Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Piotr arrived at six in the evening. I was told of his arrival and left the room to receive him in the foyer. Getting down the stairs, I saw him with a pretty red-head. She was very attractive, and I believed my theory about her, but I maintained a stern expression. Piotr’s eyes lit up when he saw me, and I could see true joy in his eyes. Seeing him now, I felt terrible that I believed his father had sent him to spy on me. The man genuinely liked me.

I reached them and extended a handshake.

“You are welcome, your highness,” I said, and he shook my hand.

“Thank you for having me, your majesty,” he said, and I laughed. Piotr had referred to me as a king from the moment we met.

“Fredrick denied me the crown, so I am just an alpha for now,” I corrected him, but he shook his head, disagreeing.

“Fredrick’s opinion about you is divided. It won’t take much to sway some of Fredrick’s people to your side. I know you will be King. It is in your aura,” He said, and I raised my eyebrows, indicating I knew he was patronizing me. Still, he shook his head, laughing and swearing he was telling the truth. I wondered if reading auras was his specialty. I tried not to amuse myself any further and killed the thought.

“I am happy to have you in Forest. I hope your stay will be pleasant,” I said, and he pulled the red-haired woman close. She went on her knees immediately. It had been a while since I had seen a slave act this way.

“Rise,” I said, not knowing her name, and she reluctantly got on her feet. I did not miss that she did not want to kneel but had no choice.

“Her name is Natasha; isn’t she a beauty?” Piotr asked me, and I nodded. Then he looked behind me as if searching for something.

“Where is your werewolf mistress?” He asked enthusiastically.

“I learned she is the daughter of the man that murdered your father. You are indeed a hard man,” he said, and I cleared my throat uncomfortably.

“Well, you should freshen up, and we can have dinner together. The servants will show Natasha to her room,” I said, looking for his trouble, and he shook his head.

“No need; she sleeps in my room. She serves me better when close by. I do not want to wake up and look for her,” he said, trying to justify the need to have Natasha sleep in his room, and I chuckled a bit.

Nothing he said made sense, but I allowed it. I understood his predicament, and I knew she would give him hell for making her kneel like that and talking about her as if she was nothing. I really did not want to be in his shoes right now. The look in Natasha’s eyes had said it all. i “As you wish,” I said, and he nodded.

Gezel came towards us and led them up the stairs to their room.

I linked Aliana to get ready for dinner. I did not want to invite my mother so she would not make it awkward. She had a natural hatred for werewolves, and I had forced her to somehow put up with Aliana; I did not want her to have more to talk about, and I wanted to keep Piotr’s business his business and no one else’s.

to go to my office and sit

me,

did not wait for me to tell him to enter when he stepped in. He looked tired, and I felt like a lazy bum because while he was busy trying to solve my problems,

needed the rest because it

has your day been?” I asked Qusack, and he sighed and sat

replied and relaxed, resting his

went to the werewolf clinic to see Nurse Alison,” he said, and

to give up Aliana. She denied attending to her and claimed she did not know what I was talking about until I proved to her that Aliana had

offered to work as Aliana’s private nurse to be her midwife and help her through her pregnancy. I did not oblige. I told her I

know about Newton, I decided to approve her request. As things were, Aliana and our baby would be safer in the hands

and approve her service in the palace. I want Aliana protected and cared for. Regardless of what is going on, I want

to tell you that

as

abandoned library with

were plenty of letters dating from your grandfather’s

why Isaac’s files would be

investigation, Abraham and I must review

take

that letter, I believe what he told us, but we are still sorting through the archives to get more

something valuable when we

his family; his residence in

and ask questions if need be,” He said, and I was

organise my thoughts when Qusack leaned forward to ask me

I snapped out of my shock to answer him. It did seem irrelevant because my

to what happened in Forest, then the people or person would still be alive. They might create another problem for me. I want to believe that everything died the night of the fight, but a tiny part of

I had a word with Newton,” he said,

plan to start training warriors, and he requested to send someone else.