Chapter 35

Instantly, four golden guards marched towards Brooke and Hollie and roughly grabbed them by the arms before frogmarching them out of the shop and out of sight. Their loud, angry voices protested loudly as they were carted away which soon faded into the distance. Closing my eyes, I rubbed the bridge of my nose furiously while breathing deeply, trying to calm my thoughts and emotions and my even angrier wolf. Who would want to kidnap Elena? Did they know about the baby? Was Elena already badly hurt, or worse, dead? My thoughts flew back to the purple fog that Hattie had described. I knew what potion Hattie was describing as I had seen it being used so many times in my childhood. There was only one person that I’d ever witness making and using the potion but it couldn’t be? That person was no longer alive so who was using this type of potion now? Whoever it was surely going to lose their heads! I looked up and saw Reginald standing still, silently surveying me in pity. Seeing that I was now focused on him, Reginald bowed curtly before coughing gently.

“Do not worry about those girls, Your Highness,” Reginald announced stiffly. “I shall personally see that they are under lock and key and 24-hour guard. What would you like me to do with them, however?”

“Call for the Royal Executioner,” I ordered defiantly. “I want their heads on stakes by sunset and placed at the city gates as a warning!”

Reginald nodded once more and turned swiftly on his heel, taking the remainder of the golden guards except for two, with him. I breathed in deeply and turned to face Hattie, who was standing there with her arms folded across her chest, glaring at me angrily.

“What are you doing Kieran?” Hattie questioned slowly. “Those girls have done nothing wrong! You can’t execute innocent young girls. Don’t you think you and your brother have caused enough bloodshed around here?”

“When you address me, you shall refer to me as Your Highness,” I spat angrily. “Learn your place, you old beggar woman!”

“Beggar woman? Wow! That’s a new low even for you,” Hattie laughed gently. “I think you should take a seat. I have something you need to know so I suggest you listen hard and you listen well!”

“There’s nothing that you could say that would ever interest me,” I replied sarcastically. “As soon as my army gets here, the sooner I can find my Mate and be out of this dump that you call a shop.”

“Hmm, really? Well that’s a shame then isn’t it?” Hattie murmured sarcastically. “I guess that the fact of me knowing your mother isn’t important then?”

“What!? What did you just say?” I growled, spinning around and glaring at Hattie angrily. “What did you say about my mother?”

“Oh, now you’re interested?” Hattie smiled secretly. “I suggest you sit down as I said and I will explain.”

Biting my tongue, I followed Hattie’s outstretched hand and sat down in one of the squashy armchairs, as Hattie sat opposite me. Breathing slowly, Hattie looked at me and hummed softly as she began filling more mugs with tea.

“I knew your mother. Very well in fact. We were good friends,” Hattie began slowly. “We were that close, that I even babysat for you and your brother at times when you were really young. I even changed your nappies!”

“Yeah, I don’t need to know that,” I grimaced in embarrassment. “How were you, friends? You’re just an old woman. My mother was a queen! It doesn’t make sense!”

“I was training your mother in the art of potion-making and natural healing remedies,” explained Hattie. “And I became a close confidante of your mothers as a result. I knew what a shit your father was. Your mother told me everything.”

“Why would she want to learn about potions and natural remedies?” I replied, confused. “Didn’t she have enough to do with being queen?”

“Yes, she did. But her private tuition was a way of escaping Palace life and all of the evils that your father was committing,” admitted Hattie Slowly. “She wanted to learn how to be a healer. I’ve always said it from day one. Your father killed that poor woman.”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked sharply, narrowing my eyes at Hattie. “My mother killed herself because she couldn’t cope with the atrocities anymore. She threw herself off the South Tower! Are you saying my father pushed her?”

“Not at all, my dear,” Hattie went on quietly. “What I mean is that your father’s atrocities killed your mother. If he wasn’t such an evil shit and did what he did, your mother may well be alive today. She was like a sister to me. The day she left this earth, a piece of me went with her!”

Before I could say anything else, a loud commotion filled the shop and the quiet street outside. I stood up and turned around to see a sea of eager expectant faces staring back at me, with Reginald leading at the front. Recognising the men as members from my own Army, I quickly saluted in acknowledgement, only to be swiftly returned with the same salute. Turning back to Hattie, I smiled thankfully before making my way back out into the street to command my men. As I walked past rows upon rows of silent, armour cladded men, glinting brightly under the burning sun, I could feel their eyes burning onto the back of my neck. Reaching the front with Reginald I tuned around and eyed up the men beadily.

“Right me, thank you for coming,” I boomed loudly. “A young woman who goes by the name of Elena has gone missing. She has a special place in my heart and it is imperative I find her. More importantly alive! She is in a fragile state as current, which I will not elaborate on. I will ride on towards the coast and head on out towards the Palace of Pearl. I have a funny feeling that it is there Elena has been taken to!”

“Your Royal Highness,” murmured Reginald softly. “It’s just a thought but what if Elena isn’t there?”

“Then I will get my entire army to search this kingdom until we find her!” I urged, blinking back tears. “I know that we will find her. I can feel it. I refuse to believe the girl is dead!”

Breathing in deeply, I saluted once more and turned to my horse. It would have been quicker if I had just changed into my wolf form and ran to the Palace of Pearl but not everybody in my army was a werewolf. We were now living in a time where the werewolf race had taken over the human population and as a result, we now lived harmoniously with the remainder of the humans, now that they knew we weren’t a threat to them. Three-quarters of my army were shapeshifters which added to our strength while the remainder were loyal human men, who were as equally as strong as their wolf counterparts.

Silently, I pulled myself up into the saddle and felt the horse shift his weight underneath me. I could see Hattie watching the proceedings from the corner of my eye and I carried on ignoring her. Knowing that this woman had cared for me as a baby was strange enough. I didn’t want to hang about to find out anymore lost family secrets. Turning my head, I glanced over my ready and awaiting army and raised my arm into the air.

“Men! Forward march!” I yelled, marching towards the coast, not sure what it was that I’d find but hoping it was my Elena.