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A pit formed in Isla’s stomach. If he hadn’t truly been in the north, where had he been?
“I’m sorry to interrupt.”
Isla’s attention was drawn to Ameera, who stepped forward. Sol watched from behind her, a touch of pride in his eyes as she took charge, and the mischievous intrigue in Sebastian’s stare, the hum he’d let out, made Isla want to knock him upside the head—if Ameera wasn’t already planning. But…
Had Ameera just fought a smile? Athim?
Hands behind her back, the warrior general bowed to both of them but directed it at Kai, “May we have a word, Alpha?”
Isla scanned the seriousness that crossed her face as Kai, seeming to fight his own look of pride, nodded. “Of course. If you’ll excuse me.” He brushed his lips against Isla’s cheek, and there was a faint tugging sensation inside her. An urgent attempt at communicating through their bond, but nothing would come through. So, he could only whisper, “I’ll be right back,” before an easy, “I hope it’s not raining.”
Isla battled to keep her shoulders from falling. So, he’d picked up on her father’s lie, too.
When the wolves of Deimos had gone, leaving only the Imperial Beta and his children, Malakai asked, “Do they leave you out of a lot?” His features were a mix of perplexity and concern.
“I don’t think he’s leaving me out,” Isla said. “They just don’t want to rip me away from you. Kai will brief me later.”
Malakai hummed. “And he’s treating you well? You’re happy here?”
Isla laughed. He was truly in overprotective father mode. The war of emotions continued to rage inside her. “Yes, Dad. I’m very happy.”
“It surprises me every day,” Sebastian drawled, sauntering further into the room and mindlessly scanning the art pieces as she had been. “He genuinely loves her. I have no idea how.”
Isla folded her arms. “You’re on true form today.”
Sebastian stepped closer and threw an arm around her shoulders. “Someone has to humble you before they put that big, fancy crown on your head, Pudge.”
“Humbling and annoying are two different things.”
Before Sebastian could retort, a deep chuckle fell from their father’s mouth, and Isla found his eyes solemn, his shoulders sunken, likely weighed down by a burden she couldn’t see.“I’ve missed you two.”
It broke Isla’s heart.
With her and her brother standing opposite him, it felt like they were speaking over a wall. One being built brick by brick by Cassius’s lies and mortared by her own destiny.And though she knew the words to say to send it crumbling, she wasn’t sure if they’d all be able to crawl out of the rubble.
* * *
It was nice to hear that she and Kai werea beautiful couple,but it felt like more than half of their guests had been given a script on how to address them, and they followed it verbatim.
Since the moment they’d entered the gala, arm in arm—in the way she’d once, heavy-heartedly, watched Kai do alone within this very ballroom—conversation followed the same template. A deep bow and a lingering look over her dress—because what she wore was somehow pertinent. A compliment as individuals, then as a pair. Questions about how they met, how they’d feltwhenthey met—a story they kept chaste. And eventually, some talk of an heir.
It hadn’t occurred to her how little people held back, how unafraid they were to pry about when they planned for children. But this was their future alpha that she would bear, she supposed, so maybe that made them think they had some say, some stake. She wouldn’t be surprised if there were bets about when a royal baby would be born and wouldn’t be surprised if, somehow, Sebastian was running the books.
Isla wished she’d been more prepared for certain conversations, but from the second her feet hit the ballroom floor, she had her sights on her father. She kept tabs on everyone he spoke to and how they reacted to his presence. Once, months ago, Kai had used her in such a manner. Given the natural animosity between their two packs, anyone who seemed to get a bittoo friendlywith her—or even too vehemently opposed—would find themselves under Kai’s suspicions.
But using her father like this…felt gross. It felt wrong. She didn’twantto know if there was corruption or collusion, but she knew she would. It would inevitably be unveiled now with her position, but she had to prepare for how deep it went, how twisted it was, and how she’d react. She could only imagine how Ameera had felt as everything with Ezekiel began coming to light.
She watched her, too, more so out of her own curiosity at what was going on her with her and her brother. Last Isla had known, Ameera would never give Sebastian a shot.
About an hour before the dance company they’d hired for the night was to begin, Isla and Kai split, all part of Marin’s calculated itinerary. Even who they each would attempt to speak to was pre-chosen. Isla remembered both dreading this moment and feeling the part of her that thrived off challenge fiending to rise to it.Intrigued to see sometruercolors now that she didn’t have the Deimos-born alpha at her side.
Partway through her rounds, Zahra appeared, beautiful and regal in her marigold gown, the color popping off her brown skin.
“They’ll try to catch you off-guard,” Kai’s mother, the former Luna of Deimos, muttered to Isla as she smiled off the official who’d bustled up to Isla once she’d been alone. “They want you to make promises that you can’t keep, but you can bet they will hold you to them. Everyone in this room will remember each word you say and every move you’ve made.”
Isla swallowed, trying not to let her features fall as Zahra schooled her. Counseling she needed, truly. Who better to teach her the ins and outs of being queen than the one who’d served for nearly twenty years?
She’d once thought to ask for guidance but wasn’t sure if Zahra would even be up to it. Isla had taken her position because her mate and eldest son had been killed, and truthfully, she didn’t know how to look Zahra in the eye, knowing that her own mother had been the one to deliver the deadly blows that stole her family away. Zahra had been with Alpha Kyran in their bed when Apolla had poisoned him.
