Page 39 of When Night Falls

"Well, not to make matters worse, but three more bodies showed up sometime between midnight and earlier this morning." Zharus stands from the couch and paces the floor between us.

"Valor Cove?" I question and he nods his head.

"Two Outsiders and one Nocturne,” he confirms. “I was there last night because . . . well, you know. And I overheard a commotion and that’s when I learned what was going on. Supposedly, they held a party last night and they believe that whoever is responsible took advantage of that time to act."

Great.So, while I was running around town after a flighty human, lusting over her smell and the darkness that exuded from her, someone was playing predator in our reluctant ally's compound.

"And who do they think it is this time?" I dare to ask, already aware of the answer I'll be given.

"I can't expect them to think it to be anyone but this kingdom, Rivian. We are uncrowned right now, no one truly holds the throne. Our Nocturnes could very well be acting out in light of that. The rumors I heard believe it to be the fact that our blood is weakening, and we've got a rogue."

Zharus shows great concern as he gives me all the information he possesses. My mind wanders to who could possibly be that idiotic as to disobey me and this kingdom. The only person I can think of is my dim-witted half-brother.

“Have you seen Travois?” I question, knowing that he spent a few moments at the masquerade to imprint his god complex onto my bride-to-be, but after that, his whereabouts have been unknown to me.

“I saw him yesterday, before I snuck out, arguing with his fiancé outside of the gazebo,” he tells me.

“What about?”

“I couldn't be sure. But I reckon it was due to the fact that he was about to head out somewhere and she was not allowed to leave, due to her lack of royal blood.”

Can I really picture Trav being the one to initiate this kind of chaos onto the Society? His impertinence is loud. I know he’s not happy I am next in line. But he can’t possibly stoop down to the levels of scoundrels to display that.

What good would that do for anyone?

But who else would rogue in our Society?

"The death of the Outsiders made their local news. The bodies were left in broad daylight and an investigation is being done.” The information Zhar provides me doesn’t help matters whatsoever. This is bad.

“I anticipate Viktrum pointing the finger this way. Besides, you know Viktrum and Xalden are friends, so his doubt in the Ruby Stone Society is nonexistent. And Gentry's Society is on a lockdown of their own after an Outsider escaped a feed without compulsion and blabbed his mouth to his friends. No one believed him, of course, but discipline was dished out to the Shallow Strix Society while the situation blows over."

The whole situation is actually a big mess.

“This can’t be good for the treaty, Rivian. If someone from this Society is responsible, that could lead to our entire kingdom being locked down or worse . . . demolished.”

My father started a war eleven years ago between Hollows Trace and Valor Cove to have his wife returned. She ran away for reasons unbeknownst to anyone within the kingdom and despite everyone’s best efforts to deny her presence, he was persistent in her return.

Eventually he did give up on looking for his wife, considering her trace went cold. Anyone with royal blood is traceable by another Royal and when she wasn't found, she was presumeddead. But not before he initiated war for nearly two years, killing everyone who got in his way. This was the very reason for theAffinitasTreaty.

"Well, I think we can both agree that the biggest concern is the idea of treason. And if what you're saying is true, and Viktrum suspects it to be one of our own, then I would assume he'd be on his way to visit soon. I'm surprised that he hasn't come looking for his cretin crony just yet, but the Faction will likely also be headed our way." I turn to face the window that looks out onto the compound and Cliff Island. I watch as the moon shifts behind the clouds and the water glistens in the light of it.

This is the last thing I need, more trials and tribulations. The only potential culprit who comes to mind is Travois and I hate knowing that one of my own could betray me like this. But if it’s not him, then who?

"I need you to keep your eyes and ears on Valor Cove and the Faction. I need to know who leaves the compound within the next few days in case more bodies arise. You should probably keep a distance too, Zharus. Vitkrum will either play this by the rules and allow the Faction to perform their investigation or he might plan to defend in war. Though that would be injudicious of him," I conclude, saying that last part more to myself than anything.

He’s been salty since the war my father raged and this might give him an out to retaliate after all this time.

“And what will you be doing in the meantime?” Normally, I’d ignore his request to know of my whereabouts, but I understand the need for trust to fall both ways.

“I am going to bring my fiancé home.”

Zharus starts to walk toward the door, nodding his acceptance of the task I gave him. But right as he’s about to leave the threshold of my office, a knock raps at the door.

I turn my attention toward the direction of a snotty voice.

"You called?" Birdania stands at the doorway in a flowy purple shirt and a pair of jeans. Her blonde hair is tied up into a messy bun and the smirk on her face is risible.

I nod at Zharus who turns to exit, lightly brushing shoulders with Birdania, who does nothing more than nod her head at him.

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