Page 26

Leanna Avery

Everyone around me keeps forgetting that I received the same royal education as Vivian. After all, I had to pose as her at times, so I couldn’t exactly be a bumbling commoner. That would have humiliated her. As a result, I know how to study royal trends when it comes to dresses and etiquette. I may have been out of the game for a long time, but that doesn’t mean my skills have grown rusty.

The dresses that Harriet has prepared for me are not in touch with the trending royal fashion that all the noble families in the East and in the human world are following. Since the Northern Kingdom is the most isolated of them all, I have a feeling that Vivian does not have the kind of access to the latest styles that I do. And I fully intend to take advantage of that. After all, in high society, for a female, her clothes are her biggest weapon.

Harriet isn’t insulted when I reject her dress choices. I do some research and call upon a few designers. Since I have to assert my position as Cedric’s mate, it would be best to start the rumor mill now. So, instead of visiting the designers, I summon them to the palace. I force Cedric to accompany me, and while he doesn’t complain, I can sense he’s not interested. At least not until I actually start trying on the dresses.

As soon as I start modeling them for him, he can’t take his eyes off me. He truly has changed. There was a time when he could hide his feelings so carefully, and now here he is, unable to do so. Adoration is written all over his face, and the designers keep glancing between the two of us, amused by his reactions.

“I’ll take this one.” I point at a midnight blue dress that is off the shoulder but covers my back. The dress has crushed diamonds sewn into it, and it shimmers with every movement. Inspecting my roots in the full-length mirror, I add, “I’ll also have to dye my hair.”

“Will you grow it long again?”

Cedric’s question has me looking over at him. “Would you like me to?”

He walks over and gently grabs a fistful of my hair in his hand. He meets my gaze in the mirror, his expression dead serious. “I don’t get a good grip with this length.”

My eyes widen, my face growing a deep read. “Cedric!”

Harriet is shaking her head, and the two designers and their assistants are trying to hide their giggles. It’s more than obvious to everyone what he means.

I bat his hand away. “Stop it.”

My mate gives me a hurt look. “But—”

“We’ll discuss this in private!” I hiss at him, mortified.

However, he’s equally stubborn. “Harriet, how long will it take for her to grow her hair out?”

“If she stops cutting it, perhaps two months. Of course, it depends on how long you want it.”

“You mean, how long I want it.” I glare at my mate, who grabs a fistful of it again, as if to show me what he means.

“For the love of the Goddess, Cedric—” I begin, and Harriet clears her throat.

“King Cedric, perhaps you should let the queen pick out her accessories now.”

But one of the designers chooses this moment to jump in. “If Her Majesty desires, I have an excellent hairstylist who will be more than happy to give you extensions.”

“No,” I reply shortly. Cedric sits down with a heavy sigh, and I roll my eyes at him. “Get over it. If you don’t like my hair—”

“I like your hair,” he cuts me off. “I’d just like it more a little bit longer.”

“I’ll think about it,” I inform him before beginning the process of selecting jewelry and shoes. It takes me a whole day to get fully outfitted, and Cedric doesn’t leave my side for even a minute.

Once we’re alone, Harriet has our dinner served to us. Finn is already in bed, bored with the dresses. I tried to include him, but he was more interested in going outside and playing with Derrick.

I finally broach the subject as the grilled meat and potatoes are set before us. “I’m willing to change my hair, Cedric, but I don’t want it to be as long as before.”

My mate looks surprised. “I don’t need it to be the same length. Just a little longer than it is now.”

Cedric isn’t one to make requests like this, so I’m willing to humor him. “I can change the color back to—”

“No,” he says quickly. “I like the color.”

I smile at him. “Really?”

He cuts the meat on his plate and exchanges it for the one in front of me. “I want you to remain the way you are now. And if you don’t want to grow your hair out, you don’t have to.”

I’m about to thank him when I recall how it feels when his fingers wind in my hair during sex. Lowering my gaze to my plate, I try to keep my voice even. “I’ll grow it out.”

After all, some things have to be for both of us.

As we eat, I notice how distracted Cedric is. The ball is in two days, and we have taken up residence in the royal suite at the palace. The event itself is only for one night, but attendees typically stay for a week. Things are moving faster than I anticipated, but it’s probably for the best because I want to be near Finn.

I have a lot of things on my mind, but what I’m most concerned about is Vivian being here at the palace. I understand Erik’s logic, though. If we take the direct, cut-throat approach, the North will be thrown into turmoil. Cedric has launched a hardcore investigation into his parents’ murders in the East, and Vivian cannot be dealt with before it is complete.

