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

me other than Sylvester is,” I told him, and he frowned at

they claim that the letter was written by her

sent

is the only parent figure in my life; everyone knows I have been an orphan for a long

want anything

has been through a

Devin, please.

me that would not make that letter admissible,

forever indebted

Devin, I am begging you,” I said, beginning to weep because I was out of creative

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

has a lot to deal with already,” I lied,

reputation for

believe you will be known

now, you

need your

can’t prove otherwise,

for treason

good man, Devin, and you will not want something like that

to maintain your story if it is not hurting anyone, but if a life is hanging

I said,

wrote the letter?” He

wrote the letter,”

he asked me, and I

fated, took her family’s seat from her and tried to gift it

just wanted

did all that?” He asked, and I

but that is all I can say,”

not like

believed he was overprivileged, but my time with

He isn’t over-privileged.

he had

in a battle to maintain power and peace is a shitty life

he is

keep a harem and

happened with you and Leo was tragic, but

when I had a chance thinking I had all the

to the love between you

let alone destroy the joy the goddess has

of that, I will tell you everything that happened with

to it that I have to speak up, I will do it for your sake, for the sake of the happiness I was meant to give you that day at

I thanked him.

the letter quite alright and

not know how it got around that I got a letter; I guess a mole might have picked it

is a spillover from Maurice’s time, and Jenny’s son is a stupid pawn,” He said, and he made all the

how Jenny could get her hands on the letter

she have someone in the south? I had thought it was a way of keeping an eye on her enemies, but Devin made it

Jenny’s son had been planning this

so, the bastard was a fool and might go

I did not know what to think, so I shut down my

at Danes Inn in Pridewood secretly

had cleared out the

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

hold it in any longer, I decided to visit the Inn in

went alone

there, it was

at the exit and at the

nothing like what I had seen

was no one

guard was lying dead on the

cocktail, so I figured

the guard, there was

but the light was

figured Maurice might have told the

had lots of money anyway,

that was when I

a crime in my territory, I followed the scent, and it led me to a

Gavin Orlov partially shifted and

had deep claw marks all over his

could have

northern

aggressive sounds and moved through the living section

continually with a

partially shifted and reeked

did not need to

I attacked Lucas immediately.

was strong but already wounded and compromised; aiming for the kill, he surrendered and bore his neck

no choice but

mess, and he was

me never to tell anyone what had

me to claim the death

lord if