by Renee Carr
Chapter 10
When Devon responded to the message that they should meet on Earth, Nathan was secretly thrilled for it. Ivy was still there, and he wanted desperately to make sure she was alright. Earth held a special place in his heart, because of his wife’s origin. He used Earth as an escape and a place to pretend he was anything but the king. Nathan had never intended to be king. His life growing up was supposed to be serving John and taking care of whatever the kingdom needed in his brother’s absence. It wasn’t supposed to be a permanent absence. What was worse was that Nathan knew that it would be easy to slip into John’s mindset if he let himself. He needed to remain in complete control at all times, otherwise he could lose everything he held dear. Ivy and Earth were the only safe spaces in his mind.
“Is that a wise idea?” Joshua asked when he told them. “I’ll send a...”
“Devon is sending his own guards, to show friendship and alliance,” Nathan said. “So you are regent in my absence.”
“Just don’t make it a long absence,” Joshua said, although he wanted to beg him not to go. No one was listening to him about how to stay safe. Nathan could see that his brother was bothered and put a hand on his shoulder.
“You’ll be alright,” he said. “And I’ll be fast.”
“Nathan...” Joshua said. “ Just... come back, and stay in contact.”
“I will,” he said. ”Now, tell me your expert opinion. I would obviously like to see Ivy. However, is it safer to stay with her? Or apart from her?”
“Will you let me send a guard detail?” Joshua asked. Nathan smiled and shook his head. “Then it’s safe to stay apart from her. That’s not that you can’t visit but...”
“I’ll stay safe, brother,” Nathan said. “If anything, I may be able to get her to Devon’s place, and you know how safe that is.”
“For wolves,” Joshua answered.
“For all of us,” Nathan assured him. “The wolves are our friends.”
“You keep saying that and yet Cory is missing and there is a wolf cell phone in his room,” Joshua said. Nathan held out his hand.
“Give me the DNA sample from the cut,” he said. Joshua handed him a small jar and Nathan tucked it into his pocket.
“That is not the safest place,” Joshua said, and Nathan switched it to his bag. “Better. Thank you.”
“See you soon,” Nathan said and headed for the hanger. He wasn’t eager to leave Joshua in charge, especially given how many other things were going on. However, knew this was something only he could do.
“Last time we were there was not the best,” Ivy said to Nathan when he called from the ship. “It started out as the best but then Sarah...”
“I remember,” Nathan said as they flew through the air. “And these are not the best circumstances either. But I do believe it’s Sunday, which means you are done at 4 pm and back on again on Tuesday. Joshua would feel safer if you were at Devon’s or we slept apart.”
“Joshua is a spoilsport,” Ivy said. “But whatever. If you think I’ll be safe traveling there.”
“Yes,” Nathan said. “You’ll be fine. I pity the poor being who tries to kidnap you.”
“How’s Christine?” Ivy asked.
“Who?” Nathan asked, confused.
“The guard Joshua sent to spend a week with me,” she clarified. “The one he is also sleeping with?”
“Oh, I have no idea,” Nathan said. “Why?”
“I just... he actually called to check up on her. And he made sure she was alright afterwards, from what I understood. He doesn’t normally do that for anyone except Leah, even when he is sleeping with them.”
“You think he’s sleeping with Leah?” Nathan was half distracted and wasn’t quite as interested in the gossip around the palace. As long as everyone did their jobs, he didn’t really mind what else happened. He was often far too busy to even care.
“I think he should,” Ivy said and Nathan snorted.
“I don’t think that is going to happen,” he said. “Besides, she’s been...”
“I know,” Ivy said. “Poor thing. I’d throw myself off a bridge if I got sick like that.”
“Don’t say that,” Nathan said and she put her hands over her mouth.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”
“It’s fine,” he said, although she could tell he was hurt. She frantically looked for a subject change.
“Do you have a DNA sample?”
“I do,” he said. “And hopefully, Devon can figure out exactly what to do with it.”
“Devon is smart,” she said. “Anyways, I’ll see you there. I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright,” he assured her again. “You spoke the truth, likely. It’s just...”
“I didn’t speak the truth,” she assured him. “Because none of us know what would happen if we put ourselves in those shoes. So don’t worry.”
“You’re sweet,” he said with a smile. “See you soon.”
As soon as the phone call ended, Nathan turned off the screen. She did speak the truth, and he knew it. Ivy was so strong and independent, much like Joshua’s Leah. He didn’t know what he would do if something happened to her, his wife and his rock. Even if Joshua wasn’t sleeping with Leah, she was the closest thing he had to a wife, and he was amazed at his brother’s strength. It seemed everyone around him was stronger than Nathan thought himself to be.
The journey to Earth was long, as it always was. When Nathan finally knocked on Devon’s front door, he felt like he hadn’t seen the sun in weeks. In reality, the ships were twice as fast as they were even four months ago, and soon, transport to Earth was going to be instantaneous. Nathan knew they had the technology. He just wasn’t sure whether it was a good idea. Currently, they could block incoming threats of ships because they saw them coming. If transport from all over the universe was instantaneous, Nathan couldn’t imagine what kind of threats would just show up in his hangar bay.
