Chapter Eighty-Five: Trust Your Gut

I thought the coronation was such a huge event with such intense planning, but it did not compare to the party which was held after. The entire back garden type area of the palace was full of people, lovely lights lit up the beautiful place, the nicest of food being served on such posh looking tables. Waiters walking around with trays of alcohol, each person with such huge smiles on their faces. The drinks were flowing, the laughter was erupting and the party which started in the afternoon, was soon dancing its way into the night. Most people I would interact with were either very intoxicated or close to hitting that point, but as I didn’t personally drink, I simply walked around watching each person celebrate.

I was stood alone after mingling for some time off to the side of the garden, the beautiful rose bushes with roses of all colours sat beside me, where I had to mentally ask myself if this was there before. My moment of aloneness was soon cut short when I felt a presence beside me, looking over with a smile, I come face to face with Guy. Immediately, I felt the overwhelming feeling of dread and despair begin to make its way through me once again, whenever I am close to Guy for not even a moment, I can’t shake the heavy dark feeling which radiates from him like a sick smoke cloud.

“I just wanted to come and see you to say how wonderful I believe you did in that coronation; it could have been overwhelming for you, but you handled it superbly.” He smiles looking over at me where even in his eyes, I found a dark feeling in them, but not wanting him to know that I send him a kind smile.

“Thank you, Guy, I really appreciate that.” I say before turning back to look at the crowd of people hoping he would see this as me dismissing the conversation, but he still doesn’t take the hint.

“I do have to apologise for you not seeing much of me since you have arrived here, I promise, I haven’t been avoiding you.” He tells me with a smile, where I hoped my years of school level drama class was about to pay off.

“Oh, don’t worry, I understand how busy you must be with Max entrusting you to be his Gamma, I can see how busy everyone gets.” I say with a little fake chuckle, to my delight, he smiles also not seeing through the act I was playing.

“I can see too how busy you have found yourself over these past few months, I mean everyone knows what case you have began to look into.” He said with a laugh of his own also, playing an act but luckily for me, I could see right through what he was doing.

I couldn’t help the sinking feeling which appeared deep in my gut, I already get an off feeling when I’m around his man anyway but now with his comment, I knew he was not showing his full hand.

“I have been, I just feel as though because I have shared such a personal connection with Griffin, I have a sort of obligation to help him.” I begin to say knowing I had to think very meticulously, with the words which I was using in this moment.

“So, how are things going with the case?” He asks after sending me a nod of understanding, but it was here I would be able to fully set the stage for the next step of my plan.

“Honestly, between you and me I haven’t really gotten anywhere since I went to speak to the Alpha of The Shadow Wolf Pack. It seems I keep hitting brick wall after brick wall and I’m not sure where else I could look. And now with the many engagements which have appeared, I don’t have much time to look into anymore, it’s getting hard to find the time.” I explain making it up as I went along but thankfully, I’ve had to do that very thing a few times lately and have gotten much better at it.

Guy looked over at me a little shocked after hearing this, where he stares ahead at the crowd as though he was thinking what the best next question was going to be.

“What about Griffin?” He asks after a moment where I just let out a little sigh with a shrug of my shoulders, gosh I need to go to my school drama teacher Mr Hutson and give me a pat on the back for teaching me to act so well!

“I do worry about him whenever he comes to mind, whether he’s looking after himself and not getting into trouble. But I have to face the facts, he is a grown man who made those kinds of decisions to attack that pack. Perhaps that’s all that happened, he left here enraged that his title had been taken away from him and decided to take his anger out on that poor pack. If he’s able to attack a pack, he’s able to look after himself.” I say which couldn’t have been further from the truth, I knew exactly what happened that night and no longer had to worry about him, he was safe within the walls of the palace.

I didn’t turn to look at Guy but out of the corner of my eye, I could see the hint of happiness which was on his face once he heard that I had abandoned Griffin, well, he believed I had anyway.

“Well, I am very pleased that you are now using your time to better the kingdom.” He smiles after his little victory dance, I watched him do, honestly, how had I been so blind before?!

“But anyway, I better be getting off and leaving you to celebrate.” He smiles excusing himself where I was left alone quicker than he had walked over to speak with me.

It couldn’t have been that easy to pull the wool in front of his eyes, could it? I always assumed he was a very intelligent man, but to see my simple acting was able to make him believe I had really stopped looking into the case, perhaps he’s more gullible than even he believes!

But now Guy had walked away, and I was able to fully grasp what the conversation had become; I couldn’t help but wonder if he was one of Julia’s spies. I mean why else would he stand there and ask me those specific questions surrounding the case, once I brought that I had stopped my search, that was when he excused himself. This worried me even more to who these spies may be, if Julia was able to get someone such as Guy, a man I can see Max trusts on her side, who else could she have wrapped around her finger?!

With this in mind, my eyes begin to scan the crowd of party goers as though the mask would slip, and I would see even more people I need to watch out for. But on my mini scan, I soon lock eyes with Macauley, who stood to the side of the party seeming to be attempting to get my attention without drawing attention to himself. Knowing I also had to do the same, I casually walk over smiling at each person as though I was simply taking a walk around the party with no clear destination.

Macauley also seems to understand what I was doing and soon does the same thing, even walking closer to one of the drinks tables and slyly taking a drink off the table to make it seem as though he was just like anyone else here. After a moment of playing the act, we both meet in the middle where he sends me a smile.

“Congratulations ma’am, I was able to watch the coronation and I have to say you not only look beautiful, but you did such an incredible job.” He smiles complimenting me, I just send him a smile as a thank you before he takes a look around the party before lowering his voice. “If you are not too busy ma’am, we need to talk.” He whispers getting a little closer whilst his eyes scanned our surroundings, I nod my head but knew we didn’t have to worry about the ones closer to us, they were so intoxicated, I don’t believe some of them even remember their own name.

I soon lead Macaulay away from the party and back into the palace, the once filled ballroom had now begun to get cleaned up, the seats which the guests had sat on back in the coronation were now gone and the rest of the cleanup would be concluded tomorrow. I’ve realised that’s just how it is here; you go from one event and before the day is even done, you’re preparing for the next! After finding a little room off to the side of the ballroom, I allow Macaulay to walk in before closing the door behind us offering us some privacy from wondering eyes.

“Thank you, ma’am, I did not want to interrupt your coronation but as I said, we needed to talk.” Macaulay says just getting right to the point, I send him a smile letting him know it was fine and, in all honesty, I wanted a reason to leave that party to have a break for a moment. “As we had discussed yesterday in that meeting with Wade, I have spent the entirety of today going through this huge list of Julia’s workers with Wade and learning who is who, so when the time comes, we can take them away effectively and safely. Not many names were sticking out to me, we knew about the officials, some maids, butlers, cooks even were on there, but I had to stop when I saw one name looking back at me which is giving me a little worry. He is closer to the King than we would have ever expected before.” He begins to explain where I knew right off the bat my suspicions from the party had been true.

“Guy Mullins?” Is all I say where his face was a complete picture.

This is why people tell you to trust your gut.