Third Person’s POV


    “Do you think she’s telling the truth?” Lance asked.


    Ulrik thought back on the conversation and sighed.


    “Honestly? I have no idea. She’s too sharp–it’s hard to tell when she’s ying you.”


    目


    <b>+5 </b>Free Coins


    Lance shot him a look, finally understanding why Lycan Erasmus wanted to put him to work.


    Ulrik was a simple–minded wolf, and in this world, that usually meant he was the most loyal.


    “Was it a female Lycan or just a maid?” Lance double–checked.


    There were only three female Lycans in the delegation, which made for a short list. But if it was a maid, they’d be looking for a needle in a haystack.


    “She said a female Lycan, but…” Ulrik trailed off, hesitating.


    “But what? Spit it out!” Lance snapped.


    Ulrik took a deep breath.


    “I’m just not sure it makes sense for a female Lycan to do this. They owe their entire careers to Helia’s support. Turning on her doesn’t get them anything.”


    Lance stood up to leave. “Fair point. Thanks for the tip.”


    Ulrik watched him walk away, his expression a mess of conflicting emotions.


    Back at the ckthorn packhouse, Lance filled everyone in. Klein had Caldwell pull the files on the three female Lycans to see if they could find a crack in their stories.


    Meanwhile, at the Western Delegation’s Hotel, Paisley had put away a bit too much honey wine and needed a bathroom break. Adide walked her.


    A guard found a maid from the delegation who spoke the Northern tongue to show them the


    way.


    As they passed the delegation’s meeting room, the sound of a heated argument leaked through the cracked door.


    <b>71 </b>


    s


    Adide caught a glimpse inside—almost every heavy hitter from the Western team was there. A few female Lycans were seated at the table, some looking grim and others looking t- out pissed. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.


    Since they were speaking the Western dialect, Adide couldn’t follow the specifics, but she kept hearing two words: “Dangerous” and “Very dangerous.”


    She slowed down to eavesdrop, but the maid hurried them along.


    Adide and Paisley traded a look. Something was up.


    This didn’t look like a strategy meeting for the negotiations–Princess Helia wasn’t even there. Even weirder, there was a wolf dressed like a medicine man in the room.


    Adide decided to test the waters.


    She asked the maid, “Is Princess Helia feeling any better? If she’s still under the weather, we have a world–ss healer in the city named Digby…”


    The maid’s eyes lit up instantly. “Oh Moon! You mean Dr. Digby? He’s actually here?”


    That was all Adide needed to know Helia’s condition was serious.


    “He is. Should I have hime by to check on her?”


    The maid suddenly got defensive and shook her head. “No, no. Princess Helia took her medicine. She’s fine.”


    “You sure about that?”


    Adide pressed.


    “Positive. The bathroom is just ahead. Go on.” The maid was practically shoving them now.


    Adide sent Paisley inside and stayed behind to keep digging.


    “Are you one of Helia’s personal maids? If you need any special herbs, let me know. Believe me, I want her back on her feet more than anyone.”


    The maid gave a stiff, guarded nod.


    Adide kept it casual, like they were just chatting.


    <i>“</i><i>By </i>the


    way,


    what’s


    your name? Have you been with Helia long?”


    :..


    <b>71 </b>


    “I’m Eva. I’ve been looking after Princess Helia for twelve years.”


    Eva looked like a ball of nerves. Adide leaned in.


    “Is Helia asleep? You seem like you’re in a huge rush to get back.”


    Eva hesitated, checking the hallway to make sure no one was listening.


    “Can you… can you really get Dr. Digby?”


    Adide didn’t sugarcoat it.


    “Eva, give it to me straight. Is Helia in trouble? Is this life or death?”


    She added softly, “You know I’m thest person who would ever want to hurt her.”


    Eva’s eyes welled up,


    and she looked like she was about to lose it.


    s


    “Oh Moon Goddess… I shouldn’t be telling you this, but Princess Helia is unconscious. Our healers think it’s a brain tumor. It’s bad. They’re inside right now fighting over whether <i>to </i>even ask your people for help.”


    Insided the ckthorn war room, Caldwell spread the files of the three female Lycans out on the table: Sybil Rhodes, Thalia Sutton, and Celeste Guzman.


    “These are Helia’s inner circle. Sybil Rhodes is the highest–ranking and her right hand. Then there’s Celeste Guzman–daughter of the Alpha of the Wastnd Riders; Pierce’s mate is actually her aunt. Finally, Thalia Sutton; she’s amoner but graduated at the top of her ss and handles the heavy lifting on policy. They’ve all been with Helia since the Late King Jason was in charge. On paper, they’re as loyal as theye.”


    Lance scanned the files, his eyes stopping on Sybil Rhodes.


    “She’s Helia’s most trusted person,” Caldwell noted. “It’s probably not her.”


    “It says here she spent two years as an assistant to the Crown Prince?” Lance looked up.


    Caldwell nodded. “Yeah, Helia sent her there to learn the ropes of the military… oh.” His eyes went wide as the realization hit him. “It’s her!”


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    <strong>Olivia Harris</strong> is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.