5. Heavy is the Head
5
Heavy is the Head
Caspian
Three sets of eyes shift my way when I enter the room—Dimitri, Archibald, Creed. Before approaching the door, I’d heard the murmur of quiet conversation, but the moment I twisted the knob, silence.
“Don’t stop on account of me,” I say, taking slow steps toward my desk.
Creed clears his throat as I lower into my seat. “We were just discussing High Chamber security. Not…” His voice trails off when he sees I’m not buying it. “How’s Annalise? I’ve been concerned.”
The change of subject isn’t suspicious at all.
I’m not surprised Creed would ask, though. Being much less of a brute than my brother, I believe his concern is genuine. Still, I’m on edge, feeling defensive, so I keep things brief.
“She’ll live. Now, Dimitri tells me you three have a grievance to air, and… I’m listening,” I add with a sigh.
“Right. So, I’m assuming Dimitri has informed you about the paraphernalia we discovered in Elizabeth’s sleeping quarters? An also about Annalise’s connection to Brendan Cuthbert.”
I take a breath to dispel the flare of worry that tries to weasel its way inside my mind.
“He did. And as I stated with Dimitri, neither of those facts implement Annalise. Especially considering the fact that she sustained life-threatening injuries on account of these assholes.”
“All right, well, what do you suppose the next course of action should be?” he asks next, and I square my shoulders as I give a firm answer.
One I know they’ll hate and likely protest against.
“The best course of action is that there will be no course of action.”
Dimitri clenches his fist where his chin rests on it, and he suddenly seems less comfortable in his seat than just a moment ago.
“And you’re certain that’s wise?” he gripes, keeping his eyes trained on me.
“Since this small detail seems to continuously be overlooked tonight, I’ll say it again. Annalise nearly died at the hand of a member of this… faction, ” my voice booms. “ If there were anything to point toward her innocence it’s that! So, yes, if anyone needs proof that she has no affiliation with them, this is it. This is your proof.”
My breathing is ragged and labored as I sit among the men I trust most in this world. But, tonight, it’s difficult to tell them apart from any others. I’m not one to tolerate being challenged. However, given the circumstances, it feels necessary that I endure this. This isn’t about me . It’s about Annalise, and I’ve come to learn that there isn’t much I wouldn’t do for her.
“You’re making a mistake. This is an act of gross negligence against the clan,” Dimitri grumbles.
“Well, tough shit,” I snap. “This is my final word on the matter, so I believe we’re done here.”
I stand to my feet, and he does the same.
“So, is this how things will be moving forward? You making piss-poor decisions for the clan all because some bitch has your balls in a vice? Can’t you see it, Cas? She has you mesmerized, dangling her virgin pussy under your nose,” he balks. “For the love of the gods, Brother! This decision requires that you think with your head instead of your dick for once. This isn’t about you; it isn’t about Annalise. It’s about the entirety of the clan.”
It's a miracle I’ve even let him finish his statement, but as soon as the last syllable leaves his mouth, my wolf erupts from the shadows of my consciousness, and I no longer see Dimitri as my brother.
He’s a threat to my reign, a threat to my authority, a threat to my mate.
“No!” Creed shouts, putting himself in harm’s way to step between Dimitri and me. A growl tears from my throat. It’s a feral sound that signifies the moment my humanity has taken a backseat, and instinct rules me. “Dimitri, if this is how the alpha wants the situation to be handled, then this is how it will be handled,” Creed asserts, passing a harsh look toward my brother as his hands remain on both our chests. “
As he stares at Dimitri, my brother eventually stands down. Then, Creed’s gaze shifts toward me.
“I understand this is a sensitive subject, but would you at least agree to us keeping a closer eye on Annalise for the time being? As a compromise? It could serve two purposes,” he says. “It would offer her greater protection, and if her intentions are ever called into question again, there will be someone from our side of things to vouch for her.”
I hate this. Everything about it, actually. I’m the alpha, and I don’t fucking compromise. But as I take my ego out of the equation and consider his proposal, I can admit that it’s probably for the best. For the very reasons that Creed cited.
“Fine,” I seethe.
“I’ll do it. I’ll keep an eye on her,” Dimitri steps up, still brooding from having to submit. “As beta, I’m in charge of overseeing security, which means there’s not a single wolf more qualified. Besides, per the order of our clan—an order not even you can override—this is my call.”
My heart races and the edges of my vision turn red. I step closer to him, and not even Creed can hold me back.
“Have it your way,” I growl. “But I swear to you, if even a single hair on her fucking head is harmed, I’ll hold you personally responsible, Brother. And believe me, I will not hold back.”
There’s a glint in his eyes when he smirks. “Nor would I expect you to.”
There’s a long standoff and the tension in the room is suffocatingly thick.
Creed volleys a look between us. “Then it’s settled.”
His statement is followed by more silence, only ending when Archibald clears his throat.
“Gentlemen,” he cuts in, “for what it’s worth, over the next several weeks, the lady of the house will be up to her chin in planning for the Spring Ball.”
“This fucking guy,” Dimitri grumbles, dropping back down into his seat.
Archibald shoots a look toward him before continuing. “While I understand this may seem trivial in the grand scheme of things, I only mean to say that perhaps this will come as a much-needed distraction. For everyone, ” he adds. “Not only will Annalise be lending her time to ironing out the fine details of the event, she’ll also be busy building bonds with her new sisters once the alpha has made his new mate selections . I’m sure getting acclimated to there being other women in the home will take some getting used to.”
Well, shit. How the fuck did I not realize how time was winding down?
His words serve as a reminder of how things will be changing in the very near future.
“With so much happening, with so much on her social calendar, she won’t likely even notice the extra attention.”
“Good points, Archibald. Thanks for bringing it up,” Creed says as Archibald offers a nod then steps back, but the sound of Dimitri scoffing from his seat has all our attention shifting toward him.
“So, that’s it?” Dimitri says. “That’s the plan? Distract the biggest potential threat to our clan by giving her flowers to arrange? This is turning into a fucking shitshow.”
Another growl rumbles in my chest, and Creed steps in again. “What’s our next move? I mean, outside the estate,” he adds, clearly working to distract Dimitri and I from tearing out each other’s throats.
“The disbandment and destruction of that damn faction is priority number one. Not only are they a blatant danger to the clan, I won’t continue to have my authority challenged nor Annalise’s character called into question. So, the sooner this issue can be resolved, the better.”
I pace as my head finally begins to clear.
“We won’t bring the full scope of this problem before the clan,” I add. “Not yet, anyway. If our people get wind of these incidents being more than just a one-off, news would spread to the other clans, and that can’t happen. It’s imperative that we remain a symbol of power and status among the quadrants. With any luck, we’ll snuff this thing out before it gets out of control.”
“But what if it’s too late for that?” Dimitri asks, the grave look on his face replacing the anger I’d seen there a moment ago.
There aren’t many ways to answer that question, so I offer the only response that seems fitting.
“Then, I suppose we prepare for the worst.”
There’s a moment of silence where I believe the others are having similar thoughts to mine, imagining just how bad things can get. But in the present, there are more immediate issues to settle.
“Turning in?” Creed asks when I move toward the door.
“Eventually. But first, I have one last thing to get sorted.”
I close the door behind me and start toward the tower. It’s late, I’m exhausted, but if there’s anything tonight has proven, it’s that there truly is no rest for the weary.