Chapter 2
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Dressed in black trousers and matching long-sleeved shirt, Roderick walked a tight circle in the small room Bensud stashed him away in. His stomach tightened in rebellion over the reality of what his life had become.
Hunted like an animal. Forced to hide in small, dank rooms like this one. No one took him seriously. Him! The leader of the Liege.
His stomach dropped at the thought of his fallen empire. Where had they gone wrong? Was it that last project of Griffith’s? Splitting cells to create those weird creatures? He shook off the disturbing image of that small deranged blue pup while appreciating the larger, faster, lethal blue hybrids. Unfortunately, Griffith hadn’t been big on sharing all of his work and they’d been crippled in production after his death.
Perhaps it was Boris’ obsession with taking and raising pups that pushed La Patron over the edge. For decades they’d taken pups and never had any problems with the Alpha. What happened?
Roderick heard rumors of course but he refused to believe a full-blood would change to such a degree over a human mate. Especially since they’d left the States alone and never took pups from there.
He tapped his lip and stopped all movement. Answers to those questions would forever be denied to him. La Patron would kill him on the spot before he uttered a word. As the last free Liege Lord, Roderick took his role as the leader more serious than before. Which brought his thoughts full-circle.
Bensud.
No, not the Prime Minister, the man was so desperate to save his country he’d believe and go along with anything. The young princess was the one Roderick needed to convince of his ability to produce access into the caves. And everything he learned about her said his job wouldn’t be easy. But he’d come too far, there was one critical ingredient necessary to complete his current project and it was here in Lyrill.
First, he needed Bensud and Miriam’s cooperation. He bit back a smile and shook his head. Entering the cave wasn’t the real challenge, leaving with the crystals set off a silent alarm heard only by the white wolves.
Prokam, his erstwhile assistant, had spent a couple hours apologizing to full-blood sentries who met him at the mouth of the cave as he left with a small piece of the crystal. Considering he’d been inside the cave twice before and no one met him, they’d agreed the white clan had a system in place. The sentries released him with a stern warning and they both knew it was because he was human with no ties to Lyrill. That path lay blocked.
However, Bensud’s dwindling supply of kirlethanium was available and Roderick only needed a small amount to test his revamped version of the chameleon bracelet.
Once perfected, he would regain everything he’d lost. No one would laugh at him. No one would hunt or try to destroy him. How can shadows be destroyed? They couldn’t. He’d exchange lives all the way to the U.S. President or a King or Prime Minister, whoever and whatever he wanted!
His heart slammed in his chest as it raced. The taste of victory teased him. So close. He’d searched for decades to find the truth of the bracelet. Griffith confirmed the authenticity of the device but died before it could be tested and copied. Roderick had caught a glimpse of it during a planning session and jumped out of his seat with excitement.
Water beneath the proverbial bridge, he thought to bring his riotous emotions under control. “One step at a time,” he murmured and forced himself into the lone room chair. The Princess would gut him before she’d allow him close to their crystal stash so he needed to be clever. Real clever. He tapped his upper lip in thought.
“Marriage?” She was decades younger but he didn’t look much older than his 25 summers when he’d joined the Liege almost a century before. One of the benefits of the contract with the full-blood counsel, they remained healthy and their aging slowed to a crawl, similar to full-bloods. “Only as a last resort,” he murmured. Being anchored to anyone or anything other than his personal causes held no appeal. Besides, rumors claimed the Princess wanted an heir and had been ruthless in her attempts to gain one, even captured La Patron’s son.
He grinned.
The Princess had humongous balls, unlike her father whose greed remained a hook in his nose just waiting for the newest scam to lead him down another trail to ruin. Perhaps he could offer her a child and promise to leave her to raise the brat as she wished. Could they strike a bargain? Or would she turn on him and alert her father of his true mission of wanting a few crystals from them?
After a few moments of back and forth, he gave up. “Decide it when you meet her, see how the wind blows,” he muttered as his phone vibrated against the table. Hopeful that Prokam had better news for him, he answered before the next ring.
“Yes?”
“He talked to her.”
Since Roderick was certain the old man would eventually get around to telling his daughter of his arrival, he remained silent.
“Helen said Miriam’s upset and thinks her father’s a fool.”
Roderick laughed. “A fool? That’s harsh.” Even though he agreed with the princess, Prokam had no idea of their true mission in Lyrill. The young man actually believed Roderick possessed some superhuman skills that could whisk away the crystal without the white clan’s knowledge.
“Indeed, Sir. I made my displeasure known to Helen and she assured me that the whole matter was distasteful to her as well.” Prokam paused. “Doesn’t seem right leading her on like this, Sir. Meeting in private, hiding in the shadows, just doesn’t seem proper. Helen’s a proper lady, cousin to the princess after all.”
Roderick rolled his eyes and stopped his cutting response just before it slipped out. He needed Prokam a little longer. “Sometimes remaining in the shadows is all you can do until you change things around in your favor. If you’re enamored with the chit, take your time to prepare to meet her relatives. That’s the first hurdle you must face. Did you hear from Mélange? I’d like clarification on what happened to Elyria.”
When the Liege was at its zenith, Elyria traded a formula for a week of safety. A clan sought to destroy her and they struck a bargain. At the time he hadn’t believed she could create a chameleon but over time, and as her fortunes turned she tapped into what she called her birthright. That’s when he realized the value of what she’d bartered that night. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to create or duplicate the formula. He’d get close and then it’d fall apart. Hopefully, the kirlethanium would change that.
“What? Shadows?” Prokam paused and then plowed on. “I see, Sir and you’re absolutely right. Family? Oh, yes… well I don’t know if I like her well enough to meet the family but your advice is well noted, Sir. Um, no Mélange has not returned any of your calls or messages. But I have confirmed Elyria’s death. La Patron returned her to her pack for burial.”
“What? When?” Holding the phone tight, Roderick straightened in his seat.
“Not sure exactly when but not long after she asked for sanctuary.” He paused. “La Patron and Angus, a captain in La Patron’s army came alone with the body. He didn’t stay long.”
“But why? Why would he do that? Wait? Did you say, Angus? Black Wolf?”
“I’m not sure of his clan but the information I received stated the name, Angus. He’s an older full-blood and well known in certain areas for his fighting skills.”
Roderick rubbed his chin wondering if Angus’ pack would have information regarding the chameleon bracelet. What if there was something else he could use instead of the kirlethanium crystals? The information he had didn’t call them by name, just their ability to transform things.
“Find out everything you can about that connection. It seems strange La Patron would travel to the continent to return the body of a liar and thief. There must be more.”
“Yes, Sir I’ll tap a few sources, see what turns up. Anything else I can do for you, Sir?”
Roderick’s phone beeped. He took a second and looked at the text message from the Prime Minister.
“Yes, find out what’s the quickest way to Princess Miriam’s heart, I’m meeting her in two hours for lunch, so work fast.”
