Chapter Twenty-Three

The clouds were thick and gray. Rain was imminent. Looking around at her clan gathered in the square to hear what Advisor Heyes had to say, she wondered and fretted over their future. She had insisted on attending when she heard he planned to address the clan. Davis and Elizabeth had consented as long as she stayed in the vile contraption of a wheel chair at the back of the square—away from the crowd.

Davis stood on one side of her and Elizabeth on the other. Three days had passed since the attack, and she was on the mend. She felt perfectly capable of returning to her flat, but these two acted like she was crazy when she suggested doing so.

Aaron, flanked by two guards, stepped out of the office building and approached the podium which had been set up for the speech. He stopped at the side and faced the crowd with a satisfied sneer firmly planted on his face. The rumor was Advisor Heyes would step down and officially remove himself from the running to rule the clan which would leave Aaron unopposed. By the expression on his face, she gathered he felt the same.

Advisor Heyes approached from the tree-lined path leading to the temple at the corner of the square. He wore his customary purple robe with his hands clasped in front of him. He stepped up to the podium and gazed out over the crowd. His face was pale and drawn. His hair and goatee were streaked with more white than she remembered. His son’s treachery and death had aged him considerably in just a few days.

The crowd grew silent as anticipation held them all in his grasp. Soon the only sounds were the distant city sounds from outside the compound.

“It is with a heavy heart and stricken soul that I stand before you today.” He cleared his throat. “My fellow clan members, as many of you are aware my son committed heinous atrocities against members of this clan and orchestrated acts to irrevocably damage the clan itself. He paid for these crimes with his life.” His voice broke, and he glanced down at the podium for a moment. “I can no longer in good conscience seek to guide the clan to a future I can only pray is achievable. Therefore, I formally remove myself from the vote to rule the clan.” Murmurings multiplied throughout the crowd. “Our future leader must have not only the strength to rule, but the wisdom and honor as well. We are at a desperate point in time. Our people must rise to meet the challenges we face, not with violence and selfish greed, but with a clear vision of what the future can hold for all of us.”

Aaron was scowling at the Advisor. Bethany could see his patience was wearing thin, and he had to know the veiled insult had been directed at him. “It is my sincere hope you choose a leader who has demonstrated not only unimaginable bravery and strength of will but has always shown a clear head and deeply honorable heart. I therefore nominate Lady Bethany to lead the clan.”

Gasps and surprised whispers echoed all over the square. Shock held her immobile. Dozens of gazes were trained on her. Aaron’s face was turning purple, and he glared at her with rage. As if she had anything to do with this!

Advisor Heyes was making his way toward her. The crowd parted for him, and she had the desperate urge to flee. What could he possibly be thinking? Had grief over his son driven him insane? She couldn’t be the clan leader. A woman had never ruled over the clan.

He stopped before her. “Lady Bethany, I apologize for springing this on you unaware. I had wanted to speak to you privately before this, but Mr. Campbell forbade it.”

They both glanced at Davis. He stared straight ahead. His face was completely emotionless. What on Earth was he thinking?

“My deepest apologies for what my son did to you.” He took a deep, stuttering breath.

She stretched out her uninjured arm and clasped his hand. “Advisor Heyes, you owe me no apology. I am so sorry for your loss. Despite his transgressions, he was still your son, and I know you are grieving.”

Clearing his throat, he nodded and gave a slight bow. She could see the tears glistening in his eyes.

“Thank you. Your kindness and compassion are part of the very reason why you will make an excellent leader.”

She sucked in a breath. “Advisor Heyes—”

He held up a hand. “Please, before you say anything, think on it for the remainder of the day at least.”

Glancing at over a hundred of her people watching and listening to their every word, she nodded. He turned and left, walking back toward the temple. She looked over the crowd to spot her cousin hoping he wasn’t going to force a confrontation, but he had disappeared. That couldn’t be a good sign.

“I’d like to go back inside.”

Davis maneuvered her chair back into the building and into the room she was staying in. She stood on her own and climbed into the bed covered in royal blue sheets. She was going to insist on returning to her flat today, but after the crowd dispersed. The last thing she wanted to do was answer questions from a stunned clan. She was just as surprised as they must be, and she had no clue how to handle it all.

“I feel the need to express what an admirable clan leader I believe you would make and hope you carefully consider Advisor Heyes’ nomination.”

Elizabeth strolled out of the room. Bethany’s jaw dropped, and she snapped it closed. Had everyone gone crazy?

Leaning back against the pillows, she looked at Davis staring out the window. “You are awfully quiet. Did he tell you what he planned?”

Davis turned and leaned against the wall with his hands in his front pockets. “No. I had assumed he wanted to speak to you about his son. I wanted you to heal first.”

She nodded. “Crazy, right?” She smiled expecting a smile in return, but he continued to gaze at her solemnly.

“Actually, I think you would make a great ruler.”

“What?” Was she dreaming? She must be still unconscious and having a drug-induced hallucination.

“Everything he said was true. You are the perfect choice to lead your clan. The people love you, because you genuinely care about them and want what is best for the entire clan—not just the self-serving needs of the few. You also don’t crave the power, which is why you won’t abuse it. You know it’s a responsibility not a prize.”

Tears threatened, and she swallowed. “I don’t know what to say.”

He shrugged. “There’s really nothing to say. It’s a logical choice. Besides, you could never let Aaron rule the clan, not if you could prevent him.”

“Even if I do choose to make a claim, the clan might still vote for Aaron. He’s a man after all. I don’t know how many of the clan are ready to accept a woman as a leader.”

“I think you’ll be surprised. You never know until you try.”

“So, you think I should do it? What about his claims his father was the rightful ruler, and thereby him?”

“As you said, it’s what he claims. Where’s the proof? He hasn’t provided any. If he had any don’t you think he’d be showing it to everyone? Doesn’t matter anyway, it’s just hearsay, nothing official.”

“You didn’t answer whether you think I should do it or not.” Did he no longer want her to return to his clan? Was it simply to protect her from Edward? Now that the threat was removed, did he no longer plan to claim her as his mate? Did he want her to accept the nomination, so he could leave with a clear conscience?

“The choice is yours.”