Chapter - Richard

Istand at the giant circular window in my bedroom, staring at the dense forest behind my treehouse. Pressing a button in the window frame, I select the option for rain. The magical window overlay can produce all varieties of weather, but pouring, pounding rain is my favorite. I love the tiny monster town of Ever, but the perfect sunny weather sometimes gets to me. I miss the wilder weather of my home haven, Acadia. I sometimes even miss the tropical heat of my adoptive haven, Santa Alaya.

The moment the rain hologram begins to play over the surface of my window, a sense of peace steals over me. I love staring at the rainy forest—it quiets my mind, most notably my wolf's voice, which has become loud and demanding on the best of days. But even he falls silent when it rains.

Sometimes, I stare into the downpour and wonder what it would be like to share everything I've accomplished with someone, a partner. But it doesn't seem like the goddess Alaya has someone in the works for me. As if she can sense my melancholy, the treehouse creaks and groans, her version of a comforting hug.

A chirping sound from the living room makes me twitch my ear. It's my communication disk—someone's calling from another haven.

Muttering, I leave the rain behind and jog out of my bedroom and into the giant rustic living area. After grabbing the flat metal comm disk off the wall, I set it on the floor. A single name hovers over its smooth surface.

Marco.

Running a hand through my salt-and-pepper waves, I direct the comm disk to answer. The moment I do, a life-size hologram of my oldest friend rises from the disk.

"Mi rey," I say with a teasing lilt, dipping my head to one side as I grin playfully.

"Cut that shit out," Marco barks. "I'm not in the mood."

I lean against my fridge and cross both arms, flipping to alpha mode. It's been a long time since I was the king's Second, but it's easy to fall back into that role. "What's wrong?"

He runs both copper hands through his hair, the mirror of mine. "Lola fucking took off again tonight. Nu?ez found her putting on a godsdamned concert in another haven. Huge crowd gathered. They knew she was coming, which means she planned it. Yet again."

I grimace. Marco's daughter Lola has always had a wild streak. I've reminded Marco plenty of times that she gets it from him. It's not the first time she's snuck out to play music and I suspect it won't be the last, either. She's something of a rock star, despite her father's wishes otherwise.

Pitch-black eyes find mine. "I'm going to be challenged soon, probably by my Second, Eliel. I'm hearing things."

I nod. It's the way of our people, but being challenged as the sitting king is a whole different ball game, to use one of the human sayings Thea, a new resident, recently taught me. "You've been challenged before. What makes this different?"

Marco's eyes flash with irritation. "This pendejo has always had an eye on Lola. I'd fight to the death to not cede the crown to him, but, moons forbid, he wins, he'd force her into a bonded arrangement."

I snarl. "I take it she doesn't want that?"

Marco scoffs. "The only thing that girl wants is to play music. My Second is a raging asshole, but he's good at his job, so I keep him close. I cannot have her end up as a political bargaining chip." His fierce look softens. "Can I send her to you?"

My mouth drops open, but I zip it quickly.

"You're the only one I trust, Richard," he croons in that same convincing tone he used to get me in trouble when we were pups. He was the brains and I was the brawn, and we got into our fair share of bullshit.

I glance around my treehouse, considering all the angles of allowing the shifter princess to come to Ever. Finally, I look back at Marco. "Ever isn't without danger, old friend. We've had increased thrall attacks, and a warlock recently orchestrated multiple battles here."

Marco grins wickedly. "Word on the streets is that the Keeper's new mate killed him with black magic. Is that true?"

I think back to the events of last week. What I saw Morgan do to Wesley will haunt me for the rest of my life.

"Yeah," I admit. "She obliterated him. She was able to?—"

"So that's no longer an issue," my king interrupts. "I'll stop worrying about Lola if she's with you. No place is completely safe. I just need her out of here until I can deal with this threat. Then she can come home and resume her duties." He gives me a soft look. "Hey, it'll be a good chance for you two to reconnect. You haven't seen her since she was a pup."

I smile at that. "Remember that time you fell in a fucking hole on a pack run, and I had to carry her home for you?"

He scoffs. "She's not that little anymore. She's a grown-ass woman, as she likes to remind me on a daily basis."

I smile bigger. I was around a lot when Lola was young, but then I gave up my position at court and left Santa Alaya. So, I haven't seen her in many, many years. "When do you want to send her?"

Marco's eyes wrinkle at the corners with what I assume must be relief. "Tomorrow, if that isn't too soon?"

I hold back a sigh as I consider all the things I'll need to do to prep Shifter Hollow for a royal visit.

"Works for me," I say.

We make small talk for a few more minutes before I leave to call my Second, Connall, and begin the preparations.

I had hoped, after recent events, I could take the next few months slowly. Spend time with my pack, rebuild after the recent loss of our packmate, Leighton. The unofficial shifter motto is "Above All, Family". I wanted to keep my insular community slash family, well, insulated.

As much as I'd like to reconnect with Lola, my duty and drive is to my pack first.

Fucking great, my wolf snarls into our bond, butting into my thoughts.Babysitting is my favorite.

Indeed.