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

clean and maintain the facilities the same as before. They are forced to pull double duty. And the breeding …” She grimaced.

“They’ll know it was you. You don’t care?” I wasn’t trying to dissuade her, but I wanted to understand her mindset before I set her loose.

She steeled herself. “No. I don’t care.”

I grinned. “Good. Start interviewing for enforcers. Work with HR to get a full job description written up and figure out a pay rate. This gig will include travel expenses.”

“Will we notify the Barcelona pack?” Maria asked.

I shook my head. “Hell no. Keep this on the down-low. I want you to ambush them so we can get a full scope on what’s going on in their pack.” I reached for my decaf coffee and took a sip, grimacing at the flavorless taste.

Maria slumped back in her seat and sighed. “My family will really disown me now.”

I narrowed my eyes and chose my next words carefully. “Maria, sometimes we choose our family. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the family we’re born into. Remember that.”

Hopefully she would find solace here in Scotland with more like-minded people. If her family back home didn’t want her, maybe she could start her own family here.

A knock sounded at the door and it opened. Liam poked his head inside. “Yer Majesty, Rowan is here to see ye.”

I waved my hand. “Let her in.”

Liam opened the door wider and the petite luna walked inside, bowing mid-stride and stopping before my desk, beside Maria. She stood rigidly with her hands clasped behind her back. “Sorry to interrupt, Yer Majesty, but I wanted to give ye my report.”

Maria stood, pushing her chair back slightly. “I think we’re done, Your Majesty. I can go.”

I nodded at her and Maria left the office quietly. “Have a seat, Rowan.” I motioned to the empty seat. “What news do you bring?”

She cleared her throat. “I ran into my grandda at church last night with my mam,” she said.

My eyebrows shot up at the mention of church. I hadn’t realized they were religious. “Oh?”

She nodded. “I pretended nae to see him and complained to my mam about ye. He overheard and asked to talk to me after the service. It happened just like ye said.”

I should have been giddy with excitement about being right, but honestly, it only made me want to roll my eyes at how predictable Jacob was. “So what did he say?” I pressed.

“He was very … nice,” she said, confused. “My grandda has never been kind or gentle, but he spoke to me so openly, wanting to know what my struggles were and how he could help.”

“Right … because he’s been in your position and knows how horrible I am.” This time, I rolled my eyes.

“Exactly!” she laughed. “Yer good, Yer Majesty. Anyway, I pretended nae to want to bother him with my troubles, but he insisted, so I told him how much of a tyrant ye were being. That ye did nae listen to others, and how I just really wanted to join the Guard and not fool with being on the Council.”

I smirked. “Good. Mix the lies with the truth. What did he say?”

“It was obvious he did nae want to discuss anything in the middle of church, so he invited me to have dinner with him tonight to see how he can help me.”

Perfect. I wasn’t sure if Jacob was in league with Charles, but I’d learned you could never be too sure. I had to have all my T’s crossed and I’s dotted.

“For now, keep your distance from me, Rowan. We don’t want Jacob to suspect anything. We have to assume he’s bringing you into the fold tonight, so from now on, you’re on his side until further notice. Unless it’s something major that you must tell me about, don’t report anything. And if you have to, go through William. He’ll be your point of contact since you’re family.”

“Aye, Yer Majesty.” She bowed in her seat. I noticed she’d been rubbing her hands incessantly during our short meeting. I was afraid if she kept doing it, she would rub the skin raw.

“It’s okay to be nervous, Rowan. This is a huge undertaking. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, just know it’s okay to back out at any time,” I offered calmly.

“No!” She perked up. “I’m doing this! I have to!”

“You don’t have to, Rowan, and I don’t want you to think that you do. You have a choice.”

She nodded. “I know, but I want to. This is important. I want to prove that I can do this.”

I offered her a smile. “All right, then. Be safe, be careful, and don’t let your guard down.”

“Aye, Yer Majesty.” She stood from her seat. I dismissed her and she left my office with her head held high, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

To say I was nervous for her was putting it mildly. This plan could totally backfire and she could get caught in spectacular fashion. I didn’t even want to think about what would happen to her if she did. I’d like to think Jacob wouldn’t hurt his own granddaughter, but I wasn’t convinced. I had to make sure Rowan was protected.

“Liam?” I called out.

My trusty guard entered my office. “Yes, Yer Majesty?”

“Get me six of your most loyal guards. I want them shadowing Rowan twenty-four seven, but caution them that whatever they see or hear must be kept secret. They’re just there to protect her in case she can’t protect herself.”

“Aye, Yer Majesty.” Without questioning my directive, he bowed and exited the room.

I ran a hand through my hair and wondered if I was doing the right thing. I didn’t want to throw her to the wolves on her first mission. She was young and untrained. She might have a political science degree, which made her book smart, but she wasn’t street smart yet.

For the most part, I’d felt relatively okay throughout the early stages of my pregnancy.