“He is leaving the palace? To where?” Mary hurried to me with open arms.
“He wants to go and meet Lancelot to ratify the new packs.”
“Oh, okay. I guess it’s because of the upcoming full moon festival. He would want them to join in the festivities and feel among.” Then something flashed in her eyes; something discernible. “You said now is a good time. A good time for what?”
I slid off the door and walked into the room. “Can we go now?” I ignored her question.
“Yeah!” Nadia stood from the bed and picked up a shawl and she came forward to hand to me. “You will need this due to the cold. It’s getting chilly these days.”
“Thanks.” I took it and wrapped it around myself, picked up my water bottle as we left the room.
“Where are we going to go to first?” I asked in a hushed voice when we were almost at the step.
“We will check out the palatial garden in the north of the ground, then towards the evening we will return and sneak into the great library. It’s been here for ages and tells the story of the great Kingdom and all the Alpha Kings that had ascended the throne,” Nadia provided, stepping ahead of us.
“That means we will have to come in the daytime when the King must have left because I have to go to the library later in the day,” I informed her. While infiltrating the palace library which up until now I never knew was in existence, is a good idea, I can’t miss going to the library.
“That would be nice too. The entire point is for the King not to be present. We will have to be very discreet… Who knows you might learn one or two things from there,” I looked at Nadia as she spoke, in total agreement. I hardly know anything about Alonso’s family apart from him being a king and my mate. He doesn’t tell me anything. The furthest he had gone in telling me about himself was mentioning his former mate.
I would want to know more about what killed her and why. Rogues might be very feral, yet it’s rare for a rogue to kill royalty. Royalties are revered by any class of wolf due to how powerful they are.
“So how have you been coping with Mrs. Dolly, the weirdo?” Mary quipped, accompanied by a light chuckle. She hopped over a ridge as we made our way past the left-hand side of the palace.
“She isn’t a weirdo,” I said in defense, giving Mary a disapproving look. “She simply likes the library and seems to be there all the time. I like that.”
“Umm… interesting. Okay, if you say so. But I still think she’s a weirdo.” She eyed me.
“Mary!” I stomped my feet like a child. “She isn’t!”
“She is!” she said and busted out laughing, sticking her tongue out at me. I stooped to pick a twig on the ground and chased after her, the wind carrying off my shawl. I laughed so hard when I stopped to pick it up, and Mary came back to wipe me with another twig she had picked up.
Our day went like that; from going to the garden to traipsing around the compound with nothing in mind to do. Being that they were with me, no one dared to call or disturb my two friends. I absolutely enjoyed my day with them, and all my worries were buried in ashes.
By noon, we made our way inside to have lunch before proceeding to the library to check things out.
Instead of going to the dining, we skirted to the tea room, all thanks to Nadia. I didn’t know such a spot exists in this house, and according to her, where the Queen receives her female friends most of the time. Since it’s not in use, we decided to use it. Nadia went to the kitchen to bring us refreshments while I remained with Mary who was dangling on her seat, her eyes flaunting around the room, feeling fortunate to be indulged in this kind of privilege.
“So how are things with you and Roland?” I asked her, having this feeling that they were making more progress towards making things work.
“Good! He still hasn’t accepted me, but he picks up my calls now, and links with me.” Then she blushed, informing me there is something juicy she wasn’t telling me.
“Spill it!” I commanded in jest, pointing my finger at her with a warning gaze.
The door opened and Nadia came in bearing a tray, which she dumped on the table and flopped down beside me, her eyes striding from me to Mary in excitement. “What did I miss?”
“Nothing!” Mary glared at her in amusement.
“You missed everything. Mary was about to tell me something juicy that transpired between her and Roland…” I sang, twirling my hands in the air to a piece of invisible music.
Her blush intensified as she reached behind to scratch the nape of her neck, pushing off her brown locks. “Okay. Fine, I will spill!” she said through a tight lip. “He kissed me!”
