazing job, baby.”

“You’re a good alpha.” Rocky needed to give credit where credit was due. “And you’re right. But it’s not a lack of trust. I’ve been the alpha of my family for a long time. It’s not easy relying on someone else to lead.”

“From one alpha to another, I get it, man.”

“My dragon is going nuts. The need to protect is stronger than ever. And not just Henri. Echo too. They’re my responsibility.”

“Our responsibility. But I get it, man. With Henri, you’re feeling the mate pull. Drives us dragon shifters crazy.” Ladon chuckled when Magnus protested, but he grew serious again. “It’s true. Our baser instincts take over. You’ll feel better once you bond.”

What if it wasn’t the secret holding Henri back? What if it were something else?