Chapter 281

The police dug up Deirdre’s remains the next day. They found her exactly where Pat said she would be. After the autopsy, Victor arranged for the police to expedite the release of the remains to Andrew for a proper burial.

The services for Deirdre were scheduled for the morning of Victor’s ascension ceremony rehearsal and the dinner afterward.

Amy, Mr. Gray, and Justin returned from the beach immediately after Amelia and Pat were arrested. Amy was at Archer Manor holding Andrew’s hand when the police told him they had found Deirdre under the garage floor.

Victor and I attended the private memorial at Andrew’s church and the graveside service at a little cemetery on a hill that faced east.

“Deirdre loved to watch the sunrise,” Andrew told Amy after the last prayers were said over the coffin.

“Then I think she would like this place,” Amy said. “It’s pretty and peaceful.” She hugged Andrew tightly. “She is finally at peace. It’s time for you to move forward with your life.”

Andrew put his arm around her. “I agree. It’s time for me to live again. It’s what Deirdre would want me to do.”

I couldn’t help smiling a little. Closure was a powerful thing.

Andrew, Amy, Elliot Gray, and Justin were four of the guests at the ascension ceremony practice. Like me and most of the others, it was their first time in the ancient building complex that housed the highest offices of our government.

The gigantic main building had a granite exterior. Some of the windows in the oldest section were in the shape of a cross. Centuries ago, they were used to fire weapons at the enemy during the wars for control of the government.

Victor told me some of the history of the association headquarters the previous night as we lay in bed after making love. Even the newer sections of the structure were more than two hundred years old.

The interior of the building was luxurious. The ceilings were high, and the floors were marble. Gold leaf molding and accents were everywhere.

I held Victor's hand as we crossed the vast entrance foyer. I looked up in awe at a ceiling painted by master artists over the last five centuries.

The main scenes depicted by the artists’ paint brushes were of Lycaon on a mountaintop as he looked down on the world, and the Goddess watching her handmaidens frolicking in a field of wildflowers.

It was beautiful enough to take my breath away. Goosebumps covered my arms as I imagined those famous artists on their scaffolding, lying on their backs as they painted these divine images.

After crossing the entrance foyer, it felt like we were walking through miles of hallways before Victor stopped in front of a set of two-story high double doors made of gold.

“Go inside with my parents, sweetheart, and sit in the first row,” Victor instructed me. “I must enter behind Alex when the priestess calls for us. Mom will explain everything as it happens.”

Lana and Harry were waiting for me inside the open doors. We walked up the aisle past rows of benches to the front of the room and sat in the first row in front of the dais.

“What is the ceremony like?” I asked Lana.

“It’s not as complicated as you might expect,” she said. “Victor will be led to the altar by the previous leader. Then Kyra will ask the Goddess for Lycaon’s approval and the Goddess’s blessing for Victor to rule.”

Lana smiled as she imagined her son becoming leader. “After Victor receives these gifts, he will make a short speech, and the guests will each throw a gold piece onto the dais to show their acceptance of the new leader.”

“I don’t have a gold piece,” I whispered. “Nobody told me I would need one.”

“Relax, dear,” Lana said. “This is just a rehearsal. Tomorrow, the ceremonial gold pieces will be handed out at the door on our way into the room.”

“Whew.” I grinned. “I guess I’m more nervous than Victor.”

Victor wasn’t nervous, but he had been a little angry earlier when he found his carefully written ascension speech had been erased from his laptop. He was contemplating firing his staff and hiring new people.

Some of Victor’s office staff had been hired during Alex’s time in office, and since Alex worked from home much of the last few years, he didn’t know them well enough to be sure they were trustworthy.

Members of the faction could have infiltrated the leader's staff. That needed to be remedied immediately, but Victor was hesitant to fire loyal staff. It could make more enemies.

I turned around and smiled at Amy when she sat behind us with her family. It was nice to see the happy group. Amy was now surrounded by the love of a good mate and her two fathers.

Everyone stood when the priestess entered the room and slowly walked to the dais while spreading her protective powder.

We remained standing as Alex walked by, followed by Victor. Both men had solemn expressions on their faces.

Alex led Victor to the dais and stood beside him at the altar.

Kyra began the practice ceremony without saying the exact sacred words or chants. Everything was going smoothly until she looked down at the dais floor and screamed.

“This is sacrilege!” she declared. “Who would leave such a thing near an altar of Lycaon?”

Victor looked down, and I saw him grow pale. Without thinking, I hurried to his side.

“What’s wrong?” I asked before I saw it shining in the candlelight.

Someone had placed a piece of silver on the dais near the altar!

Silver is never used in our world. It’s hard to find and expensive because of its ability to weaken or kill us.

This silver piece must have been left by someone in the faction that was against Victor. It was a message that they would never accept him and would do anything to replace him with one of their own.

Victor bent down to pick it up. I stopped him and grasped it with a tissue from my purse. I wrapped it tightly in the tissue and handed it to Findlay, who had also rushed to Victor’s side.

“It may have the culprit’s fingerprints on it,” I said.

“We will call an end to the rehearsal now,” Kyra said. “I must purify the dais and altar before tomorrow’s ceremony.”

“I want this room guarded after Kyra is finished,” Victor told Findlay. “Nobody is to be allowed inside until we arrive tomorrow.”

Findlay picked up his phone and left the room to carry out Victor’s orders. The rest of us filed out after him.

Even though nobody was in the mood to celebrate, we all traveled to the mansion for the rehearsal dinner. It would be a shame to waste the delicious dinner waiting for us.

Benson had the cook prepare some of the dishes he and Lana planned for the much more significant event tomorrow afternoon. Having his friends and family in a familiar place made Victor relax.

I wanted to assure him tomorrow would go smoothly, but I couldn’t say the words for fear of jinxing everything.

But then Andrew Archer whispered something in his ear that made Victor nod and smile.

He got to his feet and clanked his spoon against a crystal water glass. “Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Andrew Archer has an announcement he wishes to make.”

Andrew stood. “My grandmother, Martha Archer, left the Lycan Square mansion and the entire Archer fortune to her grandchildren. Because my sister Amelia murdered Martha, she cannot, by law, collect a dime, and everything has been transferred to me and my younger sister, Amanda.”

Everyone cheered, but Andrew wasn’t finished. He held out his hands for silence.

“I have decided to give the bulk of my now immense fortune to my daughter, Amy Gray,” Andrew declared. “I see no point in making her wait until I’m gone to enjoy it. Please help me in wishing her happiness.”

We raised our glasses and toasted Amy while she grinned and blushed.

My, how things in life can change. Amy was now a wealthy half-alpha. I was thrilled for her!

Soon after everyone congratulated my best friend, our guests began to leave.

After they were gone, I led my fiancé upstairs to bed. Victor’s ascension ceremony was taking place the next day. I prayed for there to be no interference from the faction.