{"Your blood sings to me, a siren's call I cannot resist. I crave you, body and soul."}
FREY'S POV
Reminiscing how his blood tasted so sweet that the thoughts kept me awake at night as sleep eluded me and all I could do was toss and turn. The weight of the day's events had settled on my chest, making it hard to even think clearly. After a long shower, I could not shake the unease, so I decided to step out into the cool night air. Hiding in plain sight, I walked under the moonlit sky, letting the silence soothe me. The chill of the breeze cut through the thick thoughts in my mind, and for a moment, I could feel the tension in my muscles start to loosen.
I did not know how long I had been out there, lost in the peace of the night, but it was not until the faint light of dawn began to break that I reluctantly turned back. Heading home, I let the quiet solitude of the walk ground me, and as I finally laid down in bed, the exhaustion from the sleepless night pulled me under, and I drifted off into a deep sleep.
When I woke, it was already late afternoon. The warm blood warmed my body as I fed and then headed out to visit Ma. I needed her counsel—especially about the Bay shifter Lycan. There were too many unanswered questions, and I needed clarity. But as I made my way out, the sense of being watched crept over me. Before I could even take more than a few steps, the unmistakable sound of footsteps surrounded me.
Paradise Coven Royal guards. I stopped in my tracks, eyes narrowing as I saw them closing in. Cassius Marcel, the Deputy Leader of the Paradise Coven, and Harold Tio, an Enforcer for the same Coven, emerged from the group. The disdain in their eyes was unmistakable.
Cassius spoke first, his voice smooth but laced with an unspoken threat. "Lord Marcel has summoned you to the Paradise Council Hall."
I did not even flinch, though a flicker of irritation stirred inside me. "I'm in a hurry," I responded, my tone flat, "I'll join him later."
The minute I finished speaking, more guards appeared, flanking me from all sides.
Tio's smirk was dripping with arrogance. "No one in Paradise Bay has the right to disobey Lord Marcel," he said, his voice chilling. "And anyone who does is asking for a quick death."
My beast rumbled inside me, a low growl vibrating through my chest. I could feel the power radiating off me in waves, an invisible force that made the guards take a step back. It felt like the very air around us was charged.
I took a slow breath, forcing my beast back into the depths of my mind. With deliberate calmness, I replied, "I hate being forced, and none of you are a match for me, not even you, Cassius. Not even you, Tio. I do not mind giving you a bloodbath."
I let my words hang in the air, letting them sink in as my gaze flicked to the surrounding guards, then back to Cassius and Tio. From the corner of my eye, I saw movement, and then my sister Qadira appeared, walking toward me with a calmness that did not reach her eyes. Her gaze was pleading, and it was at that moment, I realized what was happening. She was not here of her own will—she had been threatened. My anger flared for a moment, but I pushed it down, knowing that Qadira's safety mattered more than anything.
I looked at her, the weight of our shared history passing between us. "I'll go," I said, the calmness in my voice a sharp contrast to the fury boiling beneath the surface.
Qadira's eyes softened, and though she did not speak, her relief was palpable. Without another word, we turned, walking side by side through the streets. The guards kept their distance, Cassius and Tio trailing behind us like vultures, their eyes never leaving my back. The journey to the Paradise Coven Council Hall felt like it took hours, though it was only a few minutes. My senses were sharp, and my every step measured as we made our way toward the inevitable confrontation waiting for us.
When we arrived at the Paradise Coven Council hall, it was packed with members—more than I had anticipated. The usual stoic air that filled the chamber was thick with an unspoken tension. I stepped into the room, my gaze flicking over the council members who were present.
Idris Marcel, the General of the Paradise Coven, sat at the front with his arms crossed, his stern expression unchanging. Nessa Leora and Aurora Jade stood near the far side of the room, their eyes sharp with silent judgment. Desmond Marcel, Lord Marcel's brother, leaned against the wall, watching everything with calculated disinterest. Byron Marcel, Lord Marcel's uncle, seemed deep in thought, his gaze distant but alert. Elder Dante, the most seasoned member, sat in the center, his posture as regal as ever.
