Chapter 24
24
Kirill
Two Weeks Later
" T he sweep produced nothing," Draco announces.
It should relax me, but for some reason, it doesn't. Every day, I have the security team search for recording devices, but they've found nothing since that first check. Even though everything has been clear, the gaping pit in my stomach never closes. Every morning, I wake up and make them check again.
Fiona teased me and said I was paranoid, but I'm not taking any chances.
I address Brax and Sean. "Has anything appeared in the chat rooms?"
Brax shakes his head. "No. But if the Omni finds out I'm hacking their messages, you better make sure you cover my ass."
Sean interjects, "We cover our tracks. No one will know."
I cross my arms, reassuring, "It's a direct order from me. You don't need to worry about it."
Brax grunts. "Spoken from the king who has it all."
I point at him, scolding, "Don't get smart with me. "
He grinds his molars, and tension builds between us.
I ask, "Is there a reason you're continuing to worry about this?"
He scoffs. "You have to ask? You know what they'll do to me if they find out."
"No. They won't touch you. I gave you an order," I reiterate.
"To spy on Omni!" he hurls back.
"So you're a scared pussy now?"
He glares at me.
"You're fine. We know how to cover our tracks, and it is an order," Sean states, but Brax doesn't look convinced.
I ask, "You want off this project? You want me to find someone else to help protect the queen?"
His scowl deepens. "Of course not."
"Then shut up about your paranoia."
"I'm not paranoid."
"Aren't you?" I arch my eyebrows.
A moment of tense silence hangs in the air. Neither Brax nor I break our stare.
"There you are," Fiona chirps.
My heart beats harder at the sound of her voice, and I turn. My mood shifts to the happiness I can't seem to escape whenever I see my wife. I reply, "Hey, did you have fun?"
"I did." She beams, stepping closer, then leans down and gives me a chaste kiss on the lips.
"Aw, aren't you too cute?" Zara teases, wheeling the double stroller into the room .
"Ew, come on," Sean grumbles.
I ignore him and ask her, "Did you get anything good?"
Fiona reaches into her coat pockets and wiggles them. "I got something for you. Pick a hand."
Warmth blooms in my chest. It's good to see her smiling. She's been bored for the last few weeks, and depressed over losing her job. I keep telling her she should start her own fashion line, but her loyalty to Skylar runs deep. I can't blame her, and I respect her allegiance, but the tables have turned. If they're going to hold her new last name over her head and take away her career, then she needs to take matters into her own hands.
"Come on, you have to pick," she insists playfully.
I chuckle and point to her right hand. "How about that one?"
She pulls it out and wiggles her fingers. "Oops, wrong hand."
I groan. "I guess I don't get the surprise, then."
"Nope! Pick again." She puts her hand back in her pocket.
I laugh and point to the left one.
Her eyes light up. "Good job!" She pulls out a brown bag. She shakes it in front of my face, adding, "Guess what it is."
Amused, I question, "Is that my favorite oatmeal raisin cookie?"
She beams brighter. "It is." She pulls it out and asks, "Want a bite?"
"Where's my cookie?" Sean questions.
"Yeah. I want one too," Brax demands.
Fiona turns her head toward them. "I didn't get either of you a cookie. I got my husband a cookie. You two can get your own cookies."
I tear a piece of the cookie off and shove it in my mouth. "Mmm." I chew it, grinning at Brax and Sean .
Fiona reaches into her pocket and pulls out another package. "I did get you one, Draco."
"Thanks," he replies, and reaches for the bag.
"Seriously? You got everybody a cookie but me and Brax?" Sean whines.
"No, I got you two morons a cookie," Zara states, pulling brown bags out of her pocket. She hands a cookie to each of them.
Fiona rolls her eyes and then sits next to me. "So predictable. Have you guys figured out who wants to kill me?"
"Not really," I state, trying to contain my irritation. Hopefully, we'll get some answers tonight or at least have things in place to get the ball rolling. Then, we can discover who in The Underworld is truly a traitor. I just hope it's no one who holds a seat.