“Nathan,” Devon’s friendly face appeared at the door and Nathan felt all the tension leave his shoulders. Maybe there was a third place where he felt safe and relaxed, and it was right here. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
“No problem,” Nathan said, stepping inside. Devon didn’t have a palace, but he had a huge mansion. Inside, it was dark and cool and Nathan wanted to sink into a chair and relax for a week. “Here is the DNA sample.”
“Ben,” Devon snapped his fingers and one of his Betas came forward to take a DNA sample and rush it off to their lab. “Don’t worry. We’ll figure out what’s happening. We always do, don’t we?”
“We do,” Nathan said. “But we don’t normally have to worry about one of my princes missing at the same time.”
“It’ll be nothing,” Devon assured him. “I’m sure it’s just one of my rebels that have gotten out of hand. Cory is strong and he also seems like the type of person who might enjoy being held captive. I bet you we’ll find him and the captors will be begging us to take him.”
“And I will consider that plea strongly,” Nathan said as Devon led him into the grand parlor. “How have you been?”
“I’ve been alright,” Devon said. “You look like hell, though.”
“Is that right?” Nathan asked. “Because I think I’m supposed to be the one telling you that, you old mortal.”
“I’m not that much older than you,” Devon said good-naturedly. “But that is something I did want to talk to you about.”
“What?” Nathan asked, turning pale. “You aren’t sick, are you?”
“No, I’m fine,” Devon assured him. “It’s nothing like that. But I was thinking as you were on your way over. You and I have such a unique friendship and bond... and the next Alphas may not.”
“I hope that they would,” Nathan said. “I hope that we have put something permanent in place.”
“We can hope,” Devon said. “But there’s not actually a guarantee that it’ll happen. We could, however,... sign a
treaty, if that is something that you wanted to think about, later down the line.”
“A treaty?” Nathan asked, taking a sip of the drink that was offered to him.
“A treaty to say that we are at peace and it cannot be broken,” Devon explained. “We’re the Alphas, Nathan. We could put all sorts of rules in place.”
“I just...” Nathan sighed. “This is the thing. If the next ones don’t want it, they can find a way. Our friendship is unique because we want it. And I worry about so much in the future.”
“Surely your son or daughter will...”
“Sure, if there is one,” Nathan said. “Which I’m not sure there will be, to be honest.”
“Not sure about an heir?” Devon asked, in shock. “Why not?”
“Well, because... I don’t know if I want to pass on my genes,” Nathan said heavily. “My mind, my darkness... I’m not sure I want to saddle some poor prince or princess with that. I have two brothers who are strong and healthy.”
“You have two brothers who are unmarried and time is ticking by,” Devon pointed out. “Also, Nathan, we all have demons. We all worry about those things.”
“It’s easy for you,” Nathan said. “You already have two.”
“That I chose at the cost of not having a family,” Devon said, reminding him of the cost he had paid to get two heirs. He had no contact with their mother, and he kept them in line at every chance. Devon’s Betas were strong and loyal to the crown, but Nathan knew that Devon would have preferred a family and a quiet life. “And that’s... it’s fine, it’s done. But you have the opportunity to do so.”
“Joshua might, actually,” Nathan said. “There's a female guard he is interested in, and he talks about her in a different way than anyone else.”
“Oh, is that his deputy captain?” Devon asked and Nathan chuckled.
“No,” he said. “Everyone thinks that. This is a new recruit.”
“Interesting,” Devon replied. “And you’d allow such a marriage?”
“I married a human from Earth,” Nathan reminded him. “So yes, I think I would.”
“Well, then, I wish him luck,” Devon said. “I’m sure that he will find the right one. After all, you have and you are impossible.”
Nathan chuckled, shaking his head. Even in the most dire of situations, Devon always found a way to make him laugh.
It wasn’t long before Ben returned with a tablet. He handed it over to his Alpha, who scrolled through it.
“Remy,” he said at last. Nathan reached for it.
“That’s the same wolf whose cell phone we found in Cory’s room,” he said. “What do you know about him?”
“Remy is a dangerous one,” Devon said. “I’m actually surprised that he is still alive, given how many people hate him. He is known for making alliances and breaking them at a moment’s notice. If you found his mark on a dragon shifter, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he wronged him in some grave way. I also wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he is six feet under right now.”
“Do you think you could track him, provided he still draws breath?” Nathan asked. “After all, we know he was alive when Cory was taken, and that wasn’t that long ago.”
“Was the wound fresh?” Devon asked and Nathan nodded.
“Alright. Let me see what I can do,” he said. “You see if you can get any answers out of your dragon rebels. Either they are working together or they were and it’s gone to hell. Either way, someone should know something.”
“Thank you,” Nathan said and Devon gave him a weary smile.
“For the future,” he said, and Nathan echoed it. He just hoped that the future was a good one.
Chapter 11
“So, tell me about Remy.” Joshua stood in front of the prison cell and crossed his arms. “Because we know that you are working with him.”
The dragon shifter clearly did not expect that, because he gaped.
“No, you don’t,” he said. “You have no proof.”
