Chapter 3 : Coffee With the Kings

I haven’t moved from this sofa since I sat down and I just might sink into it. Even the furniture in our Alpha’s mansion isn’t this soft and comfortable.

I can’t get too comfortable. Thank goodness I didn’t pack silver beyond a few silver-tipped arrows and one silver-tipped dagger. Standard equipment for a hunter who needs to defend against rogues. I didn’t bring Wolfsbane.

The scent of coffee wafts into the room while I'm sitting with Jordan and Kent. They seem comfortable in their skin and every inch the Alphas of this pack. Wiley is too, and he walks into the room behind a servant in a plain black dress and white apron wheeling a cart with every kind of tea sandwich and pastry, as well as a china coffee pot and delicate cups.

Wildly different from drinking cocoa at my parents’ kitchen table just three days ago.

“You take your coffee with a little milk, don’t you?” Kent asks.

“You have a file on me, too.” It’s a statement, not a question.

He just smiles in his quiet way.

Leaning back, he sits on the other side of Jordan. I can’t figure him out, and I’ve read his file twice. His brothers are the definition of “what you see is what you get.” But Kent’s the wild card. The quiet one. It’s always the quiet ones you need to watch out for, right?

I review what I know about them. Know your target.

They’re twenty-six, one year older than I am. They’re the sons of Alpha King Morland and Luna Queen Elayna. They all have military experience, serving in the Royal Army. From their buffed-out bodies, that’s obvious. They’re active in athletic pursuits. No serious relationships on record. No mates or potential mates, but probably a long list of women who want to be their mates.

“Your coffee,” Jordan says.

It tastes perfect, and I can’t help reaching for the tea sandwiches, cut perfectly in squares. That only makes me more nervous. They know how I like my coffee, after all.

Jordan oversees everything. He’s the main decision-maker of the three, even though on paper they rule equally. They rule together, they greet guests together … maybe they even pursue mates together?

My wolf is nodding smugly as if I’m finally clueing into something.

“Ah … you three don’t have mates, according to my files,” I blurt out.

Smooth, Aurora. Very smooth.

Wiley’s eyes sparkle. He’s the partier of the brothers, from what I hear. He’s not nearly as bad as some kings or Alpha’s sons. No drunken sprees or running around with every woman at court. He just likes to have a good time. But there’s no denying he’s clever and sharp.

“We’re very choosy,” he says. “Because we’re so close, our mates have to understand that my brothers can chew me out for not acting kingly and I would still eat wolfsbane for them.”

“I don’t have siblings, but if I did, I’d probably be the same way. So … no chance that these rogues could send a pretty female to court to lure you into an ambush?”

“That’d be an improvement over their usual tactics,” Jordan jokes. “And that’s the perfect segue and Kent’s cue.”

Kent sits straight up. “The Olympic Howlers are a bit of a mystery. They were once a great pack, but something happened. No one knows the whole story, but their Alpha went mad over twenty years ago. One day, he just lost his mind and his pack’s territory. No explanation. Lots of theories, though. Everything from being nearly killed by a rival Alpha–specifically, our late father–to an unfortunate encounter with Bigfoot that drove him insane.”

He delivers this in a completely serious manner.

“Is it true?” I ask. “About your father? I mean, did your late father nearly kill him?”

Jordan’s eyes darken. “Our father was the honorable. If he had tried to kill Rollo Seabrook, you can bet he deserved it.”

A shiver travels up my spine. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

Kent rests his hand on Jordan’s arm. “I’m sure you didn’t, Miss Blessing.”

“Please, call me Aurora, Your Majesty.”

Breathing deeply, Jordan relaxes a bit. “I’m sorry, too. The truth is, our father did have a few skirmishes with Rollo, mainly over Rollo’s greed and taking what doesn’t belong to him. Rollo came off worse every time.”

He says this with a son’s pride.

“I’m sure he did,” I say truthfully. “Everyone feared and admired your father.”

“LOVED, Aurora.”

My name on his lips is strangely irresistible.

“He was beloved,” Jordan continues.

“I know he was,” I say compassionately. “Your kingdom is beautiful and prosperous because of the legacy he and Luna Elayna left. Our Alpha talks all the time about how you’re one of our strongest allies.”

“And you’re one of ours,” Kent says. “I’m surprised the Olympic Howlers haven’t given you more trouble. Your kingdom is at least as rich as ours.”

I shrug. I have questioned why the Olympic Howlers have barely touched our lands.

“Why do you think they haven’t attacked us?” I ask.

“Because Rollo Seabrook is deranged,” Kent says bluntly. “He seems almost obsessed with the Ruby Nightclaws for some reason. No one knows why. Oh, his rogues will sneak across your border and rob and kill a few shifters here and there, but nothing like the guerrilla attacks that make our citizens sleep with one eye open.”

“What about the palace?” I want to know.

Kent speaks with more passion. “They would never even get past the gate.”

Wiley leans into me, passing me a plate of jelly-filled pastries. I’d heard the cooks at the palace were in a class by themselves, and I’m not disappointed. “If they did, one of us or our beta would be on them.”

