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“I figured I should show up, or the Queen might be upset with me,” he says with a smirk.

“Oh, she would be disappointed. That’s for sure,” I say, and he laughs.

We go to the conference room, and everyone stands up. “You’re fine, guys. Sit,” Daemon says as he pulls a chair out for me.

“Let’s do attendance so they know the names and affiliations of everyone,” Leli says. “Oh… My bad. Got a little too used to that.”

“No. Go ahead. You are head of the council, right?” Kael asks.

“Uhm… yes,” she says.

“Then do your thing,” he says.

“Alright,” Leli says. She takes a moment to gather her thoughts before continuing. “Mazvyn Deverell and his mate Brenna representing the demons. Vash Wyverstone for the dragons. Eldric Shadows for the panthers. Draik Hellfang and his mate Vruna Hellfang for the hellhounds. Arenie May for the foxes. Kragan Dungrell for the lions. Alasdair Erdritch for the wolves. Me, Leli Deverell for the witches. We also have Volis Deverell with his mate Kira Ebonwood and Striker Deverell with his mate Maple Ganleya here as advisors to the crown.”

“Perfect,” Callum says. “Thank you all for coming in today. We don’t really have much to go over, but we would like an update. I know we were having some issues with the wolves, yes?”

“Yes, sir,” Alasdair says. “I have a few outliers that I need to take care of, but we are working on getting things under control.”

“Can I talk?” I ask Daemon quietly.

“Baby, you are just as much of a leader as we are. You don’t have to ask,” he replies softly.

“Alasdair, right?” I ask.

“Uhm… Y-yes, ma’am,” he studders.

“I have something I need you to do for me,” I say.

“Anything,” he replies.

“I want every member of Zypher Fallins’ pack found and brought to me. I don’t care where they say their loyalties lie or if they are currently compliant,” I say. “Pre-war, there were thirty-seven. Last week I knew of twenty.”

“I can have them here by the end of the day,” he says. “They have rejoined as a pack and are currently abiding by the laws as far as I’ve heard since…”

“Since I was taken. I know,” I say. “How many?”

“There are still twenty left, Ma’am. The remaining eighteen are confirmed deceased.”

“Good. I want all twenty brought to me,” I say.

“Yes, Ma’am. Am I doing this as an executive order, or is there a specific charge that you need me to file paperwork for?”

“An executive order,” I say. “They lost their right to a trial when they came into that building and assaulted me last week,” I say bluntly.

“Alasdair,” Vash says.

“I know,” he sighs.

“Is there something we should know?” Daemon asks, narrowing his eyes.

“Yeah,” Alasdair says. “I was a part of Zypher’s pack a while back.”

“What?” Kael snarls, making Alasdair flinch.

“Relax,” I say softly. “I don’t remember you, so I assume it was before I was assigned to Zypher.”

“Yes, ma’am. When you were assigned to him, I was invited to… uhm… Zypher wanted all of the men in the pack to come over and assault you. I didn’t want to do that, so I filed paperwork to leave the pack. He signed it without question.”