Forged in the Flames by Karima Sa'ad Usman

Chapter 76 A Tough Call (Nikolas POV)

Since Piotr visited, three weeks passed, and I had somehow missed him. While he was around, we talked about many problems our world faced, and I could see that we were reasoning along the same lines. It would be great for us to realise our dreams, and I hope it will happen soon.

Abraham and Qusack had finished their investigation and would finally give me the reports. Some of which they warned was based on speculation because they could only work with the letters they found.

I was eager to discover what was happening, so I hurried out of my room in the morning and headed to my office. Things were moving fast, and I hoped they could move faster because time was going for Aliana and me. Soon her pregnancy would be visible, and I would need to find a way to keep it secret. Getting the crown did not seem feasible anytime soon, and I hoped I could do something to make it happen quickly so we could move on with our lives.

Qusack had set a trap for Doctor Newton, and we were yet to get a confirmation of his treachery. We had found a way to inform the Doctor that I planned to marry a Lycan to get the crown. Qusack discussed it with Abraham while the Doctor checked his vitals. It was a very huge joke. Although we wanted to set a trap, we did not want to set one that would cost us. Saying I was planning to get married for the show to get the crown was good enough. It was a dubious act that could indeed get me the crown. One informant would need to report to their master. The story was planted over a week ago, yet we had no reaction or response. The Doctor was watched closely; the only letters he seemed to have sent through the post office were medication requests. Even though we were yet to see results, we could not cancel the possibility that he was an informant. We just had to wait. I hoped we would not need to wait too long for our sake.

I waited and arrived in the office, and the men were there. Qusack was a bit worried, and I knew he did not have good news. We had been scarce around each other since Piotr left. While they investigated what happened in the balance by reading correspondence, I had travelled between Timber and Riverhead to see Grant and Ingham’s progress on the troops.

I went to sit at my desk, bracing myself for what would be revealed to me.

“Good morning, Alpha,” Abraham greeted me, and I nodded and wanted him to get straight to the point. I was eager to learn what they had discovered.

Abraham sighed and started.

“First, I will say Miles wasn’t lying about Leon. He did plot with someone to be King. We are yet to find out who that person is. Still, some references in the letter have forced me to ask a friend in the history library in the Snow to secretly get me a register. Apparently, he know what family Asci Cauls is or if it is even a name, but I plan to find out. It could be a code name, but the register will help me cross out people before looking at other options,” He said, then sighed.

“All we discovered was that most people on your father’s council were corrupt. We also saw the signed decree your father sent to Frederick agreeing to the slave trade. Still, when we cross-checked the signature on the parchment and other decrees your father had signed, we found that the t and the s were similar but not the same. Meaning the slave decree was a forgery,” he said, pausing for me to take it all in. “And what does that signify?” I asked him, and he sighed.

“If your father’s signature on the decree was a forgery, then the Unity Law does not stand. The downside is that it will take much convincing, nearly impossible for us to prove. With everyone dancing to Frederick’s tune, it will be impossible to achieve,” he said.

I already knew that before he said it. Their investigation was solely to inform and not to prove. “Lastly, we found some letters sent by Gabriel and the story he told you checked out, but there was a slight issue. Mathias’ signature indicating he had received and viewed the letters was the same as the fake one on the decree. It meant he did not receive or respond to these letters. Basically, someone in the palace was receiving letters on his behalf and responding to them. We are yet to know who it is, but I know finding Asci Cauls would expose something that would lead us to the culprit or culprits,” He said, and I understood his angle.

“We found some letters from your mother to her brother demanding her share of her father’s wealth because King Mathias had cut her off. I do not know why, but according to her in the letter, he had cut her off and was threatening to send her away.

indicated she was pregnant, and the baby was indeed Mathias, but he had found something and cut her off. She

he did not accommodate her when Gabriel sent

to find out what it is. Hopefully, it won’t be anything serious,” He said,

my mother, I expect to be disappointed, Frederick had hinted they had issues, but I was more interested in who was signing decrees and letters

never signed those things, Gabriel and my

my father even in death. If I could punish myself for what I did to the man and tried to do to his daughter, I would do it, but I couldn’t. The best I could do

learned of the arrival of a werewolf messenger from Hill.

delivered by a werewolf from the Hill. The letter

remain because he had escaped some Snow hunters on

decide to bypass

told them to find accommodation for the messenger while Qusack Abraham and I attended to the

hoped nothing terrible happened. I was also apprehensive because Aliana’s pregnancy was progressing, and she would soon begin to show. If

was worried and

lead to war. I was afraid of

Piotr sent,

well. I am grateful for

I said

office because I found out recently

mailing them to us. This is why he seems to know what we are planning and

have decided to boycott the post office and communicate with you

loyalty issues in Hill, I had to depend on a werewolf

letter

week, and my father and I were

claimed you have blatantly refused to answer their letter and denied their request about the slave trade. They want to find you guilty of

hands so they do not move against you, but With Frederick championing the cause, we could not expect anything good to come out of it. I am writing you this letter to warn you