Did everyone know about fae poisons except me?
She glanced out the window in the direction of Axel’s house. “Is that why you and Axel went to the police station?”
I didn’t bother asking how she knew that. “Yes. We figured they’d come see him sooner or later. Better to get it over with and prove his innocence.”
“And did you?”
“I think so. Fortunately Axel was through the gateway from Sunday night until Tuesday morning. The high court sent a letter to verify his whereabouts.”
She nodded. “Good. Axel might have his issues with the Fae Realm, but he would never break the law like that. And he’d never hurt anyone.” Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “Unless they asked him to.”
I cleared my throat and hurriedly tried to distract her from Axel’s rather active sex life. “Can you think of anyone who’d want to do something like that? Or who could’ve got a hold of that type of poison?”
She frowned. “I wish I could help you, Rys.” It was a rare occasion when she used my given name. “But likely Axel has already told you that the only person to smuggle Blue Alhuirn out of the Fae Realm would have to be fae themselves.” She fixed me with a pointed look. “It might be worth contacting your father.”
I resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of my nose. Barely.
She was right, and it wasn’t as though I hadn’t considered it myself. We were all at risk here and he had access to information that I didn’t. But asking my father for help felt wrong. Like I couldn’t protect the pack I’d fought hard to become alpha of. I shouldn’t have to run to him every time things got difficult.
As if reading my mind, Nell clucked her tongue. “Stop that. It’s not weak to ask for help. You want to protect your pack, and your father lives with the fae. Not seeking his advice on this would be the height of stupidity. They are all no doubt aware of the situation if they gave you that letter.”
“I believe they’ve been informed by the police, yes.” I smirked. I could only imagine how that conversation had gone. I really hoped it had been Max and Gabriel who’d had to deliver the news.
“You know as well as I do that they’ll want to be involved, to conduct their own investigation into how this has happened. Better to go to them first before they come asking why you haven’t. No?”
“It’s Falon’s pack, not mine,” I offered, knowing it was a weak argument but still not wanting to admit I needed to talk to him.
Nell looked less than impressed. “And did you not offer to help him with whatever he needed?”
“I did,” I answered, reluctantly.
“Then keep your word.”
Ugh.
This day just kept getting better and better.
I made a move to stand, but Nell tapped my leg with her walking stick.
“Should we be worried about these hunters? I detest them as much as you, but they were doing their jobs as requested by the police. If we’ve done nothing wrong, do we need to be concerned about them being here?”
I rolled my shoulders. She made a good point. “I don’t know,” I answered, honestly. “In theory, no. But I just have this feeling…” I couldn’t put it into words, butsomethingtold me that we should be on guard where they were concerned.
She tapped my leg again until I looked her way. “That’s good enough for me.”
Her confidence in my instincts went some way to bolstering my own. They’d only let me down once, but having Gabriel here was a constant reminder of it.
I said goodnight to Nell and walked back through the forest, heading to Axel’s house instead of home.
He answered the door after the first knock, wearing only a towel and still wet from the shower.
A horrible thought occurred to me and I made a conscious effort not to breathe too deeply. “Sorry, am I interrupting—”
Axel laughed. “Relax, I’m on my own. Come in.” He stepped aside and gestured for me to go in. “What’s up?”
“I’ve just been to see Nell.” I followed him into his kitchen, taking a seat at the small breakfast bar. “She suggested I contact my dad.”
Axel nodded, all the while making two coffees. He passed me a mug and leant against the counter. “She’s right.”
