Shadows of Destiny

109 Back To The Estate

~Sylvester~

Some reporters attacked Clay and Alexei with questions, and I became impatient.

They asked how they felt about standing trial in the King's hall.

The fact that we have yet to make that announcement public bothered me. Joan must have leaked it to

the press because the next question gave their intentions away.

They asked Clay and Alexei when the hearing would occur.

We were yet to set a date, and for Yuri to prepare for the event, a date needed to be fixed.

"No date has been set yet, but we are hoping there will be no hearing because we each fought and

won our challenges fair and square,’ Alexei said, playing along.

There was a particular reporter I noticed that seemed disappointed about his response.

She did not behave like the others that jumped onto other questions. She withdrew as if that was all

she was after.

"Arrest the reporter in the black leather jacket. Have Bryce Golubev question her at the mansion," I told

the kappa driving. He did not even know it was me until I spoke to him.

"Your majesty," He said, his hands shaking.

"Behave," I ordered him, and he nodded.

Leo's kappas that were with us joined one of my Kappa drivers and went to arrest her. The way she

willingly followed them meant they had somehow deceived her. I wanted them to lead her to the van

transporting the actual Kappas.

"What did you tell her?" I linked my Kappa that was with them. I was too curious to find out.

"We did not want to cause a scene, so we said head council Albert asked to see her privately," He

replied, which made me laugh.

I wondered what the woman thought private meant. She was in for a shock.

We waited until Leo had entered the car that would transport him to the Volkov Estate before we left.

Since he was the most important person, Putting him in the car was logical, while the security details

used the van. Alexei and Clay had to take an airport taxi that would bring them to the Volkov estate.

They had made a show of trying to plead their case before their hearing, so it made sense they would

try to see me when they arrived in the north.

The drive to the estate was long, and I could not wait to get out of the uniform and spring into action.

There was so much to do. Questioning Larry was high on my list.

I noticed Tamia wasn't eager, and I touched her hand. I brought it to my lips and kissed it.

"What is the matter, green-eyes?" I asked her, and she turned to look at me with tears. I was surprised

that she was hurting. Had all this finally gotten to her? I knew she was tougher than that, so it had to be

something else.

"Liam and Harper won't be home," she said, breaking down completely.

I was expecting this to happen too.

We have never been separated from our children. Having to keep them underground for their safety

was hard. While in the east, it was bearable because it felt like we were on a trip we couldn't bring them

along, but now that we were heading home, coping there without them would be hard.

"I know, darling, and that is why we will end this thing quickly," I said with determination. She rested her

head on my shoulder, and I looked ahead, hoping we would win. Leo had done an excellent job so far;

it was time for me to take charge.

We arrived at the estate, and my mother and Uncle Lucas were at the entrance to welcome us home.

She recognised us immediately and laughed at our disguise, Likewise Uncle Lucas.

"You went all out," Uncle Lucas said, laughing, and I greeted him. My mother came to hug Tamia tightly.

"I missed all of you," She and Tamia hugged her back.

"Harper and Liam are doing fine." She whispered, and Tamia nodded, appreciating my mother's effort

to make her happy.

"Who is that?" Uncle Lucas said, looking at Erik, and we all started laughing. The expression on

Lucas's face was hilarious.

Erik moved past everyone and walked into the mansion quickly. He had never been there, so I

wondered where he was going. We waited a bit, and then he returned.

"Where is my room?" He asked with a deep voice, and Uncle Lucas widened his eyes.

"Yes, Uncle, he is a man. Meet Erik Stepanov," I said, and my mother gasped.

"All will be explained soon. Right now, I need to see Larry." I said, Walking in quickly.

Tamia and the others continued while Leo, Marcel, Theodore, David, Devin, Dominic and Vino

remained.

I linked Kappa Levi to bring us T-shirts and shorts. None of us wanted to go to our rooms yet. We had a

lot to discuss.

"What about me?" Erik asked again.

"A room is being prepared for you. Meanwhile, A kappa is bringing some shorts and t-shirts; feel free to

change," I said, and Dominic and David snickered. Erik raised an eyebrow.

"You mean if I find my size," he corrected me, and I bowed my head to avoid laughing.

"I am sure the room will be ready in no time," I said, and we headed to the lounge.

We got there, and Levi arrived with the shorts and T-shirts. We didn't bother to find something for Erik

because we knew none would fit. Luckily for him, an Omega came to take him to his room before we

finished changing.

I asked him to return once he had changed his dress. The last part didn't sound right because

everyone laughed, but I knew the amusement was over.

"Did you say Stepanaov?” My mother said, and I nodded. Then I asked them to pay attention while

telling them all we had learned. Uncle Lucas and my mother were in shock.

"So I was right all along," Uncle Lucas said, and I nodded.

"Right, about what?" My mother asked.

"He hinted that Larry couldn't have planned the uprising all alone," Marcel said, sounding bored, and

Uncle Lucas laughed.

"So what are we going to do now?" Uncle Lucas asked.

