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.

not seem to like

years now. We met at Yuri's house in Grizlo," She said, and I

of Ighor because? We have two Ighors that are our cousins, but only one lives in Hayland. It is either him or the other

we were hugging, so all you will see is his back. I took a selfie of myself hugging him. I

for me," Erik said,

scroll through her phone until he got to the picture she wanted to show us. He brought the phone to Erik,

he gritted his teeth. He was enraged. It was so intense that

told Erik, and

and I

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

on my discussion with you, Leo. I told him that if the King gave us what we

fault him at all. I had gone to him to help us gather a Stepanov Army to help us push back. What were

and seaports," I ordered Bryce. We need to catch this bastard, we need to alert Jake, and

sounded crazy, but the dots connected in my

hearing is now dismissed," I said, and

your guard and increase your securities at your Various estates. The North might undergo a brutal, aggressive attack by these people," I warned the nobles, and

Bryce asked me, and I looked up at Sylvester and Tamia where they were. They were both standing, and there was fear in

said, unable

moved to the top of the building to board the helicopter. We moved quickly, and some of us were making phone calls. There was a need for urgency, and we all

he had no clue of

much for wanting us to team up with Yuri; we would have

reach mother?" Sylvester asked

about Jake? Has anyone called

am waiting for him to call

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

were as white

they can successfully abduct your mother?" Tamia asked Sylvester, and he could not

take her, they can use her to force Jake's cooperation and also try to get the location of our children

say you don't," Amelia said

her grandchildren, and Jake would never do anything that will hurt Stepanie. They will die first before

be exposed. I say we catch Ighor and send troops to Brighton from the east to defend them," Amelia said, and I shook

and Kyle are occupied with tracing out the people that were abducted," I

be our only safe passage to the South if war ensues between Yuri

and South as his territories. Andrew did say it initially, only that he forgot 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, and we all looked at Andrew, who was as white as a sheet. I had forgotten

right,"

I suspected it was because they were saving it for last so the King would not be alerted. If they had taken Brighton, it would affect Lady Stephanie, and King Sylvester would get into the matter. I believe they

room for ambush because Greenville is in the southwest, and we will have