Chapter 149

Cassie

The table and the people around it erupted into chaos. I may as well have suggested we cut off Julian's head and given it to Duncan the way they acted.

Even Julian himself murmured something under his breath. It was Ian that didn't say a word. His face was completely impassive. Almost like he was made from carved marble. I couldn't get a read on what he was thinking.

"You can't be serious." Someone said from the end of the table. The growl rumbling from his chest making it hard to make sense of his words. "The cats are our enemy. Once upon a time we would wipe them out just for being near our land. They are lucky we even let them live."

Ian finally moved, shifting from one foot to another. He didn't say anything but at his sides his fingers flexed into his palm.

"Well." I called out above the hubbub. "Things have changed. Our enemy is our own kind now. That's who we are fighting again. Other wolves. You can stay in the past and die or step into the future."

More uproar. More than one set of eyes glared at me.

"I think the queen has a good point." Julian said finally. And the crowd went quiet when he spoke. "Maybe not with the cats because old hatred are hard to kill but with the others-"

I snarled at him. It hadn't gone unnoticed by me that the others had gone quiet when he spoke. They gave him respect where I got none. That was kind of to be expected because he was king , what wasn't expected was his total disregard to what I was saying. My idea was a good one, and he knew it.

Plus the cats weren't our enemy. Old hatred's didn't die because we kept fueling them.

Sighing I looked around the table and like Ian my hands curled into fists.

"I think Cassie is right." Scarlett said softly and like they had with me. The men around this table spoke over her.

Respect.

We had none from the men here.

"Maybe we can -" Julian was talking more loudly than anyone else. His voice booming out. His eyes were excited.

"The cats-" I tried to cut in and again I was ignored. My patience snapped. Standing up suddenly, I half expected Julian to grab me back down and ask where I was going but one look at his face and I knew he hadn't even noticed I was gone.  The king was too busy playing war games for that to happen.

Shaking my head I walked away. I would let him do what he needed to but I would do what I needed to do. I wanted my children back under any circumstances. And if that meant I had to make moves on my own then so be it.

I would need help though.

Pushing out of the carved wooden door I lifted my face to the cold breeze.

"What's the plan?" Ian said from my shoulder. He moved around me. So we were face to face and Scarlett took his place behind me.

I turned to her in shock. "We make our own plans." I said as I stared between the two of them.

"You're going against the king?" Scarlett whispered , her eyes growing saucer round as she gazed back into my face.

I wrapped my arms around myself. Shivering as the wind picked up. "I've never been the type to do what he told me to do anyway." I shrugged. "And I'm not working against him. I'm doing what is best for him and the kingdom. But I understand if you don't want any part of it Scarlett. Your pack is in uproar as it is and-"

She flung up her hand. "Oh I'm in one hundred percent." She laughed. "I just needed to say it out loud and as for my," her eyes narrowed and darkened. "Pack. I think there needs to be some changes to my council." Her eyes met mine. "I think there needs to be changing to everything. The way he-"

I waved her words away. I knew what she was going to say. "I know. And believe me I will be talking to him about it later. But for now we have more important things to worry about." Turning to Ian I nodded my head to him. "I am sorry that your oldest friend is so full of hatred towards your mate Ian. I love Yanna like a sister and I hate to ask but."

"You want me to leave Julian and go and beg the panthers for help?" His voice was guarded. And I could clearly see the uncertainty in his eyes. It was a new look on him.

Ian was always so sure of himself. He knew his own mind better than anyone else I had ever met.

"I can't leave Julian now. He's got enemies in every direction and my job is-"

"No." I kept my voice low , cutting him off."I am asking for something worse than that."

"Yanna." Usually when he said his mates name, his face came alive. Now I watched it as it crumbled. "You want me to get Yanna involved."

"I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important." I whispered. "I wouldn't want her in harms way." I added as his eyes narrowed into slits.

Then he shook his head. "I could say no but she would kick my wolf ass." He chuckled. "She wants to help Cassie. Just tell me what you need her to do."

"Speak to the other Cat clans. Be our ambassador. We need the other shifters-"

"You need the other shifters for what?" Julian's arms wrapped around my waist and he drew me into him. I stiffened for a second before the warmth of his body forced me to relax.

Even when I was furious with him I melted against him.

"It's nothing." I said quickly. "We just came out here to discuss less important things. I didn't think it was a good idea to keep interrupting your very important manly meeting with our trivial matters." I lied sweetly but my voice dropped with sarcasm.

Julian's eyes widened in shock, his jaw clenched and then with a smile he relaxed. "I think it's a great way to keep yourself busy. The adoption program."

I fought back the urge to roll my eyes. Of course he thought that was a trivial female matter. My husband was a pig sometimes.

"Yeah. We are going to have a few meetings and start to get things moving."

Scarlett shifted the weight of the toddler she was carrying. He looked to be asleep now which was good. It was great that he felt safe in her arms.

"And why is Ian out here?"

I scrambled to think of a reason and failed.

"Cassie was asking him to train me up." Kip stepped forward with a bow. I frowned. I hadn't even noticed that he had followed us out. "It's a pleasure to meet you , your highness. I'm Kip. The queen has asked me to be her bodyguard."