"I'm sorry. I hate how much of your time this is taking," Fiona offers, and worry fills her expression.
"And ours," Sean mutters.
I shoot him an unimpressed look, and put my arm around Fiona, declaring sternly, "Don't feel bad. And we'll find out who's targeting you."
She studies me a moment, then releases a big breath.
I rub her back and ask, "Do you have some extra time to spare today?"
Amusement lights her eyes. "Let me pull out my very busy schedule. Hmm." She pulls out her phone, stares at it, then looks at me. "I pretty much have nothing going on since I'm unemployed. Is there something you want to do?"
Zara huffs. "I can't believe Skylar and Adrian won't even talk to you."
"They have their reasons," Brax interjects .
I stay quiet. As angry as I am at Adrian, I can't blame him. What my family did to his sister was inhumane and despicable. But I wish he'd have a conversation with Fiona and not hold what my family did over her head.
Fiona's face falls. She states, "I don't want to talk about it."
Sean gives her a guilty look.
I rise and pull her up. "Well, if you're not doing anything, why don't you come with me?"
She tilts her head. "Where are you going?"
"To Morocco."
Her eyes light up. "Morocco? As in the country?"
I chuckle. "Yes. I called a Royal Council meeting to discuss the threat to your life."
Questions fill her expression. "What's the Royal Council?" she inquires.
Brax says, "It's thirteen Omni members instead of the entire 666 members who hold seats."
"Like a leadership board?" she asks.
I'm hit with a jolt of panic. She's not allowed to forget laws, rules, or her duties. So I affirm, "Yes. It was in the Royal Doctrine. Do you not remember?"
She looks confused, thinking for a moment, then scrunches her face. "I never read anything about it."
My stomach flips. "Are you sure?"
She nods. "Yes. I would have remembered it."
One of the babies cries .
"You're okay," Zara coos and picks up River. She bounces him on her hip and frets, "That should have been in your book."
Something nags at me. "If that's not in the book, what else isn't?"
The color drains from Fiona's face.
"Where is it?" Sean asks.
"In my desk drawer," she replies.
I rise and assert, "I need to see it. Let's take it with us, and I'll review it on the plane."
"Okay," she says with concern in her expression.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure we get to the bottom of this."
She bites on her lip but nods.
Sean stands. "Guess who else is going to Morocco?"
"Not me," Brax grumbles.
Sean grins, puffing out his chest, and pride fills his voice. "Zara and I recently got seats on the Royal Council."
Brax gets up. "You all have fun with your Royal Councilness. I'm going to go where all the little peons go."
"Oh, don't be like that, Brax," Zara says.
"Whatever. Just make sure I don't get sliced to pieces following your orders, Kirill. See you later," he says and stomps out of the house.
"What's up his ass?" Fiona questions.
Zara softly answers, "I think he's just ready to earn his seat."
"Not everybody can earn a seat," I remind her.
"Brax should get one. He's worthy of it," Sean declares .
I curl my fist, hating anything that resembles entitlement. I point out, "That has yet to be determined."
Sean declares, "I can vouch for him."
I grunt. "You've already done that several times. It stops meaning something after a while."
"No, it doesn't," he insists.
Draco clears his throat. "Sir, if I'm not needed, there are other matters I need to attend to."
"Oh. Yes. Please," I say, motioning toward the door.
He says to Fiona, "Thank you for the cookie."
"You're welcome. Thanks for keeping us safe," she replies with a grateful tone.
"It's an honor, Your Majesty," he says, then exits the room.
She turns toward me. "Okay. What do I pack? I assume we can stay awhile since I have so much going on here." She rolls her eyes.
I answer, "We can stay as long as you want."
She claps. "Yay. So I should pack…"
"You don't have to pack."
"What do you mean I don't have to pack?"
"There are tons of clothes in the royal quarters for you," I inform her.
She bites on her smile. "Really?"
