Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Nikolas POV

My time with King Aleksander was informative, and I had something to work with. I planned to dig deeper to know how to deal with Fedrick. If he were my uncle and could work against me, I wondered what he did when my father was alive. I kept my suspicions to myself and focused on what was at hand I wondered what Aliana was up to and if the Lycans were giving her trouble.

I had promised I would not stay more than two days, and I planned to keep it.

Morning came, and Grant and I were invited to have breakfast with the King and his family. They ushered us to the dining room, and everyone, including the Queen, was seated. Lena looked like her mother, and the woman seemed warm.

I bowed to both of them, and they responded with respect.

Then I was asked to sit beside Piotr while Grant sat beside Lena on the opposite side of the table.

“Finally. Forest will have a king,” The Queen said, smiling at me, and I smiled back out of respect.

“Hopefully,” I said, and she frowned.

“It is rightfully yours. I am not happy with what Fedrick is doing. I hope he remembers he worked against you when you finally ascend. The man can’t see beyond his greed.” She said, and Aleksander cautioned her. She held her tongue and composed herself. “Please enjoy your meal. I hope you will stay with us a bit to meet people,” She said, and I smiled at her.

“I will be leaving tomorrow, your Majesty. I have a lot to attend to at home. We are trying to develop the place. A lot still needs to be done, and there is a need for supervision,” I said, and she nodded.

“I heard Gabriel ran the place down. I wondered what the traitor thought when he usurped power for himself.

I am glad you took back what was rightfully yours.

The bright side is that, unlike the Snow and Hill region, you have a lot of human resources in Forest, so finding cheap and free labour to get the job done won’t be hard.” She said, referring to the slaves in Forest. I composed myself and nodded, knowing it would be unwise to show sentiment towards the werewolves. Aleksander might not have issues with the werewolves, but his Queen seemed to have issues with them. “Isabelle was right about those things,” she said, hissing.

“I am glad Aleks listened to me after Mathias’s demise. I am sure the ones here would have had the bright idea of usurping power for themselves after Gabriel succeeded in Forest. You should be careful and wary of them, Nikolas. Do not let them get close to you,” she said, and Grant looked at me a bit funny with worry in his eyes. I wondered if the idiot was trying to give away my secret.

their place In Forest,” I said quickly,

the committee. The Unity Law forbids it. I hope you know,” She said, and I nodded. My heart was heavy while I listened to her because

I just hoped we would survive it. Bane was quiet in my head. He, too, was uncomfortable about her

Gabriel was a traitor. Let us not generalise, Racheal,” Aleksander

are the same,” she said,

best workers are werewolves,” He countered her,

but I doubt he shares the same views with his mother. He is like Mathias.” Aleksander said, and I was shocked to know the woman said all she said so they would not be in trouble for being lenient towards Werewolves. I knew it was odd that the King would offer me werewolves as companions. I realised he was just as lenient as I was,

dinner tonight, so you will meet the alphas in my kingdom and some of the Committee members,” He said, and I thanked him for his

with me when I arrived and did not want to get in

up. “I do not think it would be

I know you are seeing someone already,” She said.

are seeing someone?” Racheal asked her daughter, and she

her face showed she

exclaimed, and

be around for it. I wiped my mouth with the napkin to excuse myself. Piotr did

is this cool restaurant in town you would like. Something tells me food with my folks won’t be the same again after this. They loathe Fredrick. They hate him and anything that has to do with him. Except you, of course, and that is because of Mathias,” Piotr said, and I took a

into town with Piotr behind

he seemed a charmer too. We drove past

al the store, and Piotr looked at me and

time. You will love their stuff,” he said, turned the

we got there, he stopped the engine

okay. Grant was silent all through. We went

told them, introducing me respectfully, and the women knelt immediately. They were also looking at