Page 2 of Frederick
“I don’t need to. I’ve spent time with all of them. Their aura’s are too pure to be involved in what they’re being set up for.”
I had to agree. I sighed. This was going to be a headache, I could already tell. “Where would you like me to start?” I asked.
“Whatever you need to do, do it. I just want the security of my coven back. I do not like feeling as if I might be housing thoseinvolved in trafficking. I want the assurance that I can let my child run freely through the coven. I want to know my pregnant One isn’t under threat of being taken for obvious reasons. I need to know for certain they truly are who they say they are. My coven members all depend on me for their safety.”
I nodded. I understood that completely. He was coven master, and was responsible for everyone here. He needed to know if there was a threat among them or not.
“Very well. Is there any particular way in which you wish for us to go about this? Discreet? Just outright ask?” I glanced around the room. “None of this makes sense. You are a coven full of warlocks. They are only two that are to be questioned. What is the concern really?”
“I like them personally. I do not wish to make them uncomfortable if they are innocent as they seem to be happy here. But I cannot have them here if they are guilty of what this new information says.”
I nodded. I looked at Dante who shrugged. “I’m just doing what I’ve been told to do. I’m the muscle here for extra security. I don’t know what’s going on any more than you do.”
“Very well. We’ll set it up as if I have additional questions from the council. Evan will be here with me, since he’s so new to the council. The others, I’ll send out around the manor and they can be here simply for extra security for the moment.” The meeting with Master Edison had pretty much given this scenario as the cover while Salvatore and his team dug through not only the laptop but the new businesses and their workings.
“You can use my office for the interviews,” Balthazar said. “I’ll have Fenwick show the others around.” He glanced at the watch on his wrist. “This time of day the majority of them are most likely at the dining hall eating lunch.”
Immediately I looked at Evan, who seemed to always be hungry. It wasn’t unusual for a paranormal to have a largeappetite. But Evan seemed to take it a step further with the amount of food he could eat. I shook my head when his eyebrows rose. We had just had breakfast not long ago. We were here to work, not join the coven and have lunch.
“You are all welcome to join them in the dining hall,” Master Arthur said. “In fact, that might be a great way for you to meet our newest members.”
I shook my head and rolled my eyes at Evan’s enthusiasm. I had no idea where he put all of that food. He was tall and slender, about the same height and size as I was. But he could easily eat double what I did in any meal, and then be hungry again in an hour.
“Is everything all right?” Master Arthur asked.
Immediately I glanced back at him. “Of course. We’ll go to the dining hall and see if we can’t mingle our way into some answers.” I much preferred to just ask our questions, and then be on our way. I was more than ready to get things over with and get back to the council so we could move forward with the other assignments. I didn’t mind the rotation to and from Italy. In fact, I rather enjoyed it. It put me a bit closer to home, and even I could admit that I was feeling somewhat homesick lately. Like Sebastian, I was close to my brothers. It had been a big change for me to not be near them every day. Sure, I could pop in and visit, but it wasn’t the same.
I was beginning to think I was just moping because not only had Sebastian found his One, but so had Caspian. That was to of my cousins. Younger cousins at that. Both had found their Ones, and although Caspian hadn’t given birth yet, he was mated and happily pregnant. I wanted that.
Well, maybe not the being pregnant part. I would carry my children if I happened to be chosen for that roll, but I was hoping that I would be gifted a sweet omega for my One. Someone that I could absolutely dote on and spoil. And spoil I would. I alreadyhad plans on how I would romance my One. All the things I would do for him every chance I had.
“Are you all right?” Balthazar asked, pulling me from my thoughts.
I sighed. “As much as I’m going to be. I am feeling a bit wistful lately. First Benjamin, then Sebastian, and now Caspian have found their Ones. And my next older brother Emmet has been mated for close to a decade now. I’m incredibly happy for all of them, but I cannot help but feel a bit melancholy about it. I know that not everyone finds their perfect other half, but I’ll admit that I’m being selfish and hope that I am one that is gifted someone to spend the rest of my life with.” We were immortal now. The thought of living the rest of my days without a meaningful connection to someone was depressing.
Balthazar nodded slowly. “I understand. I did not think I would find my One either. Then suddenly Grant was here. His mother was and still is a nightmare, but it’s better with her and John in Florida. They visit a few times a year, but everyone was in agreement that coven life simply wasn’t for her.”
I nodded slowly, not really understanding what he was really talking about other than his in-laws not living in the close vicinity. I sighed, thinking about my own parents. They were in Europe, Spain specifically at the moment.
“Here’s the dining hall,” Balthazar said as we approached a set of double doors. I’d been to the coven before, but the others on my team hadn’t. “It smells as if Grantham has gone all out for lunch today.” Balthazar looked at me and smiled. “I do love it when he puts out a barbeque spread.”
I nodded, because I didn’t know what else to do. We had a similar set up at the council, but I had found there were certain days that I didn’t enjoy the theme of the food. Barbeque was one of them. I sighed, but entered with the others in hope of there being something, anything that I would enjoy eating.Immediately upon entering the dining hall, I felt off. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was, but something was different.
“There’s Dominic,” Balthazar said. I followed the direction he’d indicated and noticed the man immediately. It wasn’t that he stood out drastically. But he certainly…well, stood out among the others he was with.
“He’s one on the list,” I said absently.
“Yes. Perhaps you could join their table and ask him some questions while you eat.”
I glanced around, looking for my team and realized they were all in line to get food. “Perhaps,” I replied. “Barbeque isn’t necessarily one of my favorite cuisines, but maybe I can find something that interests my stomach.”
Balthazar gave me a look. “I’ll introduce you, and then you can decide what you’re going to do about everything. Just between us two, I agree with you though. I’m not sure why all of the secrecy, or the need for this.”
My shoulders dropped a bit as I finally relaxed. Dominic had looked our way, and although he was still across the room, I could tell his eyes were chocolate brown and they hadn’t pulled away from me since they’d met mine.
I managed to look away, something that I didn’t exactly pick up on right away. I had started to respond to Balthazar when I realized that I was acting strange and off. It caused me to pause for a moment, and even Balthazar seemed to pick up on it.
“Are you all right?”
