Chapter 188

Maeve’s POV

Holding the spellbook in my hands, I could feel the power radiating off it. It was amazing that I couldn’t feel the power until the safe was open, but now I’m staring down at it, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. This spellbook once belonged to my mother and it was a book that only an Enigma could use, which meant when my baby was old enough, he’d be able to use this book. It was filled with dark magic and spells that could destroy the entire world if not careful. This was a book that didn’t belong in the hands of King Arlan.

It needed to go back to where it came from; it needed to return to the Red Oak Tribe. I met up with Eric later that night; he had returned to the capital a week after I did so he could keep an eye on my progress and report back any of my findings. We had been heavily involved these last couple of days. Once I presented the book to him, his eyes lit up.

His fingers brushed the gorgeous cover of the book, a small smile tinting the corner of his lips. I could practically feel his heart beating as he grabbed the book from my hands and attempted to open it.

He frowned as he tried to open it again, but it wouldn’t budge.

“It won’t open,” I told him. “Not even for me. I’m assuming an Enigma has to open it.”

He sighed and ran his hands through his hair with frustration. His eyes watched me for a moment before trailing to my belly. I didn’t like the look he gave me; it sent an uneasiness to the pit of my stomach.

“I need to get this back to the coven,” he murmured, grabbing a cloth so he could wrap the book and hide it with his belongings. “You need to convince my father to meet up with them without causing a war. Can you handle that?”

I nodded, though I felt a wave of uncertainty clouding me. Spying and getting the spellbook was easy, this was going to be hard. But I mustered up all the courage I had and gave him a curt nod. He nodded in response as well with that, eh was gone.

I laid awake in bed that night, Xaden’s arms draped around me, holding me protectively. His face nuzzled in the nape of my neck as he breathed in and out deeply. My heart was racing with thoughts of how this conversation was going to go. I could blackmail him about the spellbook he had been keeping for all these years; I could go a different approach and hope he doesn’t kill me.

“What’s on your mind, babe?” Xaden asked, lifting his head to peek atm y face. “I could tell something is wrong. You’re restless this evening.”

I relaxed into him, knowing he was right; I was obsessing way too much about this and I needed to just calm down.

“I’m worried about how your father is going to react when I talk to him tomorrow,” I confessed. Xaden only knew a little about what was happening.

His frown deepened.

“You’re still going to talk to him about the witches?” He asked, a perplexed curiosity hidden in his tone.

“Yes,” I replied simply. “I have to talk to him. He needs to meet with them, Xaden. If I can do my part in creating world peace, then I’ll be happy. I’m doing this for my mother. It’s what she would have wanted.”

He nodded and kissed my cheek lightly.

“As I said, as long as you aren’t in danger or putting our little one in danger, then you can do what you need to do,” he whispered, putting his hand on my belly, rubbing soothing circles around it. I melted into him, sighing out contently as he continued to hold me.

“I love you,” I told him gently.

He smiled against me, his lips brushing across the nape of my neck.

“I love you too,” he replied with so much love and hope in his tone that it sent my heart into complete turmoil.

The next day, I texted Eric that I was going to speak with the King and try to convince him to let the witches into the Kingdom and meet with him.

“Maeve…?” Queen Leonora said as I walked into the palace. “I wasn’t expecting you this morning. Will you be spending the day here? Perhaps you can help with the wedding preparations,” she suggested, a kind smile lighting up her gorgeous features.

“I actually came to speak with the King,” I replied. “Is he in his office?”

“Yes,” she said, with a slight frown. “Is everything okay?”

I nodded, nibbling my lower lip, a nervous habit I’ve adopted.

“Yes,” I assured her. “I just need to speak with him about something.”

I went towards his office and when his guards noticed me approaching his wing, they stopped me and checked in to see if he was able to take any visitors. After a beat of waiting, they finally allowed me to walk the rest of the way to his office.

He was seated at his desk alone, typing something on his computer. He looked tired and his darkened expression remained on his face as I stepped into the office. He looked up at me, narrowing his eyes.

“What can I do for you?” He asked.

I kept my distance from him, still not trusting him.

There was no good way of doing this, or saying this, so I decided to be blunt.

“I know about Eric’s real mother,” I rushed out, before I could change my mind. “And I know about the Red Oak Tribe.”

His face remained indifferent as he studied me, though I knew there was probably a war in his mind. He leaned back in his chair, studying me for a long while, his eyes dark and penetrating as he scanned my every feature.

“And?” He finally asked after a long silence.

“I don’t know the whole story about your relationship with her, but a part of you had to care about her because you didn’t kill her,” I said, my eyes never leaving his. I knew I was overstepping big time; nobody ever spoke to the king like this, especially about his personal affairs, but I had no idea how to get him to see things from my view. “Did you love her?”

“What gives you the right to ask me that question?” He asked through his teeth; I realized that despite his calm demeanor, he was anything but calm. His Alpha powers were washing off him in waves and it sent a chill down my spine.

“You’re right,” I said softly. “I have no right to ask. But if you knew there were survivors from her tribe, would you wish to know?”

His eyes darkened and now I saw the beast behind the man as he slowly stood to his feet, his teeth nearly elongated as he fought to keep control of his Alpha King wolf.

“There are no survivors,” he said gruffly. “They died years ago with the others.”

“But what if there were?” I asked, holding onto my baby bump like I was afraid it’d disappear.

“What do you know that I don’t?” He asked, his Alpha power washing off him and wrapping around me like a harpoon.

I struggled to maintain my own cool, trying to fight against his hold.

“Are there survivors of the Red Oak Tribe?” He asked through his teeth, his tone getting louder as he walked around his desk, getting closer to me.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded.

“Yes,” I finally managed to sputter.” There were survivors. They have been living in hiding for all these years, terrified of ever coming out because they knew that once they did, it would be signing away their lives.”

“Where have they been? How had I not known they were still alive?”

“They’ve been living on the Lost Island, protected by magic. Only those with the blood of the Red Oak can see the village they created.”

“And you know this how?” He asked, stepping closer to me, his aura intense.

“Because when I was kidnapped that’s where I was taken,” I admitted, my eyes finding the ground. It was difficult staring at him directly when all my body wanted to do was submit to him. But there was something that was keeping me from doing so; perhaps it was my baby's protective instincts once again.

“Are you telling me you lied about your kidnapping?” He seethed. “You went to the Lost Island?”

“I was kidnapped and brought there against my will,” I corrected. “That was when I met them. Their leader, Mirage, has been wanting to meet with you, but she fears you will finish the job and slaughter what’s left. She wants peace. She wants to negotiate…”

“I don’t negotiate with humans, especially ones with magic,” the King hissed. “If she wants herself and the rest of her coven to remain alive, I suggest she stays where she is.”

“She only wants peace,” I told him. “Why is that so bad?”

I knew I was completely overstepping; once the King says no about something, it’s wise to stand down and accept it. But I couldn’t accept it; not like this.

“You are a Nieve girl and it’s going to get you killed one of these days. Your weakness will be a danger to our kingdom and to my son,” he hissed. “Don’t get yourself involved in things you know nothing about.”

He started to turn away, dismissing me with his final words. I felt a surge of anger boiling in the pit of my stomach. I knew I should have left and cut my losses, but that wasn’t in my nature.

“She has the spellbook,” I blurted; making him freeze entirely. “The one you hid in the library. She has it now. If you want a chance at getting it back, you should see her, speak with her… negotiate with her.”