by Jen L. Grey
The door opened immediately, and she entered the room. She looked directly at me and frowned. "I couldn't sleep all night."
Now, that was something I could sympathize with. "Me neither." I sat on the bed and patted the spot in front of me for her to sit down.
"I'm surprised you're up so early." She arched an eyebrow at Mason. "Normally, waking you up is like pulling teeth."
"Eh, Elena was upset, and I had to take one for the team." He winked at me as he said the words.
"Ew ..." Ella wrinkled her nose and shook her head. "I so did not need to know that. The smell is bad enough. Ugh!"
"You brought it up," Mason grumbled as he padded off to the bathroom.
I glanced at the time again and realized it was after seven. Time had flown by. "I do need to get in the shower and get ready for the meeting. Are you and Louis going to join us?"
"Yeah, I think so." She ran her hands through her hair. "I'm going to go talk to him now. I think you're right. We need to give him a shot. It just hurt so bad to know what he'd been hiding from me."
"That's probably a good idea." I patted her shoulder and then pulled her in for a hug. "Go talk to him, and then get ready. We all need to be in a decent headspace before going downstairs. This meeting is too important to blow."
"You're right." She hugged me back and headed toward the door. "Wish me luck."
The seven of us loaded into the elevator, heading down to the ground floor to the hotel restaurant.
"If anything looks out of order, we have to leave immediately." Kassie turned toward me and stared into my eyes. "This isn't negotiable, not this time. We have no idea what he may be up to."
"No, I get it." I took a step toward Mason, and he wrapped an arm around my waist, causing my blue button-down shirt to raise up slightly above my black slacks.
Louis stood tense and silent in the back section of the elevator. Ella was next to him, and they were holding hands.
At least, there was that.
The door opened on the bottom floor, and Tommy stepped off first, scanning the area. "Let's go."
"I'll take the rear," Mona called from the back.
"Have you ever met Brent before?" I glanced at Kassie. I figured she had, but we'd never really discussed it before.
"Yes, but it was before your parents died." Kassie still struggled with my parents' death too. "He was new to the role and overly ambitious. Your father had been concerned."
Great, so this might have been an ongoing problem that had no bearing on my father’s death.
So, there is no telling how he might have been influenced for the past thirteen years. Mason grumbled the words in our link.
We can speculate all day, but we won't know until we get there. That's what had kept me awake all night. All that stress wasn’t helping anyone. We’ve got each other, so that's all that matters.
We entered a large open room with circular tables strategically placed throughout. The hostess walked over to us and smiled. "Hi, how many do you have today?"
"Eight, but someone may already be here waiting on us." We were right on time.
"No, not that we're aware of." She smiled and waved her hand to the room. "Let's go get you seated."
"We'd like something toward the back wall." Kassie pointed to an open table that was set up so we could look straight back and see the kitchen to the far left with a booth butted against the wall and four chairs on the other side.
"Oh ..." The hostess seemed taken off guard. "Sure. We can do that." She waved us to follow behind her, so Tommy went first with Kassie and Mona was bringing up the rear.
When we arrived at the table, the hostess placed the menus at each spot and glanced at me. "If you give me your name, I’ll make sure to point your party in the right direction."
"Of course, it's Elena ..." I almost said Hawthrone, but officially, that wasn't my name any longer. Not since Mason and I had gotten married and performed the official mating ceremony. "Lockly."
It's funny. That's the first time you've had to say your name since we got married. I love the way it sounds. Mason took my hand in his and winked at me.
Yeah, I need to get used to it. I liked the way it sounded too.
"I'm going to sit here and keep an eye out from the kitchen." Kassie sat in the last seat, facing the wall."
"I'll sit across from you." Tommy nodded his head. "Mona, can you sit on the other end of the booth? That way we can both scan the room, specifically the high traffic areas.”
"Got it." Mona motioned for both Mason and me to slide through. "You two need to be between Tommy and me."
Not wanting to argue and with the tension so high, I obeyed. I slid across the seat so I was positioned between Mason and Mona.
"Well, all right then." Louis sat right across from Mason. "I want to buffer Ella."
He didn't need to say anything else. None of us knew what to expect, and obviously, they had an ally who used magic. I felt his concern, and this relieved me a little as he was thinking of protecting his mate.
Ella sat, her face was tense, and her usual spark was gone.
This all had to end and soon.
"Do you think he'll actually show?" Ella picked up the menu, scanning it.
"Yeah, he'll show." Louis frowned and shook his head. "He wouldn't get any additional backing for removing Elena and Mason if he didn't at least appear to be playing his part."
"Why would that matter?" Ella's forehead creased and brows furrowed.
"Because then it looks like I tried reaching out to him and he refused." I hated politics, yet here I sat waiting. "That could paint at least some level of doubt in people’s minds if they find out. So he has to make sure the picture is clear that we're the bad guys."
"However, that doesn't mean he won't show up late." Louis shook his head as he grabbed a menu too.
"I wish people would just say what they mean." Mason's voice was deep with anger. "There's no need for all these games."
