Chapter Thirty Five

Brielle’s POV.

Clara sat on the edge of my bed, wringing her pale hands like they were wet towels. Her eyes kept darting around the room, like she expected someone to burst in any second. I could smell the fear off her, it was impossible to hide.

“You need to talk.” I said, folding my arms. “You are in no danger here, I promise,”

She swallowed.

“Well, I—I need to…”

“Wait.” I paused her, hearing footsteps approaching my door. It wasn't until they passed I realized that they were the guards.

"I can't assure your safety from whoever you are running from. I will take you to Lucien,"

We walked in silence through the hallways until we got to Lucien’s study. I knocked once, opened the door, and found both brothers already inside. Lucien was leaning over a table scattered with maps and files while Zane was standing by the window, arms crossed, jaw tight like he was trying not to punch a hole in the glass.

Both of them looked up when I came in, and the maid just after.

Lucien’s eyes narrowed. “Who is that?”

“She says she knows who’s behind the royal murders.” I said. “That’s why I brought her here.”

Zane scoffed, “Another whisper in the wind. Just what we need.”

I ignored him.

“Her name is Clara. She’s a maid from the east wing.”

Clara stepped forward shakily, her voice trembling, “I-I was on a date with one of the guards… Senator Culson’s guard.”

Zane’s mouth twisted.

“You’re joking.”

“I’m not, really.” Clara whispered. “It was just one night. He invited me to have wine in one of the guest lounges… but he got called away. I stayed behind.”

Zane groaned loudly. “This is such a fucking waste of—”

“Zane!” Lucien cut in sharply. “Let the young woman speak.”

Clara continued, staring at the floor.

“While I was waiting, I saw someone. It was a man. He walked past in a long cloak, and the hood covered his face entirely, I couldn’t see what he looked like.”

Zane made a noise of disgust.

“Great. So she saw someone in a cloak. That’s every damn person in this pack.”

“No!” Clara said quickly. “No, it wasn’t just a cloak. It had a mark. A seal was on it.”

Lucien’s head snapped up. “What seal?”

Clara looked up, fear filling her face.

“The Royal Council’s seal. It was there, right over the shoulder.”

I blinked, “Are you sure?”

“I’d stake my life on it, yes.” She whispered. “I saw it clear as day.”

Lucien stepped back from the table, staring at her like she’d just cracked open the floor beneath us.

“That seal… it’s only given to council members . You can’t get it anywhere else, and it’s almost impossible to steal and forge.”

Zane’s jaw flexed.

“So what you’re sayin is that the killer is one of us? A council member killing the royal members if thesame council? That's absurd,”

"We can't rule out what she saw because you feel it could be absurd," Lucien remarked calmly.

“That’s fucking insane.” Zane muttered. “No. No way you’re letting a maid sow distrust among us. For all we know, she could had been sent by the killer to put us on the wrong path.”

"No!" Clara exclaimed with fear.

"I have no reason to lie, I wouldn't lie on something like this."

Lucien rubbed his jaw, pacing slowly.

“It makes sense. The way the kills were done, so clean, fast, and silent. It’s clear that it would be from someone who knows how we move.”

“This is fucked.” Zane snapped. “We’re supposed to be the ones they fear. And now we’re getting picked off like amateurs.”

I stepped closer to him.

“Zane—”

“Don’t.” He said sharply, not even looking at me.

I flinched, “Can you relax a bit? I mean you no harm,"

“Did you just say that to me, Brielle?” His voice was cold, like a goddamn glacier.

Lucien stepped in immediately “Relax brother. She’s not your enemy.”

Zane turned, his eyes burning.

“Oh really? Because according to what you said, everyone is a fucking enemy right now. No trust in our homes, our pack, our council. Noone to trust,”

He shoved past me and stormed out.

I stared at his retreating figure, my heart sinking. It never got easier, being invisible to someone who used to see you like the sun.

Lucien touched my arm gently, “Just give him some time.”

I sighed, "Time is what I might not have. I have no idea what is coming but I can feel it,"

Lucien looked at me, raising a brow.

“Do you want to know what we are?”

My heart jumped. I hesitated.

“I need to ask you something.” I said quietly. “And I need you to be honest.”

He nodded.

“Always. I can’t lie to you.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Am I just fun to you? A distraction? Something to ease your stress when it gets too heavy? Is that all this is?”

His eyes widened.

“What? What kind of question is that?”

“It’s a genuine one. I need to know.” I said. “Because if that’s all I am, I’ll walk the fuck away right now.”

Lucien stepped closer.

“Brielle, don’t—”

The door slammed open before he could finish.

Zane was back, and his eyes were stormy. He looked between us and scoffed.

Right behind him was a young guard who held a black envelope in his gloved hand.

Lucien’s expression hardened.

“What now?”

The guard stepped forward.

“This just came for you, Alpha Lucien. Delivered by crow.”

Lucien took the envelope, and the guard left quickly. The wax seal was silver.

Lucien’s eyes moved over the letter slowly, then suddenly narrowed.

“Well, what does it say?” Zane asked sharply.

Lucien handed it to him wordlessly.

Zane read it, and then again. His face squeezed into a scowl, and then he looked at me.

“What?” I asked, voice trembling. “What is it?”

Zane didn’t speak. Lucien cleared his throat.

“It’s from Chase. He’s summoning a meeting tomorrow.”

It felt like the floor disappeared from underneath me.

“That can’t be right, Chase?”

Lucien nodded grimly.

“He wants everyone present, it seems.”

My skin went cold.

“Including me?”

Lucien met my eyes.

“I don’t think he knows…”

“Any more silly questions left?” Zane asked, looking at nobody, but I knew it was directed at me.

I took a step back, holding my chest.

“No, no, no.”

“The only reason he’d be calling such an impromptu meeting is if he knew about everything.” Zane said, sounding at ease

“But, what if that’s not why he’s calling for a meeting? What if there’s something else?” I asked, my voice full of hope as I looked at them.

"We have to go to find out," Lucien voiced with a worried look.