Council of Fae - The Alpha King's Sister

Chapter 9

Cillian

I pulled up out the front of Brodric’s house 8am on the dot the frost was still covering the lawn and fog was still settling on the hills in the distanced. Three weeks ago, Brodric moved out of Hardgrave dorm into his own place with Zara about 15 minuets from my place, they had spent most weekends traveling to home stores while Zara finalised the interior decorating of their home. Zara also had also re-decorated Brodric's wardrobe, so it seemed as his usual plaid shirts had been replace with more sophisticated ones although she had yet to win the battle over his shoes as even though he was dressed better he still wore the same worn boots. Brodric emerged from the house holding two coffees in foam cups and a paper bag, I was surprised how he got into the car without dropping anything as he proceeded to hand me a coffee.

“Zara made us coffee and bacon and egg rolls” he said tossing me one of the paper bags

“Ahh brilliant” I said, tearing open my roll and devouring half of it in one bite, Brodric laughed and did the same. We started driving to Joanna’s to find out more about last night’s attack, the council would have met at dawn so we would have a better idea of what is being done. “You didn’t tell Zara, right?” I asked “No, I heard that little Morag guy this is confidential, and she probably would have been a wreck if I did” Brodric explained “So, what did you tell her when I mind linked you” “I said we had official pack business” I nodded at him; I know he would want to share everything with Zara but when it came to the council confidential meant confidential. Brodric is in his final year of college yet once finished he will remain here with Zara where he will take care of our family’s business office in Providence city as well as represent our family here. I envied him that he would be able to live his life in a way that he wanted with no obligation to the crown to be a certain way. We are not close with our father, he is a stern man who did not warm easily that was tough on us with expectations that are unachievable that is why I probably decided to stay here and do a masters rather than return to Alceid where the pressure of living up to him would consume me completely. We arrived out the front of Joanna’s house, an earthy green Georgian manor with white trim around the windows and doors and a chimney with smoke escaping from it, there was a set of wicker chairs on the porch with blankets draped over them, “Do you think she will welcome the unexpected visit from us” Brodric asked with a tone of hesitation “I am not sure, but I have questions” I replied. just as we were about to ring the bell the door swung open startling Brodric who almost screamed. A lean guy with powder pink hair, nose ring stood in doorway he looked us up and down and smiled, he was wearing silver overalls and pink combat boots carrying a caverns bag “Mum, there are two wolves here to see you” he screamed without breaking eye contact with me. soon Joanna appeared behind him, “You may go Charlie, I am sure you are busy today” and directed for him to leave to which he did and ran down the steps to a navy VW golf and sped away. “Do not let looks deceive you, he is very powerful. Maybe even more powerful than me” Joanne said whilst escorting us inside towards the sitting room where the fire was raging. “I didn’t know you had a child I said after taking a seat on a large green sofa Brodric sitting beside me. Joanna smiled “Yes, I have two, Lauren and that was Charlie is he is 19 at Ivenloch, dorms at Selket house because he doesn’t want to live with his mother apparently, yet he is always here to eat” she said with a laugh. “Does he work for the council as well” I asked “Not really, If I need help I do give him tasks” she explained with a smile, and brought over a tray or tea and continued to pour us each a cup Joanna took her seat directly across from us, she took a small sip of tea and set it down and folded her hands in her lap “so, I assume you are here about last night attack and what we have agreed to do with the council?” Joanna asked “Yes, as you could imagine it is concerning to know that a nymph was killed in the Ureil Forest, well not just killed but the brutality of it all” I could not help but picture what I had seen last night, it haunted my mind still I even could not shake the scent of it “The council has had a meeting, given Lomax has other commitments outside of the council he has suggested that you assist the council in his place for this Cillian” Joanna explained “Yes! I responded hastily “Excellent! This is a very large commitment” Joanna responded “Yes, I know it would be, but I really need to see this though” I replied. “Well, you need to know it is not the first Fae that has been found dead and with its heart removed. Last week a Siren was found the same way and as you can assume we are concerned.” “So, what are we going to do? What can we do” I asked? “Currently we cannot do anything, we do not know who is doing or what, we cannot determine why. The samples I took last night are coming ups with nothing so we have no way to knowing what is doing this” Joanna started to look flustered “So, what happens next” Brodric asked “Unfortunately, Nothing, we will continue to monitor the situation, so it is just Fae business as usual.” “Do nothing? That’s not acceptable! We need to be hunting this thing down” I said jumping to my feet, it startled Brodric who spit his tea on himself “Cillian, I understand but we cannot hunt for something we cannot see it is impossible” she raised her hand from me to reclaim am my seat to which I followed. “I have asked Charlie to look into some possible spells in the meantime, but it is a long shot” Joanna explained, I could accept this from her however two Fae have been murdered and for what reason and why in providence city the city of safety. My phone started buzzing it was Javier, I looked back at Joanna “So, what do I do?” I asked, unsure on what role I was to take in Lomax’s absences “You wait, keep your ears to the ground and let us know if you hear something” Joanna explained. My phone started buzzing in my pocket knowing it Javier or Marco “Thank you for your time, Joanna, we must be off…pack business” we rose from the sofa and Joanna escorted us to the door “Can I just have a private word with you Cillian” she asked, Brodric nodded and walked back to the car “You wolf is stressed; I can sense there is something confusing it” she said putting her hand on my shoulder "Oh, I am not sleeping well these days" said, running my hand thorough my hair “Is your mate helping you “Joanna asked “I don’t have one” I responded looking down at my shoes, I am not sure why I felt embarrassed to say that too her as it was the truth, I had no mate and it was common knowledge amongst the Wolves “Are you sure?” Joanna said her eyes narrowing at me. "Yes" I said, Joanna smiled and nodded to me as she turned and closed the door. What a strange exchange I thought.