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“Grendel, you mean?”
In a flash, I was in Endora’s face, forcing the enchantress back against the wall. “You’ll stop with that kind of shit,” I told her in a low voice. “That’s exactly the kind of thing we don’t need around here. Mirielle is her name. That’s what she wants to be called, and that’s what we’ll call her. Can you handle that?”
Inhaling sharply, Endora nodded. “Yes, Alpha. Is there anything else?”
“Go and speak to Mirielle now. The sooner we can rid her of the darkness, the better off we’ll all be.”
“If it’s possible,” Endora muttered. “You might be asking for something that can’t be done.”
“If it could be done, it can be undone. Our trip to the Locaza Forest taught us that.”
Endora sniffed. “Or she just showed you something that she already knew to get her to trust you more.”
There was no sense in fighting with Endora. She didn’t trust Mirielle, and nothing I could say would make a difference, but I hoped that over time, she would see what I saw in my lover. Mirielle had been as much a victim as everyone else in the kingdom.
“Just do your job,” I snapped, turning back to my work.
“As you wish, Alpha.”
She did disappear now, the plume of blue smoke announcing her departure, but I couldn’t focus on the files in front of me that needed to be attended to with kingdom business.
What if she was right, and the darkness can’t be cleared? What if Agnan really is that powerful?
The Order of Souls had to be doing something right all this time, keeping under the radar, only to pop out when we least expected it. I hadn’t had full proof that they had been responsible for my mother’s death and father’s attempted assassination until Mirielle had confirmed it now, but they should have been taken down long ago.
I would throw everything I had into finding Agnan, who had undoubtedly gone back into hiding in the shadows again now that he knew I was onto him. This time, he wouldn’t get away. I had something that he wanted, and he would be back for Mirielle. For some reason, he had kept her alive all these years.
But he would never get close to her again. I would kill him and shut down the Order once and for all. Even if it killed me to do it. No one was getting my mate or my kingdom. I was willing to die for either cause.
Chapter12
Mirielle
Ipoked my head into the hallway and cringed at seeing Jaylen there. I had hoped that Isa, or even Calliver or Landon, might be on guard outside. Anyone but Jaylen. I was surprised they let him back on my guard after he had let me escape the night I’d left.
“Is the king in his suite?” I asked, unsure if Jaylen would bother speaking to me today.
It was hit or miss with him. I’d gone days in the past without the guard uttering a word in my direction.
“No,” he answered, and I exhaled.
“I’m going to the greenhouse,” I informed him, stepping out fully, but Jaylen stopped me.
“You’re to stay here.”
I shook my head. “No. I’m not sitting around here all day again. I’m going to the greenhouse. I’m not leaving the castle. If anyone needs me, that’s where I’ll be.”
I marched forward, waiting for Jaylen to tackle me as I walked, my shoulders to my neck, but he didn’t touch me. I heard the radio crackle as I beelined it for the stairs.
“Miss Mirielle is leaving the north wing. She says she’s going to the greenhouse. What should I do?”
I didn’t listen for the response of whomever he was talking to as I raced toward the main floor and out the back toward the gardens. I suspected I didn’t have very long to be amongst my plants, but it was the only place in the castle that I felt at peace, and I wanted to visit Lacroix, who I hadn’t seen in days.
The old botanist sat in his office, sipping on his metal thermos lid. The stench of whiskey overpowered the entire space. Surprise and guilt overtook his face when he saw me.
“I didn’t think you were coming back,” he huffed, shoving the cup aside.
“I don’t think I’m staying, if it’s any consolation,” I sighed, flopping onto a chair in front of him. “I guess you heard about me?”
