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

from entering our minds. Liam is summoning her now. Hopefully there’s an update.”

Ranulf frowned. “Do ye think she’s capable?”

“I guess we’ll find out,” I said. “We need something to help us fight back. Right now we’re powerless.”

“Aye,” Ranulf mumbled. “How did yer Summit meeting go?”

I bit my lip. “Grayson is suspicious about why I haven’t shifted yet. We need to be careful with him. That old dog is clever.”

“But ye don know what he’s suspicious of, right?”

“I’m pretty sure he hasn’t figured out I’m pregnant just yet, but once he does, he’s going to – excuse the pun – throw me to the wolves,” I grimaced.

“Do ye think they would be capable of such cruelty?” Ranulf asked honestly. “To a babe?”

I shivered. “I wouldn’t put it past them. To get to the crown like they want to, they’d do anything.”

As I said the words, I wondered if I believed them myself. Grayson once showed me kindness, but I wasn’t sure that sentiment was shared across the board. The Canadian alpha may not be willing to sacrifice a child, but Charles wouldn’t think twice of extracting revenge in the name of his son. And I wasn’t too sure about Lucas. He was a slippery one.

“I know yer hands are full with the demon, but ye have to remember yer Council, Yer Majesty,” Ranulf reminded me. “Ye have the Summit helping ye, but the Council has other things they could be working on. Put them to work, Yer Majesty.”

The Council was in charge of the village’s security, but other than that, I hadn’t issued them any other responsibilities. I’d been consumed with all things Abaddon, which made me forget about the lycans outside of Sheunta Village who weren’t currently being terrorized by the demon. Those subjects still needed their Queen.

“What time is the next Council meeting?” I asked.

Ranulf looked down at his wristwatch. “In a half hour.”

“That’s all the time I need.”

There was a knock on the door and one of the guards slid inside. “Yer Majesty, Lucian Young is here to see ye.”

I nodded. “Let him in.” I waved him inside.

The door opened wider as the guard let Lucian inside and the vampire strutted inside in his typical all black attire and black umbrella under his arm.

“Pet, how lovely to see you again, looking … well.” He grimaced as he pointed to his nose.

“Ha, funny,” I deadpanned. “Thanks for the save back there yesterday. I hope it wasn’t too much of an inconvenience.”

Lucian sighed and took a seat across from me. “None at all, Pet. We had a bit of a squabble, but nothing I can’t handle,” he said as he cleaned his nails mindlessly. “How is my friend, Alexander?” he asked Ranulf who stood beside me.

“He is well. Resting,” Ranulf answered stiffly.

Lucian nodded. “Good.” He turned to me with a grin. “We made quite a team, Pet.”

I smiled. “Yes we did. You came along with perfect timing. Where is Abaddon now?”

He tapped his chin pensively. “Probably in the depths of Caledonian Forest, licking his wounds. His mind games don’t work on me, and you’d already roughed him up quite a bit by the time I got there,” Luce chuckled. “Remind me never to piss you off.”

I shrugged. “Don’t ever kidnap Alexander.”

Lucian smirked. “Right. Speaking of, I should go pay him a little visit and make sure he’s okay. Care to escort me?” he said to Ranulf.

Ranulf looked like he’d just swallowed a bunch of lemons. Escorting a vampire was the last thing he wanted to do.

“Go, Ranulf. I have to prepare for the Council meeting,” I said. He nodded stiffly in response.

I watched them leave, biting my lip to keep from laughing.

I was scribbling like a mad woman in my notebook just as William knocked on my office door to announce it was time for the Council meeting. I made my final notes and gathered my things, hurriedly following him out the door.

Maybe a half hour wasn’t all the time I needed. I needed more. But I’d make do.

When I entered the council room, everyone stood until I was seated at the head of the table. Even though I was told he’d be resting, I was glad to see Alexander in attendance, looking healthy and ready to get to work.

“I’m glad to see everyone here,” I said. “How’s the investigation going in the southwest sector of the village?”

Rowan cleared her throat. “We’ve determined asphyxiation was the cause of death, but nothing new thus far. The funerals will be held this weekend, Yer Majesty.”

“Yer attendance has been requested,” Ranulf said quietly.

“Of course I’m going!” I said adamantly. Funerals weren’t necessarily my favorite occasions. I mean, they weren’t anybody’s, but particularly me because of my sixth sense … I saw dead people. Since I didn’t know anyone who died in the attack, maybe I wouldn’t see anyone. I could only hope.

“We’ve increased security in the village …” Junior sighed. “Not sure what that’ll do with a demon who can control minds, but you know …”

I could tell he was bored with his assignment, finding no joy working with the witches and warlocks. Which made what I was about to say that much more exciting.

“Good.” I nodded. “I need you to maintain the security level while working on a side project.”

He jerked his head in my direction, his interest piqued. “Excuse me, Your Majesty?”

I smiled and looked down at my notepad where I had all their duties listed. “Junior, I want you to start building an African Summit. Gather as much info as you can on the different pack alphas and start establishing an alpha who can represent each country. This is a big project, and unfortunately you can’t travel to those regions because I need you here to help me with our little demon problem, but once that’s settled, you’ll have to do a lot of traveling as our ambassador.”

Junior’s eyes were wide as saucers. I knew he was listening, but I wasn’t sure he processed what I was saying.