Cynthia was missing Cole. She had been apart from him for less than a day and all she wanted to do was cry and return back to her son. She knew that he was in good hands with her parents but she missed him yet.
Maybe the reason she was missing him so fervently was the fact that she feared that they wouldn’t return from this journey. At least not in one piece. Dorian was too smart. What if he found out what they were planning against him? He would not spare them.
Calvin took her hand and her mind left her thoughts for an instant.
“It’s okay.” He smiled at her and her heart warmed.
How could he always tell when she needed reassurance?
“I know. But I’m still worried. What if–” She couldn’t even say it out loud because they were on a flight where anyone could overhear.
If something happened to Calvin she would blame herself. Perhaps she should not have told him the truth. Perhaps if she had hidden it better…
“Nothing will happen. You are anxious and that is fine but our plan will work. You’ll see.”
She nodded and gripped his hand tightly.
When they landed, they joined up with Adrian, Ava and the rest of their people.
It felt like time flew as they moved to their residence on the compounds of the werewolf council.
While Ava and Adrian quickly retired to their rooms, Cynthia was antsy and needed a walk.
“Should I accompany you?” Calvin had asked, looking concerned.
“No, don’t worry. I just need to walk off this excess energy. I’ll be good. Promise.”
And she walked. Sorting through her thoughts on what she could have done differently. What results would her actions cause? What was she to do?
“You look stunning.”
Cynthia froze as she heard his voice from right behind her. She was still frozen with fear as Dorian dropped a kiss on her nape like he used to before nipping at her skin almost playfully.
That snapped her out of her daze as she moved away from his reach. He looked the same as always. Dark, alluring and intensely virile.
Once upon a time, that look he was giving her would be all it took to leave her grovelling for more. That time was long gone and now she felt nothing but disgust and fear.
Disgust for the person he was and fear for what he could do to her.
“Dorian.”
He clutched his chest feigning hurt.
“That’s all you want to tell me after coming this far?”
“I have nothing to talk to you about. I’ve already ended things between us. Please excuse me.”
She moved to leave only he caught her arm and held it right pulling her close to him. This close she could see the fury beneath the calm veneer.
And suddenly she had a deep-rooted suspicion that he knew. There was no way he could have known about their plan but somehow she suspected he did.
“You don’t get to decide when things end, Cynthia. You seem to have forgotten everything after being away for so long.” His lips dropped to her ear. “But don’t worry, I’ll remind you carefully.”
Cynthia’s legs buckled beneath her and she would have fallen if not for his strong grip on her arm.
“Take your hands off her.”
It was Calvin. She had no idea where he had come from but she was thankful even as she was scared for him having caught Dorian’s attention.
Dorian took his hand off her and looked at Calvin with a dark smile on his face.
“You must be Calvin. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“I can’t say it’s the same here.” Calvin glared at him.
Dorian laughed and then looked at Cynthia who hadn’t quite gotten her feet beneath her. “I like this one. It has teeth.”
Calvin growled. “And it bites too.”
Dorian ignored him and gave Cynthia a look that had a shiver running up her spine.
“We will continue this talk at a more opportune time when you have seen the errors of your ways and wish to repent for it.”
Then he was gone and Cynthia felt her legs give way beneath her. Calvin caught her in time.
“Don’t worry, everything is okay. I’ve got you.”
Cynthia didn’t think anything would ever be okay but she held onto him anyway.
Ava puked again and her belly contracted in response. She was in the bathroom for another hour or so before she felt strong enough to make her way out.
She had woken up with morning sickness and by God, it wasn’t what it was hyped up to be.
She hadn’t even been able to wish Adrian goodbye properly and she knew that if the coronation hadn’t been that day he would have stayed with her until she felt better.
She was barely seated on her bed before she felt a tug on the bond. It wasn’t unusual these days for her to feel that way but what made her pause was the fact that Adrian was in a closed-door meeting with a cold-blooded murderer. Relaxing herself, she let herself drift until she connected with him and then she was…
******
“Today we are here for something momentous. Because for the first one in centuries, we will be welcoming in a monarch. Someone who will lead us through these dark abysmal times.”
Adrian sat in his seat exchanging side glances with some of his allies. Adelaide looked amused as the council member, was it Casper? droned on about the achievements of Councilman Constantine, looking about as excited as they were about the coronation.
He wondered if Ava was feeling better now. He also wondered when the speech would be over so that they could get on with their plans. Calvin stood behind him as his second as did all the Alphas in the room with their Gammas respectively.
The council members on their part really seemed to believe that they were about to install a great asset to the Werewolf community.
The refreshments came in and the speech concluded. The next session now would be where Constantine/Dorian came in and announced his intentions for their race and the present Alphas accepted him as their ruler then the crowning.
It was at this point that they would make their protest while his speech was ongoing with the relevant evidence to prove it.
Adrian sipped his wine and paused. He didn’t have any appetite. He just wanted to get this done with and take his mate home so that she could rest.
“Let us welcome in our incumbent Sovereign Ruler Constatine Dorian Thomas.”
Finally.