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GREY
I growled at the women. “Have you found anything yet?”
They were taking their sweet time with this and the longer they took the less clear the picture would be.
Dan patted my shoulder. “Let them work, boss. We aren’t likely to find anything anyway.”
I snapped my gaze to his and a feral growl escaped my lips. My wolf was so close to the surface my eyes were probably glowing.
Dan took a step back and put his hands up in surrender.
“It’s not a good idea to challenge me, right now,” I said and blew out a breath.
Layla turned to me with a raised brow. “Why is your wolf freaking out?” she asked and crossed her arms over her chest.
“I need her back. Now.” I said glaring right back at her.
“Just for the job?” she scoffed.
I just told Dan not to challenge me and she’s doing it? She’s lucky I haven’t shifted and let my wolf have her.
“Are you questioning my motives? I don’t have to explain myself to you or anyone else.” I stepped forward menacingly.
“No, sir,” she said and looked down and away.
“Good, now I would like you all out of my house as soon as possible so go help Karma with her spell.” I turned on my heel and stomped into the kitchen.
“You’re being overly hostile towards them,” Dan said following me into the kitchen.
“Someone told the fae bastard that I wasn’t here. It’s the only thing that makes sense.” I spun to him.
“What?” he asked eyes widening.
“Only a select few knew that I left suddenly, and Magna said it was likely a mole.” I sat in the chair at the kitchen island.
“And you think...” he trailed off and glanced to the living room.
“Karma was supposed to be headed to the witch’s house when she challenged Aurelia. That was why it took her so long to get there. Layla told her what happened, and they devised a plan to get rid of her.” I clenched my fist on the counter.
Dan strolled to the fridge and opened it, grabbing two bottles of water and tossing one to me.
“They thought they could control when the challenge took place and get rid of her quickly.” He shook his head and cracked the lid on the bottle.
“It didn’t work. I told them it will happen when I’m ready. It looks like they came up with a new plan to make her disappear.” I set the bottle on the counter and leaned back in my chair.
“What do you want me to do?” Dan asked.
Maybe I should make him my second, he’s much more loyal than Layla apparently.
I stood and moved back to the living room as Karma’s chant filled the air.
“Keep an eye on them while Karma performs the spell,” I whispered.
Dan nodded and moved closer to the women. Karma wandered around the space almost in a trance as she chanted.
Wispy figures appeared to be fighting with magic and I moved closer to the hall. The man in the cloak threw magic at Reah and Aurelia ran away toward the magicless room.
“Coward,” Layla mumbled under her breath but before I could react Reah was in her face.
“She was following orders.” Reah pushed Layla.
“Who’s orders?” Layla growled and her eyes glowed.
“Mine, she was not ready to face an attacker with her magic. It’s not quite stable yet. I made the choice and she tried to argue with me.” Reah glared at her and took another step forward.
“Easy, Reah,” I said and grabbed her arm.
“No, why is she so quick to judge? What do you know about her kidnapper?” Reah ripped her arm from my grasp.
“What are you talking about?” Layla asked with wide eyes.
“Don’t you think it’s strange that he showed up here within an hour of Grey leaving the house?” Reah crossed her arms.
Shit, she’s going to blow everything to hell.
“Reah,” I shouted feigning outrage.
“He left unexpectedly. How did this fae know where to find Aurelia when Grey was gone?” Reah asked with a sneer.
“I got something,” Karma shouted changing the subject.
I spun on the woman who was several feet away from the magicless room. The man had removed his hood and Aurelia stared at him with wide eyes.
We couldn’t hear what she said as it only mimicked what could be seen. Aurelia fought and thrashed before she was punched in the head and knocked out.
Freya and Fiona buzzed into the room but I didn’t see where they hid before the man turned like he knew we were going to watch this in the future.
Magna gasped holding a hand over her mouth in shock. “I know him.”
“What do you mean, you know him?” I asked turning to her sharply.
“You don’t recognize him?” Magna asked softly.
The mimic spell cut out, but I thought about the white-blond hair and grey eyes. “The captain of the king’s guard?”
“What do you mean?” Reah asked with a frown. “What king?”
“The fae king. What does that make Aurelia though?” Magna whispered in horror.
That can’t be true. She can’t be the fae princess. The king that Malcolm served was known to be brutal and cruel.
Had Malcolm brought her here to save her from him or was there a more nefarious reason for it?
“Dan,” I barked.
I turned to the living room as he jogged over. “I need you to dig up everything you can on Malcolm.”
“Does Malcolm have a last name or is this like a Madonna thing?” Dan asked chuckling.
“Fae don’t have surnames.” I growled.
Dan put his hands up in surrender. “I’ll ask around about a weirdo in a cloak named Malcolm. Got it.”
