Chapter 17
Luca's POV
It had been over a week since the disaster in Rhodes and as I waited outside of the chambers of the revered council. I know I had fucked up, I just didn't know how much. When we arrived at the hotel room the Duke and Duchess were already gone, and to our surprise so was Phillip. Part of me had wondered if he was dead and the other part tried not to think about it. I felt the weight of Theo's strong hand on my shoulder and I know it was time to meet my fate. "Come in Theodore, the council is waiting," a melancholy voice calls from behind the door. Theo grabs my arm and shoves me through the door, making me growl. I had taken some injuries at the hotel when my pack tore it and apart. Stumbling into the room I feel the cold stares from all six council members, I had royally fucked up.
One of the counselors stood up and he was the only one that I had recognized, his name was Vladimir Ruskowski. He was well known as one of the silver spear's hardest generals and the great victor of the war in the north. He had been a part of this fight for the last 20 years and he would see it all the way through. "Today we arrre herrre to decide the fate of one: Luka Barrros. His crrrime is as follows. 1, Failing to assassinate and komplete his mission. 2, Killing humans that lived in the building. 3, Allowing his pact to shift in frrront of 10 orrr morrre humans and lastly abuse of his mate." His accent was thick and at times it was card to understand him... but his words today we crisp and clear as the rolled off his tongue. "What do you have to say forrr yourrrself Alpha?" he smiles his wicked grin sending shivers up my spine. "As for the charges against me I'll start with number one. By the time I had already arrived at the duke and duchess's room, they were gone. We tried to track them but their scent disappeared, like one minute they were there and the next they weren't. Secondly, we didn't know there were any humans left in the building after we had pulled the fire alarm. Thirdly, like I said I didn't think there were humans in the building. And As for my mate, she had no business in what I was doing... She stuck her nose in the wrong place so I put her in her place. I humbly beg the counselor's forgiveness for failing in my mission, emotions ran high for me that night and the couple simply got away by some other means. I suspect it was magic because their scent was so fresh when we first entered their room. "I felt Theo's shoulder nudge me and he whispers "shut up", but I knew what I was doing. One of the other counselors who looks to be a witch stood up "how dare you accuse the witches for your insolence!! This was not their mission and my witches would never undermine the silver spears!" she hissed.
"I know that counselor, I'm just saying somebody used magic and the room and we both know lycans are incapable of that. All I know is that one moment Duke is calling me telling me his guard is dead and less than two hours had completely vanished from his hotel. I have spies set up a Greenvine and no one has seen him or his little Duchess since. If the council would allow me, I would like to go to the mainland and search them, kill them if they are not already dead, and go after the king himself." looking around I see counselors speak among themselves.
"Please tell us exactly how you plan on doing that? If the Duke and Duchess kan slip out of yourrr hands so easily. What makes you think you kan kill the Lykan king?" Vladimir questions. I can tell by their faces they are skeptical but willing to listen.
"We have spent years trying to find a way to get to the King, he didn't even show to his own nephew's wedding and he is the closest thing he has to a son. He has become a recluse and avoids our forces no matter how well we do. Instead of sending an army to destroy him send me and my Beta to deliver the news of his favorite nephew's demise and I will finish him off then. With no son to take the kingdom, the lycans will fall into chaos, and taking them down will be that much easier." I kneel. "I pledged my life to the Silver Spears and I am willing to die for the cause.
I could hear the grumbles of the counselors as they discussed between themselves debating whether I should live or die. It wasn't long before they had reached a decision, my heart was racing knowing that I had done something very stupid, I had failed. If they had chosen to kill me for it at least I would be with Phillip. "We have made a decision", one of the other counselors said "we will allow you to travel to find the Duke and Duchess of Dashpointe, and upon there's assignation we're sending you to the palace to kill the king. Should you fail, you will be stripped of your title and lands, and you will be forced to suffer the death of your family, and the violent slaughter of your people before your own death."
Before I could even speak, Theo picks me up off the floor and escorts me out of the chamber. "What is the hell are you doing Luca? How stupid are you? You are willing to risk your family and pack to go on some suicide mission and for what? Glory? Gods are you stupid..." He shakes his head leading out the exit. I could tell his worry was less for me and that of my pack. His own pack was destroyed a few years back by the kings' forces and it left him mostly emotionless. He had lost his mate and their one-year-old pup. He was never the same and had devoted his life to the Silver Spears.
"I'll be fine and if not, I will be dead and will no longer care." I shrug, opening the door to my car. "You better be careful, for your mate's sake", he warns before I climb into the back of the car, "Even in death you can still be haunted" True words had never been spoken. Not feeling Phillip anymore, made me feel dead, at this point I almost longed for it, craved it. Going after the King was no problem anymore for me, I knew what I had to do and if I died, then so be it. I had lost the very thing that made me want to live and I was stuck with the choices I made.
When I arrived home, I find Iris and the children waiting for me. Their faces should have warmed my heart, should have made me happy to be alive but instead, I felt nothing. If they had just disappeared, I doubt I would have even noticed. The only thought that swirled in my head was Phillip. The next was how to find the Duke and Duchess.