Chapter 97

He had been reviewing proposals for several days before Eden's proposal crossed his desk: well thought out, meticulous, and in agreement with his escort requirements. He'd used his foreknowledge of Adolph's new policies to his advantage. It should have made him relax, but it only made him more suspicious. A vampire descendant in the werewolf kingdom could be harmless, but it was unlikely.

The things Eden wanted to import weren't dire necessities, but the lack of them could cause problems for the hospital and several other businesses that were vital to the capital. What could he be trying to gain for asking for such a small contract? It was almost negligible in the face of Eden's caravan's capacity for transport and trade.

Something didn't sit right with him and he knew if he set it in front of the ministers to approve they would not ponder such things.

A knock sounded on the door and Chasel entered with a scroll.

"An update," Chasel said as he closed the door behind him.

"Go on, tell me what you found on him."

Chasel sighed, "He hasn't made any suspicious moves yet. Sent a few letters, conducted some business in town. We haven't heard anything bad about him yet, but we're still looking. I've sent spies into the human villages to try and get an idea of where he's from and some more information on his history."

"Good, thank you. Keep an eye on him. It concerns me to have any manner of vampire ingratiate themselves into the capital like this"

Let alone being so close to Laurel. He had taken care of Laurel while she was recovering, so he knew that Eden meant her no ill will, but there had been something about him, a stillness that made more sense now that he knew he was part vampire.

He carried no scent of a vampire, meaning he was likely only half-vampire or less, but the stillness he was capable of was unnerving. He thought back to the fiasco of their wedding day.

Eden had been there, close enough to look into his eyes and see the flicker of red light around him. He remembered Eden's face from the flashes of memory while he'd been fighting the fury that had nearly taken over him.

*Eden froze in place, still as a statue though his eyes were alert, watchful, and calculating. There was no fear in his eyes. His heart hadn't even raced, still beating the slow steady pace it always had.*

He'd never encountered anyone with such a steady heart rhythm. Perhaps that was also a sign of his lineage. Vampires looked like humans most of the time, but they had no heartbeat. It was part of what made them so tricky to deal with. They could move near silently and swiftly too.

He sat back, "What would a half-vampire with a powerful vampire lineage want in the werewolf kingdom?"

Chasel hummed, thoughtful about the question, "I assume you're asking about Eden"

"I am," Adolph said looking up at him. "What could he gain? Vampires are matriarchal."

"Were they always?"

He nodded, "That's what the books say."

Chasel hummed, "Maybe a chance to escape that society."

He frowned, "You were more involved with the reconnaissance into the vampire queen's territory What did you see?"

He winced, "Well, lots of rock and dead plants. I'm not sure if food is actually scarce or if it just seems like it is There were a few human villages within the territory, so they must be sort of civil towards them."

"Or keeping them like livestock."

"It's possible." Chasel hummed, "The queen has never been seen. I never heard anything about her having children either."

He hummed, "Do you think it possible that she's too vicious a creature to have children?"

Chasel shrugged, "I don't know, but I don't know of a monarch who doesn't need an heir."

Adolph nodded, "You have a point We'll think more about it. For now, I think I have a course of action I should run by my delightfully conniving luna."

Chasel laughed as he stood, "By all means, Your Majesty. I believe she is in her office."

Adolph expected her to be. He locked the door to his office behind him and knocked on Laurel's door.

"Come in."

She looked up as he entered and smiled. Her eyes brightened like two glowing emeralds.

"Your Majesty?"

Adolph closed the door behind him, "That expression is either joy or conniving."

She laughed, "I am happy to see you, but I also have an idea. Though your expression is certainly conniving."

Adolph chuckled, "I have an idea about who to get rid of next and how to make sure I take everything he's worth."

Laurel laughed, "Something tells me you're enjoying this too much."

Adolph shrugged, "Perhaps I am. It's the little things after all."

The plan was pretty simple and Laurel couldn't find anything in it that could be a problem. The minister of justice had been a thorn in the side of the generals stationed in the capital since she'd been Laura. They always complained about his actions and were always eager to find a way to get under his skin.

They would gladly testify about his mishandling of duty during wartime and in general just for the asking.

"Glad you like it," Adolph grinned. "As for Eden he's submitted a trading proposal I wanted you to look at."

He handed it to her and she worried her lip, skimming through the pages. As he expected, she frowned.

"Why these?" Laurel asked.

"I don't know, but what are your thoughts about allowing him to have them?"

She shook her head, "Until we know his agenda, I don't know how to feel about transporting goods that could affect the hospital in any way Could we perhaps give him a partial contract on those supplies and fill the rest of the order with things that can and have been grown in the orchard. Or grow some of these things ourselves and let him have what he wants?"

Adolph leaned forward, "You think there's space for it?"

She shuffled her pages around and slid them forward to show him a tentative map of the orchard.

"Here's the edge of the fruit trees and the vegetable patches. I'm planning for the expansion, but even right now there's some free space that I meant to use for medicine"

As she went on, Adolph smirked. There were medicinal supplies in the caravans that Laura sent and the page she was showing him was a new drawing, still smelling of wet ink. The gates had come down, but she wouldn't have had the time to go exploring herself.

Laurel was Laura.

"Sounds like a plan then. I'll keep it in review until you're sure we can produce enough for it not to be a problem."

Laurel nodded and beamed at him, "Great."

"So, what is your dastardly plan?"

"Well, I don't think that Lady Helena's tutoring is enough to fill Lady Delia's day Lady Helena has the patience of a saint, but if Delia is training to be the next luna when Basil takes the throne, she'll need practical knowledge."

He snickered, "And so?"

She smiled, "Well, I could always use an extra set of hands."

Adolph threw his head back and cackled, imagining Delia with Laurel at the orphanage surrounded by children. She would be dreadfully uncomfortable, but it would at least serve as a deterrent from ever misappropriating funds from the budget.

"I look forward to your mischief, darling," Adolph said. "I'll be sure to announce it at the next dinner."

"Thank you *alpha* ."

Adolph froze at the rush of desire that rushed through him, tightening his gut and nearly stopping his heart. His wolf growled low and wanting and he got to his feet. Laurel turned bright red and stood as if trying to escape him, but he caught her gently and pinned her against her desk to kiss her deeply.

Laurel moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him tight as he lifted her onto the edge of her desk and held her against him. She was hot and soft against the hard line of his arousal. Pleasure and desire twined and rushed through his head.

"You have no idea what you do to me." Laurel gasped as he rolled his hips against her with a shudder. "Just wait until I have you"

"Y-Your Majesty"

He pulled back and met her gaze, "Don't call me that if you intend to get anything done."

She worried her lip but nodded. He pressed a kiss to her forehead and pulled away.

"I have to leave or nothing will get done. I will see you later, love."

"O-Of course, Your Majesty."

She listened to him leaving the room and took a deep breath. Amazed that such a simple thing had such an effect on him. She had only been curious, but she made sure to keep in mind that he liked being called alpha a lot.