Chapter 168

Chapter 168 Something in discussion

As I led Marco away from the busy corridor of the palace and left the attending guard’s side, a snarl rose from my belly.

“Silas is a complete and total a ss,” I cursed under my breath as my head began to pound with anger. My hands curled into fists at my side and an indescribable. sense of agitation swelled within me.

My spiteful brother hadn’t bothered to inform me that he was going to be leaving Anemond with Asher, and I couldn’t wrap my mind around his reasoning.

Why hadn’t he told me they were leaving?

had a*sumed my threats against his little mate would have stuck, rendering Silas obedient and compliant with my demands to watch my husband, however, it seemed my little brother had changed. He no longer heeded me as he had in the

past.

I cursed again. It seemed as if no one truly graced my company these days, nor did they wish to.

I realized that I hardly saw Margaret anymore. Kane Collins, ever the gallant play boy, had suddenly transformed into a devoted son. He rarely left his mother’s side, which left me with no opportunity to discuss serious matters with her.

For instance, that dreadful, terrible k*ss I’d witnessed between that d*rty, filthy healer and Asher…

To think a peasant’s l*ps had been pressed against my husband’s, far from the watching eyes of Merliscire. Now that his little mistress had moved away from the palace, the happy pair had every opportunity to k*ss and canoodle without anyone catching onto their game. To witness Asher’s infidelity had been heartbreaking and filled me a scorn unlike any other.

O

1/4

I’d wanted to tell Margaret right away so we could put our heads together and craft a scheme to finally send that wretched Cas s andra Keller away for good, but I couldn’t mention that vile woman’s name in front of Kane. And Margaret had once advised me against acting alone, so I was feeling beyond helpless just standing by and watching as Cas sandra k*ssed my man.

As I pictured them k*ssing in front of their shoddy clinic, my vision grew tinged with red, and I clenched my hand. A whimpering sound interrupted my thoughts, and when I looked down, I realized I’d unintentionally gripped Marco’s hand too

tightly.

“Mommy?” he whined quietly, and I quickly released my hold.

“Sorry, baby,” I apologized gently, and I leaned down and k*ssed the top of his dark curls. Normally, the smell of my son’s head comforted me like no other, but between Kane, Asher, and Silas, I was in no state to relax.

“Mommy, where did Daddy go?” Marco wondered as he froze in place. His sudden stop yanked at my arm and I was forced to come to a halt.

“I don’t know,” I huffed, and just as I was about to roll my eyes, I forced myself! to be kinder to my son. After all, it wasn’t his fault that he had an absent father who just disappeared without explaining himself. “You heard the guard, honey. Daddy had to go conduct some business with Uncle Silas-”

“But I want to see himmmm,” Marco extended his words into a whine, and he stomped his little foot on the ground as he frowned at me. “Why would he leave without telling us?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted shortly. “But he’ll be back soon. Come on, Marco, your grandmother is waiting for us. Perhaps she’ll have some new games to play with you.”

At the mention of playing, Marco nodded, and then we resumed our walk.

Taking Marco to the House of Moses was mostly for my mother’s benefit. Mother hadn’t seen Marco since the prince had begun school, and according to her, she missed him quite dearly. She’d sent a letter to the palace asking me to bring him

2/4

over this afternoon, and while I didn’t particularly want to see my parents with everything going on, dropping Marco off would only benefit me.

I needed some alone time to sort through my feelings and formulate a plan of attack. I couldn’t let Cas sandra Keller go unchecked, nor could I with Silas. Asher was different, as he was the Alpha King of Wegalla, and I had little to no jurisdiction. over his affairs. He could come and go as he pleased, as much as I hated that, but that didn’t mean I would let him disappear without getting to the bottom of his

whereabouts.

The walk was brisk, and within minutes, we arrived at the mansion’s front gate. But as we approached, I was suddenly taken aback and stopped in my tracks. Marco stopped beside me and craned his n*eck to see what was happening.

Kaleb, the handsome king of Yurene, stood on the porch with my father, sharing laughter as if they were the closest of friends. His golden-brown hair glinted in the afternoon sun, and even from my vantage, I could see a glimmer in his dark blue

eyes.

Why was he here?

A frown formed on my l*ps as I studied them. As of recently, Kaleb frequently visited the House of Moses. My father had even accompanied the foreign king around Anemond- an unusual occurrence for him, as he was never one for doing things personally like that. He preferred to keep guests of the palace at arm’s length.

Truth be told, I wasn’t fond of Kaleb. Though the man was incredibly handsome and tall, he paled in comparison to my Asher and seemed sly. Unease crept over me as I worried about my husband’s potential misunderstanding of Kaleb’s frequent visits. I wondered at once if Asher knew how often he was here. Perhaps that was why he’d sl*pped away without telling me a word, or even why he was so distant lately.

I

I led Marco through the gate, and as we approached, I glared at Kaleb when our eyes met.

“I’ll see you later, Oliver,” the king of Yurene said to my father, and then he

3/4

nodded at me. “Lady Adalyn. Good to see you.”

“You as well,” I replied, though my tone held little interest. He seemed indifferent to my unfriendliness, and as he pa*sed by, I rolled my eyes in his direction. I was relieved that the king of the North was leaving the day after tomorrow. It was fortunate that both the Beta and the Alpha would be away from Anemond when Kaleb left. He didn’t need any extra attention. Yurene was a small country that honestly didn’t seem worth all of this fuss.

Father didn’t wear his usual disapproving expression when he saw me. Usually, he ignored me, and when he didn’t, all he’d offer me was a nod upon my return from the palace, conveying his disappointment.

I knew he saw me as a disgrace to the family. My inability to capture the Alp King’s heart along with my awkward position in court fueled gossip. I was the king wife without a claim, which meant I was hardly anything in their eyes.

However, today seemed different.

Father twitched his l*ps and ruffled Marco’s curls before he straightened up and

met my gaze.

“Adalyn,” he said in a tone I couldn’t make sense of. “After you take Prince

Marco to your mother, come join me in my study. I have something I want to discuss with you.”