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

tea together when the demon first arrived in Scotland, for crying out loud. At the beginning, Lucian was the only one who knew what he looked like. Did the demon know we were friends? Could we get away with having Lucian accompany me into the forest?

“It can work, Mackenzie,” Bash continued. “I’ve already sent a messenger to Lucian’s cottage.”

I peered up at Bash, surprised to hear he’d done so without confirming the plan with me first. Which meant he would do it with or without my approval. I could argue with him about it, but honestly, I had no energy to do so. I also knew he meant well. I couldn’t get mad at him for wanting to protect me.

I nodded. “Very well. If Lucian agrees, have him enter the forest with me—at a distance. It can’t seem like we’re going in together.”

For the next hour, the Council constructed a plan for how to secure all entrances into the forest, particularly the one Lucian and I would be using. So much of this planning felt useless since Abaddon could use his mind control and make whatever offense we used pointless. But we had to try.

There was a knock at the door and William entered with a bow. “Yer Majesty, Lucian Young is here.” He stepped aside and let the vampire enter the council room.

Lucian strode into the room in his customary all-black attire, his blond hair tied back in a low ponytail, and a black umbrella tucked under his arm. “You summoned me, Pet?” he smirked playfully.

I wished I could smile back, but the situation was too dire. “Have a seat, Luce.” I motioned to a chair at the end of the table.

He frowned. “Why so serious? Is everything all right?” he asked as he sat down.

“No, things are nae well,” Ranulf responded. “Abaddon has kidnapped Alexander.”

Lucian’s eyes widened and he dropped his umbrella. “What?”

I nodded. “He took him as collateral. He wants to meet me in the forest today at noon. Alone.”

He deflated in his seat and rubbed his forehead. “This is not good, Pet.”

“I know. Which is why we need your help, Luce.”

He looked up at me in surprise. “Anything.”

“She can’t bring any guards with her into the forest or it’ll set him off,” Bash explained. “But if you go in with her, maybe he won’t feel so threatened. You’re his friend.”

“He’s just a vampire. What can he do?” Junior scoffed.

Lucian’s expression darkened. “There’s a lot I can do, young man. Don’t underestimate me.”

“My grandda is nae afraid of many things,” Rowan said. “But he fears you.” She nodded toward Lucian. Her grandfather was Jacob, an ex-Council member, and near the top of the list for my Not a Fan of Mackenzie Club. “I believe he can protect the Queen.”

I didn’t need validation that Lucian could protect me because I knew what he was capable of, but it seemed like the others needed to hear it.

Lucian grinned, exposing his fangs. “I would be delighted to accompany you, Pet.” It took a lot of restraint for me not to roll my eyes. Always so dramatic.

“Excellent. We’ll meet at our appointed sectors at eleven thirty.” With the plan locked in place, we ended the meeting.

Time crawled at a snail’s pace, but it also felt as if eleven-thirty was there in a blink. Bash spent most of the time trying to feed me once he found out I skipped breakfast. I tried to eat for his sake but could barely stomach the porridge that had been served. Finally, I stood perched at the edge of Caledonian Forest.

This time, I didn’t bother packing a bag and weighing myself down with unnecessary items. The only thing I brought was a thigh strap with the dagger that my SIU team had gifted me before I left New York City. It seemed like the perfect time to use it.

“Are you sure you don’t want to bring some water?” Bash asked for the hundredth time.

I sighed. “Bash, I’m already peeing every twenty minutes as it is. I can’t have this issue while I’m in the forest.”

Some of the guards around us laughed, unaware of the situation.

“Okay …” he relented, “but are you sure there’s nothing else you need? Is your tracker on?”

I could tell he was nervous. I stood on my tip toes and placed a kiss on his cheek. “Yes. Chill out. Everything is going to work out.”

Before he could respond, Ranulf came up behind us. “All right, Yer Majesty, ye should be heading out.”

Turning and giving a slight wave to everyone, I stepped into Caledonian Forest without looking back. The trees and brush quickly swallowed me up.

The forest was silent as I walked further into the dense wood, avoiding the trail. I figured Abaddon wouldn’t be somewhere so obvious. Crouching to avoid branches and stepping over logs, the crunching leaves and sticks under my footfalls were the only sounds. The midday sun was blocked by the thick tree canopy, which made everything seem dark and ominous.

My hand rested lightly on the hilt of my dagger, ready for whatever came my way.

After a half hour, my breath was labored and my thighs and legs were sore, but I kept moving deeper into the woods in a direction I’d never been before. Finally, unable to go any further, I found a fallen log and plopped down to rest for a few minutes. I’d never been this weak before. It frustrated me. I took several minutes to catch my breath when I heard someone laughing. I looked up and found Abaddon about ten feet away, leaning against a tree in front of me.

“Tired?” he asked with a smile.

“I’ll live.” I sucked in a deep breath and stood. I scanned the area for Alexander, breathing in the scents around me, but couldn’t find him anywhere. “Where is he?”

“He’s around,” the demon offered airily. “Don’t worry, he’s fine.”

“That’s not what we agreed to.”

“I said I would hold him as insurance. I never said how I would return