Page 10 of Branches of the Willow

“When we could not get a hold of Antoine or Malachi to confirm the rumors, we asked the pilot to take us to Paris instead.”

“And he just did it?”

“I am Queen, of course he did.”

“YouwereQueen,” I corrected. “No more though, unless you think you can offer challenge to Mikael, Evan, or me.”

“I would never challenge the boys,” she hissed at me.

“You would challenge me?” She took note of all the people standing around to witness if she screwed up and actually came out as challenging me. It would mean that we would have to physically fight to the death.

“No, of course not,” she adjusted her stance. I made a small sound in the back of my throat, sort of a hum of indifference. Then I chuckled.

“Look at that, we got off track again,” I taunted her. “How long did you stay in Paris?”

“Only a short time. The wolves there were,” she swallowed thickly, “not accommodating to our being in their space.”

“Imagine that,” I sighed. “Don’t make me have to keep pulling each piece of information from you like a child caught doing naughty things. What came next? Why did you think it was safe to return to Romania?”

“Quite frankly, I was tired of hiding. I figured we’d just get it over with. No one bothered us while we were there though.” She sighed as if she was put out by the fact that we hadn’t even considered them a threat of any kind.

“Malachi was there at some point?” I questioned.

Mikael came back into the house and stood there next to me with the phone in his hand. He had Evan on a video chat and held the phone so Evan could see Leanna as she answered.

Leanna took her time, watching Mikael, trying to figure out what he was up to. “Malachi showed up, and told us to gather our things, that he had a place for us to go.” She continued to fidget with her dress. “Annabelle was screaming at him, begging for answers. She accused him of ruining our lives by going along with his father.”

I was growing impatient with her slow storytelling. “And?”

“And I was packing while they yelled. I wanted nothing to do with Malachi’s plan to get away. That wasn’t why I was packing,” she was quick to add the last part. A little too quick, and a little pointed, considering she never took her eyes of Mikael and the phone in his hands. “I already had a plan to come back here.” She glanced between us beseechingly. “I couldn’t make Anna come with me though. For better or worse, she’s mated to Malachi.” Leanna huffed then. “When I told him that I wouldn’t be coming with him, he grew angry. Anna screaming at him continuously didn’t help matters, and finally he yelled that he was done with both of us and told Anna that he would find a way to break their bond.” With those words, the now calm Annabelle started up her simpering again. “It wasn’t long after Malachi left that a young wolf who worked in the house found us and helped us pack some things for our travels.”

“So, you packed, but I see there are only a couple bags sitting in the room. Where’s the rest of it?”

Leanna appeared to be confused for a moment. “What do you mean?”

“I mean you packed up most of the contents of an entire house. Where’s the rest of it?”

“We only grabbed some clothes and a few trinkets.” Her eyes were rounded in surprise that I might know more than I was letting on, and Annabelle began paying closer attention then too.

“Is that so?” I huffed, and then turned to look at Mikael. He knew what I was thinking. We’d already had confirmation from a wolf who said he helped them pack, that they weren’t packing light. “I will have zero mercy on you if you cannot be honest with me.”

“Jessica, we-”

Annabelle cut off whatever Leanna had been about to say. “We put it all in a storage facility. Leanna and I are left with nothing, considering what happened with our mates. The remaining boys were going to inherit everything, and we weren’t sure if we were going to have to keep running for our lives. Do you blame us for wanting a little security?”

I didn’t bother to answer. I just turned to Mikael and held my hand out for the phone. “Evan, Leanna is your blood. And I trust you know her best…” I looked over the phone at Mikael who nodded his approval and smiled. “What would you have us do with your mother?”

“Keep her there. Treat her well but keep her under guard.” Leanna flinched at her son’s words. Evan continued, “She’s my mother, but it was my father who caused all this chaos to begin with, so I’m not in the mood to take unnecessary chances. As for Annabelle, keep an even closer watch on her. She likes to play dramatic, just like her sister.” Annabelle shot him a reproachful glare, making her tear-stained face seem that much less genuine. “I don’t trust her at all. She’s Malachi’s mate through and through, whether he’s shunned her or not.” He scoffed into the phone, “And I don’t believe her anyway,” he added. “Mikael?”

“Yeah, Brother?”

“We need to talk as soon as you’re alone.” Evan looked beyond the camera again. “I’ve got to go for now. I’ll call later when we both have more privacy to speak freely.”

With that, Mikael hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket. I turned toward my father. “I’ll leave their arrangements to you. We haven’t learned everything from them yet. I can see that they are both holding plenty back. Can you try to find out what it is?”

“You know I will, Jess.” My father answered.

I turned to Annabelle for a moment and when I caught her eye, I made sure she didn’t attempt to look away. “I understand this has been an act. Your deception has been noted.” She attempted to say something, but I grinned and shushed her. “I forgot that I allowed the command to be somewhat lax earlier to test the two of you. Let me reiterate,” I told them both as I drew on the power of my wolf and the white wolves before me. “You are not to speak unless asked a direct question from Mikael, Jameson St. Marks, or myself. That rule will remain overnight. If you give anyone trouble, we can make it a power-infused, steadfast rule for the remainder of your stay, if you like? Just keep in mind that when that happens, I will make sure that you may only speak to three people. Period. That will mean no more conversations with Leanne either. You will effectively be a mute because those three people only want answers from you, not conversation.”

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