Chapter 122

Chapter 122 Need a new plan

As I waited for Anubis to meet me that night on the bridge above Selene’s Tear, anger swelled in my belly, stronger than it ever had before. I’d kept my feelings. submerged in the palace, but now that I was out in the city limits, things were different.

I expelled an angry sigh of disappointment and leaned heavily on the railing of the bridge. The sun was a mere sliver on the h o rizon and the sky was an incredibly deep blue. It was beautiful, and normally I would have appreciated the view much more, but tonight, I was in no mood to care.

Merliscire had been abuzz with preparations for the return of the Beta of the empire, and I had made it a point to keep myself scarce. My mood was too troubling and I thought it best to maintain distance so my armor would n ‘ t c rack, so to speak.

When Anubis finally appeared, he took note of my mood and the moment my guards allowed him pa*sage onto the bridge, he stared me down with fierce. intensity.

“What’s wrong, Kaleb?” he asked with a dark raised eyebrow. “You look.

irritated.”

“She rejected me,” I managed to say, though my words sounded more like at growl than a statement.

Much to my surprise, a laugh escaped his mouth.

“I don’t understand why you took such a soft approach to this,” he practically mocked me, his dark brown eyes crueler than usual. “You should have kidnapped the girl ages ago-”

“No,” I said as I shook my head. “Not again.”

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I had certainly tried but failed at that, hadn’t I?

Those fools in the market couldn’t do what I’d paid them to do, so I’d had to kill the useless pawns and pretend to be a hero in front of Cas sandra and her son that day outside of the pet store.

From that day on, I’d made it a point to try to earn her trust. Cas sandra wasn’t one you could just tell what to do. She was too strong-willed.

But Anubis was right. I’d failed. My proposal hadn’t been enticing enough to convince her to leave Anemond and come to the North.

“The Beta Silas’ returning ceremony is approaching,” Anubis shifted the subject. “I know you’re likely invited to an affair such as that.”

Though the mention of the Beta may have seemed random to anyone else, I knew what he meant. We had long heard about the Beta’s conflict with Asher’s old lover. And we also knew some other secrets of the old Beta, Silas’ father, Oliver

Moses.

“Perhaps you could make a deal with the new Beta,” Anubis continued. “Make an offer he can’t refuse. If he’s a member of the Moses family, he might be willing to work with you and share in our cause.”

Though Anubis was often full of meager plans and suggestions when it came to our business, this particular suggestion actually held some merit.

“I’ll consider it,” I said, and I actually meant it. Of course, I didn’t like Oliver Moses. The old man was far too crafty and greedy, and he couldn’t be trusted.

“There’s not much time,” Anubis spoke again as he stared out at the setting sur beyond us. “You know what will happen if we can’t find the talisman… or if Wegalla were to find out what’s going on.”

I nodded. “I know. I know the stakes, Anubis. Trust me.”

He nodded back. After he lingered for a moment in silence, he turned around and quickly left. Once he was off the bridge, he disappeared into the night and left

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me alone with my thoughts once again.

I stayed there for a little while and took it all into consideration. I stared down at the lake beneath me. I remembered the story of Wegalla that used to be quite famous, even up in Yurene- the love story between the former king and his true Luna, Selene.

Even in the North, we had heard all about how much the two had loved one another. Their relationship was one of myth. They were fated mates with a bond like no other. Asher’s father had apparently loved his mother more than anyone in the history of the Wegallan monarchy. They were legendary partners.

But despite everything I’d ever heard, their story seemed to be built on lies. I had heard that the King had married his wife’s maid not long after her death.

If they had been such devoted partners, why had he taken another woman to be his wife so quickly? Had he even taken enough time to mourn her loss? Or had Asher’s stepmother been waiting in the wings to swoop in and steal the king of Wegalla the moment he was a widower?

I scoffed at the thought and shook my head.

Wegalla was good at telling lies.

Their great empire seemed to be built on them.

I remained in the park for a while longer, and then my guards escorted me back through the markets of Anemond. All around me, people rushed to and fro, flitting from one shop to another like hummingbirds to a field of flowers. The music of street musicians filled my ears, and for a moment, I found myself smiling.

I took a bit to admire the fountain in the town square and the way the strings. lights hung across the street poles and tw inkled in the night air.

Per the usual, I made sure to smile at everyone I made eye contact with. It was important that I played the role of the gentle foreigner well. No one could suspect that I had ulterior motives for being here, not even some lowly street peasants.

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So, I smiled and waved. I even stopped at a cart and purchased some street food from a little cart for my guards and me. Much to my surprise, it was quite delicious.

As toxic and troubled as Wegalla was, there was a great deal of culture and art, as well as food and music. Part of me felt regretful about the things to come, but the other part knew that my plan existed for a reason, and I had to trust in it completely.

Once we left the market, I made my way to Cas sandra’s clinic. As it was nearly midnight, the clinic was already closed, but I took a moment to admire the plac was larger than I expected, two stories, and painted a nice, cr eamy ivory that practically glowed in the dark.

The lawn was well-manicured, and the landscaping was something to be admired. Rose bushes were planted out front, and the path leading to the front door was paved with reddish-brown stones.

In front of the building was a sign that read “Keller’s”.

A smirk formed on my l*ps as I studied it.

Kellers.

Clearly, Cas sandra still thought of her late husband tondly, if she was using his name for her clinic.

There was no way I could be wrong. The thing Emmett had left must be with Cas sandra, whether she knew it or not. She was the only one who’d been close to Emmett, the only one he would have trusted.

I had to take her back to Yurene. I just had to.

I

ok another long, deep breath.

The air of Wegalla smelled sweet.

But soon, it wouldn’t be Wegalla anymore.

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