LOGINLaughter from the dance floated through the air to me and Raphe. We had been sitting quietly. I didn’t know how long for. Just remembering. Focusing on our own lives and relationships with my mother. I had taken his hand at some point. Offering support while needing something for myself as well. I needed contact with someone who loved her. And there was no doubt in my mind that Raphe loved her.But does that mean he was telling the truth? If he was, did that make him innocent of the other things? I turned to Nova, asking if she sensed any lie in his confessions. She agreed that his emotions were sincere but that she couldn’t sense if his words were just yet.“Did you try to find out who was behind the accident?” I asked.Raphe sighed heavily, nodding. “Of course,” he said. “I’d like to say that I never stopped looking, but… my attempts over the past years have been, at best, half-hearted. It got to be too hard on my father and Nomi kept saying it wasn’t healthy. I got too obsessive. B
“You did what?”I was knee deep in debris when I got the call. I almost didn’t answer. Max wasn’t who I wanted to talk to at that moment. I’d missed Sutton’s calls and messages after not realizing my phone had died on the drive out here. By the time I got it turned back on, Sutton wasn’t answering hers. But I remembered Max had also messaged that he was with her at the capital. So, seeing his call had me panicking. What I heard was far from what I expected.“We moved forward with the plan,” Max repeated. “But something went wrong. They have Sera. She locked up in the palace.”“Where is Sutton?” I demanded. “You said you went to protect her.”“Sutton is fine,” Max replied. “She and Helene are at the ball with Soloman. She’s safe.”“Wait… ball? What ball?”“Eh… that’s another story,” Max said. “We don’t have time for that. We need to figure out how the hell we’re going to get Sera out of trouble.”“She would be in trouble if you had done what I told you,” I barked, climbing my way out o
Raphe accompanied me out of the ballroom to the garden terrace just outside. We strolled onto a path that led us through the landscaped courtyard.“I was disappointed to see that Alpha Lucas didn’t join you this weekend,” Raphe said as we walked. “He is an impressive man. I enjoy our conversations.”“He had something important come up at the last minute,” I explained. “He sends his best.”“It is the nature of leadership,” Raphe noted. “I am glad he was able to spare you at least. I really am touched to have you here. Getting older reminds one of the important things in life. We missed a lot of time. It’s a shame I didn’t get to see you and your sisters grow up. Things may have been different.”His words sounded mournful and sad. The emotion behind them was real. It took me by surprise but it was also so close to what I came to find out.“Speaking of your birthday,” I said, reaching into the pocket of my dress. “I brought you something. It’s not much but I thought you would like it.”R
I almost backed out of the plan a dozen times but Sera pointed out that the ball made this an even better opportunity. Most of the palace security would be focused around the main wing of the palace. Not to mention the busy chaos of the staff throughout the place. She would have a better window to sneak into the Nomi’s and Raphe’s apartments to search for the key.Truth be told, this was the real reason I had come along. Lucas hadn’t actually told me to come with Sutton, but Jaden and I agreed he would have if he hadn’t been so upset. Not to mention a little out of his mind from lack of sleep. Jaden originally volunteered the minute he realized Sutton was still going without Lucas, but I convinced him it was better for him to stay at the packhouse and hold things down.While Lucas would be grateful that I came along to keep Sutton and Helene safe, he wouldn’t approve of Sera and me running this mission without him. But after hearing about the huge fight he and Sutton had, neither of u
Max knocked on our door just in time, but to our surprise, he wasn’t the only one on the other side of the door.“Soloman,” I greeted happily. “This is a pleasant surprise. I thought you had to arrive with the other council members.”“Oh, nonsense,” he said. “I’ve never been known to be a stickler for customs. I would much rather escort two lovely ladies.”I looped in the one Soloman offered while Helene did the same with Max. The halls were filled with other party-goers on their way to the festivities. The closer we get, the more nervous I became. I tried to embrace the situation, putting on a happy face. But only ended up dreading the night even more. Nova attempted to lend me her strength but I was having a hard time holding onto it.As we entered the ballroom, I was immediately overwhelmed by the weight of the crowd. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. I could faintly hear music playing over the din of conversation that came at me from all directions. I took slow deep brea
I pushed my breakfast around my plate as I sat in the palace suite the next morning. Lucas never responded to my text the day before. And he didn’t answer when I tried to call him last night. Eventually, I gave up. Settling for leaving him a message that we had made it safely.I’d say I woke up a dozen times throughout the night, but that would imply that I actually slept. It wasn’t just because I hadn’t heard from Lucas. It was the first time since we’d met that I had gone to bed without him. I didn’t know how to fall asleep without him.“Okay, you’ve been moping all morning,” Helene commented. “What’s up?”I sat up straighter and forced a half-smile. “It’s just the first time Lucas and I have been apart,” I told her. “It’s harder than I thought it would be. I know that seems crazy but…”Helene grabbed my hand and squeezed. “Not at all,” she assured me. “The best way to deal with it is to stay busy, right? So, let’s get ready for our visit with Grandfather. Then we’ll go find Nomi. I







