CHAPTER 89
LOGAN’S POV
“So what period do you think would be perfect for the wedding?” I asked, stroking her hair that laid on my thighs.
“Uhhhmmm…” She tapped her chin as she looked up at the ceiling in thoughts. “I’m not sure… Maybe we start preparations a month after the war.”
“That sounds like a good plan. A month is just enough time to condole with the families and individuals who would bear any losses after the war.” I sighed, and she looked at me, her eyes instantly reflecting sadness.
“Logaaan…” She softly chastised.
“I’m sorry honey, but that is the reality of things. In a war, there must be spoils and losses. Even if we win this war, which is….” I trailed off, trying to push away the uncertain way I felt.
“Logan, there would be no failure on our side. We would be victorious.” She sighed, patting my cheek in assurance.
“Even if we are victorious, we would still encounter some losses. That is just facts. And sadly, there is nothing we can do to avoid it.” I reasoned.
“Right now, I actually feel more concerned about the Flaming Wolf, my love.” She sat up in between my thighs, and turned to me. “I don’t see it forthcoming. And no matter how I try to not let it bother me, I just can’t.” She sighed. I could partially relate to how she felt. The only thing that made me keep hope alive, was the fact that I had seen it myself. The Flaming Wolf had indeed emerged. To be quite frank, I was on the fence about it now. I wasn’t so sure that part of that dream may come true anymore. Nonetheless, I was both Chief and King. It was my job to ensure everyone remained encouraged and focused. And that included my mate.
“You know you can be vulnerable about your thoughts concerning this war, right?” She suddenly asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“W.. wh… what?” I stuttered.
“Logan….” She took my hands in hers. “I know you’re trying to be the man, and protect my feelings…. but what is my use to you, if I cannot shoulder some of your burdens too?” She sighed. “It’s okay if you do not feel so confident about the war ahead. It’s okay if ‘you’re beginning to doubt your visions. It all okay. And you can share your feelings with me too.”
“Haaa!” I let out a sigh, a small smile on my face. “Audrey, I don’t want you to worry…”
“No, I wouldn’t take that.” She shook her head in disagreement. “Your ability to be vulnerable to me, shows the level of trust you have in me.” Okay, now I felt bad. “I know you are king, and it is your duty to wear the heavy crown. But don’t forget that I have a crown as well. And it’s pretty much as heavy as yours. Meaning, that we both have a duty to shoulder responsibilities. I am your Luna, so share your heavy thoughts with me please.”
“I’m sorry.” I exhaled. “I really am.” I looked into her eyes. “You just mean so much to me, that I am obsessed with shielding you in every possible way.”
“I feel more shielded, when you bare your heart to me.” She whispered, scooting closer to kiss me.
“I am no longer sure about the Flaming Wolf.” I muttered, and her total attention fell on me. “I mean, I was the one who saw the vision, yet I’m incapable of providing a way of finding it. I’m beginning to feel like the other supernatural officials would start doubting my capability to lead them in this war. The war is only a week away.” I brushed my hand through my hair in frustration.
“My love, you’re only a messenger of the goddess. Hecate chooses to show you what she wishes. You shouldn’t break your head over it. Moreover Isobel had a similar vision, so you both can’t be wrong. If the Flaming Wolf fails to come forth, then we should see it as part of Hecate’s plans. Infact, I think we should talk about this during the council meeting today. We should focus on preparing the minds of our soldiers, to fight with or without the help of the Flaming Wolf. Moreover, the rogues have no Flaming Wolf of theirs, yet they are bold enough to challenge us to battle. We are strong, and we should capitalize on our strength because that is all we have. For now.” She added.
“Oh, Audrey.” I sighed, not knowing why her words made me feel better.
“Come here.” She opened her arms to me, and I rested my head on her extremely soft bosom.
“Babe?” I called out.
“Hmmm?” She replied, playing with my hairs.
“Is it just me, or do your breasts feel bigger?”
“Huh? I think it’s just you.” She chuckled. “You want to inspect them much closely?” She teased, and a silly grin spread through my face.
“Sounds like fun.”
“Sounds like fun, huh?” She laughed more, taking my hand and placing it on her breasts. Just as I was about to start squeezing on them, the door to our room burst open. We both raised our heads to see Layla. Seriously?!
“It’s funny how you always scold my nephew for doing the exact same thing you always….”
“Logan.” Layla cut me off, and that was when I noticed her countenance much clearly.
“Layla, what’s wrong?” Audrey asked, getting off my thighs. “You don’t look okay.”
