Ava woke up feeling refreshed. Her body felt light and for some reason, she felt like all the exhaustion that had been building up inside her was now gone.
She stretched and got up then stopped midway when she recalled what happened before she had slept.
She recalled talking to Matthew and feeling really exhausted. Examining the room, she quickly realized that Matthew wasn’t there. But for some reason, she could feel someone else— something else.
It was as if someone was watching her.
She used her magick and soon realized that no one else was there.
Was she hallucinating?
The sudden coldness that enveloped her made her shiver. Again, she looked around and didn’t notice anything. However, she was almost a hundred percent sure that someone was watching her.
She took a quick bath and changed her clothes and walked out of the room. Looking at the time, Ava realized that she had actually slept for more than twelve hours. Something that never happened unless she was absorbing something like a grimoire.
"How have you been?" Baba’s voice on the other side of the mirror seemed bland. Ava chose to call her today just to check up on her brother.
"It’s all good."
"I heard something happened there."
Baba must have heard it from her spies.
"Yes."
"And?"
"I wasn’t... Well, I have to hear about the details. I was not exactly aware of what happened."
Baba pursed her lips. Now that Ava took a clear look at the woman, she quickly noticed something. Baba looked tired!
She never looked tired before!
The woman always looked pristine. Not a strand of her hair on her face. She was always wearing different dresses and some makeup that almost always made her look intimidating.
"Are you alright?" Ava asked.
"Yes."
"And Phil?"
"We have been trying to make some potion that might help him. It was the old man’s idea."
"And?"
"I have spent nights trying to perfect it."
"I assume, it wasn’t working out?"
"The formula that the old man gave me wasn’t exactly... right."
"Are you going to answer me if I ask you about it?"
"No." Baba let out a yawn. "I am not in the mood to tell you about a spell that I am been trying to do for days."
"Oh..." Right... Baba must have been frustrated. Perhaps, the woman wasn’t really that used to failing things?
"How is Matthew?"
"I always thought you didn’t want to know."
"I know he is alive."
"Well, he is safe... more than safe," Ava uttered. "But I only called because of Phil."
Baba gave her an unimpressed look. The fact that Ava didn’t want to explain anything must have really upset her. But Ava wasn’t planning on budging.
Moreover, she really didn’t have anything else to tell Baba.
After a few more minutes of talking about Phil and Baby Gabi, Ava ended the call and then left the room, looking for Matthew.
On her way out, Mara already told her that Matthew was doing some meetings with Jude and Samuel. Mara also told her that the others like the members of the keepers and other shifters already left.
"You are here... How do you feel?" the first one who asked was Jude. He tried to approach her but stopped walking then looked at Matthew who was still sitting in his seat.
Ava immediately noticed that this place was Matthew’s office— a new office.
"I’m alright. Thanks." Ava looked at Jude and then towards Samuel and Matthew. "I’m surprised that you haven’t left yet."
"How could we leave without knowing if you are safe and— "
"They are still here because of the werewolves." Matthew interrupted Jude. He got up, approached Ava, and held her hand. Then he slowly guided her towards the seat just across from Jude and Samuel.
After this, Matthew went back to his seat. He had a beautiful smile on his face.
"What about the werewolves?" Ava asked.
"Right... you didn’t know what happen. Let me tell you— "
"No need. I will do it." Again Matthew interrupted Jude. He was smiling but his words were already enough to change the atmosphere inside the room. Of course, Matthew ignored it and started telling Ava what happened during the duel and the rest. He emphasized the involvement of the Werewolves and the fact that someone is trying to use this opportunity to sever the relationship that they wanted to have with the other supernatural.
"This world has supernaturals that hate each other," Matthew added. "That only made it easier for them to use someone useful."
"Also... this..." Matthew handed Ava a file. "The rogues... Just like how Keepers wanted to create Hybrids to make stronger humans. Werewolves have been experimenting on other wolves too."
"You think the rogues are stronger because they experimented on them?"
"Why not?" Matthew gave Ava a meaningful look— a look that tells her not to mention anything about the shadows. Obviously, this made Ava conclude that the person behind it all could be someone from the shadows too.
The people from the shadows wanted a stronger body that could withstand their souls. It was only logical for them to try and enhance the bodies of different supernaturals too.
"Now, because the supernaturals in this world tend to love killing each other, the people behind this easily infiltrated some groups and performed experiments without the knowledge of the other supernaturals. At first, we would think this is a separate problem. But once you knew their motive, you will understand that they are using the same experiments." Matthew said.
"So..."
"So, I proposed that we work with Trillium and slowly find ways to work together with the other supernaturals."
"You wanted to work with trillium?" Ava frowned.
"Well, more like he wanted us to do the dirty work," Jude said. "Like his... employees or something."
"What can I say? I am not the King or someone destined to be one. I am but a prince who has no power, no influence. You cannot really blame me, can you?"
Matthew’s words only made Ava’s face darker. Now, she knew that wasn’t true. But wait...
"What did you say?"
"Hm?"
"You just said you are not... did the King already give the crown to Drigo?" Ava asked, confused. How could that man give the crown to Drigo?
"Yes. Coronation will be in six days." Samuel nodded. "The King’s decision was pretty sudden but we will be staying until then to witness the crowning of the new King."
Ava immediately turned her gaze towards the smiling Matthew. On the outside, Matthew looked agreeable and cordial. But this only made Ava more suspicious. Why was this man smiling so much?
An ominous feeling arouse from her stomach.
"I thought they needed to kill their siblings— "
"The King made some changes with the law. He did it even without the votes of the nobles. From now on, they are not allowed to kill their siblings and— "
"The King just did that?" Ava interrupted Jude, her gaze once again landed on Matthew. Just what is going on here?
"I thought that tradition had lasted for hundreds of years?" Ava asked as she realized that this was Matthew’s work. Matthew just controlled the King! And maybe even Drigo.
But what about the Queen?
And the nobles?
As if sensing her thoughts, Jude answered, "The nobles are already here. They have been here since they heard the news about the new King. They have been trying to protest."
"So, they wanted Matthew to become the King?" Ava asked.
"Majority wanted Matthew and many of them had been asking why the King would crown another man who isn’t as strong as Matthew when Matthew is still alive and well. This has created some problems as many of them didn’t want to back down." Jude answered.
"They wanted an explanation," Jude said.
Ava felt like she would have a huge headache soon.
Matthew was actually a very efficient schemer. First, he controlled the King and most probably Ulva. Then he must have done something to make Drigo agree. He then made the King declare Drigo as the new King and then he went straight into his office, watching all the chaos happening in front of him.
He was watching as both Drigo and the King received all the complaints and were forced to deal with them. In short, Matthew wanted those two men to do all the dirty work for him!
Matthew was just enjoying the show!
But can Ava really blame him?
Matthew never wanted to become a King.
Drigo wanted to be the King so Matthew graciously gave it to him!
Still, Ava couldn’t help but wonder what kind of deal he made with Drigo. Why would Drigo agree to face all the stress and chaos?
"Most importantly, I am very much curious about the Queen’s move." Jude suddenly said.
"What do you mean?"
"She already sent two assassins to try and kill Matthew and two maids to try and hurt you," Samuel said. "Luckily, his highness Matthew had guards that are experts in stealth and assassinations."
Ava looked at Matthew. The latter had a smug smile on his face as he looked back and... winked at her.
What the fuck? Ava felt goosebumps all over her body.
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