Chapter 24

Trisha’s P.O.V:

Lucas was shaking hands with an unknown man when I found him in the Primary Hall.

The man, who I assumed was David Ruth, had short military-cut black hair and dark brown eyes and his skin was the color of dark honey. He noticed me before Lucas did and his eyes narrowed a fraction at me and then I realized he was looking at how I held Neema.

Great! Not only was my entire race against me for saving a human, but now I’m getting odd looks from humans too? Shaking my head, I came to stand next to Lucas.

“Lucas, I found what we need.” I told him. “It’s time.”

Lucas’s eyes widened as he realized what I was talking about. “Let’s get going, its better if we get things done by tonight.”

I sucked in a breath. Tonight! Damien and Lucas are going to come face to face tonight?

“Okay,” I agreed and we both began to walk towards the Wall when David called us.

“Wait, Lucas. Why don’t you stay for lunch?” He called out. “It’ll give me time to get to know your guest better.”

Lucas put an arm around my waist instantly, in a possessive gesture that made me frown. But I stayed quite since David wasn’t the real threat here and we needed to get back soon. “Thanks for the offer, David,” Lucas was saying. “But we have something else to attend to. Maybe next time?”

“Yeah, sure.” David called back as we were leaving but it was clear from his tone that he was disappointed.

I removed Lucas’s hand from around my waist, while still holding onto a sleeping Neema with one hand, as soon as we were out of everyone’s prying eyes. “Lucas, I didn’t need help. I know that not everyone will think of me as a saint for saving Neema.”

“Trisha, I know you’re capable of protecting yourself and Neema. But I didn’t like the way David was looking at you.” He tried to explain. “It was just to get him off your back.”

“Lucas, I’m a vampire. If I had to get someone off my back, I could do it myself.” I shrugged.

“Okay, relax, Ms. Independent.” Lucas held out his hands in surrender. “It won’t happen again. Now, let’s get going. You okay to use your full speed?”

“Yes.” I adjusted Neema on my shoulder and then we took off into the woods again, heading straight for the den.

Once we’d safely climbed up to the aerie, I handed Neema over to Mark as Lucas and I headed towards his office.

“Dilliana and her son, Taj, handed this over to me today.” I placed the letter in front of him. “And this one isn’t even written in codes.”

Lucas’s eyes turned a brilliant shade of topaz as he read the letter. “So we have everything we need to call Damien here?”

“Yes. I’ll put the call through.” I took out the phone Lucas had given me, from my pocket but he stopped me before I could go out of the room.

“Wait, make the call here.” He said. “I’ll give you the directions.”

I was pretty sure his reason for keeping me here wasn’t just to give me directions, but I nodded anyway. He wanted to see if I would give something away or warn Damien, now that we had all the proof we needed. And I was fine with that. As far as Lucas was concerned, I had nothing to hide.

“Fine.” I dialed Damien’s number and waited for him to pick up with teeth-gritting anticipation.

One ring. Two rings. Three rings. Fou-“Hello.”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. It was like…magic. Like, finding light at the end of a dark tunnel. It was freeing and frustrating at the same time. I couldn’t believe that I had gone two whole days without hearing his voice. I stood transfixed at my spot, not knowing what to do as I heard the low sound of Damien’s breathing.

“Trisha.”

“Trisha.”

Two voices spoke at once. One from right behind me, sounding harsh and irritated. And the second from the other side of the phone. Damien’s voice was firm too, a little rough. But it felt like feathers on my senses. But then I heard something in the background, a sound of soft breaths and a woman’s delicate moans.

“I’ve got proof against Vandal. And the Supreme Lycan Alpha has invited you into his home. Be at Patrol Station 9 tomorrow morning by nine. His men will be present to escort you.” My voice was harsher than I’d wanted it to be.

“Ordering your King, Trisha?” I could clearly picture him raising his eyebrows in amusement. “I want you to be there to escort me. I don’t trust anyone there.”

I looked at Lucas for his reaction, to which he just stared at me with his topaz eyes for a long time before giving a curt nod. I turned back to the phone. But before I could answer I heard my father’s voice in the distance. “Thank you, dear. His Highness is done feeding, you may leave.”

And I instantly understood the reason for those sounds I’d heard before. Feeling utterly stupid for snapping at Damien for no reason, I lowered my voice before answering to him. “I’ll be there.”

“Good.” Damien replied. “I’ll be looking forward to meeting you, Trisha. It’s been a while.”

Before I could say anything else, the phone was snatched from my hands and Lucas held it up to his ears after moving a few steps away from me. “King Damien, I hope I wouldn’t have to tell you not to bring in any backup? You won’t be harmed if you come alone, but if you’re spotted with anyone else; your little friend will be in trouble.”

I was pretty sure that the friend he was referring to was me, but I stayed quiet for now. Lucas won’t be on that call forever.

Damien laughed, the sound mechanical, humorless. “You don’t have to worry about me, Lucas. Worry about your little puppies instead. I heard mutts are afraid of fire.”

The phone clicked shut after that just a Lucas’s growl reverberated through the office. “The nerve of that leech!”

“Careful, Lucas.” I warned. “I’m a vampire too, or have you forgotten?”

“You’re different!” Lucas whipped around to face me. “You’re not like him!”

“I’m still a vampire, Lucas. And Damien is still my King.” I reminded him. “You insult him, you insult all of us. And now I’m not even sure he should even visit this place.”

“Why?” Lucas snapped. “Is he just that weak of a King? Or is it because you have feelings for him?”

I took in a deep breath, finally understanding why there was a sudden change in Lucas’s behavior. He was getting territorial, like most wolves did with someone they liked. If I snapped at him, argued with him, this would only lead to a fight. So I calmed myself down and ignored his accusations.

“Tomorrow is a big day for us, Lucas.” I told him steadily. “Let’s prepare ourselves and get ready for tomorrow. It’s getting late and we all need rest. I’ll meet you at six in the morning and we shall discuss what to do next from there on.”

With that, I took my phone from his hand and left the room to head straight for the bathroom. Tomorrow was going to be a difficult day and I needed some much needed rest before that.

Damien’s P.O.V:

“Your Highness,” Jonathan called as I handed him the phone. “She’s found out, hasn’t she?”

I shook my head. “Only the basics.” I told him as I wiped my bloody lips on a piece of tissue. “She doesn’t know everything, not yet.”

“But, you’ll tell her, right?” Jonathan asked, both hopeful and worried.

“No, Jonathan.” I turned to face him as my donor scurried out of my room. “Because I don’t have to. Your daughter is very intelligent, which is why she was one of my inner circle members. She’ll figure this out on her own.”

What I didn’t tell him was that it was exactly what I was afraid of; her knowing the truth. It’s ridiculous, really. Me being afraid of anything. But the truth was also the reason why I’d kept Trisha at arm’s length…and drove her straight into the arms of that mutt.