Chapter 9

Kalen returned the Elder’s quarters where he was asked to go to Samuel’s office.

“How’d it go?” he asked once the Faerie King entered.

“He was pretty reasonable about it, I guess.” Kalen shrugged. “He told me to tell Heather to keep away from him, though.”

Samuel looked at him dubiously. “He is the one who can’t keep himself away from Heather.”

“Which is why he doesn’t want her visiting, but I don’t know why,” Kalen said. “I thought they liked each other.”

“Maybe it wore off?”

“Oh, shut up.”

“Come on, Kalen,” Samuel pressed on, “he lived with a woman he fell so in love with over the course of – what – eight years? Only to be betrayed in the end. Then he moved onto Heather so quickly, she could’ve well been a rebound and he didn’t realize.”

“I was afraid of this,” he groaned. “Do I have to be the one to break it to her?”

“Hey, I’m just assuming,” Samuel put his hands up. “Maybe he’s embarrassed because he’s an ordinary human and she’s a powerful shifter. The imbalance in power thrown in with the male ego is a dangerous combination to a relationship.”

“Yeah,” he said, “I wouldn’t want my mate being more powerful than me.”

“You’re a sexist piece of shit sometimes, but okay.”

“Excuse me?”

“Whatever floats your boat, Kalen,” Samuel said. “Ammara is definitely more powerful that you.”

“Wait, wait, wait – no one is making this a competition but–”

A knock at the door interrupted them and the men looked back to see Cole leaning against the door frame. He looked very much like a womanizer, now that Kalen thought about it. Fitted black pants over his toned legs paired with a snug dark blue shirt with the top two buttons undone, it seemed as if he would go on to steal someone’s woman any minute now. On top of that, he was exceptionally handsome and it threatened Kalen’s unchallenged beauty. Well, unchallenged until now.

“Samuel, has his Majesty filled in the compulsory forms?” Cole asked smoothly.

“He was just getting started.”

“Splendid, I just wanted to inform you that I’ve been called to the mansion. I have foreseen a visitor arriving.”

“Sure, Cole,” Samuel said easily. “Abigail will fill in for you.”

“Thank you.”

And with that he disappeared. Kalen only grumbled under his breath as he snatched the pen from the holder and started filling in the documents.

All this had taken place two days ago. And now Kalen stood behind Cole quietly, watching the vampire type away at his computer and intercepting calls, marking updates on various files and throwing darts that landed accurately on marked spots on a map of the world.

“Thank you, Guillermo,” he spoke into a microphone while holding a headset to his ear. “Yes, it’s all been covered for… no, find a good reason to execute those transgressors. We cannot tolerate such abuse against the beings of our realm… Send aids to the Sprites then… I don’t care how nasty they are, just do it,” he ended with a chuckle.

“They co-operate if you’re nice to them, trust me… No, it’s not the charms speak. Now, listen, I have other calls to take… Sure, thanks.”

Nothing suspicious at all. If anything, he seemed like a really nice guy.

The nicest ones are the evilest ones.

He put down the headset and worked away. He got another call and Kalen assumed it would be like the other, so he turned to walk away.

“You found them, huh?”

Kalen stopped in his tracks. Cole’s tone had changed.

“No, please don’t hurt him… thank you,” he continued, “I’d like to confront him for his actions… no, he shall be executed… I’m sorry, Ivanna, but someone of my own blood put my people’s safety on the line and I won’t have that.”

Ivanna? Kalen thought.When did he meet her?

“If I can meet with Viria before and she gives me a good enough reason then maybe I shall reconsider.”

Kalen stayed and listened on.

“Yes, I would like to meet Nina, too,” he continued, “Me being in the Council must’ve come as a shock to her. I would’ve thoughts her parents might’ve informed her already… yes, I kept them busy. I don’t think they’re aware of the conflicts you’re dealing with. Should I send in any assistance?... I can make it today, yes.”

And that was all. He put his headset down. Kalen had to go visit his daughter.

****

“Dad, are you serious?” Nina sighed, not taking Kalen seriously enough.

“It’s true!” he hissed with a shake of her shoulders. “I have proof! That vampire in there recorded the whole meeting on a CCTV, okay?”

“Even if they want me removed do you think that’s possible in any way with me being the Caillagh and all? Even they know that’s impossible.”

“You already bear three titles of authority, Nina,” Kalen said, “The Luna of the Shadow Claw, Head of the Inner Circle, and an Elder. They’re probably jealous and can’t take it!”

“I can’t take it, to be very honest,” she claimed throwing her hands up in the air, “I’m also a mother, for goodness’s sake. That’s the number one title. My child should be my number one priority but I only get to hold her at bed time! Who knows, maybe I could do without one or two of those titles!”

“Don’t you want to be powerful, though?” he asked. “Don’t you want to have the authority and control over what’s happening? Can you really trust these people?”

“Yes, I can,” she declared, “Are you seeing with the way they’re dealing with the vampire rogues?”

“Oh, as if therapy gets criminals anywhere, Nina,” Kalen mocked with contempt. “Rogues are criminals and should be executed for all I care.”

Nina was silent, not believing what she’d heard.

“You’d let that happen to me?” she said as calmly as she could. Kalen stilled, realizing what he’d just done. His daughter was a rogue once.

“Nina, I—”

She put her hand up to silence him. “Here is where I’ll agree with Cole. You guys are far too old and far behind to catch up with the times. Maybe we do need new Elders. And it needs people like Viria who know how to deal with people and don’t center the system around their own beliefs.”

“Are you listen—”

“Yes, I am,” she snapped. “And I’m done listening to you because, you know what, I wouldn’t be in this shit if it weren’t for all of you guys not knowing what Asther and Morrigan were up to whilst being around them in the council. I had to go through one kind of hell, and you have those two children in there who’ve gone through fucking punishments of Underworld and acting twice as sane as you guys will ever be!”

“Nina!” Kevin called to her as he came around the corner. “Is everything okay? I felt your distress signals.”

“I’m fine,” she snapped over her shoulder and glared at her father.

“I need my peace and sanity for my child,” she said. “I haven’t been through a lot but I’ve been through enough. I’d gladly give up any position and power I need to ensure that.”

With that, she turned around and dragged Kevin away.