68

This is new. I’ve never asked anybody for permission in my life. But Leanna holds more power over me in her small fist than anyone ever has. She says she was desperate to please me eight years ago, to survive. Now the roles have reversed. I’m at risk of losing my family, and there’s nothing I won’t do to keep her and my son.

Leanna nods, and I point out Derrick to Finn. “See the man standing there, near the gazebo?”

Dangling one foot off the ground due to my grip on the back of his shirt, Finn nods.

“He’ll be watching you.”

“I don’t need a babysitter!” he protests.

“I say you do.”

“Mom!”

“He’s your father’s friend.” Leanna turns her attention to the files stacked before her. “Do what he says and behave yourself.”

“I always behave myself,” Finn mutters. “Fine. Can I go now?”

I release him, and he bounds out the window, shifting in mid-air. Once we’re alone, Leanna gazes at me. “I’ll be working here with Cassian for a while. What are you going to do?”

“I have something to discuss with Erik.”

Her lips part as if she wants to say something, but she hesitates. “Okay. I’ll be here.”

Her voice is soft and hesitant. I wish I could ask her what she wanted to say, but there is a wall between us, and I’m starting to think I may never be able to cross it.

 

  

Erik is in his office.

I’ve been in this marbled room with its high ceilings and large windows before. He’s pacing, his lean, muscled body hidden under one of the ridiculous suits that he likes wearing so much. He sees me and holds up a finger, a phone pressed to his ear. He’s speaking in another language, arguing with someone.

I lean against the door jamb, hands in my pockets, waiting for him to be done.

The tension in his voice is rising with each word, and at one point, he slams his fist against the wall. That has me raising my eyebrows. Erik is not a man who is easily rattled. He’s normally extremely cunning and dangerously calm, even in the face of potential death.

I would know.

Before his brother’s disappearance, Erik was the commander of the Human Wolf Kingdom’s army. The Human Wolf Kingdom and the North have always shared a good relationship, and Erik battled the monsters at the Veil with me several times when we needed reinforcements. I’ve seen him fight in both human and wolf form. He’s unflinching, the masterful control he has over his temper making him a terrifying opponent.

He doesn’t have warrior blood like me, but he fights just as viciously and relentlessly.

When he ends the call, I ask, “What was that about?”

He shoots me a dark look. “Nothing.”

My lips twist. “Didn’t seem like nothing.”

He contemplates me for a few seconds before walking over to the desk and slumping into his chair. “There was a possible sighting of Griffin in eastern Europe. I knew it would be a dead end, but I was still trying to chase it down.”

I meet his gaze, my own steady. “Nothing came of it, then?”

“What do you think?”

“I think you don’t want to face the truth. It’s been too many years, Erik. We both know that if he were alive, you would have found him by now. You’ve left no stone unturned.”

His expression remains dark. “I will never stop searching for him. Griffin wasn’t weak. He was an alpha on top of being a powerful king. He underwent intense training. I refuse to believe he would succumb so easily.”

I rarely talk about my parents, but when I look at the man before me, his eyes glinting fiercely, I find myself saying, “I thought the same of my father. But the rebels took him, and you’re well aware of what they did to him and my mother. According to the reports, my father was killed last. He would never have watched my mother suffer if he could have helped it. Somehow, those people are able to restrain even the strongest of alphas. You cannot sit on this throne with one leg out the door, Erik.”

I see the insult cross his face. “I have done right by this kingdom.”

“This kingdom needs an heir. You need to find a mate and have a child. But not my mate and not my child.”

He stares at me before chuckling somberly. “So, that’s what this is about. She’s not your mate, Cedric. You should’ve marked her when you had the chance.”

“And you should’ve told me she was here.” My hands curl into fists. “Eight years—”

“I tried. She was still unconscious, and my healers had detected the child inside her. I reached out to you, but you were not in the castle, and the woman who received my message claimed to be your mate. I had my people investigate.” His eyes are hard as he looks at me. “It didn’t take me long to discover the rumors in your land. Leanna had deceived you and pretended to be the Eastern Princess, and when the real Vivian showed up, you sent orders for Leanna to be killed.”

My jaw tightens. “That’s not what happened.”

“Which part?” the man before me asks nonchalantly. “The one where she tried to deceive you or the one where you tried to kill her?”

“Both!” I snarl. “I knew who she was when I brought her to the North. And I took Leanna as my mate, not Vivian.”

“But you announced Leanna as Princess Vivian,” Erik points out slyly. “You intended for her to be the princess’s substitute.”

My eyes narrow. “An error in judgment.”

“No.” Erik leans back in his chair. “It’s just you and me here, Cedric. Let’s be honest. You never thought a woman could tame you. Which is exactly what Leanna managed to do.”

“If you’re implying that she manipulated me—”

Erik scoffs. “Leanna? Just because a woman makes you soft doesn’t mean she’s manipulating you. I’m not that foolish. And remember, I had met Leanna before. I also had the unfortunate chance of meeting Vivian after Leanna’s visit. I had spent enough time with Leanna to know that the woman I met the next time wasn’t her. Their scents are slightly similar, or at least they were back then, so they could be easily confused. However, Leanna was much more graceful and refined. The woman I had intended to pursue as my mate was nowhere to be found during that next meeting.”

It takes me a couple seconds to understand what he means, and then, a wave of fury courses through me.

“You’ve been interested in my mate this whole time?” I growl, straightening up. “Make no mistake about this, Erik. She’s mine. She has always been mine. If you so much as attempt to woo her, I will forget everything and launch a full-scale war against the Human Wolf Kingdom.”

Erik’s lips curl at one corner. “That’s a lot of effort for someone who is not your queen. And from what I gather, Leanna wants nothing to do with you.”

“Even if she doesn’t—” My wolf howls inside me with a combination of misery and anger. “Even if she doesn’t, she’s still my mate. You can’t have her. If she doesn’t want to go to the North with me, I’ll keep coming here.”

Erik’s smile is knowing. “Why not drag her back there?”

My eyes narrow. “I’m not going to force her to do anything. And I thought you were supposed to give her protection here, even from me. Or was all that just for show?”