King Calling
*Rowan*
I’m in my office, looking at defense plans, and trying to decide whether or not I should just go ahead and attack Solomon before he gets the jump on me when my phone rings.
The light’s not on, so it’s not Solomon, or one of his lackeys, calling. I answer it. “Yeah?”
“Is this Alpha King Rowan of Moonstryker?” a stern voice asks.
“It is. Who’s this?” I can’t help the cockiness I hear in my own voice. Hezzlie’s taught me a lot about how to be kind and uninsulting to others, but when I get in these types of situations, I can’t help but default back to my old stance.
‘This is Alpha King Jackson of Midnight Moon,” comes the reply.
I pause for a moment. Midnight Moon is a pack on the other side of Darksky, one we have very little contact with. “Yes?”
“I believe you have one of my citizens there–as a prisoner,” he continues, sounding even more irritated than he did before.
It takes me only a second to gather who he’s talking about. I don’t believe Hezzlie ever told me what pack Abigail is from, but I think it must be this one. “Abigail?” I ask.
“That’s right. We want her released to us with absolutely no terms, or else we will attack your kingdom immediately.” King Jackson sounds like he’s about my age, maybe a little older, and like he’s trying to sound stern.
I almost laugh, but I don’t. “She’s here on her own accord,” I tell him. “She doesn’t want to go back to you.”
He’s quiet for a moment. “Well, that’s not what her father says,” he finally argues. “Sir Michael, the Ambassador to Darksky, says she was kidnapped when you stole the prince and princess of Darksky.”
I can’t help the chuckle that escapes my lips this time. “I didn’t do that either. They both left. His daughter is my mate, and his son is mated to my sister. As I’m sure you know, Princess Mara was held captive in Darksky for five years. I traded my mate for her, but Hezzlie and Prince Aiden fled to my kingdom, and your Ambassador’s daughter chose to come with them.”
He has to think about this for a moment, which gives me the opportunity to tune into the mind-link for a few seconds. That’s when I realize something’s going on in the infirmary.
‘Alpha!’ James is shouting. ‘We need you down here immediately. Abby tried to attack Hezzlie, and Hezzlie fought back with her magic. Abby’s hurt–bad.’
I can’t believe that Hezzlie would ever hurt Abby or anyone else on purpose, but nevertheless, it seems we have a huge problem on our hands.
“Well, I’d like to speak to her,” Alpha King Jackson says in my ear, jarring me back to reality.
I blink a few times and try to piece together the two different conversations I’m having at the same time, telling James I’ll be down there directly, and then having to formulate a response to Jackson on the phone. And it can’t be the answer he wants to hear.
“She’s, uhm, unavailable at the moment,” I stammer. I need to sound more sure of myself if I want to keep us out of war with yet another kingdom.
“What?” he shouts. “Why not? She has to be available to speak to me. I want to talk to her right now or else I’m sending in my warriors!”
“I will happily let her call you back as soon as she’s available, but at the moment, she’s involved in an activity with my mate.” So far, I haven’t even lied. I’m trying to sound nonchalant, like he’s overreacting, to try to calm him down. I honestly don’t know much about his warriors, but I’d just as soon not get involved in another war at the moment, if I can help it. I suppose they’d probably attack alongside Darksky’s warriors since they’d have to come through his territory–unless Midnight Moon is also allies with the kingdom to my west, east, or south. Whatever the circumstances, appeasing him sounds like a better plan.
“When will she be available?” he asks in a mocking tone.
“In a few hours,” I say, hoping that’s right. In the back of my mind, I know that if Abby dies, we’ll most certainly have a war on our hands.
“You have until seven this evening to have her call me back, or so help me, I will send in my troops,” he says through what sounds like gritted teeth.
“Yes, yes,” I say dismissively. “I will have her call you. No worries, Alpha King Jackson. Honestly, you need to rethink your alliances. There has to be a reason King Solomon’s own children didn’t want to stay in his castle.”
He’s quiet, and I imagine he’s considering my warning. When he speaks again, all he says is, “Seven.” Then, the line goes dead.
I hang up, run a hand down my face, and check in with James again. He’s shouting that he’s trying to help Abby, but it’s not looking good. I rush out the door, down the hall, to the stairs, and toward the infirmary, praying that Abby’s going to be okay–for all of our sakes.
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