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

one knows of the agreement I made with

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

I placed my hand on her thigh and gestured

are on it,

your gentle heart,” I said,

tomorrow, but they won’t get what they

figured out the person that caused the attack on Brighton

person doing

take

have done enough,” I

are

wouldn’t be surprised

am sure Gavin, Lucas, or maybe three of them

sore that Sylvester, Theodore and

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,

had acted too suspiciously

plans to unseat

will do it after the petition hearing,” I said, and she

it now,” she said, afraid we might not win

said and just

He also seemed excited.

Stephanie

wife in front of the turkey sandwich stall,” the boy said, and Stephanie and I got

was so worried for Linda that I

did not accidentally

we headed to

see Sylvester calming Theo down; it

rushed to

I asked them and was shocked to learn

The nerve.

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

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

was surprised to see

those

Linda will leave the life they have now and go back to the hell they gave them? It was delusional, and I began

they had done to their wives, but they should learn from Leo and

home early, and Sylvester was a bit nervous

told him to relax, but

all

I have

and as

needed

they could piss all over

letters, then my poisoning, Dominic’s set

catching people, the better

us anywhere, but Kappa Wilson

hope to catch

with

may seem a bit

make some changes to the council after we remove

is young and seems not to

put him in

let us know so we can

and inactions of the council as their leader, or he

buried his

and

and I could feel the tension he needed

they are our strongest

friendship has always made him

would not have an ally on

“As much as I know this isn’t the time, I think it is time to get

in your eyes, but I do not trust

still

and break away; how will he

how Larry

a tool my enemies can use against me,” He said,

I kneeled

body

take off his shirt, and he flexed his muscles, making me run my palms against his perfectly sculpted body on

in front of

of

woke me

passed out after the