Eric had gone against my will and decided go with us. Which meant we left Kalim with the rest of the soldiers in the village. Maybe it was for the best, he was surely a great fighter. But Frej was pissed and he told me that Mathew would punish him for disobeying my order when he found out about it. He wouldn't tell me how but I was sure there were teeth and claws involved.

The positive outcome was the fact that me and Angela could ride on our companions' backs and we traveled fast through the many fields of Gera until we ended up to the west of Uxbrid.

"We need to enter the capitol and work our way to the old brothel without being seen."

"The brothel?" Frej chuckled. "Did you visit much?"

"He did," Angela purred, "and the pay was always generous." Receiving shocked stares from the lycans. I had trouble knowing if it was her old line of work that was the most shocking to them, or the fact that I had paid her. I decided not to explain myself. We had better things to do. But just as I thought the conversation was over Angela continued, "Our king had quite the appetite. He used to hire four girls at the time."

"Will you stop it Angie!"

"What?! It's the truth!"

"Yes... but you're implying that I slept with you all."

"Well.. you did. Like a baby snuggled up at your mothers bosom."

I rolled my eyes at her and sighed. "I spent time there to trick people to think I enjoyed the touch of women. But we mostly read books and played games," I explained as we sneaked our way towards the city border and got a few thoughtful glances from the lycans, but they kept their thoughts to themselves.

The city looked very much the same, except the people had fled the streets and kept out of sight. Even the beggars. The whole place felt empty and abandoned. The only sign of life was the hammering sounds from the docks, echoing through the city.

"We should take a look."

I couldn't believe Eric. "That's insane, and not part of our plan!"

"But I need to see what's going on! My people are down there!"

"And your brother is locked up in a dungeon! We can't be seen, it would ruin everything!"

I heard the desperation in my voice and I instantly noticed how his wolf shunned me for it. Was it a sign of weakness? Probably. I mustered all my strength and summoned my inner king, trying to find a more commanding tone. "Eric Rillon, we are here on a mission and I order you to follow the plan. My plan. Not whatever new plan you thought out at this moment."

The brother chuckled, then bowed his head. "Of course Lord King."

I sighed at his bad acting but insisted we kept moving. "I am thankful that you led the pack in my husband's absence, and even after I arrived. I was in no condition to lead back then." Eric spared me a glance but didn't respond. "I am not my father."

"You say that, but I am not easily convinced."

"All I ask for is the opportunity to prove myself to you."

Frej huffed beside me, "you don't need to prove shit. You were chosen by Alpha. That is enough. Eric needs a good spanking to be reminded of our ways and get some manners."

We continued our walk through the city. It was easy enough to travel through the city unnoticed. There were few patroles and everywhere we went it seemed even the houses were abandoned. "They all left?" but where?"

"I don't know," Angela sighed and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Maybe they all fled before the fleet arrives."

"But where?"

"Maybe they're all dead."

I stopped and stared at Eric. What the hell was his problem? "If you weren't his brother I would have you take his place in that fucking dungeon, and throw away the damned key! You fucking piece of shit!" He met my outburst with a coldness that made my skin crawl and the smile on his face made it even worse.

"Not now!" Frej hissed and grabbed Eric by the arm and dragged him forward.

"What the hell is his problem?"

"He was Alpha before you arrived. Now he's demoted and he hates you for it?"

"Lovely, let's add his name to my long list of haters then. I don't get it though, why would he want to go with us if he hates me this much?"

"To take some of the glory from you when we get Mat out of the castle?"

I sighed. "I hate you for being so smart."

"I'll add you to my list."

Arriving at the street that led to the brothel, both me and Angie were surprised to see it was still open. We had to keep our bodies pressed to the walls, watching every step as the brothel was crowded with soldiers. I recognised a few. They all looked miserable.

"Hey, Angie." I whispered and pulled her sleeve. "Do you see that? They look like they haven't been fed for days."