But what if she tries to harm Finn? What if the elders go after him? Harriet, along with Cedric’s most trusted people, will be guarding Finn at all times, but I can’t help but worry. We have made a lot of progress in the investigation, but as the day of this ball draws closer, a strange anxiety is building up within me. All the players will be in one room. Something is bound to happen.

My gut is screaming at me.

“Leanna.”

I look up when I hear my mate’s voice.

He is watching me steadily. “There’s no point in overthinking this. Just leave it all to me and Erik.”

“I don’t want to be shielded from anything.”

“I know. But when the time comes, your voice will be meaningless in the mix. It is Erik and I who have the influence to force this change. You will face off against Vivian, but when it comes to establishing your title…”

He’s right, I realize. Even if I don’t like it, it is true. I have to depend on Cedric for this.

My mate misunderstands the meaning behind my expression. “Leanna, I know you’re used to doing everything for yourself, but we are mates. You don’t have to fight every battle by yourself anymore.”

“I know.” I frown at my plate, gripping my fork and knife. “I know what you mean. It’s something I have to unlearn.” I lift my head. “But in this situation, I understand that I can’t do anything. I’m not upset about it. I’m just worried about Finn. We have people guarding him, but what if Vivian gets to him somehow? What if she decides to take revenge? You don’t understand how much she hates me. The idea of me having a child with a man she thinks belongs to her—” I lean back in my seat, shuddering. “You’ve never seen her throw a tantrum before. She doesn’t think of the consequences.”

“If you truly think that the danger is too great, we can move Finn elsewhere. However, the safest place is going to be the palace. I can ask Erik to assign more guards, if that will help you feel better.”

I set down my utensils and run my hands over my face. “I’m just being paranoid. Even if she wants to do something, how is she going to take on your strongest men? And we won’t be far from him. I need to stop obsessing about this. But what are you going to do if the elders refuse to recognize me or him?”

My mate is suspiciously quiet, and I give him a long look.

“Cedric?”

“I’m planning to dilute the power of the noble families,” he finally says, his tone heavy. “When it was just me, I could handle their manipulations. I didn’t have the time to deal with them nor were they so significant. But after everything that happened with you, and even now, I think it’s time for changes in the North. They will be the ones to resist the most when you bring in progress. They like the archaic system because it gives them more power and wealth. When you start making changes and adopting human technologies—”

“I see.” They’ll become even more vicious, and Cedric realizes that. “So, what are you planning?”

“I sent all the heirs of the noble families to the border. A majority of them have returned to their homes, citing various excuses. In response, I’m going to seize fertile land from the noble families, which will decrease their wealth. Those seized lands will be given to the soldiers who have been fighting consistently near the Veil. These are the same soldiers whose families will benefit from whatever technology you bring in. They will also be seated at the same table as the nobles.”

I stare at Cedric, fascinated. “That is really well thought out.”

He shrugs, looking pleased. “My initial plan had been to execute the elders. But Harriet mentioned that you might not like too much bloodshed.”

I’m silent for a moment, thinking it over. “If they try to harm Finn, I don’t care how much blood is shed.”

Cedric’s eyes darken, and his smile is ruthless. “Understood.”

I’m not foolish. I’m already anticipating that rumors about me have reached the North. Finn’s identity has been limited to the palace staff only. However, the whole purpose of publicly calling in designers and choosing dresses and accessories was to spread rumors. There is no way that Vivian is aware that I’m alive. However, she might think that Cedric has found a lover on this side of the Veil, and she’s definitely going to come and cause a stir.

Cedric and I part ways after dinner. He has to discuss security with Edgar and Derrick, and I go to check on Maya after making sure that Finn is fast asleep. Maya has been staying in a cottage on the palace grounds. Erik gave her the choice between a cottage with its own garden or living in the palace along with the other staff. She chose the cottage because her mother likes nature.

The cottages are on the edge of the woods. They are carefully designed and well maintained, with several cottages in a row but at a good enough distance that the residents have some amount of privacy.

I knock on the door I know to be Maya’s, and when she opens it, I’m surprised to see how relaxed my friend looks.

She puts a finger to her lips. “Mom just went to sleep. Want a beer?”

I wait outside, sitting in one of the lawn chairs. When Maya arrives, she sits down across from me, handing me a cold one. “What’s up?”

I give her a long look. “Is it just me or do you look happy?”

“Happy?” She ponders the idea. “Relaxed, maybe. I’ve been really worried about my mother, Leanna. But a female shifter who lives in the cottage next to ours has an amputated leg. She and my mother play card games all day. They cook together. I think Mom has found a friend. And she recognizes me.” Maya sighs, sinking deeper into the chair, and I see the sheen of wetness in her eyes. “I’m happy that she’s content and safe.”

“I’m glad.”

She focuses on me. “What about you? You went from hating Cedric’s guts to being glued to his side, and the two of you are making kissy faces at each other.”

