Page 46 of The Forsaken Heir

AURELIUS

“ H ow many cars do we have?” I asked Titus as we looked down on the driveway from my office.

Glancing down at his notepad, he said, “Five. All with enhanced protections.”

“Like what? Is it what we discussed?”

“Indeed, Your Highness,” the man said. “Bulletproof glass and side panels, run-flat tires, and the cabs have all been hermetically sealed with magic, preventing any sort of gas attack and to keep water out should the cars become submerged. Also, we’ve provided several provisions within each car—water and shelf-stable meals—should you be caught somewhere and be unable to leave the cars for a day or two.

We’ve also had an inflammatory protection spell placed on them in case of fire.

I can’t think of much more we could do.”

“Better to expect the best but plan for the worst,” I said.

It had been four days since the disastrous gala, and we were leaving for Laurent wolf territory that afternoon.

I’d spent the last several days preparing with my father and Titus.

Well, most of that time I had been with my dad and his advisor.

The rest had been spent making forays to Elle’s room.

Despite both of us feeling like we couldn’t keep having such wild sex, that we’d wear ourselves out before long, our bodies and hormones told a different story.

Nothing we did could stop the flaming desire we had for one another.

I enjoyed it immensely, and based on her body’s reaction, Elle did as well.

But I had started to notice a strange sadness in her eyes each time we were done.

She would grow distant and introspective.

I hadn’t asked her about it yet, but I would once we’d put this meeting with her family behind us.

I desperately wanted to know what she was thinking.

“It is a good mantra,” Titus agreed, then lowered his voice, looking worried for the first time that day.

“Do you really believe the Laurents might try something? I mean, the entire shifter world knows you and Lady Brielle are going there under a banner of truce. Everyone wants to see what this fae shaman says. Would they be so aggressive as to attack you in a situation like that?”

As he spoke, the five tank-like SUVs pulled up the drive to park at the front door. They looked as impressive as Titus made them sound.

“I’m honestly not sure,” I answered. “It’s possible.

Their entire plan was thrown out the window when Elle revealed herself at the gala.

They had assumed that when we took her after their attack failed, we would kill her simply because of who she was, and they’d jumped at the chance to use her death to declare open war.

When we showed that, not only was she not dead, but she was allied with us, it threw everything into chaos.

I do believe that even if their assassins had succeeded in killing her, they would still have used it as an opportunity to declare war since Raspion and Vincent had kidnapped her in the first place. ” I sighed.

“Elle is right, if the world believes they tried to kill their only daughter for no reason other than because she has no inner wolf, the Laurents will lose a lot of support. Not only that, but some of the more honorable wolf families might even work to supplant their position. If that’s what’s at stake, then I wouldn’t put anything past them. ”

“Fair points all around, Highness,” Titus said. “Please be careful.”

I turned from the window, and something in the man’s voice caught my attention. When I looked into his face, what I saw startled me. True, heartfelt fear.

“Titus? Are you all right?” I said.

The advisor-cum-butler-cum-chief-of-staff shook his head and waved a hand at me.

“It’s fine. I simply worry about you, dear boy. Nothing more.”

“What’s to worry about?” I chuckled and patted him on the back. “I’m Prince Aurelius Decimus. Haven’t you heard? The whole shifter world thinks I shit bolts of lightning and fight sharks with my bare hands before breakfast. At least, that’s what the rumors say, isn’t it?”

Titus laughed at that, his concerned grimace turning into a smile. “You forget you also have a sasquatch in the basement that you wrestle for exercise.”

“I haven’t heard that one yet,” I said, then grew somber once more. “Seriously, Titus, what’s wrong?”

He sighed heavily and tucked his notepad under his arm. “I have no children. My life has been consumed with serving the Decimus household. That being said, I’ve always looked at you as a bit of a surrogate nephew at times. I worry for you. That’s all.’

His words struck me hard. All these years, I recalled him telling me what I needed to do, where I needed to be, when I needed to be there.

He’d inform me, instruct me, counsel me.

All that time I’d simply thought he was doing his job.

Now, I saw part of that had been done more out of familial love than for duty.

It also filled me with shame that I’d never appreciated the man who helped keep our house running smoothly.

