Chapter 291

I lay in bed thinking about the previous night long after Victor kissed me goodbye this morning and left for the Association.

Even though Victor denied it, I knew he was upset about something. My guess is the faction was sabotaging his work again.

What Cassidy said about there being better ways to spy on Victor was true. However, the grating to listen into his office was the only one that was wide open when I arrived at the spy's hallway.

That meant someone had been listening in to what was being said in only his office before I did.

I promised Alex that I wouldn’t say anything to Victor about the passages until he and Cassidy returned from their trip, but there were things I could do to help Victor before then.

After giving it a lot of thought while Victor showered and got ready for his day, I decided what I could do to help him and still keep my word to Alex.

I climbed from the bed and showered before dressing in jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers, grabbing a light jacket, and hurrying downstairs to the garage.

I was returning to the passageways, but I would be ready this time. I had a plan that should work.

When I stopped at a hardware store, I bought a flashlight and batteries. Then, I went to an electronics store and bought two small battery-powered surveillance cameras.

The clerk who sold me the cameras said they had a motion sensor feature that would make the batteries last much longer than if the cameras were constantly recording footage.

That footage would be captured on an SD card that I could watch later and show Victor if I caught someone spying on him.

My plan was to install one camera in the passage near the spy's hallway and one near the grating that listened in on Victor's office. It should unmask whoever was sabotaging Victor or their minion, who could then be forced to talk.

The clerk explained how to install the cameras and answered my questions until I felt confident I could install them on my own.

Then, I drove back to the rear parking lot of the Association Complex.

I sent Victor an ‘I love you’ emoji before making my way to a large Azalea bush near a modern block retaining wall.

“Crap,” I grumbled. There were no Ivory Columns or stone wolves. “How do I open the door to the passageway?”

I was sure this was the spot I had exited the building yesterday. Feeling around the stones, I felt a small bump, but pressing it did nothing.

I was about to give up, go in the main entrance, and try to find the bathroom again when I saw it.

There was a small wolf’s face in the block’s grain. I pressed the spot, and the door swung inward.

The Azaleas covered the opening, but I made sure the door closed behind me to keep my presence in the passages from being discovered.

Nobody must know I was in the passages. I had to unmask the faction and help Victor. If they suspected anyone knew how they were spying on Victor, they may find a way around my cameras.

Moving into the longer passage, I turned right and watched for the stone wolf that marked the door to the bathroom. I thought I could find my way to the spy's hallway from there.

But most of the tunnels looked the same, and I was soon lost again. Yet, I refused to give up. My mission was vital for my mate’s happiness. Nothing would stop me if I had to wander these tunnels until I dropped from exhaustion.

If I could find the spy's hallway, I was pretty sure I could find my way outside. I paid attention when Cassidy led me out. The longer passage was the key.

I heard footsteps behind me and rushed into a short side passage. Turning around, I peered around the corner to see who was coming.

I recognized Cassidy in the dim light and flattened against the wall. She wouldn’t be happy to see me in here again. Why couldn’t she and Alex understand the importance of stopping the faction?

The fact that they wanted to overthrow a rightful leader told me they were up to nothing good for the people.

But Cassidy knew I was there. She stopped in front of me and put her hands on her hips.

“Daisy, why are you here again?” she asked. “I told you how important it is that nobody knows about my work and these passageways.”

“The faction working against Victor is relentless,” I told her. “I can’t wait until you and Alex return from your vacation to help him.”

She sighed. “Then you did speak to Alex, but you won’t listen to him.”

I was becoming frustrated and a little angry. “I promised not to tell Victor anything about the passages until you return from your trip, but I didn’t promise to stay out of them.”

“What were you going to do today to help Victor?” Cassidy asked. She looked at the small backpack slung over my arm.

“I’ve got cameras,” I admitted. “I’m going to install them in the spies passage and find out who is listening in on important Association business and then sabotaging Victor with it.”

Cassidy leaned against a tunnel wall. “That’s not a bad plan, Daisy. As a matter of fact, it could help both of us. But you can’t do it alone. You have no idea what you’re getting yourself involved in.”

Cassidy, or Miss Grant, as I previously knew her, was completely different from the person I thought she was. She always seemed intellectual and kind of boring.

I never suspected when I sat in werewolf history class, listening to this woman teach, that she was also a mysterious and adventurous explorer and a fierce protector of antiquities.

“What do you mean?” I asked. “Why will my cameras help us both?”

She stiffened. “Do you want to help Victor or not?”

“Of course,” I said. “But why are you and Alex keeping secrets from me and Victor? We are family, and Victor is the leader of the Association.”

Cassidy’s features softened. “Do you really think of me as family?”

“Yes,” I replied. “My father is much happier since you came into his life, and I hope you’re in our lives for a long time.”

“You don’t resent me?” Her face mirrored the surprise in her voice. “You only had your father in life for a short time. I thought maybe you didn’t want me around so much.”

“The years Alex and I lost are gone,” I explained. “I’m not a child anymore. I have a full life of my own with college, friends, and a fiancé who is my fated mate.”

I stopped to organize my thoughts. “I love my father dearly, and we will always be close. But in a few years, Victor and I will be married, and we will start a family of our own.”

“Cassidy, I’m glad he will have you to love and to love him while I live my life. He deserves happiness, and so do you.”

Cassidy blinked back tears. “I didn’t know you felt this way. I’m forty-two years old, and I’ve never had a serious relationship. I hope I live up to your expectations.”

I put a hand on her shoulder. “Just be good to him and be my friend.”

“And as your friend, do you want my help?” she asked.

“Yes,” I replied. “And I would like some answers.”

“I think that’s fair,” Cassidy agreed. “What do you want to know?”

I felt like she was stalling. “Why are you here all the time? Why can’t Victor know about the passages? And is your vacation to the tropics with Alex related to what’s happening here?”

Cassidy sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “I can’t tell you everything, but I’ll tell you as much as possible. But, Daisy, you must promise me that you will keep whatever I tell you to yourself. You can’t even tell Victor yet.”

“But he’s the leader of the Association,” I argued. “He needs to know.”

“I’ll explain why you can’t tell him yet, but only if you promise to keep what I tell you a total secret.”

I hated keeping secrets from Victor. It’s not how we are together. And I truly felt he needed to know what was going on in the complex. It was his job to know.

But in order to help him, I needed Cassidy’s help and some answers.

“Okay,” I said. “I swear not to reveal your secrets to anyone. Now, tell me the truth about what you’re doing and why I can tell Victor.”

Cassidy nodded and began to talk. I soon understood why I had to keep everything to myself.