Chapter 164

[ 1,048 words ]

Arabella:

While we ate in the garden, Maya’s eyes followed the jumbo hamburger the chef placed in front of me.

“You’re drooling,” I teased before picking it up and taking a huge bite.

“His Highness is spoiling you to bits.” She said, filling her plate with the pasta. I only nodded with my mouth full.

Lucien had arranged a private chef for me the very next morning after I told him about the poison. Apparently, the man had trained at one of the best culinary schools in the kingdom and had spent years working at a luxury hotel before Lucien brought him here. Now his only job was to prepare my meals according to what I liked.

I wasn’t complaining. The man knew exactly what he was doing in the kitchen.

Maya leaned forward and twirled some pasta around her fork. “I tried getting into your new kitchen today.” I stopped chewing and looked at her.

“What?” She shrugged. “I was curious. But the security there is insane. They wouldn’t even let me near the door.”

“That’s because you have no business sneaking into my kitchen.”

“I wasn’t sneaking.” She took another bite of her pasta. “Anyway, I’m glad they’re being careful. If someone really was putting something in your food, they won’t get another chance now.” She pointed her fork at me. “I’m sure you’ll get your wolf back soon.”

“I hope so,” I murmured.

What I didn’t tell her was that things had already started changing. My wolf’s emotions had started reaching me inside my head.

Lucien had almost pleaded with me not to tell anyone about this new development yet. Not even Maya or Toby. Of course, I had argued with him.

Maya and Toby were my friends, and I couldn’t hide things from them. He told me I didn’t have to tell him anything either. He just wanted me to keep this one thing to myself until we found out who was behind the poisoning.

A few minutes later, Toby appeared in the garden.

“Where have you been?” I called out when I spotted him. “Come have lunch with us.”

“I already ate.” He pulled out the empty chair beside me and dropped into it.

I reached over and shoved his shoulder. “Then where have you been all this time? With some girl?”

Toby gave me an odd look before glancing at Maya, and Maya looked back at him. I was too busy finishing the last few bites of my burger to pay much attention to either of them.

Once I was done, I wiped my hands and got to my feet, picking up the notebook I had brought with me. “I’m going to meet Lucien. I need to visit my pack today.”

Maya’s expression changed immediately. She straightened in her chair, but I lifted a hand before she could say anything. “Don’t worry. I won’t be going alone. Bradley will accompany me.”

She still didn’t look convinced, but at least she didn’t argue.

***

As usual, I stopped outside Lucien’s office and quickly fixed my hair before looking at the guards with a friendly smile.

And as usual, neither of them asked what I wanted. They simply gestured for me to go inside. One of these days, I was going to ask them why they had completely stopped doing their jobs whenever I showed up.

This time, however, I didn’t walk straight in like I did last time. I opened the door just enough to peek inside first.

Thank Goddess I did.

Lucien was sitting with Bradley and the head of palace security, and judging by their faces, they were in the middle of a serious discussion. I immediately started pulling my head back.

Too late.

Lucien’s eyes landed on me, and his entire face seemed to brighten. He pushed his chair back and got to his feet. “Arabella. Come inside.”

I quickly shook my head. “No, I’ll come back in a few minutes. You carry on.”

“Nothing here is more important than you.” He said, coming over and taking my hand. My eyes widened. For Goddess’ sake.

I gave him a look that clearly told him to keep his mouth shut, especially with two other people sitting right there. The man completely ignored my silent plea.

In fact, his grin only widened as he turned toward them. “Gentlemen, we can continue this meeting later. Whenever Arabella decides to leave.”

I stared at him from the doorway. Bradley glanced between us before closing the file in front of him. The security head followed his lead and began gathering the papers scattered across the table.

“You really don’t have to leave,” I told them, but neither of them listened.

Within a minute, they had collected their things and headed for the door. Bradley gave me a small nod on his way out, while the security head simply wished Lucien a good day.

When the door closed behind them, I turned to Lucien with a frown. “That looked like an important meeting. You didn’t have to send everyone away just because I showed up.”

“They can come back later.” He didn’t seem bothered in the slightest as he took my hand and led me toward his desk.

I shook my head but went with him. There was no point arguing when he had already made up his mind.

Still holding my hand, instead of taking his own seat, he pulled the chair out and gestured for me to sit. I looked from the chair to him. “That’s your seat, Lucien.”

“I know.” He leaned against the edge of the desk beside me, waiting for me to tell him why I had come.

I sat down anyway, placing my notebook on the desk. “I need to go to Blackthorn today,” I told him.

The smile disappeared from his face. “Why?” The look on his face told me immediately that he didn’t like that idea.

“There are a few things I need to take care of. I need to question Victor.” I opened my notebook and glanced at what I had written earlier. “And before you say no, I’ve already asked Bradley to come with me.”

He pursed his lips and leaned over me, placing both hands on the arms of the chair. “Call him here, Arabella.”

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