“I am not okay.” Layla breathed so quickly, her forehead folding into creases. What was going on? I also found myself hopping off the bed, because something within told me that all wasn’t well. “Infact, I don’t think we would all be okay.” What was she saying?
“Layla, please stop speaking in parables.” Audrey pleaded, and I could feel her heartbeat accelerate. It sounded louder than normal, and that made me quite bothered.
“Isla is gone.” Layla muttered, looking at us in such disbelief, that made me hold my breathe.
“Layla, be serious please. This is a sensitive time to make jokes. Isla is gone? To where?”
“Do I look like I’m in the mood for jokes?” She asked. “Isla has been missing since this morning.”
“Calm down. Maybe she’s somewhere around the palace. Have you looked everywhere?” I tried to reason, but Layla shook her head vigorously, disregarding whatever I was saying.
“Her energy can’t be felt anywhere around this palace.”
“What?!” “What?!” Audrey and I exclaimed at the same time.
“How? Why?” I asked.
“I don’t know why. But the most important reason is how?” Layla rushed out, pacing up and down. “There were splatters of blood on the wall of her room. She couldn’t have left on her own accord.”
“Oh, my goddess!!” Audrey yelled, holding her chest as her breathing increased.
“Babe…”
“Logan, Isla is gone!!” Audrey said, suddenly releasing a bout of tears. I was still confused for a couple of seconds. “Blood in her room…” Audrey’s hands shook in fear. “They took her! They took her!!” She cried out. “I should have known! I should have thought about it.” She said, rushing out of the room.
Layla and I looked at each other, and ran out after her. Audrey ran all the way to Isla’s room and when we got there, we met Isobel and a couple of other supernatural officials around.
“Isobel, what’s going on?” I asked, as Audrey rushed into the room.
“I’m sorry, Chief.” She rushed out, tears clouding her eyes. “I felt her spirit weakly trying to connect with mine at night, but I was asleep, and thought it was a dream.”
“Calm down.” I said. “Y’all should calm down.” I repeated, trying to think up something as fast as I could.
“Let me inspect the room.” I excused myself and waltzed in, only to see Audrey crouched to the floor and crying. I looked around, and the thick blood splatter on the wall, was all I needed to know that indeed, someone was here, and that person had forcefully taken Isla. But who could it be?!! I muttered inaudible words underneath my breathe, asking Isla to hang in there for as long as she could.
“Babe, calm down. I promise to sort this out.”
“I’m sorryyyy…” She cried. “B.. but Isla had told me she was in danger. I could have paid more attention and ensured she was safer. Oh, goddess! Logan, is she dead?”
I looked at Audrey closely, and was more worried over how broken she seemed. Not trying to say that Isla’s disappearance was insignificant, but Audrey always had this ability to keep it calm. What was happening? Her emotions were literally everywhere. But most especially, what did she mean when she said ‘Isla was in danger’?
“Babe, what do you mean by your statement? Isla told you she was in some sort of danger?”
“I’m sorry.” She suddenly stood up from her crouched position, her eyes already looking so red. “But we need to get to the root of this.”
She walked out of the room, and I followed her out. We were back amongst the others, and I watched as Audrey gave her instructions.
“That blood is still quite fresh.” She sniffled. “It was definitely in the middle of the night, or early hours of this morning. I need too see all the omegas that are assigned to clean this area..” She said, and one of the guards nodded in understanding, before walking away to do what Audrey had asked of him. I could tell she was very disturbed, but was trying her best to keep it together.
“My love.” She looked up at me. “Please, inform the officials that our meeting would be a bit earlier than planned. There is a serious problem.”
She walked away from the room, down the hall, and we all just followed her. While we headed to the council room, I got busy mindlinking the other Alphas, and asking them to assemble at the council room immediately.
“Ares!” Audrey called out, and I looked up to see him walking towards us.
“Luna, Your majesty.” He bowed. “The place is a bit….. disoriented, what’s happening?”
“Something serious.” She replied. “Please get to your army. I need them to perform a thorough search. I need to know if anyone or persons, are missing from the palace right now.”
“On it.” He nodded, and disappeared with a whoosh.
We were already in front of the council room, when she looked up at the guard stationed there. It was Bruno.
“Bruno.” She called out.
“Luna.” He bowed.
“Please get to royal Gamma Boyd immediately. A thorugh search should be done through the quarters of the wolf army. I want to know if anyone is absent from the palace at this moment. Also, inform the palace guards at every entrance of the palace. No one leaves or comes in.”
“Yes, Luna.” He bowed and left to go do as instructed.
