A Curse of Shadows - Page 72

We loop around to the back of the castle. Malimorte and Declan are waiting for us. I haven’t shared much with Declan, but he knows something more is going on. It’s one of the reasons I’ve always trusted him. His senses have always been spot on. Yet even knowing that, I’ve been hesitant to bring more people into this situation than is needed.

Though judging by the look on his face, it doesn’t seem as if he’s okay with being left in the dark.

“I told him to go, but he insisted on waiting for you, Your Majesty,” Malimorte tells me before I’ve shifted back.

“It’s fine. I’ll handle him.”

Once I’m on two feet again, wearing only the slacks I had on earlier, I point to the piles of clothes that have been left for the women. “Grayson, once they’re dressed in these, will you make sure they get to the room okay?”

“Of course.”

Going to Isla’s wolf, I run a hand between her ears, sharing a look with the strong animal. Her eyes swirl with barely restrained fury. “We’re going to figure this out and you’ll be safe again.”

“Being safe isn’t what we’re most worried about,” Isla replies, her tone rough and tense.

“Just focus on Estee right now,” I tell her. “I’m going to see what I can learn from my father about that dagger. With what you said about Estee’s eyes, I think it’s a dark object that should have been destroyed before we were ever born.”

“Let me know what you find out,” she says, her voice softening ever so slightly. “And don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

I step away from her wolf, only because I know meeting with my father is necessary, but as I walk toward the door, I shake my head. “That’s like asking me not to breathe, love. I will always worry about you.”

She doesn’t reply as I enter the castle. Mali excuses himself to continue with the paperwork he was reviewing on my behalf from King Aeson of Venaris. Apparently, the insane man wishes to court Queen Sloane of Alcaris. Neither has found their mate and while they’re free to choose instead of waiting, this is a complication we’ve yet to face since the islands were divided.

Bringing two kingdoms together could be an issue, but at the same time, Alcaris has been slowly dying off for decades now. Considering Aeson has never been one of my favorite people, I’m not entirely opposed to Sloane becoming his queen if it means he’ll be less of a difficulty when it comes to trade deals.

Though I am surprised. Queen Sloane doesn’t seem like the type to be told what to do, which is how she’s held her throne for so long on her own. Yet King Aeson is, well, an arrogant prick. Still, as long as there’s no risk to Polaris or even Selaris, for that matter, and trade deals are still honored, then I won’t stand in their way.

Declan catches up to me and steps in my path. “You know better than anyone else that I respect your role as Alpha King,” he begins. “I also know I often speak with humor, but something is wrong, and I want to make sure you know that I’m here to help however you need. I may not agree that Noen has ill intentions with Isla, but you are still my king. More than that, I consider us friends and as your friend, I’d appreciate not being left in the dark on the matters I might be able to help with.”

Gods, I don’t have time for this. Yet as much as I want to brush him off, Declan has been the one to keep me sane all these years. He came into my life with the right amount of wittiness to help me remember how to live again. Something that not only I needed, but so did our pack.

“I can’t talk right now, but I promise to fill you in tonight,” I tell him since speaking with my father is at the top of my priority list.

His grin widens. “I’ll hold you to that, even if I have to wait for you in your bed.”

“Isla’s sleeping in that bed now,” I tell him with a raised brow. “Do you really want to find out what I’d do to you if she’s the one who found you there and not me?”

He sputters a bit and laughs. “Nah, I think I’m good. I’ll still find you later—you can count on that.”

Yes, I’m sure I can.

Finally free to go speak with my father, I take the stairs three at a time until I get to the suite he shares with my mother.

He’s sitting at the couch, legs stretched out, and a whiskey dangling from his fingertips. “Son.”

I take in his relaxed position, but there’s no missing the tension in his eyes. Something is wrong.

“Father.” I walk farther into the room and take a seat in the chair on his left. I can smell the alcohol on him. “Did you have a fight with Mom?”

He frowns, setting his drink on the table in front of him. “Something like that. What do you need?”

“Isla remembered?—”

He sits up ramrod straight on the couch. “You bonded with her.”

“I did and we’ll talk about that, but more importantly, she remembered who killed her.”

His eyes darken. “So, why are you here, half-dressed, and not out there, righting the wrong that was done to you?”