Chapter 14
“The ruling was announcedfrom the Lycan Council.” The messenger was uneasy. His chest rose and fell rapidly as though he was nervous.
“Thank you.” I took the thick envelope from his hand, ignoring that it trembled, and headed to my office. “Find Sig,” I ordered my secretary, who arrived dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt.
I slammed my office door behind me. I was in no mood to deal with this. I yearned to be in my library with the delightful Sage.
The door opened, and Sig joined me. “What do we have?”
“I was notified the final ruling from the Council had arrived,” I snapped as I dropped the heavy envelope sealed with wax onto my desk.
“Took you away from Miss Isaacs?” He smirked.
“My time with her was enjoyable. Almost…relaxing,” I defended, unwilling to disclose what she was to me.
“I know that will not be good news.” He pointed to my desk.
After he was seated, I rested my fingertips on the heavy paper. “Let us see what fresh hell we are about to embark upon.” I read each page before handing it to Sig.
When he finished the last page, he leaned back in the chair, resting his head back as he stared at the ceiling. “We are fucked.”
“They didn’t deem us an enemy of the Council,” I said, looking for the golden lining.
“This will mean a quick death for our Pack. We will have difficulty trading with other packs.”
I squeezed the bridge of my nose. “I need the grain and livestock inventories. Also, the farm reports from the last three years and the projections for the next five.” I needed to make sure our people could be fed.
He took notes by hand. “What about the borders?”
“Can Ludwig be convinced to turn against the Redds?” His Pack held the lands closest to the Packhouse. If others were to invade, it would come from his lands.
“He has always taken a hardline, siding with Anton.” Sig didn’t look happy. “But now, I am unwilling to guess what he might do or allow others to do on his side of the border.”
Lycans had a long history of warring with their border neighbors. Currently, we have no problems, but that doesn’t mean that things couldn’t change. Our direct neighbor might not want to war with the Redds. However, if pressured, they might ignore others crossing onto the Redds’ land. The Pack was not in good standing with the Lycan Council. I needed to check whether Anton had upset our neighbors recently.
“With planes, another Pack would not need to worry about securing crossing rights. They could land and already have breached our boundaries.” Sig’s sour expression may have matched mine. We could not hold off an invasion for long.
“We need to make it so that if members wish to leave, they can do so safely.” It wasn’t their fault. Most were unworldly and had no interest in Lycan politics. They mindlessly followed Anton because their parents had, and it was all they knew.
“If one hundred would go, that would lessen the demand on our food supply.”
I looked away as I ran different scenarios. “What do we have on Ludwig?”
“There is documentation of his trip to Paris in the twenties.”
“As distasteful as I find the murder of a human prostitute, most in power would not see it that way.” I puffed out my cheeks as I exhaled. “Ludwig’s defense would be that the boy should have been able to defend his life. But what about his young?” I narrowed my eyes as I tried to chase a memory. “There was something about his oldest, the heir apparent…”
“I’ll find it.” Sig did not write that down. We kept files on those who held even a fraction of power in our world. That information was buried within what seemed to be worthless files in the cloud. Only Sig and I knew the passwords, and I trusted my friend implicitly.
“I need to go over those reports and develop plans.”
“How will you address this with Anton?”
“I cannot believe that his main interest is that damn ball. He can work up a little fury that Travis Burke has not sent the money. However, that circles back to what he would like to serve at the ball.” My half-brother’s idiocy and stubbornness drove me insane.
Sig’s mouth tightened.
I knew that I must update Anton on the Council’s final ruling, but I needed time to calm down. “He’ll rage about Novus and wonder how a new Pack has the Council’s ear. A few of the old families have accepted invitations to the ball, and he believes that means the Redds are still respected and hold power.”
“I can accompany you…if you wish,” he offered, concerned that I might be unable to control my temper when I spoke to my brother.
I drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. I tried to organize my thoughts and weigh our options. I didn’t like my conclusion, but I had to try to save as many innocents as I could. “While you are away, you’ll need to make a call to Black.”
His eyes widened before the muscles at the side of his jaw began to pulse. “Understood.”
“Stress that there are innocents,” I ordered as my heart pounded. The course of action I had decided upon would be labeled treason if found out.
“As you wish.” He picked up his notebook and left me to brood.
My order that he contact Novus while away was risky. However, I needed to make sure that Black was reminded that many of those within these walls were innocent. Their only crime was ignorance. Hopefully, Black and the Lore would give Sig and me more time to come up with a solution to the Charles Burke problem.
I ran my fingers over the ruling. It was getting late, and Anton would be in his private quarters. He was exceedingly difficult when roused from a sound sleep.
This was most definitely a damned if I do instance. I would not trust it to another, nor did I want to risk another whom Anton might decide to target with his anger.
It took a half-hour for Anton to join me in one of his wing’s smaller sitting rooms.
“What is the meaning of this?” He walked swiftly but had never developed the liquid grace many Lycans achieved.
“My apologies for interrupting your night, Sire.” I dipped my chin. “The Council sent their final ruling.” I jiggled the papers in my hand.
“You cannot expect me to read that now, Bredon. Simply state their opinion so I can return to bed,” Anton’s voice thundered in the room.
“They know that Charles Burke has sought refuge with us. He has been named an enemy, and the Council requests that we turn him over to Novus,” I said bluntly.
His instant scowl pulled her thick eyebrows together. “How did they learn of my granting him sanctuary?”
My half-brother always grasped the most insignificant points. I wrestled with my frustration. “Travis Burke was not quiet when searching for a haven. We know that he approached four other packs besides the Redds.”
“And that is why I negotiated a higher price for his care,” Anton boasted.
I needed to close my eyes for a moment to hold back the words—which he has not paid!
Anton continued, but his mouth was tight, which meant he was unhappy that I hadn’t praised the deal he had made. “The decision means nothing. Those that matter will not care. What is one female’s charges compared to the Burke heir?”
“She is a Marked,” I bit out, barely holding my temper. “She is a gift from The Lady. He almost killed her if the reports are accurate.”
“Pish, posh. It is said that Black had an affair with the female before he sent her to the Burkes. Now, he has her back and must deal with her.”
“They’ve increased the reward to five million,” I announced.
Anton paused for only a second. “Burke will pay us more.”
“Why not take both?” I asked calmly with no challenge in my tone or gaze.
“That would be…” Anton’s face flushed. He hated it when I had a point.
“The Council and Novus won’t let this slide,” I cautioned. “Housing Burke is going to destroy us.”
Anton shook his head. “This is why you will never take my throne, Bredon. You have no daring or balls to follow through. This will blow over in a few months. People will forget the human.”
I disagreed, but I kept my mouth shut. Arguing would do no good.