“Titus, I?—”

“No need, Your Highness,” he said as he headed to the door. “I’ll go inform the other men that the cars are here. Your head of security will be waiting in the study.”

I watched him walk down the hall. If we made it back from this trip in one piece, I’d talk to my father about perhaps giving Titus more duties, responsibility, and most of all, more respect.

After a moment, I left my office and headed to the study to find my head of security.

The tall, brawny, broad-shouldered man stood in the room.

He bowed his head as I entered, his nearly white-blond hair pulled into a tight ponytail.

When he looked up, there was a grin on his thin lips, and a sparkle in the dark brown eyes.

“Your Highness,” he said.

“Octavian. Are we ready?”

“As ready as we can be,” he said, his voice a deep, earthy rumble that damn near rattled the windows. “I have our team ready whenever you are. They’ll be out in the changing rooms getting their gear on.”

“Very well. Titus has gone to inform them that the cars are here. Have you gone over the cars yourself? Before they arrived?”

Octavian nodded. “Yes, sir. Once two days ago when they arrived, and again after the fae finished their magical protections over them.”

“Then you’ll check them a third time. Especially the car Lady Brielle will be riding in. I will not have her hurt in any way. Is that understood?”

Octavian nodded again. “It will be my honor, Your Highness. Nothing will happen to her under my watch, I assure you of that.” He thumped his fist into his chest. “My life is ready to be spent for you or the lady.”

I patted the air between us. “Let’s pray it doesn’t come to that.”

“Well, we are going into the belly of the beast, aren’t we?” Octavian said. “No crown prince has ever traveled so far into Laurent territory.”

“Not true,” I said, holding up a finger. “Tiberius Decimus did it once.”

Octavian’s face twisted into an incredulous frown. “Highness, Tiberius Decimus strode into the Laurent territories nearly six centuries ago, into their holdings in what is now Cologne, France.”

“True, but he did go into their territory.”

“Need I remind you that the Laurents sent back his head in a box?”

I’d hoped my head of security wasn’t as well-versed in history. I cleared my throat. “Be that as it may, I feel we are better prepared than my dearly departed ancestor. Not only that, but the shaman is from the Hikshil tribe. They’ve been brought in as a personal favor to me.”

Octavian’s eyes darkened. It was unusual for a man this formidable to look afraid, but there was definitely a hint of fear in his eyes.

“The Laurents wouldn’t dare do anything immoral with them there, would they?” he asked.

“Highly doubtful,” I said.

The Hikshil tribe not only controlled one of the magical wellsprings on the very outward edges of our territory, but the tribe itself was ancient and controlled what was known as the Old Magics—powerful spells, incantations, and conjurations that were older even than the dragon shifter race itself.

Bastien Laurent and the rest of his family would have to be out of their minds to attempt something in the presence of such a powerful and neutral party.

“That’s good to know,” Octavian said, with a small sigh of relief.

I clapped him on the shoulder. “Head down to the rest of the men accompanying us. I’ll be there shortly. Make sure you triple-check the cars.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

He departed, leaving me alone again. Alone with my thoughts.

Dark thoughts. The Laurents would have to be crazy to act against Elle or me with violence in the presence of the Hikshil tribe, but that didn’t mean there was a zero-percent chance.

Bastien Laurent, and by extension his family, had put all their proverbial eggs into one basket.

They were playing chicken with my family. No, they were playing Russian Roulette.

I knew Elle was telling the truth. They knew Elle was telling the truth, and the shamanic ceremony would prove that beyond all doubt.

When that happened, a cascade of terrible things would end up ruining their family.

The power and fortune they’d amassed over the centuries would disappear.

They very well might try something insane to ensure they kept their foothold.

Honestly, whatever they planned might even look like a trap so they could pretend their hands were clean.

I needed to be very careful. If something happened to Elle, I’d never be able to forgive myself.

Rasp came jogging into the study. “Shit, there you are. Couldn’t find you anywhere. Are we ready to go?”

“I think so,” I said. “Have you seen Elle?”

He shook his head. “She came down for breakfast a few hours ago, but I haven’t seen her since. I think she's in her room with Delphine.”

“Good. Go see if she’s ready. If so, escort her down to the front door.”

“On it,” he said and went running for the stairs.