"Yes."
Zara teases, "Oh, to be royalty."
I grin at her. "Don't worry. I had the staff fill a closet with clothes for you too. "
She gapes at me.
"You did?" Sean asks.
"Yes. And you and the babies too."
Sean just gapes at me.
Fiona jumps off the couch and tosses her arms around my shoulders. She rises on her tiptoes and gushes, "That's super thoughtful of you."
I stay silent, unable to control my grin. Every time she looks at me with approval, I get giddy inside.
She tugs my head down and whispers in my ear, "I guess I need to give you more than a cookie?" She retreats and pins her greens on me.
My cock twitches. My grin grows wider.
"Ugh. Keep the PDA to when I'm not here," Sean interjects.
I ignore him, slide my hand behind her head and under her hair, and my lips brush her lobe. I murmur, "The cookie's nice, but my mouth loves your body much more, my little bird." I slide my thumb over the back of her neck and retreat.
Her cheeks flush, and she inhales sharply.
My cock hardens further.
The other baby cries.
Zara frets, "Sean, take River."
I wink at my wife and step back.
She smirks, then rushes over to the stroller, stating, "I've got Willow."
"Thanks, Fiona," Zara offers.
Fiona coos, "Aw, what's wrong, sweet girl?" She holds the baby close to her .
Willow buries her face in the curve of her neck, her cry turning into a soft whimper.
"Aw, it's okay, sweetie," Fiona says gently.
Watching her with the baby tugs on my heart.
She'd be a good mom.
I would be a horrible dad. But she would be a good mom.
It won't make up for my weaknesses.
"I'll go grab the book, and we can leave," I tell her.
"Okay." She graces me with a stunning smile.
I exit the room, find the Royal Doctrine, and return to the front room.
"Everybody ready?" I question.
"Yeah, I am," Fiona chirps, excited.
More warmth fills me. We leave the building, get into our SUVs, and meet at the private airport. We have fun on the way to Morocco, laughing often. When the flight lands, we get off the plane and step into the dark hallway.
Fiona states, "It's the same hallway as Pompeii."
"Yes. Anytime you attend an Underworld event, you will go through a hallway like this."
"Why?" she questions.
Sean interjects, "Because Dad wanted it this way."
Fiona scrunches her face. "But why?"
"Who knows why he wanted this or most of the rules," Sean answers.
We approach the door for the royal quarters. I open it and motion for everyone to go through, stating, "Karina will watch the babies. "
Sean declares, "No one is watching the twins."
I spin to face him. "No children. It's the rules."
Zara insists, "There's a threat on Fiona's life. We're not leaving our babies with anyone."
My pulse pounds harder. I consider their worries, but I also know the rules.
"I won't harm your children," Karina says, then curtsies, adding, "Your Majesties."
"No offense, but no one is watching our babies," Sean reiterates.
"Thank you, Karina. Please go wait in the other room," I order.
She glances at the babies, then obeys.
The door shuts, and tense silence fills the air.
"Figure it out, Kirill. My kids aren't staying with her," Sean insists.
I sigh. "I understand your concern, but you know the rules. And you and Zara have to show up."
"The babies come with us, or we don't go," Sean states.
I scrub my face, unsure how to get around this.
Fiona chimes in, "I'll use my token."
"No, you won't," I sternly reply.
"It's mine to use, and I don't trust anyone with the babies either," she claims.
"You can't use your token for this. You need to save it for a more important event," I instruct.
"Willow and River aren't staying with anyone," Zara reiterates.
The tension increases as Sean and Zara hold the babies tightly .
Fiona snaps her fingers. "Queen's Honor."
"Yes! That's it!" Zara praises.
"Thank God," Sean blurts out in relief.
"Good?" Fiona questions, looking at me for approval.
"Brilliant," I reply, leaning down and kissing her. Then I head for the door. "Let's go so we aren't late."
We exit the royal quarters, walk down several hallways, then enter a small room.