“Nobody’s making kissy faces at anybody.” I scowl at her. “We worked things out. I guess having some self-esteem helped me see the picture more clearly. There was a lack of communication between us. We got our second chance, and we both seized it.”

“So, now what?” Maya takes a sip of beer, but I can see how cautious her eyes are.

“I’m going to go back with him, Maya,” I tell her gently.

“Ah.” She makes a sad sound. “Of course you are. And I’m going to lose my best friend.”

“Not really.” I nudge her with my foot. “You are one of Erik’s people now. You can visit me across the Veil. And I will come see you when I can. When you get vacation days, come to the North. I’m going to be making some changes, and I want you to see them.”

Her eyes warm, and she lifts her beer in my direction. “Look at the two of us. Our lives are changing.”

“There’s something I want to ask you,” I murmur. “During the autopsy, did you see any injection sites between Harold’s fingers?”

Maya goes still. “Yeah, I did. Why do you ask?”

I take my time to answer. “Cedric believes that the manner in which his parents were killed was similar to how Harold died. At least, there seem to be some similarities. I wanted to confirm this one, which you just did.”

My friend sits up an alarm. “If that’s the case, then this goes back a long time, doesn’t it?”

I nod. “Twenty years. The Eastern rebels kidnapped and murdered his parents. If they’re linked to this—”

“The Eastern rebels?” Maya blinks.

“It’s a long, complicated story. Don’t tell anybody about what I said. I need to talk to Cedric and Erik first. Also, is everybody buying that you’re a human assistant that Jerry has brought in?”

“I think so.” Maya grins. “His nephew came by. Jerry must have told him that I’m working for him. I think I’m a little sweet on him. He’s kinda nerdy.”

“You mean Cassian?” I smile. “He’s really nice—and very smart.”

“He sounds it. I’ve got a weakness for know-it-alls. He brought me some fruit as a welcome gift. And then the next day, he brought that for my mother.” She points at a small potted plant sitting next to her front door. “There was one for inside, as well.”

I chuckle. “Sounds like he likes you a lot. How is Jerry reacting to this?”

“I don’t think he’s super psyched that his shifter nephew is chasing a human, but he also wants to stay on my good side, so he’s pretending he doesn’t know what’s going on.” Maya looks amused. “I know nothing’s going to come of it. Two different species and all. But he is cute. I might give it a shot for a while.”

“Just don’t go and break his heart. He seems like he’s very sensitive.”

We laugh lightly, and the conversation shifts to other topics. As I’m leaving, I ask, “How is Harold’s blood work coming?”

My friend’s expression grows somber. “It’ll be ready in a few days. I couldn’t send the bloodwork to a human lab, so I had some equipment ordered. It’s going to take time, but I do have some tests running as we speak. My guess is that he was given something like a tranquilizer, but not exactly. I’ll be able to give you a better answer soon.” As she says that, she notices something over my shoulder and grins. “I think your mate’s looking for you.”

I follow her gaze and see Cedric standing at a distance, waiting for me.

“Is it me or is he really clingy?”

I smack Maya in the arm. “Shut up and focus on your own love life. If you’re not careful, Jerry might throw some money at you to leave his nephew alone. Just like in those soaps you like to watch.”

Maya’s smile widens. “I hope he’s generous. I have a price. And I don’t come cheap.”

Laughing, I wave to her as I walk away.

Cedric approaches me once he realizes that he’s been noticed. I loop my arm through his and lean against him as we walk back to the palace. “I think you were right. The Eastern rebels may have something to do with the kidnappings.”

“You asked her about the spot between the fingers?”

I nod. “She confirmed it. But why are the rebels kidnapping random people? And what are they doing in the human world?”

“We have to talk to Erik, but if they are indeed behind everything, then this situation is even more dangerous than we thought. The whole goal of the Eastern rebels was to topple the kingdoms. I initially came here because we discovered that they were crossing the Veil. It’s easier for them to go undetected in the human world. Our assumption was that they simply wanted to hide from us. But if they came here to start trouble, then it’s a bigger problem than we anticipated.”

I pause when he begins heading toward Erik’s office. “Not tonight, Cedric. Let’s just go to bed.”

He studies me. “Is something wrong?”

“No,” I sigh. “I just want this whole thing to end. I want to go home with you and Finn, start our lives.”

His lips press against my forehead. “So do I.”

We head to our suite, and as the night progresses, our bodies entwine. I bury my fears and worries somewhere deep within me as I allow my mate to drive me to new heights, his touch emptying my mind of everything but him.

However, as I curl around him in the early hours of the morning, there’s a small, niggling sensation in the back of my mind.

Something I should know. Something I saw.

But what?