More than anything else, I was amazed at how fast Audrey was thinking and acting, regardless of her mental and emotional state. I was so worried about Isla too. Oh, goddess.
“Please, the rest of us should step in.” She ushered the other officials who followed us from Isla’s room, into the council room. As they all went in, Audrey pulled Isobel by the arm. “Please, do a thorough check with the witches. I need to be sure that everyone is on ground.”
“What if the perpetrator is still around the palace?” I found myself asking.
“That would be a very wrong move.” She muttered, glaring into space. “Only a stupid rebel would remain here, at the chance of being caught. By the time I’m done, heads will most definitely roll.” She growled lowly, making me hold her hand in support.
We both made our way into the council room, and took our seats at the head of table. One after the other, the rest of the supernatural officials trooped in, whispering amongst themselves.
“As it stands,” I began. “One of our officials seems to be in danger.”This is the property of Nô-velDrama.Org.
‘She is in danger’. Audrey mindlinked me. ‘I’m sorry I didn’t respond to you when you asked earlier. But I would do so after the meeting’.
‘It’s fine, my love. I understand just how disorienting this is for you’.
“What happened exactly?” The Fae king asked. “We were all told to assemble earlier than usual, and that Coven leader Isla has gone missing.”
“That is true.” I nodded. “And we are already working on it. As long as you all coperate and instruct your soldiers accordingly, it would be faster to get to the root of all these.”
More and more officials trooped in, and Ares showed up, Isobel following him behind.
“Your Majesty!” He bowed, walking up to me. “All the vampire soldiers have been properly accounted for. None missing.” He informed, and I nodded.
“Thank you, Ares.”
“Same here.” Isobel said.
“Everyone present?”
“Everyone.” She nodded.
“Fae king?” I called. “Any news about your soldiers?”
“My chief commander is still working on it.” He replied.
After a couple of minutes, the first guard Audrey had instructed, walked in with some omegas behind him.
“Your majesty.” He bowed. “These are the omegas that take turns in cleaning the rooms on the third hallway.” The third hallway was where Isla’s room was.
“Come forward.” Audrey said, and they took fretful steps towards us. “Which of you cleaned that area between last night and this morning?”
“It was I?” “I did?” Two of them said at the same time, their hands shaking in fear.
“Don’t be scared.” I sighed. “We only want to ask you questions. It is your failure to answer the truth, that lands you in trouble.”
Just then, a knock was heard and Rosa stepped in. What was she doing here?
“Just in time.” Audrey muttered under her breath. “Rosa can be of help to us.” She said to me, and I raised my brows, as loss. “Rosa, please step forward.” Audrey waved for her to come closer. “Now, whatever you all say, has to be true.” She turned to the omegas. “If it isn’t, Rosa here, has the ability to detect lies. I’m sure you all know what that means.”
“Yes, Luna.” They chorused. One of the girls was clearly shaking in fear. Why did I feel like she knew something?
“You.” I pointed at her, and she raised up her head to look at me.
“Me?” She pointed at herself.
“Yes, you.” I nodded firmly. “When did you clean?”
“Early this morning….” She rushed out. “The witches love to do their early morning rituals, so we try to clean before then.”
“So what did you see?” I asked, eyeing her pointedly. She went silent, her breathing increasing. She spared a gaze at Rosa, and swallowed hard. She definitely knew something!
“I promise, I don’t know what she went to miss Isla’s room to do….” She suddenly cried out. “All I had gone to do was clean. Please, I’m telling the truth.”
I looked at Rosa, who nodded in confirmation.
“Who is this ‘she’? Who did you see in Isla’s room?” By then, whispers had filled the room.
“It’s…. it’s….” She swallowed. “She stepped out of the room, but went back in, when she saw I was outside cleaning. After then, she didn’t come out again. I thought she was just visiting.”
“Who is….”
“It’s miss Heather!” She yelled out, covering her ears as she did. I felt my heart fall to the pit of my stomach.
“Heather?” Liam was the one who asked.
“Yes. I’m sure she is the one.” The omega nodded.
“Heather is no friend of Isla’s. She definitely didn’t go there to visit!” Audrey thundered. All that went through my confused head, was if this omega would have mistaken Heather for someone else. I mean….
“Wait. Let’s not jump into conclusions.” I demanded, and then Gamma Boyd stepped into the council room.
“Your majesty.” He bowed.
“Boyd? What is the update?” I asked, my heart beating so wildly in my chest.
“We have a missing solider.” He revealed, and I literally held my breathe.
“Who?”
“My subordinate. Heather.”