“Listen to me,” Leah said, ruthless as always. If the two of them wanted to play good cop, bad cop, Leah was always the bad one. Joshua was dangerous and strong, but he sometimes couldn’t believe the interrogation techniques Leah used. He admired her, in a strange sort of way. “These cells are stained with the blood of those who didn’t cooperate with us. And a lot of that blood is fresh. You need to tell us or we will kill you now and you won’t ever see your children again.”
“How—” Christine was about to ask how she knew he had children, but Leah elbowed her in the ribs. Sure enough, the dragon shifter’s face changed.
“You don’t hurt them!” he cried. “I am the one who did wrong.”
“I might,” Leah said. “Or Joshua might, depending on his mood and what condition we find Cory in. You wouldn’t want that, would you?”
“My name is Evan,” the dragon shifter said. “I left the clan about 8 years ago. I thought I was choosing a life of freedom. I had freedom. But I had no money.”
“Ah,” Leah said. “So you took on some illegal activities.”
“Remy offered me the small jobs at first and then the large ones,” Evan said. “And I figured it was less dangerous working for a wolf. But I soon became dependent on his money... and then there was a plot to kidnap the prince.”
“Which wasn’t just a plot,” Joshua pointed out. “Because Cory is gone and Remy’s cell phone was in his room.”
“Remy isn’t an idiot,” Evan said. “He left it there on purpose.”
“What?” Joshua asked. “Why the hell would...”
“You don’t know Remy,” Evan said. “He... thinks he is more powerful than any network of Alphas and their guards. He has a huge network too. They call him the King of the Free Shifters.”
“Free shifters?” Joshua snorted.
“What does he want us to do with the phone?” Leah asked.
“Turn it on,” Evan said. “He’ll call when he has an offer for you.”
“How did you get that wound?” Leah asked. Evan didn’t answer and Leah took a step up to the bars. “Tell me or I will find your children, I swear. Traitors’ children are also traitors.”
“I told him not to hurt the prince!” Evan blurted out. “Remy promised he wouldn’t get hurt and then..”
“How did he hurt him?” Joshua demanded. “Is he alive? Where did he take him?”
“I swear if I knew, I would tell you,” Evan said. “But Remy does not let us hired hands know his full plans. However, I’ve already been paid. Maybe if you check my bank account you could find out more of his whereabouts? The transfer had to come from somewhere.”
“I should take it from you,” Joshua said, and to his surprise, Evan broke down in tears.
“Please don’t,” he begged. “Please don’t. My wife has access and it’s what she is using to feed our kids. Please don’t...”
“Joshua,” Christine said softly. “Maybe we should just leave it.”
“You are not going anywhere,” Joshua said to Evan. “You are staying here until we have all the information we need from you. And then we will decide what to do with you.”
“Just don’t hurt my children,” Evan pleaded as the three of them walked away. Christine knew better than to speak this time until they were outside the prison.
“You wouldn’t actually hurt his children, would you?” she asked.
“Depends,” Leah said, her arms crossed. “If it got answers out of him, I might take them captive. But no, I wouldn’t hurt his children. The sins of the father should not be passed down to the children.”
“Wow,” Christine breathed a sigh of relief. “Because I thought...”
“This is a battle,” Joshua said to Christine. “You do what you can. You learn on the job and you’ll know when to pressure someone and when to not.”
“I just... my father does that sometimes,” Christine said. “The things he has to say to people...”
“Your father has a difficult job,” Joshua said.
<
br /> “Hello,” Leah interjected. “As heartwarming as this is, I think we should get back to work. I’ll break into his bank account, if you want, and see if I can find the local branch where the transfer came from. Where’s Remy’s phone?”
“It’s in the evidence locker,” Joshua said. “I suppose I should get it and turn it on.”
“Good bet,” Leah said. “Come and get me if he calls.”
“Will do,” Joshua said and Leah met his eyes.
“You know that he could be lying about everything,” she said.
“I know,” Joshua said. “But it’s a start.”
“How do you deal with that?” Christine asked as she and Joshua walked away. “I mean, they prepared us for everything in the academy... but the idea that he could be lying and we could be chasing a dead end...”
“We have to chase every end,” Joshua said, “on the off chance that they lead somewhere. Of course, you try and prioritize... but at the end of the day, you have to look everywhere, or you won’t ever find what you need. Serving in the palace means a lot of sleepless nights and hard days. Surely they told you that.”
“They did,” Christine said. “Of course they did. “It’s just... I guess I didn’t think how hard it would be until I got here. I can’t imagine how you are holding up.”
“I’m alright,” Joshua assured her. “At least, as long as you are with me, I’m alright.”
She met his eyes and could see a fire in them that she saw the first night they were together. She knew better than to suggest something right then and there, so she chose a different tactic.
“Maybe tonight?” she asked. “After everything is over and we have to sleep or drop, we could...”
“I’ll come and find you,” Joshua said, squeezing her arm with a grin. “But right now, I need to get that cell phone.”
He headed off down the hall, whistling as he walked. He was confident in the fact that wherever Cory was, he was alright. His brother may not be in the most pleasant of conditions, but he was alright for now, and Joshua felt less tense than he had been in days.