Nine Omni sit around a table. They see us and rise. The men bow, and the women curtsy.
"You may sit," I instruct.
Everyone takes their seats.
Ulrich points at the babies, demanding, "What are they doing here?"
"Queen's Honor," Fiona answers in a strong voice, lifting her chin and pinning a challenging gaze on Ulrich.
"We weren't informed," he retorts.
I open my mouth, but before I can speak, she scoffs. "Since when do I need to inform you of my royal decisions?"
His face hardens.
Jytte, Ulrich's wife, speaks up. "Your Majesty, the normal procedure is to add royal requests to the agenda."
Fiona's eyes turn to slits. "Requests? Since when is the Queen's Honor a request for you to approve?"
Jytte's expression darkens. She doesn't flinch under Fiona's stare.
Pride fills me. The only way for the Omni to respect Fiona is for her to earn it. Her knowledge of the rules and her ability to stand up for herself is the best way to do that. I love watching her lean into her power. So I bellow, "Your queen is waiting for an answer."
Jytte's gaze lands on me, and something I've never seen or maybe just haven't noticed before swirls in her eyes.
She's jealous.
I glance at Ulrich.
He quickly states, "Apologies, Your Majesty. Thank you for your clarification."
"Jytte?" I question, not letting her off the hook.
She doesn't speak.
Ulrich nudges her.
She inhales sharply, then offers, "My apologies."
I grab Fiona's hand and squeeze it.
She replies, "Thank you. My niece and nephew will always be welcome at the table when I am here. It is an honor and privilege for them to sit in this room with all of us, and there will be no further discussion on this matter. Now, we have pending business to attend to. Kirill?" She locks eyes with me.
My cock aches, and all the things I want to do to my wife flash in my mind. I push the images away and declare, "There is an assassination plot against the queen. I'm issuing a Zenith mandate until we find and punish the traitors."
Gasps fill the room.
Ulrich blurts out, "That's an extreme invasion of our privacy."
Sean snarls, "Extreme measures must be taken when the queen's life is at stake. Don't you think?"
Tension fills the room. No one dares to argue with him .
He adds, "All members of The Underworld will be monitored until we know who is plotting to kill the queen. Reports will be given to the king three times a day and to the Royal Council weekly."
I drop another bomb. "I'm using my Sovereign Override privilege. I'm excluding Zara and Sean from the Zenith mandate."
No one at the table looks happy about this.
I continue, "I'm also declaring an Act of Accession, naming Sean and Zara as successor king and queen should anything happen to Fiona and myself."
Jytte snaps, "That is absurd. Ulrich and I are the ones who should be successors. They have barely owned their seats."
I rise, snarling, "Your entitlement is exactly why you will never sit with a crown on your head. As king, I determine the successors, and it will not be you."
Hatred radiates off her in waves.
How have I never seen this before?
I need to watch her.
I study the face of every person in the room, then warn, "Whoever is leaking information to the outside world and trying to assassinate Fiona will have hell to pay. I'm making a final declaration, so listen closely."
No one dares move, and the silence becomes deafening.
I announce, "I declare this assassination plot to be an act of war. Traitors will be made an example of in front of the entire membership. Their punishment will be conducted during a Black Veil Ritual."
Several of the members gasp in shock. The Black Veil Ritual has only taken place once. But no one is going to attempt to kill my wife and not be held to the harshest punishment .
"Any questions?" I ask, taking another glance around the room.
No one speaks.
I nod. "Thank you for your time. Safe travels home." I motion for Sean and Zara to rise, then reach for Fiona's hand. I quickly guide us out of the room and back to the royal quarters.
As soon as we get inside, I ask Sean, "Did you see what I saw?"
His eyes are pools of darkness. He scowls. "Yes. I will make sure to watch closely."
I nod in gratitude.
"See what?" Fiona asks.
I put my hand over her lips, not trusting the room to be free of recording devices. "We will discuss things later. Go put something nice on. I'm taking you out for dinner."