Chapter 45 An Informant
Valen strode into his study with Dorian following closely behind, his expression as sharp and unreadable as ever. Inside, Scottie sat perched on the edge of one of the armchairs, waiting for them. She stood as soon as they entered, her eyes scanning their faces for answers.
Scottie's eyes met Valen’s as he entered, but she said nothing. Instead, she glanced over at Dorian, silently urging him to speak.
The tension in the room was palpable as the door shut behind them. Valen walked over to his desk, running his fingers along the edge, the silence stretching thin.
"What did the council say?" Scottie finally asked, breaking the quiet.
“Nothing we didn’t already know,” Valen replied curtly, taking a seat behind his desk. His tone held an edge that silenced any further questioning. He turned his attention to Dorian. “Speak freely. I know you’ve been holding something back.”
Dorian hesitated, his shoulders stiffening. He glanced at Scottie before lowering his gaze to the floor, bowing slightly. “My Lord,” he began cautiously, “there’s more. The attack on the southern clan—it wasn’t random. Victor Kane was involved.”
The room went still.
Scottie’s breath hitched, her wide eyes darting between Valen and Dorian. “But how?” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “We thought he was dead.”
Valen’s expression remained impassive, but his fingers, which had been drumming idly on the desk, stilled. His eyes narrowed, dark and contemplative, though there was a flicker of something else—surprise, or perhaps inevitability.
“How were they able to infiltrate the southern clan so easily?” he finally asked, his voice calm but laced with steel.
“They attacked when the clan was at its weakest,” Dorian replied. “Unsuspecting, unprepared, it was the Queen's birthday party, everyone was relieved of their duties and asked to enjoy themselves. But the real question is, how did they know the exact moment to strike?”
Valen’s gaze shifted to the window, his sharp features illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the glass. The quiet that followed was suffocating.
“This is no coincidence,” he said finally, his tone low and measured. “This isn’t just an attack. It’s a warning. "I need every details about this attack, nothing should be left uncovered, we need to get to the root of this but while you are at that, fasten all securities, trust no one, the attack on southern clan is as if....”
"They had an inside informat” Scottie leaned forward, her face pale cutting out the last word Valen wanted to say.
“A warning?” she repeated. “You think someone helped them? From the inside?”
Valen’s silence spoke volumes.
Scottie shook her head as realization dawned. “An informant,” she murmured. “It has to be, that's the only logic explaination. But who could that be?”
“No one can be trusted,” Valen said, standing abruptly. “Fasten all security measures. Double-check the guards. I want every detail about this attack uncovered. Leave no stone unturned.”
“Yes, my Lord,” Dorian replied, bowing again.
Scottie tilted her head, watching her brother intently. “Where are you going?”
Valen turned toward the door without answering, his expression unreadable. “I have someone to check on,” he said simply before striding out of the room.
Scottie exchanged a knowing look with Dorian, her lips curved into a knowing smile. “Finally, something to distract and take him out of council affairs,” she murmured, her eyes lingering on his retreating figure.
Dorian let out a soft chuckle, stepping closer to her. “Surprising, isn’t it?” he said, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into his embrace. “But… when Morgana returns, it’s going to cause a problem. The elders will find out soon enough, and they won’t be pleased that his soulmate is a werewolf.”
Scottie tilted her head back to meet his eyes. "The elders respect him," she said quietly, but her voice held an undeniable strength. “They’ll find a way through it. I know they will.” She said resting her head against his chest, her voice quiet but firm.
Dorian’s fingers trailed along her back, his tone turning serious. “She’ll need to be ready. It won’t be easy for her.”
His words were a subtle warning, but they didn’t faze Scottie. Instead, she leaned into him, her body relaxing against his as the heat between them flared. “She’s stronger than you think,” Scottie replied, her voice dropping to a whisper.
Dorian tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. His eyes burned with intensity as his fingers brushed her cheek. “And you’re stronger than you give yourself credit for,” he murmured.
Scottie’s breath hitched, her pulse quickening as his lips descended on hers. The kiss was slow and deliberate at first, his hands cradling her face as though she were fragile. But the intensity quickly grew, and Scottie found herself clutching at his shirt, pulling him closer.
As his arms tightened around her, Dorian's lips brushed her neck, his warm breath sending a shiver down her spine. She gasped, her hands finding their way to his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath the fabric of his shirt. The air around them seemed to pulse with energy, their bodies attuned to each other in a way that made it impossible to ignore the tension building.
“Oh, I’ve missed you,” Dorian murmured against her lips, his voice thick with emotion. “So much.”
"You’ve been so busy," she whispered, her voice trembling as his lips moved along her skin. "But I understand your loyalty to my brother.”
The words were barely out of her mouth before Dorian’s lips found hers again, pulling her into a kiss that was deep and fierce. The moment their mouths met, it was as if the world around them faded away. The only thing that mattered was the fire burning between them. Dorian’s hands moved to her waist, pulling her closer, his touch hot and insistent.
Scottie’s breath hitched as she responded, her hands tangled in his hair, tugging him closer. The kiss deepened, the heat between them intensifying with every movement. Their bodies pressed together, the desire growing as they lost themselves in the moment. For a brief second, the rest of the world—Valen’s burdens, the threats lurking outside, and even the council—didn’t matter. Only Dorian’s warmth, his touch, and the heat of their kiss mattered.
Scottie gasped, her head falling back as her hands tightened around his shoulders. “Dorian…”
“You’re mine,” he whispered, his voice possessive but tender.
“And you’re mine,” she replied breathlessly, pulling his face back to hers. Their mouths met again in a searing kiss that left them both gasping for air.
When they finally broke the kiss, both of them were breathless, their hearts pounding in unison. Dorian pulled back just enough to rest his forehead against hers. “We need to get out of here,” he said, his voice filled with reluctant amusement. “You know Valen will kill us if we defile his study.”
Scottie laughed softly, the sound muffled against his shoulder. “You’re right,” she admitted, her cheeks flushed.
Dorian smirked, lifting her into his arms as though she weighed nothing. “Then let’s go before we give him another reason to be mad.”
Scottie wrapped her arms around his neck, a playful glint in her eyes. “Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see,” he replied, his tone teasing as he carried her out of the study, leaving behind only the faint scent of their mingled emotions in the air.