<b>Ulterior </b><b>Motive </b>


    Das‘ p.o.v.


    Charna is chuckling in my head as Darius takes off at full speed, she is going to enjoy this race and will do anything to win from


    her Mate.


    We follow Darius into the forest and see him speeding past the orange post. Charna is speeding up a little and we can hear Darius getting further down the wrong path.


    “Can we hide from Darius in some way?” I ask Charna. Our bond will make it easier for him to know where we are and when he figures out that we are ahead of him, Camus will give chase.


    “Of course we can. There is a reason no one could ever find us.” Charna replies and for a split second, I feel a little funny, but it’s gone just as fast as it came. I remember feeling this whenever we yed hide and seek with the Squad and that I was always thest toe forward.


    Usually, after being called toe out, because they couldn’t find the and I always assumed it had something to do with being good at hiding. Not that I amining about it, but it feels strange not to be able to feel Darius‘ emotions at the moment.


    “You can’t feel them, because I have blocked them. A perk of being a Royal.” Charna states and I am d that Charna and I trust one anotherpletely.


    Depending on which form we are in, the other functions as an extra set of eyes and ears. Not every Shifter gets taught how to do this, but the Elders made sure it was a part of our training program. It was really strange at first and it took us a few tries to get the hang of it.


    We also trained ourselves at moving in stealth mode, as Charna calls it. Charna keeps an eye out for th the forest floor for anything that could give away our position, in case I were to step on it.


    Charna chuckles when we see the training ground at the end of the path and my Squad keeps quiet a line. Aunt Eliza gestures to everyone else to keep quiet and I run into Daxton’s waiting arms.


    range posts and I watch


    rge from the <b>ree </b>


    “Why can’t Cyran sense you?” Daxton asks and I exin what Charna has been doing. He smiles as he pune to the ground and makes me sit in hisp.


    “Seems like you discovered a perk of being a Royal.” Aunt Eliza says. “There are a few more, but this one is beneficial. Especially if your Mate ever pisses you off.”


    Uncle Vaughn gives her a pout, indicating that she has used it on him more than once.


    “You said that there are other perks to being a Royal. Can you borate on it a little more?” Darius asks. I turn to face Aunt Eliza, when we hear Camus roar in pain and Darius is softlyughing in my neck. 2


    “I think that someone made a wrong decision. Sounds like Darius hurt himself and my arm tells me that he has wounded his arm.” Darius says before he grabs his head. “And his head from what <b>I </b>am feeling.” 1


    “Das, where the fuck are you? Camus and <b>I </b>can’t sense you anymore.” I hear Darius calling out through our mind–link, but I refuse to answer him. “Das, answer me.”


    It takes a few more minutes for Darius to get out of the forest and the second Charna stops hiding us from him, I feel the confusion through our bond.


    I smile at him as I try to figure out how to answer his question, not that <b>I </b>would try to hide the truth from him. Daxton already knows how I did it and Darius deserves to know as well.


    The kiss he gives me leaves me breathless and it is clear that he is happy to sense me again, Charna has retreated to the back of my head, probably to have a conversation with her Mates. It won’t take long for Camus to tell Darius how I managed to hide from them, which will probably piss him off.


    “Princess, is Camus telling me the truth?” Darius asks after he <b>has </b>broken the kiss to look into my eyes. <b>“</b>Never mind, I can see in your eyes that it is true. Damn, that is <b>an </b>awesome trick. Not if you use it on me, though.”


    Ufterior Motive


    Giggling, I hide my face in his chest. I can understand his remark, Because I doubt that I would appreciate it if he were to do that to me. Hell, Charna would give him a ruthless ass whooping and then some.


    “Oh, that is not funny.” I hear both my Mates mumble at the same time, and for a moment, I wonder what they are talking about. Of course, that Lycan of mine has told her Mates, why am I not surprised?


    “I wasn’t being funny. I realized how Charna and I would react if you did that to use and I am not far off with that ass whooping.” I respond. Aunt Eliza tries to keep a straight face, but the second Charna pushes forward, she startsughing.


    A few minutester, we head back to the Pce for lunch and then meeting with the Elders in regard to Elder Jeff’s attitude toward the Servants. On the walk back to the Pce, I ask Aunt Eliza why Elder Jeff is in charge of the Servants.


    It strikes me as a bit odd because the Servants serve the Royal family and no one, outside the Royal family, is allowed in the private wing. Yet another thing I need to look into when ites to the Elders<b>, </b><b>it </b>gives me and Charna an unsettling feeling,


    “It has always been that way. Elder Jeff’s family has always been responsible for the Servants that work in our private wing, even if Vaughn and I don’t always agree with the Servants they hire or their interference with how to run the household.” Aunt Eliza responds.


    “I need the two of you to think about something. What would Elder Jeff or his family gain by being in charge of the Servants in our private wing?” I ask my Mates through our mind–link.


    Together, we might be able toe up with an answer, because something tells me that Elder Jeff’s family had an ulterior motive.