Page 3 of Queen of Wrath

Agent Rowan Lexie was the one I saw the most out of everyone. She would often come over to check up on me, and, of course, to make sure the mission was still going as planned.

But I also knew to some level that she cared about me.

She was a good person and a good agent… She also gave me a lot to think about.

I turned my head from her without a word, letting her know I was done talking about this.

“Back to the task at hand.” Rowan swiftly changed the subject as she walked over to my bed to sit down on. “Have you heard? They arrested a dozen more people yesterday on illegal potion charges. Apparently, the use of Etern Moss is forbidden now, too. It’s like they want every Potionist to end up in prison.”

This wasn’t anything new. The rules kept fluctuating for some reason, more than they ever had in the past, and people were being arrested before they even knew they’d done anything wrong.

One day a potion mix was legal and completely acceptable, whereas the next you’d get thrown into Ryklira for having anything to do with it.

A nervous shudder ran down my spine just thinking of going back to that place.

But, as one of Jax’s “most qualified” employees now, this was the sort of thing I was expected to stay up to date on.

“Okay.” I picked myself up from the floor and padded over to the window. I pushed the curtain aside with flare, as if I couldn’t wait to let the whole room be flooded with iridescent morning light.

From the second-floor window of my room, I could see how the streets were already bustling.

Children laughed and played, while merchants tried to draw people’s attention to their wares and produce.

They weren't anything like the merchants back in Dask. These were distinguished people who dressed in finery, and only sold to those they wanted to represent their brand.

This place still seems so foreign to me… And I suppose it always will.

I found myself longing for my poor little village. It had none of the opulence and convenience this city offered, but it had always been home to me. Now, I couldn’t even say that anymore.

Just before I turned away from the window to get dressed, I noticed a man in a long burgundy cloak swiftly moving through the crowd below.

He walked with a purpose and didn't greet anyone as he went by. Other than that, his clothing appeared somewhat older and largely out of style—not to mention, his cloak appeared as if it had been burnt on the ends. At first, I thought it was mud, but the frayed edges told another story.

Strange.

Theskin wasn’t exactly the kind of city that often had unkempt-looking people traversing its streets.

Then his sharp gaze darted up to me for a moment, as if he could sense my thoughts.

My breath hitched in my throat as I stood there watching him.

His deep brown eyes undressed me, smirking as he dropped his head once more and disappeared from view.

Don’t I know him?

2

JAX

“Damn it all!” Jax growled, the words ripping out of his chest as he pushed against his desk.

His eyes quickly flickered down to his hands, making sure he didn’t just shift. Even after all these years, he still found it too easy to slip into his werewolf form.

The damage he’d done to himself working for his Uncle Diesel…

Chika, his wife, stood in front of him, trying not to look frightened. Her eyes wandered elsewhere as she gulped down the lump in her throat.

Jax could feel her uneasiness from several feet away. He’d been so absorbed in his work and the stress of his failing business, that he hadn’t even noticed Chika walking into his office.

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