Chapter 93

Charles

I took in her expression and the tangled mess of her scent. She'd had a long day. I didn't want to make it worse, but she deserved to know. There was also the fact that she was related to Asher to think about.

"Let's talk about it. Is Eason awake?"

She nodded. "I can get him."

"Maybe in a minute. I want to get your thoughts on something first."

She blinked and smiled slyly, twining her arms around me. "You don't just want me alone for a little bit?"

I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her closer. "That too."

She lifted up and grazed our lips together. "No chance we could put off being adults? Eason advised a PG-13 greeting as a little four-year-old might appear, but he said nothing about a closed door."

I hummed at the thought and let my briefcase call from my hand as I walked her back down the hallway.

"Temptying, but no... Maybe for dessert."

"Whose dessert?"

I smirked. "I'm an indulgent man, Grace. I think we can both have dessert, hm?"

She bit her lip and nodded. "Sounds delicious. What's going on."

I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts before I began to speak.

"Lawyers showed up at my office regarding Devin's detainment."

I blinked. "What does that mean?"

"They're being detained in Stormclaw." I searched her face for some sort of recognition. "Do you know where that is?"

She shook her head, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Is it special? Is it lycan prison or something?"

I chuckled. "No. It's the name of the clan that reigns over the territory."

"Are they loyal to you?"

"Yes," I said. "And maybe growing more so by the day."

I didn't mention Asher, but I explained the details of their detainment.

"There's a small complication. Devin is being claimed as a pseudo-citizen due to his former role as the alpha of Mooncrest."

She groaned. "What does that even mean? First, our President wants a total separation, but Devin is a pseudo-citizen?"

"It's part to piss me off and partly to have the satisfaction of punishing Devin under werewolf law... which will slide right off and add to the resentment."

It was such an obvious ploy. Grace looked up at me and narrowed her eyes.

"How can both be true?"

I smiled. "You ever wanted to take something from someone, not because you wanted it, but because you didn't want them to have it?"

She huffed. "Like a boyfriend?"

"I want to hear that story." Her face turned red. "And sure, if you want to think of it that way. Your President is petty, spiteful, and Mooncrest, while not a very large or influential pack on paper, is very important as the foremost leader of medicine."

She nodded. "I guess that's true, but what does that mean for Devin and... Amy?"

I paused. "I'm not sure if you're ready to hear this, but you should know."

"Don't tell me that homewrecker is a victim in this."

My lips twitched. "Can you wreck a broken home?"

She went stiff and pulled away from me, as I expected, but it was a conversation that had to happen sooner rather than later, especially with these charges coming down the pipeline.

"That was low."

"Hardly. It was true, will you just--"

"You're blaming me--"

"Grace, stop," I said firmly, catching her hand. "Is that what I said?"

"It's what you meant."

"Look at me," I said. She didn't. I cupped her face and lifted her face. "I understand it's still an open wound. I understand that you have your own feelings about it, but don't project those feelings onto my words."

Her eyes glossed over. "Did I say it was your fault?"

"... no."

"Because it's not. You should have been able to trust Devin. The fact that you found out that you shouldn't have trusted him at all is because of his duplicity. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to trigger you. I only meant to give you a different perspective."

She turned away. "I don't want to talk about her."

"Well, you're going to have to. Her twins are Cecil and Richard's siblings. Are you going to keep them apart?"

"Don't turn this on me?"

"I am asking your intentions," I said, watching her as she crossed her arms. I smiled, seeing really how young she really was. "And maybe about to make a suggestion for counseling."

"I'm not crazy."

"Counseling isn't just for people with severe mental illnesses; don't be a brat."

She huffed again. "I don't want to talk about her."

I lifted my shoulder. "Fine. We'll talk about Devin and the fact that his actions will potentially put a young, pregnant woman in jail while he gets to walk around basically free."

She went still. Her jaw trembling.

"Jail."

"Werewolf jail, no matter what I rule, depending on the charges that will be raised against them both on your behalf. Werewolves have different adultery laws. They won't interview her or care about how much she did or didn't know."

Her jaw trembled. "You... You're manipulating me."

"I never said I wasn't."

She scoffed, and then she frowned. "You said that... he would be free?"

