Chapter 9

Kate’s POV:

For three days, I have worked on a plan to eject Liam from the Imperial spiritual realm. Three long days of watching my daughter as Liam tries to connect with her. With her powers growing, the realm is trying to communicate with her, and Liam sees her as a way to get out of the realm. I want Liam out of the realm, but on my terms. He will not use Belle.

"Belle is acting strangely," Vivian says to me, coming into my office. This is something I already know, but I appreciate her being observant.

I look up at her. This is not something I want to hear today. I need to focus on my plan, but instead, I am afraid Liam may get out on his own, and I have to be ready for that. Erick is going to lose his mind if Belle is involved in any of this, and if something happened to her, he would never forgive me. I could not blame him. I would not be able to forgive myself.

"What exactly is she doing?" I ask Vivian, who is pacing and seems upset.

I already know the answer. Liam is reaching out to her, and she is listening. It is hard not to listen. The sounds from the realm can be soothing or frightening, depending on who and why they communicate with you. I know those sounds well.

"She keeps closing her eyes like she is listening to something or someone, and she keeps saying Liam and laughing. Alpha Kate, it is creeping me out if I am honest," Vivian says.

I smile my best smile. Vivian has no idea. She was not here when the white wolf was here. So many strange things have happened.

"Send her in here with me so I can watch her for a while. Maybe I can figure out what is going on with her, Vivian," I say with a smile.

Vivian looks relieved. "Yes, Alpha Kate. I will send her right in to see you," Vivian says.

My door opens in my office, and it is Raven and Erick. The two come in and sit down then Belle comes in behind them. The two watch her for a moment. Raven can already sense something is off with her, and Erick is figuring it out.

"Liam is talking," Belle says as she comes in and sits between Raven and Erick.

"Can you tell mommy what Liam is saying?" I ask her.

Belle shakes her head and then looks up at Erick and Raven. "I will tell Daddy," she says.

Erick leans down, and she whispers into his ear. Erick's eyes grow big as she whispers to him the things Liam is telling her. When she is finished telling him, she hops down and leaves the room.

"What did she say?" I ask Erick.

Erick looks down at the floor. He is upset, and it makes me upset waiting for the message Liam has sent through my child. Erick shakes his head.

"Liam wants her to help him out of the realm, and he promises to protect her if she helps him. He told her that you want to hurt her," Erick says.

"What!" I scream. That bastard is trying to turn my child against me.

"I will talk to her and explain to her that Liam is a bad guy, but I need you and Raven to get ahold of this situation and fast. Get Liam out of the realm and figure out a way to seal it so no one can use our child again," Erick says.

"I already have a plan to seal it permanently. I am over the realm. It will stop hurting my family and me," I say.

Erick steps out of my office. He comes back to the door and puts his hands on each side of the door facing. "Make sure whatever you do, does not get either of you killed. I do not want to lose the mother of my children, and I do not want to tell Meaghan that Raven is dead either," Erick says.

When Erick is out of my office, Raven looks at me. "What is your plan?" he asks me.

"I plan to reconnect with the realm and pull him out, but not all the way. When he is almost out, you will stake him," I say.

"What about our friend, Jason?" Raven asks.

"We need another Imperial to open the realm, and I am not using my daughter. I think Jason has the juice to help us pull him out," I say.

"There is still one problem," Raven says. He leans closer to me.

"We still have no idea who killed all the council members," Raven says.

Raven is right. Even after I take care of Liam, I have to find out who killed the council members and who trapped Liam. I do not plan on giving him the time to tell me anything. Liam has to die and fast. I did not need him running loose and causing problems. He was enough problem as a wolf, but as a vampire, I will not be able to control his wrath.

"I could connect with the council members and see who killed them. You could do it. I would never tell Erick if you did," Raven says.

I listen to Raven. He is right; I could connect with the realm and find out what happened to him or let Raven connect with them. Should I allow that? Would it put him at risk?

"Are you willing to connect with the realm Raven?" I ask him.

Raven thinks a moment then answers. "I have never had any issues connecting with the realm and delinking Kate, but you have. It would be better if I did it. Then we will know who killed the council. We could kill Liam and then go after whoever is trying to set you up," Raven says.

I shake my head and sit down at my desk. Erick comes back to the office door. He looks in at Raven and me, both in deep thought. "Everything okay in here?" He asks.

"Yes, my love, we are fine. Everything will be fine," I say.

Raven gets up to leave. "I will take care of that for you, Alpha Kate. I will have a solid report for you by morning," Raven says.

"Thanks, Raven, tomorrow we eject Liam out of the realm, so if you can handle the other thing, that would be great," I say.

Raven shakes his head and goes down the hall to be with his wife and daughter. If anything happens to him, Meaghan will be alone. Maybe I should do it. I could wait until Erick goes to bed and connect with the realm.

I stare into space and weigh all of the possibilities. As Alpha, I have to protect my wolves. The best way to protect them is not to ask them to do something I am afraid to do. It is on me. I will connect with the realm. I will find out who attacked the council members.

"You know you can talk to me," Erick says.

"I know," I say.

"No secrets," Erick reminds me.

"I know, no secrets, my love," I say.

I cannot lie to him. I promised him that there would be no secrets, and I will keep my promise.