Blood of the Wolf: The Crown (Mackenzie Grey Book 11), Karina Espinosa [top 10 ebook reader txt] 📗

“I’ll go,” Alexander volunteered.

“I’ll help,” Bash said. “You don’t need me for the Summit meeting. I’m sure you can kick their asses without me,” he added with a wink.

“Whatever you find, I want it reported right away,” I said. “No matter how minor.”

“Aye.”

We spent the rest of the morning relaying the events in the forest and the loch after Angus returned to the fae realm. Just as we suspected, they hadn’t felt an earthquake. Fenrir was right; it was all in our heads. This made Abaddon even more dangerous.

After telling Alexander and Ranulf what happened, we concluded we needed to consult the witches and warlocks to see if there was a way to combat this. Once we’d exhausted all the details, Bash and I showered and changed clothes to get ready for our meetings. He was going to help Alexander in the library, while I had to prepare for my meeting with the Summits.

I trudged down to the dining hall for a late breakfast where I scarfed down two heaping plates. I begged for coffee, but ended up drinking decaf. I felt like a traitor to all my caffeinated friends. With a second decaf in hand, I walked out of the dining hall, my guards following suit, and headed for the throne room where the Summits were already waiting for me.

“They seem to be calm this morning, Yer Majesty,” Liam noted as he walked beside me. “William is resting, so I’ll be taking his place.”

I nodded as the guards up ahead opened the throne room doors and we entered. The Summit alphas stood at my presence and I walked down the center aisle where my throne was perched. After taking a seat and making myself comfortable, I waved for them to be seated as well.

Ranulf was at the Council meeting, so Liam stood by my side while the rest of the guards spread throughout the room.

I narrowed my eyes at the crowd, refusing to give them an inch.

Lucas, the alpha of the Italian Pack, was seated in the front row of the European side of the room, whereas Grayson, the Canadian alpha sat in the front row of the American side. I was interested to see Charles Cadwell seated beside him. Intriguing.

“Your Majesty, congratulations on your mating ceremony,” Lucas started. “It was a beautiful event. We were honored to have been able to witness it.”

Lucas. Always the smooth talker.

I smiled dryly. “Of course.”

Charles cleared his throat. “Although we heard you left the reception early, citing you weren’t feeling well. Is everything all right, Your Majesty?”

Sarcasm dripped off every word. I wasn’t naïve enough to think Charles cared about my wellbeing or health. He would rather see me choke on a chicken bone. But how he found out I left early concerned me, because it meant I still hadn’t uncovered all the spies.

I smiled confidently. “I’m fine, but thank you ever so much for your concern. I believe all the excitement may have been a bit too much for me.”

“Hmm …” Charles continued. “Could that be why you took a midnight stroll outside the castle?”

I kept my expression neutral, but on the inside I was panicking. I knew I wasn’t followed, which meant someone must have alerted him once I arrived back at the castle.

I tilted my head and smiled. “Are you keeping track of my whereabouts, Charles? Do you want to keep track of my menstrual cycle, too?”

The looks of disgust on the alphas’ faces were comical and I fought to hold in my laughter.

“No need to go to extremes, Your Majesty,” Grayson chimed in. “With all the current threats, we’re just looking out for your best interests.”

“I bet,” I grumbled and took a sip of my gross decaf coffee before straightening. “Have no fear; I’m alive and well. There’s nothing to worry about. Nothing is going to get me.”

An awkward silence descended throughout the room. I assumed it was because they were still hoping something would happen to me.

Way to make it obvious, guys.

Lucas chuckled uneasily. “Of course not, Your Majesty, but might we ask where you went?”

“Do I ask when you take a shit?” I shot back. “No, I don’t. So mind your own damn business. If it’s something that has to do with you, trust me, you’ll be the first to know.”

The look of aggravation on their faces was unmistakable. They knew I was hiding something; they just didn’t know what it was. Unfortunately, I’d piqued their interest and now they were going to be like white on rice trying to figure out what it was. This wasn’t the time for them to be in my business.

“What about your Council, Your Majesty?” Grayson changed the subject. “Are you really going to allow two lunas on the Council, in light of what we recently discussed?”

I chuckled. “You mean what you discussed. I didn’t agree with anything you said. And aren’t I a luna as well? Are you saying I can’t take part in my own Council?”

“You’re the Queen,” Lucas laughed awkwardly. “Of course you can. But the other two—”

“Are my trusted advisors,” I interrupted. “And you haven’t even seen the best part yet,” I smirked.

I could hear the collective sucking in of their breaths as if the situation couldn’t possibly get any worse.

“Junior Khumalo is also not an adequate candidate for the Queen’s Council,” Lucas offered. “May we suggest—”

“No, you may not.” I held up a finger to stop him. “Junior is more than qualified. So much so, that I don’t understand why he wasn’t invited to join the Summit to represent his continent. But don’t worry; I’ll be rectifying that.” I grinned.

The alphas of the European Summit became wide eyed at my statement and I knew they weren’t happy. Maybe the tidbit about Junior would distract them from the lunas for a while. Although I wasn’t bluffing. I was going to get Junior’s pack a seat in the Summit. The idea that a whole continent was excluded was insane.

“You’re making a lot of