Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Chapter 54

I went to the office and was surprised to find Qusack and Abraham there. Grant wasn’t there as usual. He wasn’t an early bird and was late for everything, so there was no need to wonder about him.

“Good morning, Alpha,” Abraham greeted me, and Qusack did the same. I responded and sat on my chair.

Three envelopes were on my table; one came with the council’s seal. It was yet to be broken. “This arrived in the night,” Qusack said, pointing at the note from the council, and I lifted it up.

“By the way, terminate Gabriel’s work. He is slowing the workers down with his illness. I do not want him working as a mason anymore,” I told Qusack.

I made it seem as if I was irritated that Gabriel’s illness was slowing down the project. No one needed to know my soft spot for Aliana except for Qusack, and the look on his face said he figured it out because there was an ‘I-told-you- so’ expression on his face.

“Where should I put him?” Qusack asked me, and I shook my head.

“Nowhere he is old and sick. More of a liability than a help. Just put him on a weekly allowance to get by,” I ordered, and Qusack nodded.

“Have the doctor examine him. I can’t let him die on my watch. He understands this place better than any of us,” I said, and Abraham nodded in agreement.

The whole pretence was for Abraham’s benefit.

Qusack was the only person I trusted who would not judge my choice to be with a werewolf. I couldn’t say the same for others.

“I will ask Grant to handle it,” Qusack said, and Abraham volunteered immediately.

“Why?” I asked Abraham.

“He is Aliana’s father, and you know Grant won’t be careful. I will do it. She might be your mistress, but I doubt she could make you happy if anything happens to her father,” he said.

I nodded, feigning boredom at his words, but he had a point there, not the one I was trying to prove, but a good point nonetheless.

I opened the letter from the council, and it read.

“Alpha Nikolas Kowalski, we hereby summon you to the council tomorrow, the eighth day of August, to come and plead your coronation case. The meeting will be held at the palace in Ice Hill in Snow at three in the afternoon.

Our host will be King Frederick Semenov.

King Aleksander Zieliriska and others will also attend.

Kindly come with two of your officers, your nominees, to represent Forest in the council. As you are yet to be named King, you will also represent Forest on the committee.

Please bring all evidence to support your claim as the rightful heir of Forest through the Late King Mathias Kowalski. We look forward to seeing you.

Committee Leader Alpha Olsen Sadowski,”

It read, and I stood up immediately.

My heart was thumping in my chest. I looked at the clock, and it was seven in the morning. 1

I was glad I woke up early.

Snow was six hours away from Forest by road. We could make it for the meeting if we left in an hour.

“What is it?” Qusack asked me.

“We have been summoned to attend the committee meeting. It will commence three this afternoon in Fredrik’s palace in Ice Hill Snow. I have been ordered to bring two officers that would represent Forest on the committee and evidence to support my claim as the rightful heir,” I said, and Qusack widened his yes.

“That is sudden,” He said, and I nodded.

knew exactly

must know his sister is mentally unstable. He made the hearing quick, knowing I won’t be

you,” Qusack said, and I knew he, too,

would be in for a shock,” I said, and Qusack looked

leaving, then we should start preparing

now, it isn’t a secret that werewolves are in Forest or that they roam freely even though we uphold the unity law. Besides, as an ordinary leader, I am allowed to sleep with

mother would side with him because of her hatred for Aliana, or would she testify that I uphold unity

Qusack will be coming with me. I will leave Grant in charge,” I said, and Qusack was confused because I was supposed to take Grant with me, not Abraham, but Abraham is learned and understands the law. I needed someone to easily twist things in my favour

I said, and Abraham laughed at

you prepare. I hope your mother is ready for the long trip to Forest,” Qusack said, and I nodded. I got up from the table in preparation to

other letters?” Qusack asked me, and I had forgotten about them

picked up the first one, and it was

be visiting you Wednesday, the thirteenth of August. I will be coming with my servant. I wanted you to know before

your way. I hope I won’t be violating any laws by bringing

knows how to tend to me better, and I would

your response on the matter. Thank

to get my father to work against you. Be careful. My old man has

to guess that this

planned to allow him to come here

would be the next Hill king, it would be stupid to reject his

and didn’t take things too seriously. I needed that kind of friend. One that would

the heads-up about his father. Could it be possible that Aleksander was aware of the Hunters that came to my forest with warriors to attack my people? With what his son had written, I couldn’t put it

“My boy, Nikolas,

hope you

Fredrik has his way, you will be summoned

to discredit

disrespected him by sending hunters to Snow to hunt for Lycans and werewolves;

to claim that Isabelle isn’t your mother and that you are holding her feral self captive to

that his spies say you do not respect the unity law and thus cannot be trusted to have the best interest of Lycans in mind if

things with me extensively and has requested I

I know you are a Kowalski, and I

to be neutral for now to

properly and make powerful friends

Please remember your promise

time to think of both letters, but one thing I was sure of was that Aleksander was assuming a neutral stance on the matter,

my mother, but I planned to

letters over to Qusack. It

rushed out of the

are you?”

corrected me, and I felt ashamed that I did not

morning,” I

room having

to you/’ I said, closing

Aliana’s old room. I wondered if Aliana was still in bed or had left for the clinic.

I arrived

entered before she permitted me

her with

laughing about something, but the moment I stepped in,

her when we were done. She left, and I did not have time

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