I trail him through the palace and down a flight of stairs to a room I haven’t been to before. It contains a huge, barn-like door that has a locking mechanism with a control panel. Lucas shifts a finger, and a claw forms. He slices across his palm and slaps it against the biometric scanner. The light on the panel turns green, and there’s a loud click. Lucas grabs the handle and pulls. The door is large and heavy, and even with his strength, it takes a moment to open, but when it’s ajar enough, he slips through, and I follow him.
I stop just inside the door and gape at what I see.
This is like a pirate’s treasure trove or a dragon’s hoard. There are piles of gold coins and bars, jewels, paintings, and sculptures just to name a few things, but toward the back of the vault is a glass-covered display case, and that’s what Lucas makes a beeline for. When he gets there, he looks down, and I see his body sag for a moment.
“It’s gone. That bastard took the book. Bryson, bring me Vallen Tideman and his family now!” Lucas roars. Turning back toward the entrance, I find everyone there except for Violet and Hunter’s siblings.
“Right away, sire.” Bryson salutes the king before snapping his fingers.
“Boys, care to join me in tracking down a traitor?” I watch as my mates and Adam all stalk after the general and shudder. I wouldn’t want to be Councilman Tideman right now. The menace and air of violence coming off those men is enough to send the bravest man running and screaming.
“So is Tideman behind the ferals? Did he kidnap the children?” Gracelin has Archie on her hip, and she jiggles him slightly when he tries to climb down and touch all the pretty items.
“He could be, or someone could have paid him to get the book. I can’t believe he thought about using Archie to get it. It never occurred to me that it would be a possibility. I’m so sorry.” Lucas scrubs a hand through his hair. I still haven’t told them about my meeting with the goddess and that the book can fix the ferals.
“Let’s return to dinner. Tideman and his family can wallow in the cells for a few hours. There’s nothing like knowing you’re going to be interrogated to make a person sweat,” Mia suggests, and the rest of us return to the dining room. The atmosphere is subdued as we continue our meal, but I want to wait for the others to return before I tell them everything I learned.
It’s Evie who breaks the silence. “Why would he want the book? He can’t use it. It’s less than useless for him without the royal power and he can't open it. Unlike the vault which opens to anyone in the royal family, the book will only open with a drop of Lucas’ blood,,”
“I might have an answer for that,” I tell them, putting down my fork, but before I can share my conversation with the goddess, the general, my mates, and Adam return, and none of them look happy.
“We searched the entire castle for him, but he’s gone, as are his wife and children. It looks like they left in a hurry though. They didn’t take many of their personal belongings,” Bryson grumbles as the rest of them retake their seats. “I’m going to send a team to track him.”
He turns to leave, but I jump to my feet.
“Wait, I have some information to share with everyone. You should hear it,” I tell him, and he looks at Lucas, which annoys me, so I glare at him. “Bryson, I know you have been serving Lucas for a long time, but I am queen now.”
I see Sable smother a grin and look down at her hands, and I get a nod of approval from Layla. Bryson frowns and nods, taking a seat. “You’re right, forgive me, my queen. It will take a little adjustment for me,” he says ruefully.
“It’s okay. It’s going to take a little adjustment for all of us, I’m sure. A few more minutes aren’t going to make a big difference. To be honest, I have no doubt Tideman is long gone. The cut on Archie’s hand is almost completely healed,” I point out.
“Shifters heal a lot quicker than humans,” Gem says and holds out his hands to take Archie from Gracelin. “But I can make it so it’s completely healed.” He tickles the boy, and Archie squirms, giggling with delight as Gem sits down with him on his lap and cups his injured hand with his own large ones. “This might be a bit warm,” he warns as his hands start to flame. Archie squawks with surprise but holds still.
“Archie, when did you and Mr. Vallen go into the vault and get my pretty ring?” I ask him, drawing his attention away from the healing flames.
“Miss Lucy was going to take me to see the kittens in the stables before I had a nap, but she was taking too long talking with Miss Isla, and I didn’t want to wait, so while they weren’t looking, I snuck off. Mr. Vallen stopped me when I got to the abominable fountain.”
“The what?” I ask, completely confused, and there are a couple of chuckles around the table. Gracelin pulls out her phone and sends a message, glaring at the screen.
“There’s a fountain in the middle of the front entrance of the castle. You didn’t come that way when you first arrived, so you probably haven’t seen it. It was commissioned by Queen Rowena. It’s supposed to be in her likeness, but it’s the most gaudy, horrific thing I’ve ever seen. I wanted to have it removed, but apparently it would damage the foundation of the palace, so it has to stay,” Lucas explains, and Evie laughs.
“He calls it the abomination, but Archie can’t say it.”
“Abominable is actually fitting,” Mia admits, but Gracelin is glaring at Archie.
“Are you telling me you were going to leave the castle again without anyone? Archer Lucas Frankland, you have pushed your luck one last time. You are banned from having dessert for the next week.” Her calculating gaze slides to me. “And I forbid you from having Queen Colbie as your sidepiece.”
There’s a small, loaded silence, and I see Adam wince. Archie bursts into tears, wailing loudly, but Gracelin just picks him up once Gem finishes healing his hand and passes him to another female shifter who ran into the room. Unlike the palace staff who all wear a uniform, she’s wearing a smart pair of pants and a fitted shirt with sneakers on her feet, which actually makes sense if this is Archie’s nanny.
“I am not happy, Lucy. You were derelict in your duties, allowing Isla Tideman to distract you. This is not the first time Archie has gotten away from you. Consider yourself on notice. If this happens again, I will have to replace you.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m so sorry. Isla and I went to school together, and she was just asking about some mutual friends. I swear I turned my back on Archie for mere seconds,” Lucy explains, her cheeks pink with embarrassment.
“Take him to our apartment. He’s grounded until further notice.”
Lucy retreats with a wailing Archie, and everyone breathes out a sigh of relief once the door closes behind them.
“You are vicious,” Gretchin compliments her sister.
