*Merikh*There is a small knock before my office door pushes open and Colette peeks her head in. A smile replaces the frown I had been dawning since receiving the news that other packs throughout the kingdom are being attacked at random.War has rules, or at least it used to, but now, nothing and no one is off limits to the dragons who seem keen on wiping us from the face of the earth.”Has Zale arrived yet?” She asks, sashaying across the carpet. My heart leaps with the way she gives me a soft smile, her eyes glittering. Colette is still in deep mourning but to see her smile, of her own accord and without prompting, is so refreshing.”Not yet.” I say, looking down at the small clock on my desk. “But I expect he will be here soon.””Then you have time to talk about something with me?” Her tone grows serious as she stops beside my desk, placing her hand down instead of continuing over to me. I arch a brow, turning in my chair to face her as I lean back.”I always have time to talk with you about things, Colette.” I say warily. It almost feels like a trap and by the way she looks away and clears her throat, I can only assume it is something she is worried about. Or afraid of the answer.The thought enters my mind that maybe she wants to go back to the ocean. To either train or meet her other family in the depths of the ocean. My chest grows heavy and I wait anxiously for her to find the words she seems to struggle with.”It’s about Hayes.” She mutters, her gaze meeting mine, as it feels like I can breathe again. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ ƒind ηøᴠel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.”Hayes?” I ask.”Yes.””Okay, what about Hayes?” I tilt my head, clasping my hands together in front of me.”He seems to be doing better.” She offers and I narrow my eyes, catching on immediately to what is going on.”That sounds suspiciously like you are going to try to convince me he can go hunting for a villain.” I say, my tone flat and my lips pressing together.She chuckles and tucks a hair behind her ear. Such a simple and innocent motion as she looks up and quicks a wry smile. Fucking Hayes and his stupid ability to know how to play me. Using my mate againstme.”Maybe.” She shrugs. “But he doesn’t have to go alone.””Oh? He doesn’t?” I ask, intrigued again. “And who will want to go on this suicide mission of his? Hayes is respected, but to ask this task is asking a lot of anyone.”She nods in silence before she saunters to me. She nudges my knees apart as she steps between my legs, my hands going to her waist as I lean forward and look at her. Colette’s hands rest lightly on my forearms as she chews on the inside of her cheeks, looking for words.”We could ask those who lost their mates to join him? Ones who want revenge like he does.” She offers.”And what good does it do to place a group of depressed, angry male lycans together on a hunting mission?” I ask her, my lips turning down in disappointment.If there was a way I could send Hayes out to do what he wanted that ensured he and his group wouldn’t try to not come back, I would do it. But right now, Hayes is too delicate. He is in that phase that Percy was in, looking for someone to kill for the sake of killing.But this loss is different. Hayes lost a part of himself. When he looks in the mirror, he will never see the same man standing there looking back at him. He will see the reminder of when he let Leandra down, in his own words. We all know that is not the case, and I am certain Leandra knew this as well.”Maybe give him time to prove he is willing to do this not just for revenge, but because our kind needs this too? What if we look at it as finding the cause of all of this so we can stop the war? Wouldn’t that be a mission any warrior would want to sign up for?” Colette asks.She makes a fair point. Wolves find happiness in their honor. To prove their worth, to save their loved ones from future pain and suffering, they would do anything. But before I will allow any of that, I need to know that Hayes will try to come back. That he will have something worth living for and not just be looking for a way out.There is a knock before I can answer Colette, and Percy’s voice calls through the oak door.
“Zale is here Alpha.” He says.”We will discuss this later,” I assure Colette, rising to my full height. Then I lean down and press a gentle kiss to her soft lips. “But you make fair points.””I know.” She smiles, patting her hand on my chest before she breaks away from me and steps to the side.”Come on in.” I call out.The door opens and Zale walks in, his hair slicked back and his eyes a honey golden as we walk to each other and shake hands.”King Zale,” I say, walking him into the room. “Come have a seat.””It feels strange to be called that.” He frowns, moving to the seat in front of my desk. He looks up and meets Colette’s gaze for a moment before she looks away, her eyes filled with tears. A wave of her grief washes over me and I move to her, myhands stroking her upper arms.”If you prefer to leave, I will not be upset with you.” I offer, but she clears her throat and meets my eyes.”No, no. I will be fine.” She smiles, though it doesn’t reach her eyes. “I am fine.””Colette, my deepest, most sincere condolences for both of your losses. Not just from me, but from our kingdom, the rest of your family,” Zale says. “Thanks,” she murmurs, unable to look up.I give her one more pressing lookand she gives me a quick smilebefore I make my way to my chairand take a seat. She follows andintpull her into my lap, not caring in the slightest if it looks strange or unprofessional. It is clear she needs my touch right now, so I will placethat above all else. “I received the gift you sent me, in a stunning jar.” He says, indicating he received the ashes of the bitch phoenix. “But rumor has it the war still rages on.””It does.” I sigh, “With the egg of the dragon king missing, he has decided we are the ones with it.””Are you not?” He asks, confused, as his brows knit together.”No.” I tell him honestly. “We possessed it for a mere minute before it was taken from us by a fae.”His eyes grow wide, and then he furrows his brows.”The same fae who-“”Yes.” I clear my throat. “The same one Colette expressed a lack of trust for, all the while Caspian and I vouched for him.”Zale sits back and blows out a heavy huff of air. Then he drags a hand down his face.”I have a proposition for you,” he says, looking at me then Colette. “It is one you will not like, but I believe it will be fruitful for both our kind.””What kind of proposition?” Colette asks, lifting her head.”We, the sirens, would like to join thewar. Our king died at the hands of the dragons. That seems like a call to action if there ever was one.” Zale says, clearing his throat. “I can only ask for forgiveness for how long it took me to make it here to offer this. The process for the crown was…not as graceful as one would havehoped.” “All is forgiven. You are allowed time to mourn the loss of your king. I know we have been mourning it here as well.” I say, not looking at Colette as she leans into me.”There is a condition…to this alliance.” He clears his throat, looking down at his hands before he exhales. My eyes narrow as I lean forward and realize what this condition must be, and she is sitting on my lap. “Which is what?” I ask, my voice firm and demanding.”The family would like to meet Colette,” He says, looking directly at Colette who’s mouth drops open.”Where?” I ask him, not keen on the idea of leaving the pack with her anytime soon.”They are here,” he says, rubbing his head. “They connected the lake to underground water tunnels from the ocean…””They did what?” I ask, standing so abruptly Colette nearly falls off me. I catch her around the waist at the last moment. “They have been…drilling…under my pack?””Yes…well, it was King Caspian’s idea,” he mutters. “And we have been working on it for a few years, in order to monitor you.”
