Shadows of Destiny

The moment we stepped outside, I exhaled.

“What would you like to speak to me about, Tamia?” he asked gently, and I looked at him.

“First of all, I want to congratulate you.

I heard of you and Susan, and I am happy for both of you,” I said; he nodded and looked away.

“I heard a rumour that I want to confirm with you, Devin, and I need you to be honest with me.

To start with, I know you did not face Sylvester during the legendary war.

I know it was Dominic, but I have kept your secret.

I am telling you this so you know you can trust me,” I said, and he chuckled.

“I knew you figured it out.

There was no way you would be close to Volkov and not know that fact,” he said, and I smiled.

“What do you want to ask me?” He asked, and I sighed.

“It is about your encounter with Lord Maurice Volkov,” I said, and his expression became serious.

“Nothing serious, Devin.

Nothing bad; I just want to clarify, please,” I said, and he nodded reluctantly.

“I do not want trouble.

The Volkovs and I have buried the hatchet.

Do not resurrect an old issue, Tamia,” he warned me, and I nodded.

“I do not intend on doing that, Devin.

I just want to know the truth about something.

Please, I hope it is not too much to ask,” I said to him, and he sighed.

“Very well, I am listening, Tamia,” He said, and I nodded.

“I heard you got a tip from an anonymous person in the form of a letter telling you where Maurice Volkov would be and his reasons in Pridewood,” I started.

“According to this rumour, the person gave details of his Alias and his purpose there,” I said, and he frowned at me.

“Where did you hear that from?” he asked me, and I nodded.

“Late Jenny,” I said, and he balled his fist.

“What was her gain with that magnitude of lies? I did receive a letter like that, but I ignored it.

I did not attack Maurice because of the letter.

Jenny is full of shit.

I have kept what happened that day in my heart, and I do not want to speak of it,” he said, and I frowned at him.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, and he shrugged.

“Nothing, Tamia, just ignore those rumours.

It is a lie,” he said, wanting to walk away, but I held his hand and stopped him.

“Please, Devin, I need to know what happened that night,” I said with desperation, and he frowned at me.

“What is it to you? How does this affect you?” He said defensively, and I did not know what to say.

“You need to tell me why you want to know what happened badly, or else my lips are sealed, Tamia; you do not expect me to divulge anything to you while you hold back.

These are things on which my reputation was built.

You do not expect me to just let tell you.

At least tell me why you want to know,” he said, and I looked at him.

“Will you tell me if I tell you?” I asked him, wanting a genuine answer.

“If you promise to keep my secret, I will,” He said, and that wasn’t good enough, especially if I needed him to come forward for Stephanie’s sake.

“What if someone’s life is on the line for it? Would you speak up?” I asked, and he shook his head.

“I can’t destroy my reputation for anyone,” he said, and I pleaded with him.

I did not know tears were streaming down my cheeks until I felt the coolness.

I was terrified for Stephanie and Sylvester.

I did not want Sylvester to be in a situation where he would have to condemn his mother.

The blackmailer was sick.

“Tamia,” Devin said, suddenly worried because of my tears.

it?” he asked me gently, and I shook my

not, but someone dear to me other than Sylvester is,” I told him,

blackmailed; they claim that the letter was written by her and caused Maurice’s

she sent it to

in my life; everyone knows I have been an orphan for a long

want anything bad to happen to

been through a

Devin, please.

me that would not make that letter admissible, if a hearing should occur would

be forever

beginning to weep because I

mate know about this?” He asked me, and I shook

with already,” I lied,

reputation for years,” he said,

I believe you will be known

all that is happening now, you will be known

your help to

we can’t prove otherwise, she will

her for treason and sentence her to

and you will not want something like that on your

hurting anyone, but if a life is hanging in the balance,

said,

letter?”

wrote the letter,” I

asked me, and I knew I had to

family, made her serve this fated, took her family’s seat from her and tried to gift it to his

just wanted to breathe,” I said, and his

did all that?” He asked, and I

all I can say,” I told him, and

did not

was overprivileged, but my time with him made me

He isn’t over-privileged.

he had

to maintain power and peace is a shitty life that I do not wish on

he is nothing

keep a harem and take people’s

was tragic, but you deserve all the love you are

chance thinking I

procrastination gave birth to the love

alone

that, I will tell you everything that happened

I will do it for your sake, for the sake of the happiness I was meant to give you that

I thanked him.

the letter quite alright and

got a letter; I guess a mole might have picked it up

a spillover from Maurice’s time, and Jenny’s son is

get her hands

was a way of keeping an eye on her enemies, but

the influential person behind Jenny’s son had been planning this

might go down like the rest of

not know what to think, so I shut down

in

out the Inn for

insulted that the man that ruined my family was on my turf, and I could not do anything about

hold it in any longer, I decided

went alone to avoid

got there, it was

no one at the exit

nothing like what I had seen

was no one

hefty guard was lying dead on the floor at the

alcohol and northern cocktail, so I

guard, there was no

soul, but the light was on, and everything

have told the staff

of money anyway, so it was

myself in, and that was when I smelled

my territory, I followed the scent, and

door was ajar, and I saw Gavin Orlov partially shifted

had deep claw marks

was no way he could have survived

of the northern

aggressive sounds and moved through

of Maurice’s dead body, stabbing him continually with a silver blade, he held it in his claws, and his

partially shifted and reeked of the northern

not

I attacked Lucas immediately.

and compromised; aiming for the kill, he

choice but to

the mess, and he was in

me never to tell anyone what had happened

convinced me to claim the death and that

be lord if I claim