Page 23 of The Silent Mountain (Under the Werewolf Crown #2)

twenty-three

An Invisible Threat

*ALANA*

E rin paces around in Favian’s office, a deep frown on her face. Her restless behavior and expression worry me deeply. She has asked for a meeting with Favian, Stefan and me.

“Did you run some tests already?” I ask.

“Yes, I did some superficial tests on Barbara’s blood,” she says.

“I assume there is an issue?” Stefan asks.

Erin halts. “The issue is that the regular tests don’t give any information.”

“So, we don’t know anything,” I sigh.

“No, that’s not what I am saying,” she mutters. “The fact that the regular ones are not successful means that I have to dig much deeper, which again, means the issue at hand is much worse and more dangerous than we expected.” She looks at us. “Whatever illness Barbara has is not from this world. I can say that with absolute conviction now.”

“By Aengus,” Favian heaves a breath.

“We have a mare who came from another realm,” I point out. “So, I can see the possibility of a foreign illness as well. Do you think the mare brought the illness? Maybe Barbara touched it when we caught it.”

“That’s a possibility,” Erin says. “I need to look deeper into it.”

“Could it be the doing of a witch?” Stefan asks.

“There is always the possibility, but I doubt it. Penelope was one of a kind. She was incredibly intelligent and cunning, and despite her being vile and evil, she was also particularly gifted and creative. No one can easily do what she did. And bringing an illness to these realms on purpose, that would be a whole new level of talent.”

“Is Barbara going to be alright?” I ask quietly.

Erin gazes at me. “To be honest, I can’t answer that for certain.”

A heavy silence lingers around us. I haven’t known Barbara for long, but she is so full of life and energy, and she is so strong. She was one of my first friends here. “We shouldn’t expect the most negative outcome immediately,” Stefan points out. “Let’s be optimistic. Erin, can you do something?”

“I will do everything in my power to research this. Fortunately, Cassie comes from a coven that had a lot of knowledge about potions and curses.”

“Our chaotic little witch,” Favian mutters.

“Yes,” Erin smiles. “She is chaotic. No one guided her properly, and she is clumsy, which isn’t really a trait witches usually possess, but she is also eager to learn, and she has spent her time in her old coven well.”

“Say, could it be a cult again?” I ask the room. “Aza and Shayan, in particular, think there is the possibility of it.”

“General Shayan,” Favian says. “He was inside the cult. If he feels there could be more to it, we should definitely look into it.”

“I agree with that,” Stefan says. “I can reach out to my contacts in other realms if that’s what my king wants.”

Favian nods. “Do so.”

“Stefan, please set up a meeting with my brother Flinn,” I say. “He is currently in the human realm, and apparently, things are off there, so I want to know if they are similar problems.”

Favian has his brows furrowed. His signature expression for when he is in deep thought.

“What’s worrying you?” I ask.

“I wonder if it’s contagious. I am talking about Barbara’s illness.”

We all look up at him, and I feel my stomach sinking to new depths.

“I would lie if I said the thought hasn’t crossed my mind,” Erin admits. “But if it’s contagious, then not by air, because if it were, then Frederick, Cassie or Ludwig should already be infected, and none of them are.”

“Yet,” Favian says.

“Damn,” Stefan curses.

“We need to consider this possibility,” Favian adds.

“I agree.” Erin frowns. “No one can get too close to Barbara, aside from the ones who already have, which would be me, Frederick and Ludwig.”

“What about Cassie?” I ask.

“I would like to keep her away from it,” Erin says. “As long as I don’t know what’s going on, and if it’s contagious, then I want to know she's safe.”

“The same goes for you, Your Highness and Princess Alana,” Stefan says. Before any of us can even protest, he shakes his head, a new look of determination and seriousness in his eyes. “The clan cannot lose its king and queen. I know this is not what you want to hear, but it would end the dragons for real if you perish. You are the only remaining golden dragon, Favian,” he says. “And, Alana is your mate, the only woman who can bear your children. Our future is in your hands.”

It's the first time I’ve heard him address Favian so informally, and he sounds almost gentle while doing so. It seems to strike something in Favian too, because eventually he nods. “I can see your point,” he says.

“What’s that part about only I can bear Favian’s children?” I ask. The others are silent, much to my surprise. “Wait, it’s true?”

