#Chapter 448 – Borrowed Trouble
Ella
I feel the poor human woman’s shoulders shake and I take a deep breath, remembering my duty to her as well. “Come on,” I say, trying to keep my voice light as I turn her and her daughters away. “I’m so sorry about this – let’s get somewhere more peaceful.”
And as we begin to walk away, I leave my faith in Sinclair to settle this as he will. But I hope to hell the Atalaxians know what’s good for them, because my mate?
He won’t hesitate to fight, if they push him to it. And if they do? I shake my head, considering how fast each of them will lose.
But I put this out of my mind, chatting lightly with the woman as we move away, asking her name. The woman introduces herself as Tempest Bowers, a journalist and the wife of an elected official of one of our eastern provinces. Genuinely pleased to meet her, I begin to ask more questions about their lives as we move to the head table, where I know for certain that there is plenty of candy for the girls to take.
But before we can get there, someone hits my shoulder – hard as they pass, making me stumble. My ankle twists in my high heel and I lose my balance, threatening to fall, gasping and holding Rafe tight to me.
Tempest grabs my arm just in time.
“Oh my goodness,” she says, her eyes wide as she helps me regain my balance. And then both of our eyes move to follow the hateful old man my uncle, of course who hit me hard with his shoulder on his way out. He does not bother to look back and apologize.
Of course, why would he? He did it on purpose.
“He’s a hateful old creep, isn’t he?” I ask, frowning after the man, and the woman to my surprise – bursts out laughing.
“He is certainly a piece of work,” she says, nodding along and dropping my arm. “Do you…know him?”
“He’s my uncle,” I say with a grimace, making her laugh again, harder this time.
“I have some in my family,” Tempest says, looking after him as he storms from the room, “who are…less pleasant too. So, I can emote with that.”
I smile genuinely at her then, liking this woman very much. We finish crossing to the table where Sinclair and I had our dinner and I hand the girls as many candy bars as I can find left on the table, knowing no one will miss them. The girls begin to grin as their hands fill, excited at their bounty.
“Okay, enough!” Tempest says, putting her hands out and laughing. ” Go find dad, all right?” she says, nodding to them.
“They’re beautiful girls,” I say as I watch them run away.
“Thank you,” Tempest replies, reaching out to run a finger across Rafe’s sleepy cheek. “Your own is a very handsome little guy himself.”
“Oh, he flatters himself so,” I say on a happy little sigh, looking down at my kid with a smile. “And I agree, but I am biased.”
Tempest glances over her shoulder, seeing Sinclair striding towards us. ”
I’ll leave you to this,” she says, gesturing towards him. “But it was very nice to meet you, your highness – and thank you, very much, for your help over there. I apologize for any trouble – we really didn’t know – ”
“Please,” I say, my eyebrows going up. “You did nothing wrong. And please call me Ella,” I say with a grin. “After that? We have to be on a first name basis.”
Tempest laughs and nods, stepping away from me with a little wave just before Sinclair gets to my side.
“Are you all right?” he asks, his voice worried. Then his eyes follow my new friend as she walks away. “Is she?”
“She seems well recovered,” I say, pleased, “though I wish it hadn’t happened at all. I mean honestly, why would the Atalaxians even come to a party of mixed humans and wolves when they despise the idea so much?”
“I sense,” Sinclair replies with a grimace, “that they were looking for a bit of a fight. Or, at least that Xander was.”
“Really?” I ask, my eyes going wide.
“I’m starting to wonder,” Sinclair murmurs, his eyes on the door where Xander just left, “if the Atalaxians brought him to have someone to pick their fight for them. I mean, come on they had to know he’s at the end of his rope and wasn’t going to just come along for the ride.”
“Clever,” I say, stepping closer to him and likewise looking towards the door. “Bringing someone who they knew would force you to show your cards.”
“And it may not be done,” he sighs. I look up at Sinclair to ask why, but we’re both distracted when the bride and groom come to our sides.
“Is everything okay?” Cora asks, stepping close to me and I think unconsciously reaching for the baby. I smile a little, handing him over to her, pleased to see how much Rafe’s auntie loves to have him close by. “What was all that?”
Roger stands solidly next to Sinclair and I turn my fond gaze to him now. He’s not as familiar with human wedding traditions as Cora and I are, but I have to admit – he makes quite the handsome groom, and I think he’s been enjoying the party.
Still, as he stands there listening to Sinclair recap the events? He’s every bit the King’s responsible second, eager to help.
I take a deep breath, so grateful again for my family, but I’m distracted from this pleasure by Roger’s next words.
“I don’t know, Dominic,” Roger says, his hands on his hips as he, too, looks towards the door. “I don’t trust this. If he was publicly embarrassed and his new nation didn’t stand up for what he believes to be his rights, as you suggest, I’m not sure a man like Xander is going to be content with just going back to his room to pout.”
“I have to agree,” a voice chimes in, and Roger and Sinclair part to reveal Calvin standing there behind them, his own face worried. “I came to let you know that trouble is brewing, but…I think you’ve already figured it out.”
“Really?” I say, taking a step forward, my face falling. “Is he…do you know what he has planned?”
“I don’t think he has a plan,” Calvin says, his eyes immediately on me and only on me. “But he believes himself to have been insulted. I don’t think he’s going to take it lightly. And quite frankly, I think he was egged on by some of our constituents tonight. I think…” he sighs, looking down at his shoes, ashamed, “honestly, I’m sorry, but I think they wanted to set him off like this.”
I sigh deeply, suddenly worried, but I don’t miss Roger and Sinclair carefully assessing Calvin as my mind races, trying to figure out what to do.
“Let’s go,” Cora says, nodding towards the door and taking my hand. ” There’s no point in standing here worried. Let’s go back to the room where we know we’re safe, where we can find out what’s going on and regroup – ”
“Cora,” I say, frowning up at her. ” We’re not going to drag you away from your wedding reception – ”
“Oh,” she says, waving a dismissive hand and rolling her eyes. “Don’t get me wrong, Ella, this has been amazing but come on, you know that none of this really mattered to me. I’d much rather get the baby back to the room, where we can feel safe.”
I bite my lip, hesitating, but Roger is at her side in a second. “She’s right, Ella,” he says, glancing around at the party. I look around too and see that Sinclair is having a private word with Calvin, thanking him for his help. My eyes stick to them, worried, but I pull my gaze away with a sigh.
“You’re sure?” I ask, honestly thinking that it would make me happiest.
“This party is going on all night with or without us,” Roger says with a grin. ” Honestly, no one will notice that we’re gone.”
“All right,” I breathe as Sinclair comes back to our side with a sigh. ”
Everything okay with the prince?” I ask.
He nods to me and looks around at our little group. “To the rooms?”
“War command,” Roger says, giving a firm nod. I’ll get dad and meet you there. And with that, the four of us put the wedding behind us and head out, ready to take on whatever Xander is bringing for us next.
Because we all know it – Xanders’ got something up his sleeve.
He didn’t come here to celebrate.
He came to take his last shot.
And the Atalaxians? They’re letting him.
