King Bailey POV
"It's difficult to keep the elders under surveillance without alerting them to that fact" Thomas's voice was grave as he spoke, all of us gathered in a small group, in a clearing in the forest, Riley listening closely, her head cocked to the side. "But I agree, Jaxon is walking around like he knows something we don't" he added with a frown.
"If I get asked one more question about my parentage, my DNA, or about Riley I might lose it" Damien warned, his voice brooking no arguments "I don't like being looked at as though I'm something they would like to view under a microscope" he added with a glower "It's creepy as fuck."
"We're having difficulty staying out of Jaxon's way" Cody broke out with a grimace "Every time we come across him on the grounds he stares at us, like he's challenging us to say something or do something to provoke him into attacking. Either that or he's warning us that he hasn't forgiven us for running from his pack."
"Stay away for now" I advised them both stiffly "Even with the elder's protection one wrong move and Jaxon ends up back in that dungeon regardless of their objections" I added with a low growl.
"Damien, I want you to stay away from them" Riley's voice was soft as she studied her brother "I don't want them using you as a way to get to me and I don't want you put in danger" she added quietly.
"What are they going to do?" Damien scoffed while Thomas flattened his lips and I fought to control my temper "They so much as lay a finger on you or me, I will wreak hell on them" he threatened sounding cocky.
"It's exactly that type of threat that has them declaring us dangerous," Riley said with gritted teeth while I slowly exhaled "and they could be capable of anything. Right now I don't trust them and neither should any of you. Give them a wide berth," she said quietly "pretend to be compliant, be polite" she continued "they have no business staying here much longer but they aren't showing an inclination to leave either. I don't like it."
"Bailey, what do you want us to do?" Thomas asked "I can keep out of sight but it's a little suspicious if the Beta isn't made available."
"You're right," I said slowly "Maybe it would be better if you were overly helpful to the elders. You might overhear something useful" I added as Thomas's eyes began to gleam "especially if you can convince them you think I'm overreacting to their judgments."
Thomas smirked "I've always wanted to betray you in the worst possible way" he teased "Now I get the chance to throw you to the lions."
"Don't enjoy yourself too much" I advised rolling my eyes as he chuckled.
"Marigold is going to assist us" Riley added, examining her nails "She's agreed to trail them. One of them leaves every night at the same time and comes back but nobody says where he's been. She's going to find out for us."
"That sounds dangerous Riley," I told her frowning "What if she's caught? She should take another person with her" I added as the boys began to nod in agreement.
"That increases the risk of being caught" she argued shaking her head "It's far safer if only Marigold goes. Besides we have enough trouble as it is getting around unseen" she hissed "They aren't watching Marigold as closely as the rest of us because they don't consider her as much of a threat."
"Fine" I scowled "but she could be going on a fool's errand," I said, watching Riley clench her jaw.
"I have a feeling that it's important she goes."
"Riley it's imperative that you hold onto your temper" my eyes fixed on hers "Don't give them a reason to place you in the dungeon or hold you for disrespecting them."
"They are not my elders" she snarled "nor do they have any right to detain me. I do not recognize their laws" she continued as I tried not to flinch "and I certainly will not bow down to what they want."
"Riley" I hissed, "keep your voice down. I agree with you on some things, but right now the last thing we need is to divide packs who are loyal to them. If we start a war, we had better be prepared for the casualties bound to follow."
Riley opened her mouth to begin arguing again when we heard the sounds of shouting in the distance, clearly distressed.
"Something's wrong," I said with a frown, "Thomas, Damien, Cody, Callum, go back to your posts" I instructed stiffly, grabbing Riley's hand and dragging her out of the forest with me as the men swiftly disappeared.
More shouting. I hurried my step, sniffing the air. There was no smell of rotten meat, or eggs, indicating that there were no rogues nearby. This puzzled me. A scream had me run onto the grounds, just in time to see Marigold launch herself physically at an elder while he remained impassive, two other elders rushing to his aid.
"Where is she?" she screamed as Riley and I headed towards her "What have you done with her you bastards? I know it was you" she sobbed.
"Marigold, what's going on?" I heard Riley ask her as Marigold whirled around, her eyes blazing.
I looked at the elders whose faces were expressionless.
"Tiana" Marigold choked out "She's gone, Riley. I thought she was playing with the other children but nobody has seen her for at least the last hour or so," she said, before shooting daggers at the elders "They must have taken her" she accused, pointing at them, her finger trembling "I should never have left her alone" she broke down.
Shit. The elders drew themselves upright, looking affronted. "I take offense to that accusation," one said, looking down his nose "We are not monsters who kidnap children" he exclaimed.
"No just the monsters who let other monsters out of prison" she shot back, water beginning to swirl around her.
"Riley, stop her before she proves to the elders what a danger she is" I murmured beneath my breath while inching closer "Marigold where's the last place you saw her?" I asked urgently "Right now it's a priority that we find Tiana."
"Over there, with those children" she pointed "I left to go do something and before I knew it I had been gone for too long. I came back and there was no sign of her," she said angrily "and they all deny that they had anything to do with it."
"She's probably done something foolish like run away" an elder muttered "We shall help you look for her if that will appease your suspicious mind" he added darkly.
"Riley, start a search party with the other sirens. Tiana is more likely to come out if she's nearby if she hears a familiar voice" I told her as she nodded and dragged Marigold away "I'll see if I can sniff out her scent and get the men to start searching. She couldn't have gone far. Maybe she went into the forest in search of us" I added grimly.
It was the only explanation I could think of.
I mind-linked the others and had them searching the perimeters within minutes. Pack members volunteered to search the house, the grounds, and the nearby properties while I had my best trackers on the ground, seeking out her scent. I shifted, heading into the forest, but her scent was gone. It vanished from the grounds promptly, further raising my suspicions. Tiana wasn't the type to do something so foolish. Yes, she was a child but she wasn't naive to the dangers that going into the forest or being out here alone could happen. I pawed the ground in frustration, refusing to give up. I snorted, continuing to head further in, only to reach the boundary line. I bowed my head, scanning the neutral territory but there was nothing. It was as though Tiana had vanished into thin air. I gave a growl, heading back to the grounds and shifting to human form, Riley and Marigold waiting anxiously, Marigold pacing back and forth.
"Nothing," I told them regretfully as Marigold's eyes shimmered with tears "None of my trackers were able to pick up her scent. I'll have them search neutral territory for her."
"You think she made it that far?" Riley's voice was skeptical as she studied me.
I didn't blame her for sounding so disbelieving. It was hard to believe that Tiana would have made it past our patrol without somebody spotting her.
I shot her a look warning her to keep quiet on the matter "It's the only option we have."
She tightened her lips "It's the only option you're willing to consider right now" she corrected, leading Marigold away, while I stared at the back of her in exasperation.
I knew she blamed the elders. I suspected them too. But without proof, there wasn't much I could do. I couldn't come right out and just accuse them like Marigold had done. I needed cold hard proof that they had done it. I looked up and saw Jaxon observing me with a wry grin on his face. My hands itched as I fought the urge to go over and confront the bastard, knowing that I was dangerously close to turning violent in the mood I was in. All I could think about was Tiana and what she must be experiencing right now. I closed my eyes tightly and took a deep breath before exhaling and storming towards the pack house. I had a sense that Riley was up to something, but she was hugging Marigold when I approached her and there was a strange expression on both women's faces before they changed as they saw me. Whatever they had discussed, they weren't about to divulge it to me. Maybe my mate was having trouble trusting me. The notion hurt more than I liked to admit, even as I told myself that right now I couldn't blame her.