"Oh, but there is." Louis glanced at Ella out of the corner of his eye. "You see, the games have been around for years. If you aren't careful, then you are viewed as weak. There is a reason why secrets are kept and also for when secrets are revealed."
"What are you getting at?" I asked. He was hinting at something. "Stop being coy."
"No." He lifted his hands in the air. "I don't know anything. I'm just saying we need to be more careful. My father and I are on opposite sides of the fence now, and he's a little bit unpredictable. We can't remove him from the equation."
Do you believe him? Mason stared Louis down.
Yeah, I do. I cleared my throat and picked up a glass of water that had already been poured before we sat down and took a sip. My nerves were on edge, and I needed to feel in control of something.
"What do you think your father is up to?" Ella turned her body so she faced Louis and stared into his eyes.
"I'm not sure."
"See ..." Ella pointed at him.
"Let me finish, please." Louis sighed and cleared his throat. "If I was a betting man, I think my father would be working with Richard. You see, Richard needs help, and if my father helps him, then he can leverage something in return that would benefit him greatly."
"What do you think it is?" We had the one person who probably knew King Adelmo the best sitting right in front of us. Now that he had told us his little secret, he should be more forthcoming.
"Power. Control in some way." Louis ran his hand down his face. "He'd have to get something out of it. To be honest, I’m still not sure what Darren had promised him, but it never came through."
"The only way I could think of him getting more power is by owning territories in the United States." That's when everything became at least somewhat clear. "He wants to control the U.S. That's why he tried to pretend my dad and he had an agreement with our engagement."
"Dad had always said that you guys didn't know what you were doing over here. That if you took control and used the resources wisely, you could control the world from your o
wn castle overseas.” Louis shook his head and frowned. “Effectively making another regime solely reliable for the welfare of your people.”
"There are so many ways that could happen." Mason shook his head and furrowed his eyebrows. "I mean, it could be physically over them; as in having some kind of voting structure in place where he'd have weight in any decision made here.”
"Holy shit." Tommy's voice was deep and sounded shocked while Mona jumped to her feet.
They never acted that way unless something was really wrong. My eyes followed to where he was staring and locked with blue eyes almost the same shade as my own.
Richard was standing next to the Atlanta alpha and looking my way with a huge smirk on his face.
We were stuck and not able to do anything about it because of all the humans in the room. This was some kind of power play, and they certainly had the upper hand.
Chapter Eleven
"That's it. We're leaving." Mason's voice was deep with a hint of violence.
"We can't." I wanted to walk out that door as badly as he did. Only then, they'd know they got to us, and we couldn’t show weakness. "We can't act any differently. Otherwise, we react in the exact way they want us to."
"They want us to make a scene." Louis didn't turn around and kept his eyes trained on us. "Anything out of sorts will make them happy. They’ll know they have leverage and control over you."
"How about I bitch slap them and put them in their place." Ella started turning, but Louis touched her shoulder.
"Seriously, don't react." Louis touched her arm, bringing her attention to him.
He's right. Even though I didn't grow up as a royal, my first six years were enough to at least give me a glimpse into this world. I wasn't completely cold, not the way that was expected of heirs from a young age. Don't react, and we can't make a scene with the humans. That'll only prove we're unfit to rule.
When this is all over, I'm going to kick their asses. Mason took a deep breath and forced his shoulders to relax.
You and me both. He wasn't going to get to have all the fun.
The two assholes made their way over to our table with the hostess in tow.
"Is it okay if we just add a chair at the end of the table since they're already seated?" There was a nervous twinge in her voice as if she knew this was a very uncomfortable situation.
"That's perfectly fine." Richard's deep, creepy voice answered her.
"Great." She took a seat from the vacant table next to us and put it on the end between Mona and Brent.
"Thank you, gorgeous." Richard cooed as he plopped into the seat. "Please, go ahead and sit next to the European Prince."
"As long as you're sure." Brent pulled out the chair and got comfortable. "Hello, Elena."
He didn't say queen and did it on purpose. He was going to do everything he could to let me know that he didn't recognize me as his leader.
"Hello, Brent." My tone was level and clear despite the fact that I wanted to come unglued. This guy had an overvalued sense of self-worth. "It's been a while since we've seen each other."
"Yes, I believe we met a few weeks prior to your parents’ deaths." He said the words so flippantly as if it wasn't life-changing. "You still look like the same little girl who didn't understand the world, and of course, your actions have proven it."
He wanted to play ball, but what he didn't realize was that I didn't have to do it with him. "If by not understanding the world, you mean coming here immediately to kiss your ass, you're right. That's not how my world works."
"And you're classless as well." He turned his focus on Mason. "And for a king, you claimed someone who was born common and didn't have the balls to take over his father's pack when he came of age."
"I don't have a problem throwing the challenge down to you." Mason's jaw clenched, and he took in a deep ragged breath.
He wants you to react that way. I needed Mason to rein it in. Calm down, or we'll prove whatever Richard has told him.