As I entered, my eyes narrowed at the sight of them all gathered. This was not a casual meeting; something was off. Why had they all been summoned?
Cassius, Tio, and Qadira all bowed at Lord Marcel's feet, their faces masks of submission. I remained rigid, standing tall and defiant, my eyes scanning the room. The tension was thick, and I could not suppress the feeling that this was more than just a simple council session.
Lord Marcel's gaze flicked to me, and for a moment, anger flashed in his eyes. The room seemed to tense with the surge of his power, but just as quickly, the emotion was gone. He sat back in his chair and cleared his throat.
"I did not summon you, Freyr," he began, his tone smooth, though there was an edge to it. "I asked my guards to bring you to the Paradise Coven council. Now that you are here, we can discuss the mission I entrusted you with."
I could not help the smirk that tugged at my lips as I crossed my arms over my chest, unconcerned. "Over twenty guards came after me. They dragged my sister Qadira along for the ride," I replied, letting the sarcasm dripping from my voice.
Lord Marcel stood, his chuckle echoing through the room. "I meant no offense. But, I wanted to check in on your progress. I trust you have completed the mission I assigned to you?"
I stared at him for a moment, calculating. How could I answer his question without showing the disdain I felt? I did not need to complete the mission if his guards were trailing my every move. How could I do anything in secrecy with their eyes on me?
"How could I complete a mission when your royal guards followed me to Hanka Island?" I asked my voice level but carrying an underlying bite. "I can't work under those circumstances, Lord Marcel."
There was a brief pause in the room, the other council members watching the exchange with a mix of curiosity and impatience. Lord Marcel's expression hardened, his jaw tightening for a moment before he regained his composure.
" Brother, I told you that he was useless," Desmond Marcel said.
I turned to him and my voice was laced with a cold aura as I asked him " What the fuck did you say?
The tension in the room thickened as I stood there, my words hanging heavily in the air. Lord Marcel's expression flickered between irritation and deep contemplation, and I could feel the intensity of the moment settle over the entire council hall. The silence stretched for a long beat before Cassius, ever the loyal servant, spoke up.
"How come the guards who visited Hanka Island did not find you, but there was a scent of a Shifter wolf?" Cassius' voice was calm, but his eyes held an edge of curiosity—and suspicion.
I could not help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. "A shifter wolf, you say?" I asked, raising an eyebrow and fixing my gaze on Lord Marcel. "Well, Lord Marcel, your precious guards are not as skilled as you think. If there had been a Shifter Wolf on Hanka Island, I would have already found it. I am not blind to the scent of my mind."
I paused for a moment, my eyes narrowing as I glanced at the others in the room. They were all watching me, but I focused on Lord Marcel as I continued, my voice steady but filled with the weight of my words. "The guards picked up the scent from the East side of the island, the direction that leads to the Bay Shifter pack. They are getting closer to the truth, but if they keep poking around like this, they will blow the whole damn mission."
I could see Lord Marcel's jaw tighten, the flicker of frustration flashing in his eyes. Lord Marcel's voice, low and measured, finally broke the silence. "Do you think I don't know the dangers of sending guards to Hanka Island?" His eyes flashed with annoyance, but there was also something deeper—something I could not quite decipher, hidden beneath the layers of his anger. "If I had had my way, I would not have sent them at all. But the situation is delicate, and I needed to know if you were still on task, Freyr."
I did not flinch at his words, but I could feel the tension between us growing. It was as if he was trying to regain control of the situation, but I was not going to make it easy for him.
"I don't need protection, Lord Marcel," I said, the words coming out more clipped than I intended. "You sent me to gather intel on the Bay Shifter pack, but you are sending your guards to track my every move. You are asking me to do a job, and at the same time, you are making it harder for me to get it done. I am not a toy that you can play around with"