"Whatever you are suggesting.. NO. Let's move Adrian, we don't have time for new stupid ideas."

"But you could act like one of the girls and get some information for me, like the old days."

"I am done fucking strangers A, don't you ever ask that of me again!"

"I'm not! No fucking.. Only talking!"

I felt four impatient eyes study us from the dark. I knew I was being a hypocrite, telling Eric no while I made my own new plan. But hell, I was the fucking king and if I learned that the soldiers were misserable here, then maybe they would take my side in this war.

"No, Adrian. Let's go get your husband."

It didn't take long before we found the old well house. Inside there was a much smaller door leading to the old sewer that was connected to the castle but had been unused my whole lifetime. As we entered quietly and closed the door I noticed Eric's eyes on me.

"What?"

"You're right, Angela should have a look around and talk to the soldiers, find out what's going on."

"And get caught when they realize who I am? No thanks."

"We'll meet plenty of guards in the dungeons," Frej muttered as he bent down to check the sewer door. There was a lock and the key was still back in my old room, but it was old and rusty and no match for his strong hands and he easily broke it and removed the door from the hinges. "Interrogate them if you must."

The sewer looked just as I remembered and a sense of nostalgia hit me. Memories from a past long before Roland, when I was young and carefree and my only problem was my annoying brother and the piles of homework I had to finish.

Angela took the lead, Eric followed her and I was left between the two lycans as Frej walked last. Now and then she would stop at a crossroads and peer back at me for directions and I would sign left or right. Eventually we found the old lid that led to the floor of the laundry room in the servants quarters, and as soon as Angela pushed it open we prepared ourselves for a fight, but were greeted with a familiar face.

"Anna!"

"My Lord!" the young woman cried out and threw her arms around me. "You shouldn't be here!"

I nodded and hugged her back. "I have a husband to free."

Her eyes traveled from one to the other and stopped at Eric. "You look just like him."

"This is Eric, Mathews' younger brother," I explained.

"So you actually went there? To Faria?" She gasped.

"We did," I said proudly. "And when we leave you could come with us. Tell those you trust to meet us on the spot where we celebrate the winter solstice."

She nodded quickly but as she was about to turn to walk out of the room Angela stopped her, "Gabby, Penelope and Matilda?"

Anna hesitated. She met my eyes briefly before they fell to the floor. "All traitors are locked up in the lower cells."

Angela moved swiftly, she grabbed a firm hold of the young woman pressing her back against her and before I knew it a blade glimmered against Anna's neck. "But you were free to continue your work?"

"H-he trusts me..."

"But I don't." I watched in horror as Angela slit the girl's throat and her dead body fell to the floor by her feet.

"Angela..!"

"This is a delicate operation, Lord King. We need to be smart."

"She was my friend!"

"She was a fucking traitor Adrian! Now move! We need to get out of here before dawn!"

My feet were frozen to the wooden boards of the damp laundry room. I couldn't believe what had just happened. Angela had murdered my friend! I felt a firm hand grab my wrist and pulled me away from the scene and I let my three companions take the lead. I followed them in a daze through my home using staff corridors the lords and ladies never entered.

I was home. I wished I could order them all to leave and shut the doors behind them and live happily ever after. I missed my room.

"Did you know her well?"

I peered up at Eric and nodded. "Childhood friends."

"A king spending time with servants?"

"I was a prince with an older brother who was the heir to the throne. No one cared what I did or who I played with." There was a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. He too was the younger brother, and walked in the shadow of the Alpha.

"We'll rescue as many as we can. We can't bring them with us but we'll give them a chance to find our village on their own."

"Thank you Eric, but I have a feeling that's not the end of your plan."

"No." He chuckled. "You will take my brother home, while I and Frej will stay and free the rest of the pack."

"And Angela?"

"My guess is.. she has her own agenda."

"Fine," I sighed. "We'll stick with your plan. This time."