Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

I ate the food that Ania brought, hoping Aliana would wake up, but she seemed to be in a deep slumber. I wondered what activities she must have engaged in to be this tired. It was close to noon. Was it our lovemaking that got her this tired? If so, I had to pat myself on the back for a job well done.

I glanced at her and chuckled.

Even though I had arrived in a foul mood,

Aliana had found a way to lift me up. I was grateful.

After the meal, I took the dish out and decided to meet with Qusack and Abraham in my office. We needed to act because I doubted Fredrick would make the crown accessible to me.

I left my room and found my mother at my door. She kind of creeped me out. I wondered how long she was waiting there. Her eyes were swollen, and she still had tears in her eyes.

“What do you want, mother?” I asked her, and she touched my hand.

“Please forgive me, son. I promise to find a way to make it right. Please. I can’t live with myself knowing you are annoyed,” she said, and I sighed.

“You need to give me space, mother. Thanks to you, I have to start digging into the past. How do you think that makes me feel? You made me look like a fool in public,” I said to her, yanking my hand from hers.

“Excuse me, I have matters to attend to,” I said, and she nodded and wiped away her tears.

“I loved Mathias more than anything, but he never gave me a chance. I always competed with dead Olive, and how could I beat a ghost? Leon made me happy. He made me forget my troubles,” She said, and I chuckled.

“And the others? I learned werewolves were among them, mother. The same vile creatures you claim to loathe. Fredrick told me you wanted Gabriel. Is that what all this hatred is about? Because he rejected you? Because he was sensible enough not to attempt to sleep with his queen? Is that why you hate him so?” I asked, and she was in shock.

“You are nothing but a hypocrite, mother. All you have told me ever since I was a child was about the werewolves being your enemies. You never told me the truth. When you got your senses, you gave me hell for having a beautiful werewolf Mistress. Little did I know I was living your fantasy,” I said, and she was ashamed.

“I must give it to you, Gabriel is a very handsome man, and he must have been charming in his youth. Hell, see his daughter; she is gorgeous. It is okay to want nice things. But I hate that you were hypocritical about it,1’ I said to her in a low, sinister tone, and she flinched.

Aliana. Do not get her worked-up mother. You have done enough,” I said and walked away. I briskly headed to the stairs. Moved down the stairs and headed to my

awkward seeing him after a while.

and went to

giving me reports on the errands I

know if we are to include women in

The women should be trained along with the rest of the pack that wouldn’t be in the army. Everyone should know how to defend themselves. We will try to get our

to it? They can also betray us to pay us back for taking over Forest and enslaving them.” Grant said, and Ingham

I am sure they know what is happening in Snow and Hill. This place is a haven for them. No one is hunting or selling them. They are treated as people here. They will be stupid to think they will have it better outside. I am sure they will fight by our side. They would

Ingham’s input, but I could not go back on my words. He disregarded and disrespected me by messing with Aliana, which would forever be a crime over his head. He is lucky that I involved

should we do about it?” Abraham

to even start because it

his eyes that I did not trust Grant and Ingham. He nodded, immediately agreeing and allowing

message to them. Since it is no longer a secret that they

Mistress, a werewolf, even though he said she is his maid. Please have a room ready

to it because I did not trust her, and Aliana was a werewolf. If I give her many responsibilities, Fredrik’s spies would have something to report

was like him too because only a shameless woman would try to sleep with her husband’s subordinates in the name of feeling lonely. The woman was a disgrace. I hoped she knew

the trade deal?” Grant asked me,

Gold, Timber, Iron ore, Quarts, asphalt and cash crops are already

we join the slave trade since it is part of

kings we do not have slaves to spare. We do not have enough workers;

them and get the crown, then go and Liberate them,” He said. As bright as his idea seemed, it was a huge gamble; we needed an army to achieve that. We did not

deceptive ruler. We can’t sell our slaves and then go to war to get them back. I have told them my stance on that, and I am sure they get my

start drafting people into the army. I

they left, Abraham headed to the library to read up on our laws and find loopholes I could use to counter Fredrick and the