Chapter 159: The File

RonanNobody moved. Mara sat inside the truth circle looking far too calm for a woman who had just announced she might possess evidence connecting Gideon Cross to a Council intermediary.Maeve leaned both hands against the table. "Where?"Mara looked at her. "Cross territory."Of course.Cassian sighed. "I was hoping for something convenient. Like beneath your mattress.""I wasn't foolish enough to hide stolen Council records beneath my mattress.""You did infiltrate an Alpha's home after murdering his family."Mara's mouth tightened. Maeve ignored both of them. "Where in Cross?""An old hunting lodge near the eastern ridgeline."Ruan would know the area. Probably better than I did."Occupied?" I asked."Not when I left.""When was that?""Three years ago."Maeve stared at her. "You hid this before coming here?""Yes.""Why?"Mara hesitated. The truth circle warmed beneath her chair. Her jaw clenched."Because I knew Gideon would kill me eventually."The heat faded. Maeve's expressio

Última actualización : 2026-09-10

Chapter 160: What Gideon Bought

MaeveThe tin box arrived shortly after noon the next day. I knew because Cyn burst into Ronan's office without knocking, holding the mud covered thing in both hands like it contained either buried treasure or something capable of exploding."We have it."Ronan was on his feet before I could put down my coffee. "Cassian?""Coming.""Ruan?""Also coming."Cyn placed the box carefully on the desk.I stared at it. "That's remarkably unimpressive."It was small. Rust along the edges. Waxed cloth still clinging to one side. Three years buried inside the foundation of an abandoned hunting lodge had not been kind to it.Ronan looked at me. "You expected Gideon's secrets to glow?""After this week? Honestly, yes."The office door opened again. Cassian walked in covered in dirt. Ruan followed looking marginally cleaner."You found it exactly where she said?" Ronan asked.Cassian dropped into a chair. "Loose foundation stone. Rear room. Inside the wall.""The Cross escort?""Never entered the l

Última actualización : 2026-09-11

Chapter 161: Not Summoned

MaeveCassian sighed. "I was afraid you were going to say that."I looked at him. "Why?""Because every time you start asking questions, someone dies, confesses to treason, or gets thrown through the air.""That has happened one time.""Fifteen people still counts as fifteen separate incidents."Ronan took the Council summons from my hand before I could throw it at him. Probably smart.Theron stepped closer to the desk. "Six days."Ronan reread the letter. "They expect us to appear as ordered.""Yes.""They can expect whatever they want."Theron's mouth twitched. "I assumed that would be your response."I folded my arms. "Can they actually order us?"Theron looked at me. "Not in the way they're wording it.""Explain."He pointed toward the stack of Gideon's records. "Caine is sovereign territory. You don't receive Council grants, loans, infrastructure funding, or military support.""Neither does Ward," Ronan said."Correct." Theron nodded. "The Council has considerable political autho

Última actualización : 2026-09-11

Todos los capítulos de The Mate Hunt: Capítulo 161 - Capítulo 163

Chapter 159: The File

Chapter 160: What Gideon Bought

Chapter 161: Not Summoned