“Whoa!” I blurted with wide eyes, palming my mouth. “That’s-that’s amazing! Look at you! No wonder you have been sparkling.”
“I swear, she has been sparkling… I’m so happy for you, Mary. I can’t wait to find my mate so that I can share in this happiness…” Nadia cooed with bleary eyes, clapping her hands together.
“Thanks…” Mary remarked. “And soon you will, so chill.”
We busted out laughing and only stopped when Nadia waved us to a halt. “I had been carried away and forgot to inform you what transpired while I was out.”
Our laughter receded, and we faced her. “What?”
“While I was going to the kitchen, I saw the King climbing upstairs and hid so he doesn’t see me. I sneaked behind him with my heart in my chest hoping he doesn’t catch me… Then I saw him going to your room and had to run down to the kitchen. As I was coming out, I saw him climbing down the stairs looking gloomy, then he asked if I knew where you had gone to and I said no. I told him you might have gone to the infirmary and he said he went there and the doctor said you had informed him you will be absent from work today.”
Mary broke down in laughter. I smiled, my traitorous heart betraying me by striving to feel guilty.
“Then he said I should work hard to see you are properly taken care of and to endeavor to follow you to work henceforth until he returns, to make sure you are safe…” Then her face fell. “I have never seen our great King look so flustered.”
I recovered abruptly. “I don’t care if he looks like he was dying. He brought this upon himself and I would have to keep reminding myself that. The thing is, now that he is out of the way, I have to usurp this opportunity to leave. I might never get the chance again so the sooner, the better.” I searched their eyes for support.
It wasn’t there, instead, I saw fear, pain, and a plea for reconsideration. I shook my head and looked away.
“Are you sure about this? It’s dangerous out there,” Mary’s tiny voice came through.
“I have been planning this for as long as I can remember. I’ve just not had the balls to pull it through. Now, I’m resolute and nothing would stop me. I need your support on this.” It was my turn to implore them with my bland eyes.
After a lot of consideration, Mary took a deep breath and released it. “Okay, as I said earlier if that’s what you want, then I will support you. But you must promise to link me if anything goes wrong so that I will call for help…” She waited for my response.
I looked at Nadia, and with her lips pushed inside bobbed her shoulders in a concession of what Mary said. “Fine. I promise…” I vowed.
“Great! We are on the same page then. So hurry, let’s go check out the library. It’s getting late, so we can go to the library and get back on time.”
“We?” I fluttered my lashes at Nadia who had just spoken.
“Yeah, we are going together. You merely told us now that you will soon leave, so every chance we have we will spend it with you.” She picked up her teacup and sipped from it with a tinge of a smile.
I smiled too and delved in. We ate in silence from thereon and by the time we finished, Nadia ran to drop the tray in the kitchen and came out to meet us in the lobby.
When she came back, she led us through the hall that led to Alonso’s study, which reminded me of all the nights I’ve been there to endure his arrogance. I blinked to shake off the stray unwanted reminder as we took another turn to the left, leading us down another dark hall. Thankfully, no one saw us making our way in, and our footfalls were concealed to maintain tranquility to the best of our capacity. I wouldn’t want Theresa’s wrath or annoying questions.
“Here we are!” Nadia reeled in a hushed tone and stopped in front of a brown oak door. She pushed in noiselessly to usher us in, hence shutting it close after her.
I stood at the door with an open mouth, taking in the vast ornate hall of great learning. This is biggg. And I haven’t been here before? How? Well, I have been so busy doing shitty things and working, to nose around.
“I have never seen a library this big and yet concealed. Not that I have been in any before…” Mary intoned, sharing a thought with me.
“Wait till you see the underground…” Nadia started walking straight ahead, demanding we follow.
“Underground?” I careened in awe, literally jogging after her.
She was about to open her mouth when the person I least expected, made her debut in front of us, her hands folded on her chest with a smile etched on her flawless face which instantly fell, her eyes widening in repulsion at seeing my friends.
“I can’t believe this!”
…