King Aramayus, my father, was furious at first, until he noticed the bonding tattoo. Now, he’s sitting in the purple chair beside the window with a smug smile on his aging face. With one look, all the worry for my future left him. Although he was grateful for my return, my newfound shadowed status along with my excess in women and alcohol has caused more than a few of those gray hairs on his head. Being bound works two ways, not only did Bells choose me but I chose her. He gets it, and he’s happy.
My gaze slides to Merrie-Beth and Deen. She doesn't know it yet, but a prophecy was also written about her way before her birth. It's not by chance but by fate that she and Arabella are best friends. Merrie-Beth will help to unite two kingdoms herself. Arion and Dante are even more ruthless than I am, and that's saying a hell of a lot. I wonder what’s going to happen when they see her, their mate, at the Light Trials. Deen better start keeping his flirting with her to a minimum. They are crushing on each other, but it’s not meant to be.
The floor length mirror on the wall closest to me begins to glow making me jump up and await her return. She crashes into my arms and buries her face into my neck. Josiah stands next tome and rubs her back with his hand. He hasn’t tried to kill me yet, so that’s comforting.Arabella shyly looks over my shoulder. She looks at our Bound tattoo then back at everyone else. “Well, I guess the cats out of the bag. King Aramayus, can you call a meeting with Kamila Kelli.”
He nods. “Will 8:00 AM sharp be, okay?”She shakes her head while putting the death grip on my hand, so I whisper to her mind to assure her.It’s okay, he won’t tell you no. Remember, even now, the armed forces are yours to command.
Arabella smirks which is sexy as hell. “No sir, it has to be tonight, and Ethan is not allowed in the meeting.”That’s right baby he’s not allowed near you. My father stands and makes his way toward the door. “She’ll be notified. Meet in an hour in my study?”
She shakes her head again. “What I have to say is super classified, and I’m being paranoid. Where can we meet that can never be compromised?”
My father looks toward me. “I’ll take care of it.” I answer softly.My father nods and leaves the room, but not before turning to look at us with a determined brow, and an all-teeth smile. As I read his thoughts, my heart falls from my chest, because of all the things he could be thinking about, his mind is focused on having grandkids after the war.?
***
They say to keep your friends close and your enemies closer, but I say, fuck that. My circle is small, and it will always be small, and it will never consist of any of my enemies.
-Arabella?
We file one by one into the greenhouse on the edge of the property that's chocked full of floating fairy lights. Once everyone left, Sebastian told me that this place had been his salvation, but now I am. He said when the walls of darkness threatened to close in on him, he would come closer toward the light.?
Checking in with Falkon, I make sure she’s close enough to read my thoughts, so that she’s privy to all information.Falkon, do you copy?
Her voice is hoarse when it comes through.Yes, and my spies say Ethan is secure inside the palace.
I reply,Thank you.
Falkon has the answer to everything.If you’d just let me eat him, he’d really be secure.
I laugh despite my best effort not to.Not yet.
She huffs.Pity that.
I’m not sure how everyone will take the news that we’re taking the throne back for the Fitzgerald’s but that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Kamilia is alert as ever, gone is her red lipstick, but her penetrating stare is still intact. She watches me like a panther waiting for a command to do my bidding. She’s really a bad ass bitch, and I love it. My gaze lazily falls to my uncles. Uncle Jo took Sebastian being in my room well enough, he only threatened to tear him to shreds once before he left us alone to go get ready. Uncle Radix is nestled close to Aunt Adalia, both are pictures of strength and grace.
Nodding my head at King Aramayus, I’m ready. “Tonight, I visited with Eleanor, and she laid some information in my lap that has rocked me to my core. There is a weapon of mass destruction that has multiple parts scattered throughout onlyGod knows where. Nobody knows how many parts it consists of but Mayra’s General, Phasma, has secured the first. The society's forefathers are the ones that separated and hid them because it has the potential to wipe out billions. It’s being kept at Alcatraz and is heavily guarded by at least two thousand men. Have any of you ever heard of this weapon before?”
I survey the room and everyone but Merrie-Beth nods. Uncle Jo answers. “We’ve heard whispers all our lives, and rumors are based on at least an aspect of truth. I can’t speak for everyone else, but that’s worse than I was ever told.”
Kamilia slaps her thigh, the sound coming out as a squeak off of her leather pants. “I’ve been after Phasma for years. Let my team go, Arabella. You have my word we will retrieve it.”
“I want your team to be a part of the extraction, but it’s not time yet. The timeline has changed. The Light Trials must come first. Before the remaining Trials can begin, we need to take the throne back from the Fitzgerald’s. After all those things are complete, and we have crowned the remaining four victors, my team will be the one at the helm of the search for the missing pieces.” It has to be in this order.
Aunt Adalia grabs my hand. “Are you sure that’s the way this needs to play out?”
I squeeze her hand backgently. “I am.”
She looks at her husband then at her old friend, King Aramayus. “Then that’s how it will be sweet child.”
Kamilia doesn’t look happy, because she’s out for Phasma’s blood. However, she nods in agreement all the same. My next question is for King Aramayus. “Is the date for the Light Trials set in stone?”
He looks perplexed. “If you want it moved, tell me and it will be done.”
I exhale. “It needs to be. Mortem will attack us soon, so we need to throw a wrench in their plans. It only makes sense that they would choose the date of the Trial. How soon could we have it?”
“You give the word, and it could be as soon as tomorrow. All guests and contestants have already arrived.”He assures me.
“Tomorrow sounds good, they’ll never see that coming.” I tip my chin up in a newfound strength and confidence in this new plan.
