The Dark Side of Fate

117 Into Action

-Leo-

I wasn't the only person shocked by Joan's words. The rest of the people in the hall were surprised too. Had we not caught her, she would have remained silent. She was despicable. 1 "How do you know this? Do you attend their meetings? Where does it take place? How do you communicate?" I asked her, hoping to get information that would help me rescue Casper and all the people kidnapped in the East. As things were, the East was vulnerable, and time was going. Any information would help.

Joan shook her head and looked at me. Her eyes were swollen. The silver cuffs on her wrist had stopped her from healing.

"So, how did you get the information?" I asked her, and her lips were quivering. She did not want to say it; the only reason she didn’t want to say it was that it could get her into more trouble.

"If you do not give us the source of the information, it won't be seen as credible," I said, and she began to weep.

She looked at Leah and then at the lords. There was shame in her demeanour, and I braced myself for more shocking revelations.

"This financial issue has been a strain on my family. It was why Leah's father went missing. I believe he ran away so he wouldn't have to pay the debts. I have been trying to find other ways to keep up with our lifestyle," She said, and I did not have time for this.

"The source, Joan," I ordered her, tired of her roundabout approach. She was prevaricating on the matter, and time was of the essence.

"There is a member of the cult named Igor Stepanov. He is Yuri's cousin.

He is also in the inner caucus. Many people do not know because he appears to be neutral most of the time, but he is a strong believer in Yuri's values, and Yuri trusts him a lot. He gives me a lot of money to go on a trip with him," She confessed, which was a subtle way of revealing her affairs.

"He pays you for a good time?" Devin asked, simplifying her words, and she shook her head. She was ashamed.

"Not really, we are dating, but we aren't exclusive, and he helps me financially. He was the one I planned to join on Cain's island this evening. The reason I told His Majesty I was travelling.

Well, he came to Lucland last yesterday.

It was a sudden visit, and I had to go and see him. I am coming from his hotel. I heard him discussing the Brighton attack on the phone this morning when he thought I was sleeping,* Joan said, and I was ecstatic about the news.

"Hotel name now!" I asked.

I wanted to pick this bastard up if he was still there. We needed to question him. I suspect he had a hand in the attack last night. I was glad the broadcast was stopped before this, or he would have discovered he was caught.

"He isn't at the hotel anymore; he is leaving for Cains might have left already. He asked me to join him, but now that he must have seen I have been arrested, he won't be expecting me anymore. He is a cautious man." Joan said.

"Do you know his other addresses?" I asked her, and she shook her head.

"I have two cousins called Ighor. One of them staying in Hayland," Erik said, and I looked at him. He shrugged.

"Ighor comes across as a neutral party. He is my cousin. We see his Luis Ivanov. Neutral and peaceful. He planned not to take sides; now I know he was lying." Erik said and stood up.

"Igor isn't supposed to be on any team, so I am surprised he is on Yuri's team now," He clarified.

fucking?" He asked Joan, and she did not seem to like how he put

in Grizlo," She said, and I

you have a picture of Ighor because? We have two Ighors that are our cousins, but only one lives in Hayland. It is either him or the other one. If it is the Ighor in Hayland, we can catch

all you will see is

Erik said, and

her. With guidance, he could scroll through her phone until he got to the

know how Yuri found out about AgK32,’ he gritted his teeth. He was enraged. It was so intense that

now," I told

was coming to the north," he confessed, and I ran my fingers through my hair. Erik was

you tell him?" I asked him, feeling impatient, and he

help me mobilise some Stepanovs to join my warriors based on my discussion with you, Leo. I told him that if the King gave us what we wanted, we could use the army to push Yuri back for

a Stepanov Army to help us push back. What were the odds that he

the airports and seaports," I ordered Bryce. We need to catch this bastard, we need to alert Jake, and we need to secure Stepanie because she knows

but the dots connected

hearing is now dismissed," I said, and

a brutal, aggressive attack by these people," I warned the nobles, and they began

they were. They were both standing, and there was fear in their

I said, unable

helicopter. We moved quickly, and some of

bet he had no clue of anything we

to team up with Yuri; we would have

you been able to reach mother?" Sylvester asked Dominic, and he shook

anyone called him?" David asked, and

him to call back," Marcel

call me when he returns. I have told his son Donald to start evacuating the people of Brighton. He said they have no bunkers and nowhere

were as white as a sheet.

your mother?" Tamia asked Sylvester,

her, they can use her to force Jake's cooperation and also try to get the location of our children from them. I say we move the children," Linda said, and Amelia

don't,"

give up her grandchildren, and Jake would never do anything that will hurt Stepanie. They will die first before giving out the location of

I say we catch Ighor and send troops to Brighton from the east to

Kyle are occupied with tracing out the people that

be our only safe passage to the

to add the west to the number. The West was already taken with Sean on his side and Stepanovs taking over Western packs. We did not know it," Amelia said,

right,"

alerted. If they had taken Brighton, it would affect Lady Stephanie, and King Sylvester would get into

South, we must pass through Brighton because it shares a border with Greenville. Moving our troops from the east to Greenville will be long and leave room for ambush because Greenville is in the southwest, and we will have to pass through the southeast to get there if we move from the East. With Brighton still ours, we can set up in Brighton and move