Forged in the Flames

Chapter 60

My mother’s visit greatly irritated me, but I calmed down. I spent time pacing about the room and thinking of what to do.

I knew it wouldn’t be easy. As things were, I wished I could settle for being Alpha of Forest, but that would subject me to the Unity law. I might be attacked, tried and persecuted for breaking the unity law. I needed the crown. I just had to be wise about it.

A few hours later, someone knocked on my door. I went to open it because whoever it was, was afraid of knocking. I could tell the difference between a confident knock and an unsure knock.

I opened the door and saw a blonde werewolf slave holding a tray.

She looked in her early forties, but she was beautiful. I saw a mark on her neck that indicated she was claimed. It was the mark of a Lycan and not a werewolf. She also had a distinct Lycan scent. Something like what I did to Aliana. A Lycan had marked her.

I wondered who would be able to claim a werewolf in the Snow.

The collar on her neck indicated she wasn’t free, so I figured the mark might have gotten her in trouble.

It disgusted me to see that they collared people in Snow.

I could understand why those that had the opportunity to escape would escape.

The woman held a tray of food and averted her gaze from mine.

“I am here to serve your meal, your highness,” she said, and I wondered why she would refer to me as a prince.

“I am just an alpha. No need to treat me as royalty,” I cautioned her in case it was Fred*ic*ks’s trap.

She entered the room and placed the food tray on my table.

“To me, you are royalty, your highness. I come from Forest,” She said, and I could understand why she would refer to me as that. News must have travelled about me.

It seemed the woman had something to tell me but decided against it last minute.

“His Majesty asked us to bring you female company. Would you be interested in werewolves or Lycans?” She asked, and I shook my head.

“Neither, thank you,” I said, and she paid her respect and left.

I observed her closely and realised she wasn’t just any slave; she had a brand on her neck that indicated she belonged to the King.

The bastard.

He said I had a werewolf mistress. I doubted she was just cooking and cleaning for him. I bet the scent was his. The woman was too pretty and well-kept to be an ordinary slave.

Since he did not reek of werewolves, I couldn’t accuse Fred*ic*k, but then again, he had organised the meeting, so he had time to get rid of her scent. I knew he was sleeping with the woman. He was incapable of passing off the beauty.

I ate the meal and decided to sleep early so we could wake up before five and leave. I had linked Abraham, Qusack and my mother to inform them of my plans.

I was about to lie down when a confident knock sounded on my door.

“It is opened!” I called out, and the person turned the knob.

I knew it was King Fredrick because of the confidence of the knock. His scent was faint while he was at the door. It was also familiar.

It was like that of the slave werewolf that had served me.

Why would he allow his mistress to serve me? Was he trying to tell me something? I wondered what his deal was.

I got off the bed while he walked in. He had a broad grin, and I wanted to wipe it away by telling him I knew he was screwing a werewolf, but somehow I knew he wanted me to know, so I held back.

“Dear nephew,” he said, and I fought the urge to growl at him.

“I was hoping you would spend a day with me,” he said, and I chuckled.

“You insulted me and embarrassed my mother. You denied me my rights and expected me to be happy about it. I think it is best I leave in the morning,” I said, and he nodded gradually.

“I can understand your anger, young lad,” he said, and I wondered when he would stop calling me that.

“But you have to understand that there are rules. Mathias, Aleksander and I came together and agreed on the rules. Before the werewolves struck, Mathias had decided to join the slave trade. Since he had lots of them, he was bound to make money off it. But unfortunately, Gabriel struck, and your mother was too weak to hold on to what was rightfully hers.

Had she positioned herself properly, you wouldn’t have had this problem. No one would question your right or paternity,” he explained. “How do you expect her to hold the throne without an army. You should have provided her with that,” I told him, and he nodded.

“True; I have also noticed that Izzy has kept much from you. I did not send her away because I wanted to be wicked. Had she come to ask me for an army to take Forest, I would have gladly lent it to her.

Mathias and the little warriors he had, had done a number of them. Gabriel wouldn’t have seen me coming.

But she came to request shelter, saying Gabriel promised to hand Forest to you when you are of age. Her weakness cost all of us dearly. Gabriel was now in charge of Forest and all the resources needed to run our lands. Due to the clause in the Unity Law, I could not lead an attack on my own.

A section states that no king will attack a kingdom with a potential ruler and an heir.

My sister was a potential ruler.

I sent hunters after her to chase her deep into the woods, hoping she would return to Forest and take what belonged to her. She didn’t.

She didn’t return to ask for help or go to Forest. Pushing her away was useless. She was weak and not a leader material, so I let her rot there. Our father would have killed her for disgracing our bloodline, but I allowed her to live.

I knew the cave you two lived in most of your lives in the woods. I kept her there so people would believe she was dead, and I could have the opportunity to attack Forest and take it back from Gabriel.

Unfortunately, he made the place impenetrable. I wish I had adopted your strategy. I would have succeeded,” He said and sighed.

The man had the effrontery to tell me he deliberately ensured my mother ran deep into the woods. He was sick. Their entire family was dysfunctional. I was indeed unfortunate to be related to the Semenovs. He sighed and looked at me.

I could see him dropping the confidence and playful facade. He was about to say something profound.

“My reason for opposing you is that your actions have proven you would not have the best interest of our people in mind.

I doubt you will support the lycan community and uphold our laws. I am not sure you will put your kind first or maintain the Unity Law in Forest.

When the law is abolished and werewolves have rights, they will relocate to Forest, leaving Snow and Hill underpopulated.

If we are underpopulated, we can’t develop, and our defence will weaken. Werewolves are the best workers and very efficient in the army because their loyalty is absolute.

A little freedom will offset that balance, Nikolas.