“I didn’t want to pressure you into accepting me,” Favian admits. “But, now that you promised to stay, and I won’t let you go anywhere anyway, I can tell you the truth. Only the king’s true mate can carry on the bloodline. Another woman might give me children, but only you can give birth to a golden dragon. So are the rules set by our God, Aengus.”

My throat feels dry at his revelation, not because I don’t want children or don’t want Favian - I know I want both - but at the realization of the heavy responsibility that lies on me. That’s why the dragons see me as their symbol of hope, and why they were so excited to see me claim their king during the ceremony. It’s because only I can reassure them of their existence. “I need to sit down,” I mutter.

Favian takes my hand and leads me to a chair.

“They mean it absolutely when they say nothing can happen to me.”

“Yes,” Stefan says quietly.

“I don’t see it that way,” Favian says, taking my hands. “I want you to stay alive and with me for who you are because I love you. And if you never give me children, it won’t change my mind. I need you as my companion and queen, not as the person to bear my children. I wouldn’t want any other woman at my side.”

This man, Ros mutters, is going to make me all mushy.

Me too, I admit.

Erin looks happy after Favian’s speech, while Stefan tries not to be flustered. Poor guy, none of them are used to their king being so confident in his feelings. Ros is right. It’s really hot.

“Well, then,” Stefan clears his throat. “Now that’s settled, I will try to reach out to my informants, and I will send a messenger to Prince Flinn to meet our queen.”

“Tell him I will come to the border of the human realm,” I say. “You can fly me there, can’t you, Stefan?”

Stefan gazes at Favian, and once the latter nods, he agrees: “Yes, I can take you there.”

I wasn’t aware of the type of work an advisor does for the Dragon King. We don’t have this type of advisor in the werewolf kingdom, but now I slowly understand why they are so important here, especially with how secluded the dragons live. While Favian rules and makes decisions, Stefan acts in the background and keeps in touch with all that is happening in other realms, almost like a spy.

It takes him only a day to spread his metaphorical wings and reach out to his contacts. He has a couple of albatrosses and storm petrels, and even a seagull and an eagle, which he holds as companions or pets. He sent them all out to his friends in different realms, and I am amazed, to say the least.

The first to answer is my brother Flinn, who sends the albatross back the same day. “Prince Flinn is eager to see you,” Stefan tells me the next day. “He is currently at the border of the human kingdom, the Everlasting Desert, which is why he was able to get back to us so fast.”

“That’s surprisingly close,” Favian says.

“Wouldn’t that be the perfect chance to see him?” I ask.

“I was about to suggest the same,” Stefan says. “What does my king think?”

“He thinks it’s a good idea,” Favian says.

“His queen also believes it’s a good idea and is ready to fly off whenever possible,” I add with a serious expression.

Stefan and Favian look at each other before chuckling. “When do you want me to take you to the border, princess?” Stefan asks.

“Well, how about now?”

“Immediately?” Stefan asks.

“I don’t see any reason to postpone it to later,” I say. “We don’t know how long Flinn is at the borders. He might be called back or, for whatever reason, need to return to the human realm.”

“Well, if that’s your decision, I have nothing to oppose,” Favian says. “I would take you myself, but I need to handle things here.”

“I will be back by evening,” I assure him.

Favian squeezes my hand before turning to Stefan with an icy smile. “If something happens to her, I am killing you personally.”

“Of course,” Stefan says seriously, like his life wasn’t just threatened.

They truly have the weirdest relationship ever. Stefan is probably the closest to a beta in comparison to the werewolf kingdom, but my father and his beta were like brothers or best friends. They were incredibly close. He knew things about my father that only my mother knew.

I don’t linger on the thought and hurry to dress in a warm coat and grab a blanket. This flight will be longer than my usual trips with Favian. I soon realize I was right in dressing warmly because on Stefan’s back, I am carried over the mountains surrounding us and directly to the human borders. The dragons truly have a huge advantage with being able to fly. It’s amazing and makes traveling so much easier. However, riding on Stefan is not the same. I feel the safest with Favian, and his dragon radiates so much heat that I barely feel the cold. I simply feel comfortable, while I am more tense with Stefan.

The closer we get to the human realm, the warmer the weather gets. Flinn is currently residing in a small camp right between the two borders–werewolf and human realm–a small strip of no man’s land that both lands are allowed to use.

