Chapter 42
Nikolas's POV.
"He's supposedly from the Ocean Dawn pack. What if he's one of the survivors?" Amira's response was quick, her fingers neatly folding a napkin as she turned her focus entirely on me. It was moments like this that made it difficult for me to hold my ground. Though I had played the role of an insensitive jerk in the past, I didn't want her to feel stifled or controlled. Yet, I needed to lay out the facts for her to understand.
"But there were no survivors," I reminded her, my tone gentle yet firm.
"Let's invite him to dinner and find out more about him, please," she persisted, her determination unyielding. It was a familiar dance we were performing, and I knew I was about to give in, even if it came back to haunt me later.
"Fine, I'll do some digging to find him. We'll have him over for dinner," I conceded, releasing a defeated sigh as I reached for my wallet to settle the bill.
"Thank you, Nikolas. You're the best," Amira leaned over, placing a soft kiss on my cheek. It was gestures like this that nearly made me forget about the enigmatic Ace Caddell and the uncertainty he brought with him.
***
Tracking down Ace wasn't a simple task. I enlisted the help of my contacts and ensured my team performed a thorough background check on him. Wrapping up my day at the office, I was ready to head home when the door swung open, and my assistant entered.
"Sorry to bother you, King Nikolas, but I have some updates," my assistant's voice was respectful, breaking my train of thought.
“Of course, go ahead,” I nodded along and looked at her.
"Sir, I've made contact with Ace, and he's genuinely excited about the dinner invitation. The household staff has been informed, and they've outdone themselves in preparing a lavish spread for the occasion," my assistant reported, a shy smile gracing her lips as she shared the news.
"Any updates from the tech team?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued.
"They're due here in five minutes," she informed me, and with a nod of gratitude, I dismissed her. Those five minutes crawled by before the tech team finally arrived.
As they settled in, they shared their findings with me, which, unfortunately, were far from satisfying.
"What do you mean you couldn't uncover much?" I groaned in frustration, my fingers raking through my hair as I directed my gaze at Garett, my top investigator and the digital sleuth who was leading this assignment. He had a knack for unearthing hidden information and a penchant for solving complex puzzles. It was his unique skills and insatiable curiosity that had earned him this coveted role.
"Ace Caddell appears to have left a faint digital trail. The only concrete information we managed to locate was from three decades ago—a certain Ace Caddell born to parents named Marie and Brandon, both linked to the Ocean Dawn pack. However, there's nothing else, no trace of him or his family before or after the tragic incident. It's as if he only existed in name," Garett explained, a hint of frustration mirroring my own. He relished these challenges, and this situation had clearly perplexed even him.
"So, he truly descents from the Ocean Dawn pack..." My brows furrowed, contemplation marring my expression. It was hard to believe that someone had managed to escape the devastating fate that had befallen the pack. If Ace was a genuine survivor, there might be others out there, hidden away from the aftermath. The thought was both astonishing and unsettling.
"Correct. But it's as if he vanished into thin air all his life until now," Garett continued, a mix of curiosity and uncertainty in his voice. It was a peculiar case, and even as I wanted to believe in Ace's authenticity, a lingering doubt held me back. There was something about this situation that didn't add up, something that set off warning bells in my mind.
I wanted to trust Ace, to believe that he carried no ill intentions, especially considering how much his presence meant to Amira. Yet, I couldn't fully shake off the feeling that we needed to exercise caution. This dinner might just be the opportunity I needed to keep a close watch on Ace, to unravel the enigma he presented before he posed a threat that couldn't be ignored.
***
I rushed back home, the anticipation of the impending dinner palpable in the air. In an attempt to buy some time, Amira chose to get ready in her old room while I prepared in ours. A quick shower revitalized me, and I opted for a simple yet elegant grey suit. After fixing my hair, I made my way to Amira's door, my intention to knock was halted by the door swinging open before me. And there she stood, a vision of regal beauty, my queen. She wore a flowing red dress that cascaded down to the floor, with a neckline that struck a balance between respectful and mildly flirty, indicating that this was to be an evening of getting acquainted. She looked breathtaking, and a pang of possessiveness surged within me—an unwelcome side effect of the lingering tensions from the war, worsened by the presence of one Ace Caddell.
"You look absolutely stunning, my love," Amira beamed, her hands gently smoothing the lapels of my suit as she leaned in to capture my lips with hers. The world seemed to fade away as I pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. A low hum of satisfaction escaped me as I tasted her sweetness, my hand sliding sensually up and down her back.
The kiss eventually broke, and as we gazed into each other's eyes, the realization struck us both that we had missed each other profoundly. The previous night had been a mere appetizer after nearly a week of relentless work and responsibilities. We were seconds away from retreating to her room once again when a maiden's timid voice cut through the moment.
"I-I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, but Mr Caddell has arrived," she announced, a bashful blush tinting her cheeks.
"We could reschedule," I murmured to Amira, a desire to keep her all to myself bubbling up. However, she playfully pulled away and shot me a mock glare.
"My king, I promise to be completely yours after this dinner, alright?" Amira's warm hand slipped into mine, her lips pressing a tender kiss to the back of my hand.
Her words reassured me, and I squeezed her hand gently before releasing it. With a final lingering look, we both knew that the night was just beginning. I stepped back to give her space to lead the way. As we made our way downstairs, I couldn't shake off the feeling that this dinner held far more significance than it seemed. Ace Caddell's arrival wasn’t to be missed.