I watched as Grace's worry deepened, her thoughts clearly racing as she considered the possibility of Devin escaping justice. She might not want to think about Amy, but at least she wasn't clamming up again.

"It's doubtful that Asher will even let the werewolf police into his territory. He's fiercely protective of his domain."

She sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "That's a bit of a relief, I guess. But still, knowing Devin could get away with anything..."

"I only wanted to make you aware."

"And manipulate me?"

"And give you a new perspective." I tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "You're angry. You're smarting from your own wounds, but you're not a terrible person... a bit unreasonable sometimes."

"Hey!"

I chuckled. "You're only thirty, Grace. You're allowed at least a decade more of being unreasonable before people start questioning you."

She pouted, and I kissed her gently. I pulled off my jacket and hung it up.

"Are there really adultery laws in the States that would put her in prison even though she's pregnant?"

I smiled. "And take her children and probably dictate that she not see them. She's a lycan. They'll put her in maximum security on principle: no visitors."

She paled, and her hands shook. I heard Eason moving around upstairs and Cecil's shriek of glee. I could see the empathy winning out against her anger.

"H-How long?"

"Her sentence?"

She nodded.

"At least ten years."

Her eyes fluttered closed. "Wh-Why wouldn't Devin get the same sentence?"

"He was alpha at the time. Werewolf laws make exceptions for people in power, and... he's my ward. He has a certain level of diplomatic immunity."

She shuddered. "Would Devin know this?"

"Yes."

"He's more of a bastard than I ever thought."

I reached out and gently cupped her cheek, my thumb brushing away a stray tear.

"He is."

She looked up at me, nuzzling my hand. "I hate that you're good and manipulating me."

"I think you like it," I smirked. "I won't let you just have your tantrum. Really cuts down on the time between the fire starting and the smoke... might even keep a house from burning down."

She scowled at me. "Eason said that about me... Said he was sorry for not sticking around to be my voice of reason and letting me fall on my face."

"I'll let him know he's only on duty when I'm not around."

She nudged me. "Enough about Devin and... Amy. How has your day been?"

"That was my day. I hate lawyers. You?"

She sighed and told me about her altercation with Jackson. I smiled, thinking about Margaret shoving Jackson around and breaking his nose.

"She's been waiting to do that for a long time."

"Clearly. I didn't realize she was so strong."

"Lycans tend to get stronger as they age. She's in her prime years."

Her jaw dropped. "You mean you're going to be sixty and even stronger than you are now?"

I smirked. "Margaret isn't sixty."

She blinked at me. "You have to be kidding. She's older? She and your dad had a thing?"

"My father wasn't a young man. He was full lycan and incredibly powerful when he died... In my case, I'm certain I'll be nearing a hundred when I start hitting my peak."

She blinked blankly. "Unbelievable. I--"

Her phone rang, and she frowned, answering it. "It's the patent office."

I let her go and headed into the kitchen. I searched the fridge for something worthwhile when I heard her gasp. She came back. Her expression was fearful and anxious.

"What happened?"

She shook her head. "They're lying. I--"

She frowned. "And what sort of information do I have to provide?"

She took notes on a scrap piece of paper before hanging up. She growled.

"What happened?"

"Lunar Remedies is claiming that they started their research on the longevity drug before us, so the patent office is opening an investigation."

I narrowed my eyes at her.

"I'm going to--"

"Do nothing."

"What?"

I pulled out a slab of venison and a tray. "Lunar Remedies wants to put forth this notion. Then, let them have the burden of truth. You tell the patent office to get all of their proof and organize a mediated suit through the Inter-Species Court."

She blinked at me. "What?"

I smirked and pulled out onions. "This is pressure, Grace. So push back."

"But if I don't give them anything, then--"

"How do you think they knew about the drug in the first place?"

She opened her mouth but said nothing.

"Think about that, and in the meantime, why don't you organize a meeting with the CEO of Lunar Remedies and get a feel for what he's getting out of this."

She blinked. "This is one of those business lessons, isn't it?"

"This is war, actually," he smirked. "Let your opponent show his hand, then cut it off."

She bit her lip. "Dessert, please."

"After dinner if you're good."