I can easily spot Flinn’s red hair in front of one of the tents. He gazes up towards us, his eyes widening before he starts waving like crazy. I am so relieved to see him and his broad smile. He has always been the closest to me. We both share our relaxed personality, our way of acting rather than brooding, and our red hair.

Once Stefan has landed, I jump off his back and hurry to my brother. Flinn meets me mid-way and grabs me, twirling me around. I laugh at his silly antics. “Good to see you still are the same idiot.”

“Back at you,” he grins. “I thought the prospect of becoming queen would have made you calmer, but seeing how you just rode here on a random dude-”

“He is Favian’s advisor,” I chuckle.

“Well, whatever, good to see that my favorite sister is still full of life.”

“I am so happy to see you,” I say. “You look well! So, the Everlasting Desert is good to you?”

“I wouldn’t go that far. Good is definitely a stretch,” he grins. “But you know, I am hard to get rid of, much to King Naseem’s displeasure. Poor little king. What about you? Happy with your dragon king?”

“Yes,” I say promptly. “And I love it in the Silent Mountain.”

Flinn’s face lights up at my words, and he nods.

“So, unfortunately, I don’t have much time,” I say.

“Let’s jump to business,” he says. “The note that was sent to me already gave me some information,” he pauses. “The cult, huh?”

“Do you think it’s still active?”

“I don’t know, I just know that things are off in the human realm,” he says, a worried frown on his face. “There are weird movements there.”

“Creatures?” I ask, thinking of the mare.

“I am not sure,” he mutters. “But there are demons that seem to plot together in little groups. It’s said not to be unusual to spot them, but not in such large gatherings. Also, something else feels weird…”

“Like what?”

“The king,” he says. “He just feels off, and I mean more so than we know from Aza.” He shakes his head. “Something is not adding up, Alana. I am worried. I could swear I saw the eye again.”

At this, Stefan looks up as well. “The eye?” he asks, appalled. “Like the tattoo the cult members had?”

“Yes,” Flinn says. “The problem is, no one else saw it, and it was dark. It was during a small demon attack on our caravan. I can’t say for certain, and might have imagined it, so take it with a grain of salt.”

Flinn has sharp senses and an even sharper mind, so I doubt he just imagined things. Sure, it might have been the light or even the stress, but he wouldn’t mention it if it weren’t important. “It could be something else,” he adds.

“Even if… It’s still something we need to look into,” I say. “If the cult is still practicing, we need to know where.”

“And by whom?” Flinn adds. “It can’t be Penelope and her people, as most of them were killed, but maybe there is a second base somewhere.”

“Maybe she wasn’t even the real leader,” I mutter more to myself than to anyone else.

“What…” Stefan mutters.

“You can’t be serious,” Flinn adds.

I look at them, realizing I have been thinking aloud. “I mean, it’s a possibility, isn’t it? Penelope was incredibly strong and cunning, so much so that she was able to capture and manipulate deities like the harbinger and others. That’s a lot of power, even for a genius ancient witch.”

The silence that lingers around us is uncomfortable, to say the least. “It is a lot of power,” Stefan says quietly.

“But did Penelope truly seem like someone who would be taking orders?” Flinn asks. “The dragons can answer this better than I can, but from Shayan’s explanation, it did look like she had a lot to say.”

“She also had a lot of money and was able to hide a huge castle behind a spell,” Stefan says. “If she didn’t take orders from someone, there is still the possibility she had help.”

“Or someone who fought for the same cause,” I add. “An ally.”

Again, it’s silent. “Fuck it,” Flinn curses all of a sudden. Stefan raises his eyebrows at his outburst, but Flinn wouldn’t be Flinn if he cared for anyone’s opinion. “The theory makes sense.”

“But for now, it’s just that,” Stefan argues. “A theory. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions and ignore other possibilities.”

“You are the advisor to the king. What’s your opinion? What’s your advice?” I prompt him.

“My advice is to research this theory,” Stefan says. “It sounds like a plausible option that we can’t ignore, especially with Prince Flinn claiming he has seen the eye again, and with the disturbances in the human realm and possibly in other realms, too.” He pauses. “I will need to tell King Favian.”

“Good luck with that,” I mutter. “I can back you up if you need support.”

Stefan sighs, sounding equal parts amused and resigned. “Thank you, my queen.”