When Matthew introduced Ava to ’his’ men, Ava knew that those people weren’t exactly his main force. Munoz, the man that she put on comatose was very disrespectful along with the others.
Later, Matthew told her that those people were actually assigned by the King to ’keep Matthew safe. In short, they are spies. They are there to remind Matthew that the King is watching him.
She had long suspected that Matthew had his own people. One of which should be Marko. However, she didn’t bother asking him. If he wanted to tell her then he would.
She knew that this would happen soon.
The two of them arrived at the house and then they teleported towards the secret underground base.
After a few seconds, Ava arrived inside Baba’s study.
Aside from Ava and Baba, there were seven other people inside the room. All of them were sitting at a rectangular table.
Ava’s eyes met Marko’s and the latter nodded before turning his head towards Baba. Surprisingly, Simon the butler wasn’t here. Ava honestly thought that Simon can be trusted as he showed loyalty and even a bit of worshippy behavior towards Matthew.
"As you know, we cannot just trust anyone," Baba said. "Since Matthew was a child, people had been sending assassins to kill him. Inside that place, trust is a luxury."
Ava nodded at that. She already heard a lot of Matthew’s past experiences in the past. From poisoned food to enchanted bugs that carried poison to curses. The people inside that place had been trying to kill Matthew since he was born!
Cruel?
Not really.
This is considered acceptable practice. As you know, Wolves have their Alphas. Usually, Alphas are always the strongest of their pack. And to determine who is the strongest, the Lycans offend do things to establish their strength. This was the reason why some of Matthew’s brothers and sisters didn’t even make it past their fifth birthday.
Some of them die the moment they learn how to walk.
Some died of mysterious causes while some died because of alleged assassination that was only done to achieve their political goals.
"Raphael, the head of the left knights." Baba pointed at a handsome blond man with gray orbs. He was as tall or maybe even taller than Matthew. But this didn’t surprise Ava. What surprised her was the fact that he is actually the head of the Left Knights.
There are two types of Knights in the Kingdom. They are called the Right Knights and the Left Knights— or the King’s Right and Left hands. They are made of especially strong Lycans that could crush another shifter with their bare hands.
Ava examined the man’s biceps that were hidden under his sky blue shirt.
The man’s arm could be as big as Ava’s leg! Does that make sense?
"Cindy Torez, a witch who used to work for me. Right now, she’s a well-known healer inside the Kingdom." Baba pointed at the man with short cropped hair that looked like she accidentally cut her hair with a sword. Her large eyebags and pale appearance reminded Ava of when she was brewing potions and refused to go out until she finish her potion.
She would never forget how exhausted she was at that time.
"Mara, a maid. She will be the maid that will work for you. She is the queen’s spy and she will be reporting your actions to Queen Luna. And she is an excellent cook. " Baba pointed at the woman with a freckled face and a ponytail. She looked too simple, she almost had no presence whatsoever.
An assassin!
Ava smiled, impressed at the woman’s skill.
"Joni and Joan. Twins. Knights. Lycans." Baba pointed at the bald and another blond. Not identical. The two were like water and fire. Joni, the blond was tall and slender while Joan the bald was muscular and a bit shorter than Joni. It was so weird.
"And Elen." Baba gestured at the last man. Just like the other four Lycans, Elen was tall and intimidating. "A guard. They will become your eyes and ears inside the Kingdom. They will help you with information."
"Only six people?" Ava asked.
"They are the only ones that you need," Baba smiled and Ava immediately understood that she was still hiding people from her. But again, Ava didn’t ask any more questions.
To be honest, she also understood Baba’s perspective. Baba had treated Matthew like her very own son. She practically raised him alone. Right now, Ava was treating Baba as a strict mother-in-law.
"I believe you are scheduled to leave, tomorrow?" Baba asked.
"Yes."
"Ulva will be taking you to Scotland. She’s a cunning one."
"I know." Ava nodded as she made her way to the only vacant chair on the table.
"So... what was the plan?" Raphael, the head knight asked.
"What plan?" Ava countered.
"I thought— I thought this is because of the upcoming coronation? Didn’t we come here to stop that from happening?" Raphael immediately turned toward Baba.
"Stop it?" Ava sneered. "Why would we?"
"What— What do you mean?"
"We are letting them crown Prince Drigo." Ava declared. Almost immediately, a thick silence blanketed the room. Everyone stared at her, waiting for her to explain her words. But she didn’t. Instead, she just gave them a mysterious smile.
The thing is.... They sent assassins to eliminate Matthew because they wanted the crown. The same crown that Matthew didn’t want to wear.
So, Ava was going to give them what they want. Then she is going to take it all away.
Isn’t that cruel?
It is.
But so is trying to kill a five-year-old Matthew on his fifth birthday.
"But this... once Prince Drigo becomes the official crown prince, he would surely instruct his people to hunt Matthew and the rest of his siblings. It would be survival of the fittest."
"And?" Ava looked at Joni.
"Well... if that happens...."
"We will be in the front seat, watching everything unfold. Isn’t that entertaining?" Ava beamed at him.
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