Destined for Vengeance ✔️

Chapter 17

Ryleigh released Julie's arm, placed her cup on the table and picked up two new ones, handing one to Julie.

"Jade, you better be careful he doesn't get too close," she linked.

"I know. I already moved. Did you smell him?"

"No, I haven't had an opportunity to stick my nose into his personal space yet. I'm working on it."

"Are you linking Jade?" Julie asked.

Ryleigh frowned. "How'd you know?"

"You get that look in your eyes." She glanced around. "She's not here?"

"I get a look in my eyes? Well, I'll definitely need to work on that, then. But no, she's not here. She wasn't feeling great. She might drop by later. Who knows."

"Shame. She was looking forward to it."

"Julie?" A man popped up beside them. He was a bit older – maybe in his late fifties. Julie flashed him an amiable smile. "Dale! How very good to see you. Ryleigh, this is Dale, he's one of King Alder's councilmembers."

"Right," Ryleigh said. "How long have you been on the council?"

Dale pulled his brows down. "About ten years."

"Ah. In that case I guess it's nice to meet you. I'm Ryleigh."

"The Shadow Walker," Dale said, nodding. "I get it now. No, I was not involved in the decision to attack your pack."

"Good. Then we have no issues. If the two of you would excuse me." She nodded at them both, emptying her cup of wine too quickly. Her head spun a little, but it was a welcome distraction.

She spotted Aaron again and started making her way towards him. She came across Ellis and held her pace. He was talking to some people, making the rounds so he would hopefully have greeted everyone by the time the sun rose. He looked up when she halted beside him. She nodded her head to a quieter spot.

"Excuse me," Ellis said, smiling at the people in front of him. He stepped aside with her, bowing his head towards her to create a sense of confidentiality. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong." Ryleigh nodded towards Julie, who was still talking to Dale. "You need to ask her to dance."

Ellis' smile dropped. "I can't do that."

"Yes, you can. You have to. She's miserable and bored. She doesn't want to dance with anyone but you."

"She said that?"

"Well, she said she only liked dancing with you, which is not the same, but it's your in. You have to wiggle your way back into her good graces, and this is where you start."

He didn't seem too sure. "I'm not certain I should be taking advice from you, especially when it comes to charming people."

"O, yes, but I'm great at teaching things at which I suck. But you're right. I'm horrible with relationships – ask Austin – and I'm the last person you should ever listen to. On the other hand, I've watched her replay memories in her head all evening, and you feature in almost all of them. She might not love you the way you love her, but she misses you."

"She'll turn me down."

"Maybe. But you should try all the same." She patted his arm and left him standing there. After that, she didn't let anyone distract her from her mission. She snuck closer to Aaron. There were a lot of smells hanging in the air – roasting meat, smoke, sweat – and it was difficult to sense the prince's scent.

She stopped, sniffing the air. There – that had to be him. She frowned.

"I can't tell you what he smells like, J," she linked.

"Why? Just get closer if you have to."

She shook her head, even though Jade couldn't see that. "No, I mean, I can't. He smells like soap. Just soap. My guess is he doesn't let his wolf out enough, and he doesn't get out enough, and he bathes too much. He smells like soap. I can't tell you anything else. It's a citrussy soap, if that helps. You might be able to pick up his natural scent, but I can't."

Jade cursed softly in her head. "Fine. Thanks for trying. I'm on the other side of the hall now."

Ryleigh made her way there, but stopped when she heard a familiar voice.

"I'm not dancing with you." It was Sky. She was standing in front of Conall, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Come on. I know you can dance."

"I can't. I'll look ridiculous."

"I'd love to see that."

"Too bad." Sky shook her head and turned to leave. Conall grasped her wrist, pulling her back towards him. He flashed her a smile that might have made any weaker-hearted she-wolf swoon, but not Sky.

"I outrank you, remember?" he said. "What if I order you to dance with me?"

"Then I hope your toes are ready to get stepped on a lot."

Conall grinned and started pulling her towards the other dancers. She sighed and struggled, but she didn't pull loose.

"Ry, where are you?"

There was a quality to Jade's voice that made Ryleigh's head shoot up. "What's wrong?"

"I think he's seen me."

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A/N: Buckle your seatbelts; there's drama ahead ;) 

Thank you for reading!