Alpha King’s Lost Luna by Aubrey Pepper

ASHER

Chapter 70 Dubious foreigners

I was only half awake as I sat in the meeting room and listened to the morning report. Jacoby was informing me about the investigation being conducted about the attempted kidnapping that’d taken place in the market, and the councilor’s dark eyes were glum as he spoke.

“We checked the identity of the kidnapper, Your Majesty,” he said. “They didn’t live in Anemond, nor did they seem to be residents of Wegalla at all.”

My brow shot up immediately. “Do you think they were foreigners?”

Jacoby nodded. “I believe so, Your Majesty. But without officially issued certification, no foreigners would have been able to pass the territory line of Wegalla.”

I frowned.

This was all very strange.

“Did the soldiers stationed there fail their duties?” I wondered as frustration rose within me. “How could a foreigner enter the territory without anyone knowing?”

Jacoby hesitated for a moment.

“Perhaps,” he began. “There’s another possibility. I find it a little coincidental that the king of Yurene appeared right then and there to stop the kidnapper from taking Miss Ca ssandra…”

“Are you suggesting that he was behind it all?” I asked directly.

“I don’t know,” he replied, and his cheeks flushed with color. “All I know for sure is that the king is infamous for being scheming and slippery. He could be responsible. It would certainly raise the reputation of Yurene if a king swooped in to

save a citizen of Wegalla. It would make their country and their people seem much more civilized and important.”

My frown deepened as I considered his words.

I wasn’t sure if a matter such as this was important enough to make such a fuss about. I didn’t want Wegalla’s own reputation to come into question and be smeared by an incident such as this. But then again, I couldn’t deny the possibility that Kaleb was behind this. As Jacoby had pointed out, it was a little coincidental that he happened to be in the vicinity when the incident had taken place.

help but think

his attention to her. I didn’t want to consider the idea too much further, but I couldn’t help but wonder if he had his

knew for certain was that I couldn’t trust

who was

said politely, and then I nodded

respect. As he walked out of the room, I couldn’t help but admire the way he’d conducted

head throbbed. Though I’d drank my fill of coffee this morning, I still found myself to be quite tired. My sleep had been restless and little the night. before. Lately, I’d been too anxious to rest.

Kane had told me that Finnick wasn’t Emmett Keller’s son, my mind could not be put at ease.

to the territory by Emmett. Of course, it had just been idle gossip since no one seemed to know the entire story surrounding her arrival and

any of this beforehand. Kane had been right when he’d said this kind of information wouldn’t

arrival to Wild Crawler had been so wrought with mystery. But then again, everything surrounding the healer seemed

idea crossed

been pregnant back then?

thought sounded like a ridiculous thing to consider, but I couldn’t help but think about it anyway. My recent theory was one I couldn’t ignore even if

mind and did my best to recall the events from all those years ago. I tried to picture her body… was she showing any signs of physical

admit it, I couldn’t recall. Before the inferno that’d burnt

ceremony and other palace business, along with my efforts to clear the Felix family’s

wave and my heart began

I done everything I could?

why had I let my final images

in my chair and wiped away the tears that had started to spill down my cheeks. For the briefest of moments, I considered telling my visitor to leave me alone, but I couldn’t. My

is there?” I called out

Sir Moses, Your Majesty,” my guard reported from the other side

door.

swelled within me.

I wanted to see