“Boiling oil at the ready,” I quip. “Stewart Sloan, your beta, is known to attack anyone who insults you.”

“That’s the story we’ve been putting out,” Jordan says with a twinkle in his eye. “It’s better for our allies and adversaries to think he’s slightly feral.”

“He’s not. But he is VERY protective,” Wiley adds. “Incredibly. You’ll meet him soon along with the rest of our merry court.”

I grin. “That’s not like Robin Hood’s band of merry men, is it?”

All three of the brothers laugh, and they are ridiculously sexy when they do.

“Better than Rollo Seabrook’s band of rogues,” Kent states. “In the last two weeks, they’ve hit no less than twenty-three targets in our territory. Mostly shifters who are alone. Eighty percent of those attacks are robbing and terrorizing merchants, hunters, laborers, woodsmen, you name it. Ten percent of those attacks are against villages and towns. Five percent are what you’d call vandalism–just destroying things. And the remaining five percent are against people who will fight back, like our army and our enforcers.”

I let out a hiss. “They sound like cowards, if you ask me.”

Kent gives me an appreciative look. “They prefer to target people who can’t or won’t put up a fight. When they raid a town, it’s usually at night. Less chance of getting caught.”

“So they don’t kill people?” I ask.

“That’s the strange part. People have been wounded, but unless it’s from silver, it’s nothing,” Kent informs me. “Property has been destroyed, of course.”

I rub my chin. “It sounds like they have anger issues.”

And the Leavenworths don’t sound like monsters. But it has to be an act.

“That’s the exasperating part. We can’t point to anything we’ve done to trigger this reign of terror,” Kent says.

Oh, can’t they?

“Maybe it’s not about you.” I want to swallow my tongue after that lie. “Maybe they’re mad at the world or deranged like you say. But they still have a conscience.”

Kent looks pleased. “That’s the thing. I almost want to see if we can reform them–”

“NO,” Jordan and Wiley insist.

This tyrant is talking about showing criminals mercy? What’s wrong with this picture? Is he just trying to make himself look like a good guy? At least his brothers are honest.

“But instead of killing them–”

“Kent,” Jordan interrupts. “Dinner is in a few hours. We don’t want to be here all night.”

Wiley turns his blinding smile on me. “Not with such a beautiful guest.”

That’s the second time he’s called me beautiful. Jordan and Kent glance at me, their gazes full of heat. To have three gorgeous men staring at me like this is like a buffet after years of living on bread and water.

I hold my china cup, feeling how fine and delicate it is. “Who is this Rollo Seabrook, exactly, and other than being crazy, does he have any weaknesses? I know of him, but he’s a mystery, as you said.”

Kent nods. “Supposedly, his family was killed. Including his mate.”

I shudder. “Death of a mate. That’ll do it.”

“Not for everyone,” Jordan says with a scowl. “Mother lost her mate and she isn’t out causing mayhem and robbing people.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” I say hotly. “If he lost his whole family too, it might have sent him over the edge.”

Jordan exhales long and slow as he tugs at his shirt sleeves, which he’d pushed up to reveal his tanned arms. “I’m sorry. Again. Moon Goddess, I don’t know what’s come over me. Please excuse my boorish behavior, Aurora.”

I try to sympathize. “I can’t imagine losing either of my parents. I get it.”

His honesty is raw and direct. And I see the haunted look in his brothers’ eyes. No matter what they’ve done to their people, no one deserves to lose a healthy and vital parent. I wish these men didn’t seem so lovely and nice.

I wish I didn’t know all about their cruelty to their people. Thinking about all the hungry shifters in the pack, I almost choke on the scrumptious melt-in-your-mouth sandwiches.

“Thank you. Maybe he wandered into a dark place, and had no one to help him out of it,” Jordan says, thinking aloud. “But still–”

“It’s no excuse,” I say honestly, seeing Jordan wrestle with compassion and finding it appealing. Finding him appealing.

“Absolutely not,” Kent agrees, with ice in his green eyes.

Wiley’s eyes flash with anger. “He’s a madman. And he likes to be totally in control, even though he’s not. That’s why he’s cautious and why he picks targets that mostly can’t fight back, ones he controls. His need for control is a weakness.”

“It can be. That’s good information. Are his people the same way?”

“Mostly.” Kent responds. “His beta, and I use the term loosely, is a man named Tyler Lorch. Big muscles, tiny brain. He tends to beat people up and throw himself into his work. Tyler and everyone in the pack do whatever Rollo says. Don’t worry about taking notes. I have files on the Olympic Howlers that you’re welcome to pore through.”

Jordan looks genuinely concerned. “Even though they haven’t left a trail of corpses, they’re getting bolder. The last attack had a shifter fearing for her life. Rollo and his band are unpredictable. And he hates surprises. If they feel threatened, he will go after you. This is a dangerous mission, Aurora–and we respect you already. So, if you want to turn down the job and go back home, we’ll understand. It’s up to you.”

I sit silently like I’m considering my options although I know my answer already. Just as I’m about to answer, a sound interrupts me.