We have been able to keep our region safe because of this balance. Mathias saw the light. There are other kingdoms across the sea. They will overrun us if we do not have a strong defence and development. Everything has a reason.

So you have to understand my fear.

If you can prove to me that you have our best interest at heart and are willing to help

Aleksander and me develop our regions, then you have my support. Kingship is a lot of power to possess. I have to trust you to grant it,” He said, and I shook my head.

“I have told you that there aren’t many werewolves in Forest. Gabriel did not develop that place for the twenty-nine years he was in charge. Forest is behind. Hill and Snow are more developed than Forest. I am practically overworking the werewolves to modernise the place,” I explained.

“I would have believed you if it weren’t for the reports my spies have given me.

They tell me about how you dote on your werewolf mistress.

She sleeps in your room.

She has no collar.

So how can she be a slave?

You pamper her and even punish your kind for her sake.

Had I said this to the committee, the twenty- three people who voted in your favour wouldn’t have?

You demoted your gamma for her sake and even put lycan halfbreeds to serve her.

I learned that you quarreled with your mother and punished her too.

How do you expect me to support you when you might abolish the law so you can be with your mistress?

I know love when I see it. You remind me a lot of Mathias when he was with Olive. He refused to sign the unity law because of her.

You are likely to abolish it for this woman’s sake,” He said, and I did not know how obvious my intentions were until now.

I thought I had done an excellent job masking it.

Still, Igham and my mother’s actions had made it incredibly difficult.

They had attacked Aliana and tested my patience and limits. I could not ignore their transgressions at the expense of Aliana, but it had come to bite me in the arse.

“Then you read wrong, your majesty,” I said, thinking of a comeback.

“I do not like people messing with my toys. The slave knows her place and remains there, just like the one that served my food,” I said, so he would know that I knew she was his mistress, and he smiled.

“Ah, she is a beauty, that one,” he grinned. Unfazed by my observation.

“The difference is I do not wear them collars, and I won’t. It isn’t my style. I have rules in Forest, which are simple; no one messes with my things without my consent. After all, the

Lycans are in charge of the werewolf slaves. I never get involved with their treatment, but I would feel insulted if anyone tried to mess with my slave. She is my property to do as I please. She isn’t for general use, nor is she to be

damaged. I also have a reason for keeping her. I am sure you know she is Gabriel’s daughter,” I said confidently, and his eyes faltered because he thought about what I had said. I hoped it remained that way. I felt like a traitor for speaking of Aliana in such a condescending manner. I hoped she would forgive me.

“If you put it that way, I can’t argue with you, Nikolas, but I will need some convincing. I want to get to know you as family and as my business partner. Once I am sure you have our best interest at heart, then I will support you. I would rather a Lycan be the King of Forest than a halfbreed,” He said, and I sighed.

“What about my mother? You did not need to humiliate her like that?” I asked him, and he chuckled.

“Izzy is a conniving bitch. She would have tried to take over if I had let her in. There are many things about Leon and your mother that I cannot discuss with anyone. Still, Izzy did not leave room to alleviate my doubt about her loyalty. She loved Mathias; that was obvious, but she wasn’t loyal.

I cannot accommodate someone as disloyal as Izzy in my kingdom. I always said she would have been better off with Aleksander, but she wanted a wealthy suitor. I must confess, Mathias was the most wealthy and powerful of us three. It was amazing to see how Gabriel knocked him down.

You have to be careful. Those things are treacherous,” he said, and I did not want to say anything. I just nodded.

“Maybe I will visit Forest in person instead of relying on my informants. I would like to meet this slave that you are possessive of,” he said, chuckling, and I nodded. Of course, he wasn’t welcomed, but there was no need to spell it out. “Miles would have loved to meet you, but he went to do something in Hill. He has been visiting there often lately, and I wonder why.

Maybe he will come to see you in Forest,” He said, and I nodded.

I wasn’t interested in the conversation anymore. I just wanted to sleep and leave in the morning. There was too much to do now.

“Think about the trade deal and all the other things we demanded. I would like to see you sitting with Aleksander and me,” he said, and I did not need to guess what he meant by I should think about the demands.

He wanted me to bow to his will. He wanted to control me. It also implied I would be King by name only. Just like Aleksander, he wanted me to dance to his tune, to do things his way. He wanted to be the King of kings. I needed to discuss this with Qusack and Abraham extensively. I had to be careful because everything was riding on this.

Fredrick left me in knots, but I managed to sleep.

I woke up at four in the morning and got ready.

Qusack was already up and waiting for my orders. There was no point waiting until five. I linked Abraham and my mother to meet us outside and headed out.

Fredrik was still sleeping, so I left a message to inform him we had returned to Forest.

We left in a hurry, and the drive back was silent.

Qusack and Abraham were angry, and so was I.

My mother would have spared us the humiliation by telling me the truth. I began to wonder if everything she told me was a lie.

Although Fredrick had confirmed some things she said, I would need to gather information from all the parties involved to get the bigger picture. I also knew I needed to take things a step at a time.

“Do you think we can do this the peaceful way?” My wolf, Bane, asked, sounding a bit worried because we could not fight a war.

“I will try, Bane,” I told my wolf.

“What about Aliana?” He asked, and I sighed. “We will figure it out. I do not plan to give her up for any reason. Maybe we will be more discreet while we try to fish out the spies,” I replied, and Bane was silent.

One thing I was confident about was my scope of search.

Fredrik’s spies were most likely to be Lycans.

So they had to be people in my ranks, preferably Kappas.

I planned to comb through everyone until I found the people responsible for giving off so much information, leaving me vulnerable to my enemies.

Whether I liked it or not, Fredrick and that damn committee were filled with haters who wished they owned Forest. I will dance to their tune on the surface while I find a permanent solution underneath the pretence.