The four younglings from earlier came in one by one, each of them carrying a basket. “You can set them here.” She motioned to the low-lying table between us.
“Thank you,” Diedra said, and Nico and I echoed her sentiment before dismissing the younglings.
“Anyways,” Nico said. “We’re not here to talk. We are here on official business from the High King and Queen.”
“You’ve moved up?” Diedra started unpacking the baskets and placing the items on the table.
“If you put it that way, I’m still working for Luka, but now that he’s High King, I’ve changed locations so to say.”
“I see.”
“Are you up to date with what has been going on?”
Diedra’s eyes flashed. “You know me,us, better than that, Nico. I am fully aware of everything that has been going on in Lethenia. The attack at the royal wedding, the Queen’s kidnapping, and the things she suffered—I am well aware. We’re not disconnected here, and besides, Zienna communicates with us. Not everyone has extricated themselves from the pack.”
The two wolves stared at one another, and although I wanted nothing to do with getting between the two of them, someone had to diffuse them.
“There’s more though, you’ve heard about King Arlo’s death?”
Diedra nodded. “He didn’t die in his sleep. He was murdered.” I didn’t stop there, I told Diedra everything, including Lennox’s decree for war after our conversation with Adreona this afternoon. Nico added details I had missed, and both of us answered her questions.
“This is what I feared,” she said when we were finished. “We have lived in peace for too long, I knew something had to be brewing.” She sighed deeply. “I offer my full support, but it’s not up to me.”
“What do you mean?” Nico pressed. “You’re the elder.”
“Yes, but things have changed, Nico. I gave up my role as a leader of the pack. I no longer have a desire to take charge. I only do so when necessary, like now, while your parents are out.”
Nico was stiff at my side, his back straight as his grandmother continued. “You will have to talk to them when they arrive. They will want to hear this from you.”
“Fuck that,” Nico swore. “Lennox and Luka will be here tomorrow, they can talk to them.” Diedra shook her head.
“You know they will hear it best coming from you.”
“That’s exactly what Lennox said,” I added.
“Whose side are you on?” Nico hissed.
“Your grandmother has been nicer to me today than you have lately, so I’m leaning toward hers.” Although it was a joke, part of it rang true. I wasn’t sure what to think of this new side of Nico I was seeing when it came to his family. Whatever happened between them must have been even worse than I had anticipated.
Nico’s body radiated with anger.
“Remember why we’re doing this.” I squeezed his leg. “It’s not for us, it’s for Lennox and Luka, for Lethenia.”
He sighed but nodded. “You’re right.”
“Do you have a place we can stay for the night?” I asked, Diedra.
“Your old den, it’s still yours.” Nico looked up at his grandmother. “You may have tried to forget about us, but we haven’t forgotten about you.”
39
NICO
My den hadn’t changed.
For over three years I had been gone, and my room had been left untouched. Like some kind of fucked up shrine.
I should have known they wouldn’t touch it. That they’d leave it in hopes I’d come back and slip right back into their lives like nothing had ever fucking happened.