"Aw, and the subpar upbringing comes to light." Brent arched his eyebrows, causing them to disappear under his sandy blond hair, and he pulled at the edges of his goatee. "You were right about that."
"I would disagree with that." Louis turned his head in Brent's direction and grinned. "At least, with them, you know exactly where they stand."
"For a prince, I'd expect better from you." Brent tsked as he shook his head.
"It's not about letting people know where they stand but having the strength to do what's right." Richard's arrogant voice floated across the table.
At this very moment, I wanted to take my dull knife and slice his neck.
"Hi, can I take your order?" An older lady smiled awkwardly as she took in our table. "Or should I come back later?" She took a step back as if she was trying to gain distance from us.
Great, we're making a scene. I took a deep breath and smiled. "I'd love a coffee and some eggs and bacon."
The others followed suit, and soon the lady was walking away.
"So, you wanted me here." Brent leaned back in his seat and spread his arms apart. "I'm here. What is it that you want to discuss?"
"Forgive me if I'm not willing to be so forthcoming when there is someone present that was involved in my parents' murder." I wasn’t going to name the elephant in the room. Even though there was no reason to pretend that he wasn't here.
"See, I told you that's what she'd say." Richard rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "She had the audacity to kill my father and tries to pretend it was us that are the bad guys."
"That's bullshit, and you know it." Mona's normally sweet disposition was gone. "You're no better than your father."
"I tend to agree with Richard." Brent's brown eyes darkened. "I mean it seems largely convenient that you somehow remained alive and then killed his father. I think there's way more to the story than you're sharing."
"It's a shame that you're just an evil, opportunistic prick like good ol' Dick here." Ella's hazel eyes narrowed as she leaned over her mate. "What'd they promise you?'
"You should never talk to an alpha that way." Brent shook his head and wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"Then, earn the respect." Mason leaned closer to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. "You came in here with him, of all people, and you're wondering why this isn't going well."
"I don't need this to go well." Brent stared Mason in the eyes. "You are the ones trying to mend the rift that you created. I'm assuming the Chicago alphas warned you about what we're planning."
"We've been in power for only a handful of months and had wars we had to battle. Did you expect us to drop everything to make our rounds throughout the entire country?" It pissed me off that he was acting so cavalier. It's not like we were locking ourselves in our house, refusing to come out as my uncle had done.
"You visited Chicago." He arched an eyebrow. "But didn't even bother attempting to come here."
"Because the vampires took a pack member and were torturing him." Mason's voice lowered and turned into a growl.
"One pack member’s safety isn't as important as the millions of other wolves who need a queen and king who take care of them." Brent shook his head. "That's what a true king and queen know."
"I told you that you weren't important to them." Richard shook his head and closed his eyes. "Even though Dad didn't visit, he made sure your city got the financing it needed to become a bigger paranormal city and the protection that it needed. He was so scared and heartbroken to leave after what had happened to Corey, but he always called you regularly to check on you."
So this is what had happened. Darren financed the city, growing it bigger so they could charge the supernaturals more for traveling back and forth. It wasn't to help our people; it was to take advantage of them.
"When did he actually help your pack?" I couldn't believe how easily he was being manipulated. "My parents were killed, and I'm still sitting before you today."
"Being young is thinking you're indestructible. Believ
e me, I know." He shifted in his seat. "But King Darren gave us funding to keep the hub brimming. We've got new hotel rooms, restaurants, everything we need to cater to the supernatural needs."
"That's not taking care of your people." Mason chuckled hard. "When someone was sick, did they offer aid? When something went wrong, did they offer protection?"
"That's what I'm here for." Brent frowned, and his eyes began to glow.
Holy shit. This guy had an ego.
Cups clanged together, causing all of our attention to turn to the poor waitress who obviously felt uncomfortable waiting on us. Her face was pale, which was saying something for her. "Here are your drinks." She passed them out quickly as Mason and Brent glared at each other, only adding to her anxiety.
This was going well.
She scurried off, leaving even more tension in the air somehow.
"You're right, tending to your pack is your job." No wonder this guy gets along with Richard. He had to be more about making money and maintaining status than his pack’s wellbeing, which meant there was no way I could right this wrong. We'd insulted him by not visiting, and no excuse would resonate with him. "But it's ours too. The other packs needed our help. Vampires were attacking our kind. As far as we know, that hasn't been happening here."
"Of course not." He cleared his throat and glanced at his glass.
He was lying. His heart began beating faster, and the smell of rotten eggs surrounded us.
"Is that so?" Mason narrowed his eyes as if he was going in for the kill.
Don't do it. The last thing we needed to do was bruise his ego more. It'll only make things worse, and he already knows we know. Let it slide.
I glanced at Ella, worried she would go off too, but she and Louis were looking each other in the eye. He was handling her for me. Thank God for that.
"Are you doubting me?" Brent lifted his chin in the air, trying to regain some semblance of control.
"It's good news." I locked eyes with him and arched an eyebrow. I was going to make him break eye contact with me. "So no other random things are happening that would warrant us providing your people with some help?"