"Larry was Yuri's right-hand man. They planned the uprising together and almost succeeded twice.

They had to be meeting in private. I need to know the places Larry has met with Yuri so I can fish him

out," I said, and my mother frowned.

"Don't you think he would have abandoned those places?" she asked. And David interrupted.

"I doubt that," David said, and she was attentive.

"Joan Clayman is on his team, and we had dismissed everything Larry tried to tell us on the day of his

sentencing. We believed he was in the shadows until now. Yuri won't expect us to ask Larry questions

now, and the hearing in the King hall, which has nothing to do with him, would further boost his

confidence. Even after the spies and traitors have been arrested, he wouldn't think we would ask Larry

for specific locations he is comfortable with," David said, and he had a valid point.

"Finding his location will not be discussed at the hearing, and I doubt Joan Clayman would know where

he is. She is too close to us for him to be that careless. They haven't worked closely as Larry worked

with him." Vino said, and just then, Erik walked in.

He had washed off the temporary dye on his hair and removed the contacts. For a man his age, he had

a beautiful face, and his small frame did not hurt his looks at all. The beard messed him up a lot. He

looked good as a man but horrible as a woman.

"Excuse my manners," He said apologetically, knowing he had poorly behaved initially.

Erik walked up to Uncle Lucas and my mother and extended a handshake with a boyish smile. He took

my mother's hand and kissed the back of her hand with some charm.

"She is taken," Lucas said, sounding a bit annoyed. My mother was blushing at his charm. If only Jake

had been around, Erik would have gotten some beating.

Erik sighed and turned his attention towards me.

"I heard some of the things you discussed, and you will be right to ask Larry about Yuri's known

locations if Larry is still alive. They often met privately, and Larry used his office to secure some

properties for Yuri. You can start from there. He might not know where he is, but you should get the

information on the properties he purchased for Yuri. It will lead somewhere," Erik said.

"What about you? Aren't you his cousin? You should know where he is’ Dominic said to him, sounding

short.

"I am his cousin, but we do not share the same Ideology. We stuck together out of necessity and

separated when it was possible to be apart. I do not know much except what my spies in his group tell

me, likewise him too," He said, and I nodded.

"So you know he has spies in your circle?" I asked him, and he nodded.

"Kelly and Blake. They do not know that I know. I have caught them recently because of the Issue with

the AgK32.1 am yet to figure out what to do to them, but they are oblivious of my discovery and

partnership with you, " He said, and I commended his wisdom.

Being intelligent and wise were two different things. It seemed Erik passed both.

"So, what is the plan now?’ Leo asked, and I sighed.

"we will interview Larry today and set a date for the meeting after. Our Interview with Larry would

determine the next step.’ I said, and he nodded.

"Would Larry be in a frame of mind to talk?" Theodore asked, knowing the condition he was kept in

prison.

'We will have to find that out when we see him," Marcel said, and I agreed.

While we discussed it, my phone rang. To my surprise, it was Joan

Clayman. Seeing her name made me remember the reporter we had arrested at the airport.

"Hello," I said on the phone.

"Your Majesty, good afternoon," she greeted.

"What is it?" I asked her. It was odd she would call me directly. She must be desperate. I wanted her to

get straight to the point.

"Alpha Kuznetsov and Alpha Newton arrived with Councilman Albert and many military officers from the

east. Will there be a gathering at the King's hall soon?” She asked, and I sighed.

"Why do you ask?" I asked her.

"Well, I am thinking of taking a trip, and I do not want to rush from wherever I am going to attend," She

said, giving an idiotic excuse. The truth is, wherever she was going, She was only a flight away.

"You will only be a flight away in that case, but that aside there will be no council meeting," I said.

I did not want her to inform Yuri just yet. If I said yes, they could lie in wait. The time we set the meeting

would not matter anymore. Katya's warning rang in my head.

"So what are they here for?" She asked, crossing the line, but I chose to indulge her.

"To ask that I dismiss the case. Leonardo and Devin are here to verify that they did not cheat," I replied,

and she was silent.

"Next time you ask me such questions, I will take offence, Joan," I added, and she apologised.

"Thank you, your Majesty. Leah and I might visit tonight if you do not mind? " She said, and I growled.

"I mind. Since when did we become friends? Next time you have a request, call one of the lords, Do not

cross the line with me again. My father might have been lenient, but I am not a lord anymore; you need

to watch it, Joan,’ I said and hung up before she could respond.

Joan's call made us realise that our plan had worked. They needed help figuring out why Leo had

come and what we were up to. They were in the dark and were desperate to verify certain things.

It was good because I planned to set the hearing for noon the next day. Yuri would not think to send

anyone to the north, and even if he as people here, there won't be time for them to strike.

I told Marcel to ensure Nitric Acid is available at King Hall before we announce the impromptu meeting.

The people guarding both places were also to be provided with gas and face masks. I wanted to be

prepared in case Yuri got desperate and struck. One thing I knew was that I was ready to end Yuri's

madness and move on.