Inside, the script signed by Alden claims the wolves want to open negotiations for continued peace and need Corona’sresources. Oil reserves are running low in the north, and they want access to our oil fields in Aurora. Alden hopes to come to a solution that will benefit our countries and wishes to visit in two days’ time.
I frown. Corona and Lua have been enemies for a long time, fighting over resources—mainly oil—and territory. If the wolves wanted peace, they would have accepted my coronation invite. Prince Zeus is Simon’s heir, the golden boy of Lua. Alden Lupas is the Lua enforcer, the cutthroat leading the king’s armies.
“If Lua wants peace, why not send Zeus to discuss terms?” I ask.
Ravi lowers his outstretched hand. “Zeus won’t leave his father’s ailing side. Alden is acting on their behalf.” Or Alden wants to suss out the competition, so he knows what size army to use when he tries to invade us.
I peer at Ravi. Why would Alden Lupas send this witch to talk to me instead of coming himself? To seem like less of a threat. Does he know Ravi is claiming to be my ancestor?
“You said you are hereofficiallyto deliver the missive,” I point out. Ravi shifts. “What about unofficially?”
Ravi’s expression darkens. “Unofficially, I’m here to warn you. You must refuse the invitation. Don’t let Alden come. He?—”
“What?” I snap. Is he serious? “You want me to guarantee war by dishonoring Alden’s request for peace? I’m sorry, but are you high?”
“No. But?—”
“So, you have a death wish? Because if I do that, I’ll be digging both our graves.” My voice rises with every word. Who the fuck is this guy? Is he trying to goad me into disrespecting Lua, so Alden has an excuse to attack? It’s the only explanation that makes sense.
Ravi steps forward. “The wolves can’t be trusted. If?—”
“Obviously!” I snap. Ravi gapes at me. “But if I reject Alden, he will have every excuse to invade.”
“You’re making a mistake,” Ravi quietly replies.
I scoff. “If Alden thought sending you to pretend to be my family would convince me to give him an excuse to go to war, he seriously underestimates me. We are not family—but even if we were, that doesn’t mean anything.” Not anymore. Don ensured that.
Something dark slots into place over Ravi’s eyes, erasing his wide-eyed mask. Is this his true face?
“Tell Alden I will have a room made up for him,” I say. “We look forward to his arrival.” We better have power by then. Ravi bows and then leaves, his footsteps thundering in the empty throne room. I’m brimming with dread. My hands won’t stop shaking. I just invited the wolves into my country.
That took an unexpected turn. Didn’t it, Dynamite?my father’s ghost says.
“It did,” I reply. “Now what?”
Invite him back, and tell him you are sorry,Aradia suggests.
Hell will freeze over before that happens. “Anything else?”
Talk to your mother. You need people you can rely on right now,Father’s ghost says.
Father’s right, but not about Mother. Her withdrawal has proved that I cannot count on her. Someone on my Council is betraying secrets to Stellan. The wolves are coming, and Janus is still missing. Somehow, I need to find Stellan’s mole while convincing Alden that Corona is intact, powerful, and not to be trifled with—even when we’re on the brink of collapse. Wolves are predators. If they smell blood, they will attack.
As I leave the throne room, Aradia says,I know what you’re thinking, and I don’t know if I like it.
If I am going to emerge from Alden’s visit unscathed, I need advice from someone who has mastered the art of deception. “I want to see if Gianna is home yet.”
As we trudge backinto the Blade Precinct, the sun is just beginning to peek over the horizon. Our bodies are heavy with exhaustion. I’ve been breaking up fights, putting out fires, and ensuring the blackout didn’t cause any irreparable damage. Most places have backup generators, but areas like the Burned-Over District remain shrouded in darkness. Smoke clings to our clothes, and the gritty feeling of tiredness burns in our eyes. But I still need to tell my team I am going to Aurora. We need to come up with a plan for while I am gone.
I collapse into a chair at the large, oval table in the debriefing room. Scattered pens and notepads litter the surface. Soter sits across from me while Isolde leans against the wall, her arms crossed tightly, as she stays as far away from Soter as possible. The whiteboard behind us is a blank canvas, wiped clean of the chaotic scribbles and diagrams that once mapped out our latest case.
“I go to Aurora in two days,” I announce, and Soter narrows his eyes.
“You can’t fucking leave,” Isolde says.
“It’s already been decided,” I say. Leigh sent me a message about her time spent with the Lua representative, who happened not to be a wolf but a witch. She mentioned that the witch, Ravi, said he was her distant cousin, but she didn’t believe him, givenhis ties to Alden. It seems too quick to dismiss his claims, but I understand her hesitancy. Trust doesn’t come easily to her. But when I pressed her for details, her texts stopped. She probably fell asleep. At least, I hope that’s the case. I wanted to stay with her during the visit, but a prison breach required my attention. The power outage had left jail cells unlocked, with prisoners wandering the halls—we nearly had a full mutiny on our hands.
“You are needed here,” Soter says.
