Shadows of Destiny

Following Through ~Tamia- Stephanie was into the Croquet game we were watching, and I wished Avery and Linda had followed us, but they wanted to remain in our official booth for reasons best known to them.

Dominic had stylishly joined us, but we did not need to guess why he was with us and not with his brother.

Katya seemed utterly enthralled by him, and he wasn’t different.

It was so deep that Stephanie and I left the booth, and they did not notice.

“I want some sweet pop corn,” Stephanie said, and my mouth began to salivate.

“That would be yummy,” I said, stopping at a cotton candy stall.

I helped myself to the strawberry- flavoured variation, and the vendor refused to take my money.

He treated me with respect, and my heart fluttered.

“Have you heard about the new move by the sneaky council?” Stephanie asked me, taking a bit of my candy and grimacing at the level of sweetness.

“What move?” I asked her, feeling happy.

William had called me and told me he was rounding the people up and taking them to the warehouse.

I was too eager because the meeting would be in two days.

“Some alphas raised a petition, and many people have signed it.

They are trying to dissolve the lordship,” she said, and I wondered why she would say it was the council members.

Clearly, the alphas did it of their own volition.

“Why would you think the council is behind this?” I asked her, and she scrunched her nose.

She had gotten some candy on her nose, but her warm, slightly sweaty skin had melted it.

“The petition puts the council in charge of everything while each region would have a council of alphas led by a governor, similar to what you practice in the east,” she said.

We found a bench to sit on.

Stephanie called on to a child and handed him money to buy us popcorn and something for himself.

The moment the boy left, she leaned against the backrest and looked ahead with a frown folding her arms.

“The Volkovs were royalty before it became a lordship.

This council was formed because of the tyranny of Maurice’s forefather, Eddard.

It was an excellent way to keep the royal bloodline in check.

The council helped the lord remain on course and fought for people’s rights.

They helped to question the lord and make sure he was fair to the people, but the lord was still like a king.

He owns and rules everything.

Devin Corrigan might have revolted, but Sylvester still rules all four regions.

His decree must be upheld in all regions, or it will be seen as treasonous.

The leading alpha of each region is like a representative of the lord and must bow to the lord’s command; that is why there is always competition for prominence in every region.

One you are conversant with since you helped your ex-husband rise to power.

They are to rule the region and keep it in check according to the lord’s will.

That is the order.

Sylvester is lenient, so they have this false notion of sovereignty, but they remain under him; that is something your ex- husband respects and keeps to it,” she said and sighed, then unfolded her hand and brushed something off her jeans.

“This petition obliterates the lordship and renders Sylvester powerless.

It will place the council in charge and leave the lordship as an honorary position and nothing more, banning the royal families from interfering or making decisions that have to do with governance.” She said and looked at me.

“Who is benefiting from that arrangement? ” she asked, and I knew the answer.

“Not the stupid alphas, but the council.

The council is the one benefitting from that arrangement, and to show you how eager they are, they shifted the hearing to the day after tomorrow instead of waiting until after the games,” she said, looking worried.

Wanting to tease her, I pretended I did not know and proffered a solution.

“In that case, Sylvester can take up the Balyaev seat,” I said, and she looked at me, eyes widened.

and Jenny Lawrence are

knows of the agreement I made with

she said, but she wasn’t happy because being head of the council

I placed my hand on her thigh and gestured that she calmed

on it,

not trouble your gentle heart,”

take place tomorrow, but they won’t get what they want,” I

you all figured out the person that caused the attack on Brighton and framed Dominic?” she asked

doing this,” she said, and

yet, but we want to take out Pamela Rivers

have done enough,” I said, and

are nothing but

be surprised if Maurice

didn’t, I am sure Gavin, Lucas, or

just sore that Sylvester, Theodore and

they have done and how I heard they behaved during the few hearings against Sylvester and Dominic, I have concluded that they might be a part of it,” she said, and I

acted too suspiciously for them to

to unseat

guess he will do it after the petition hearing,” I said,

said, afraid we might not win the hearing, but

need to panic, Stephanie,” I said and just then,

He also seemed excited.

so long?” Stephanie

beating a man that was disturbing his wife in front of the turkey sandwich stall,” the boy said, and Stephanie and I

worried for Linda that

accidentally come off as flirtatious to

we

see Sylvester calming Theo down; it looked like something explosive had

rushed to where they

happened here?” I asked them and was shocked to

The nerve.

excited telling me how Theo beat the crap out of Kyle, and

she came to the stall alone, but I kept the question to myself, seeing a bit of mayonnaise

was surprised to see that Marcel

those two idiots would

think Avery and Linda will leave the life they have now and go back to

they had done to their wives, but they should

was a bit nervous about the

relax, but he was

all over

I have been too damn

have tried this with my father,” He said, and as sad as

people needed

they could

letters, then my poisoning, Dominic’s set up, and

we started catching people,

lead us anywhere, but Kappa Wilson was asked to

to

agree with

may seem a bit

to the council after we remove those women from

are old, and Vino is young and seems not

put him

should let us know so we

time he starts taking responsibility for the actions and inactions of the council as their leader, or he should vacate the

and buried

and I could

thigh tingled, and I could

work against the Lawrence now; they are our strongest

has always made him side with

I would not have an ally on the council,” he said, and I turned to

to get Dominic on Balyaev’s seat,” I said, and he broke away and shook his

Dominic might have come around in your eyes, but I do not

with Glenda still in his

to her and break away; how will he be able to handle the

Larry

empowering a tool my enemies can use against

sat on the bed, and I kneeled behind him

his body from the tension

his shirt, and he flexed his muscles, making me run my palms against his perfectly sculpted

front of him and straddled

of his tension, I wanted to enjoy

me up

after the