Dan jogged to the elevator and stabbed at the button.
“You two.” I pointed to Layla and Karma. “Get this shit cleaned up and get back to the facility.”
“You don’t want my help to locate the fae?” Layla asked frowning.
Not in this lifetime or any other.
“Dan has it under control. Do what I said. I know where to find you should I need you.” I waved them both off.
“You think I did this, don’t you?” Layla asked angrily.
I couldn’t answer without her smelling the lie, so I turned on my heel and walked away. “Magna, Reah, my office please,” I called over my shoulder.
“Looks like someone is no longer the boss’ favorite,” Reah said with a laugh.
“Watch it, Reah. You filled his head with bullshit. He knows I would never betray him,” Layla said.
I took a deep breath through my nose and smelled the lie in her words. I turned sharply but instead of letting her know I caught onto it, I called out to Reah, “let’s go.”
Stomping feet followed me to my office and I held the door open while both women walked in. I slammed the door shut behind them and stormed over to my chair behind my desk.
“Magna, can you place a ward, please?” I rubbed at my temples.
The new information about my second giving me a tension headache. I just got confirmation that she would betray me but did she?
Why would she do that? Petty jealousy? Have I mistaken her loyalty all these years?
Magna waved her hands and chanted softly under her breath. I waited for her nod and rounded on Reah.
“I’m keeping her deception quiet for now.” I glared at her.
Magna took a seat in the chair across from me and raised an eyebrow. “So, you’re sure it was her?”
“I scented the lie when she said she would never betray me,” I said with a sigh.
“What are you going to do about it?” Reah yelled, outraged.
“I appreciate your loyalty, Reah, but I have to play this smart. They could spread lies to the facility about me wrongly accusing them to get Aurelia out of the challenge. It would cause mistrust among my employees.” I clenched my fists.
“That’s smart,” Reah conceded. “Sorry, I can imagine how angry you were just being in the same room with them. I was practically enraged.”
“We just need to play this smart. I don’t want her figuring it out and pulling shit at the facility,” I said.
“We need to talk about Malcolm.” Magna stared at me with trepidation.
“What do you know about Malcolm?” I asked leaning back.
“He’s a brutal killer. He protects the royal family with his life and before we were kicked out of Faery he never would have been caught dead in the mortal realm.” Magna stared off into space lost in thought.
“So, what would he need Aurelia for and how did she know him?” I asked mostly to myself.
“I think you already know the answer to that,” Magna said raising a brow.
No. I couldn’t believe that the daughter of my greatest enemy was my fated mate and also bonded to his greatest enforcer. It was unacceptable.
“She can’t be,” I mumbled.
“What if she is, Grey. You will have to figure out how to feel about that. She doesn’t remember her family right now, but what happens when she does?” Magna asked.
“I will deal with it when I know for sure but, who her parents are means nothing to me.” I shook my head.
She is what I want and need, nothing else. I would give up the plans I’ve had for decades for her if she asked. My wolf would demand it.
“What is this Malcolm person even doing here?” Reah asked and leaned against the wall.
“I don’t know what his game plan is, I wish the mimic spell did more than let us see. They were saying something, but I couldn’t read their lips.” I slammed my fist against the desk.
Magna narrowed her eyes at me and leaned forward. “About twenty years ago there was a rumor of a prophecy. I wonder if that has something to do with Malcolm and Aurelia being in the realm.”
“A prophecy?” I asked turning to her.
How does she know about the prophecy? Who am I kidding, Magna knows way too much about everything.
“You already know what I’m talking about, don’t you?” Magna asked.
“You already know the answer to that.” I grinned.
It was the reason I had been looking for a fae. I needed her to help with my plan, the only problem was she would have to want to help me.
What will I do if Malcolm convinces her that she belongs in Faery and we don’t?
“According to the prophecy there is one who can free us or keep us trapped here in the mortal realm forever,” I said with a sigh.
Reah straightened. “You think Aurelia is the only one who can bring us all to Faery?”
“I’m not sure if she’s the one or not but why would Malcolm bring her here if she was? Wouldn’t they all want her to grow up in Faery where the prejudice reigned, and she could close the portal without ever knowing the difference?”
“Probably, but maybe not,” Magna said thoughtfully. “They may have seen the possibility was more of a risk than they were willing to take.”
“They would have killed a child because there was a possibility she would open the portal for us?” Reah asked.
“They aren’t nicknamed the wicked fae for nothing. Any threat to their status quo must be eliminated. Even a child who hadn’t even made a mistake.” I stood and started pacing.
It still didn’t make any sense. He brought her here and then abandoned her. He told her that there was a reason for it and she understood it.
What was I missing here? What if she gets her memories back and decides that he’s right and we don’t get to go home?