NATHANIEL
The body found in the rental car was not Avery's like I had suspected. It belonged to Travis, as did the blood in the gravel at the scenic overlook. He'd been shot in the back of the head, then his body was placed in the trunk of the rental car, and set aflame to hide the evidence. The police scanned the rocky field across from where Travis was presumably shot but found no trace of the shooter. Whoever did this had been thorough. He'd even taken care to remove the bullet from Travis's skull.
As relieved as I was that the body had not been Avery's, I couldn't shake off the guilt of Travis's death. He'd been killed because he worked for me. I tried to reassure myself that the dead guard knew the risks involved in his job. He'd died loyally doing his duty. But it didn't make the situation easier to bear.
Avery's parents were questioned extensively on what they knew, but I doubted they'd be able to tell us anything useful. This attack was premeditated and clearly involved multiple people. Someone had to shoot Travis, while someone else incapacitated Avery. Dumping a car requires two people, unless one was willing to make the trek by foot.
The question was, how had Travis allowed someone malcontent to get so close to Avery? Could it have been someone she knew and trusted? But she'd just arrived in town. Nobody local would have had time to plan such an operation on such short notice.
The Bell family had to be questioned. They knew where Avery was going and they had the financial means to back a professional job like this one. If they were responsible, it certainly made sense for them to strike when Avery was back at home to throw suspicion off of themselves. Problem is, why would they?
They were loyal to Balthazar, who was loyal to me. Sure, they'd initially fought against vampires in the war, but they were private military contractors. They'd been hired to. When it was clear that vampires were winning, they threw their lot in with us. Fighting against the order they helped create made no sense.
Still, that family had exactly the kind of resources a rebel group required. Access to weaponry, training in military tactics, knowledge of vampire security... The possibility could not be discounted. I'd need to keep a closer eye on them and do some digging into their activities.
If nothing else, they needed to be questioned in case they could provide anything of use to the investigation.
Right as I sent out an email to my top security personnel about that very topic, the door to my office burst open so hard it nearly flew off of its hinges. Queen Amelia Sinclair stood in the doorway, her face a mask of outrage.
Melanie hovered behind the angry queen. "Your Majesty, I tried to stop her, but—"
Amelia slammed the door in Melanie's face, cutting her off. She strode forward with a predatory gait. "Nathaniel," she said icily.
The Southern queen — the entire war, really — was the farthest thing from my mind in the wake of Avery's kidnapping. The meeting with Daphne Sinclair and Darren Frost seemed like a lifetime ago. I took in a deep breath. I could tell I was going to need all of the patience in the world to handle this encounter.
"Sir, should I send in the guards?" Melanie's voice chimed in over the PA.
I debated whether or not I should say yes. While Amelia's behavior was brash, I had anticipated such a reaction from her. After all, I'd teamed up with the witch who'd killed her husband. Her anger was entirely justified. Being dragged away by my guards would only infuriate her further.
"No, that won't be necessary," I replied, keeping my face composed. I folded my hands atop the table and gazed at Amelia with a look of disinterest. "Amelia. What brings you to my office?"
She stalked towards me and slammed her leather-gloved hands on my desk, leaning over until her face was inches from mine. "She killed my husband, Nathaniel. Murdered him! And before that, she killed his son, his granddaughter, anyone and everyone ever descended from him. She caused generations of my husband's family misery and pain, and you've decided to work with her? Not only that, but you promised to allow her to choose Sheridan's replacement?"
Amelia was talking about the so-called Sinclair curse. Anyone descended from Sheridan, as well as anyone they happened to marry, had the pesky tendency to die before they hit 40. The culprit was a vindictive witch who'd been sacrificing them for power and immortality. The very same witch I'd made a deal with days ago.
Of course, I knew all about that. I had no delusions about Daphne Sinclair's moral character. Power like hers did not come by without a heavy price. However, I was willing to overlook her unsavory practices as long as she helped me accomplish my goal of restoring order to the South and its surrounding territories. Retribution for Sheridan and his family was not a priority of mine.
Especially not now, while Avery was missing.
I leaned back and regarded Amelia calmly. "Amelia, please sit down."
"I'm fine standing," she said through gritted teeth.
"I'd like to explain my reasoning to you, and that might take some time."
"I don't care about your reasons."
"Given that I stopped your kingdom from being invaded, I think you damn well should," I said.
"Well, aren't you the hero?" Sarcasm dripped from her words as she lifted her arms from the table and straightened with a huff.
I sighed. "Look, I don't like the idea of working with Daphne Sinclair either, but I'd rather have her on my side than have to fight a war I'm not sure I can win. I understand that this is all very personal for you, but politics require pragmatism."
"So I'm just supposed to sit back and watch Sheridan's legacy crumble?" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up.
I wanted to remind her that her husband's downfall was his own fault, but that would only serve to agitate her further. "It's the only way to keep your neighbors away from your borders. Would you rather the south remained unified, albeit under a ruler of Daphne Sinclair's choosing, or for the surrounding kingdoms to tear it apart?"
Amelia regarded me with narrow eyes for a long moment. "You had no right to hand her the keys to my kingdom."
"With all due respect, you asked for my help," I replied. "I could have just as easily taken King Abel's offer to help take you down!"
"So you're saying I should be grateful?" she sneered.
"I'm saying you should set your personal vendetta aside and realize that this is what's best for your kingdom and its people," I said.
Amelia's pale jaw was set tightly, her wine-red lips quivering in anger. Tears started to brim in her eyes, and she shook her head. "You'll never understand. You are alone. No wife, no family. If someone killed the one you love and forced you out of your home, would you be so quick to shake hands with them in a truce? Especially for someone else's idea of a greater good?"
I swallowed. She had no idea that I was potentially dealing with that very thing. But I wouldn't clue her in on that. It would detract from my point and make me look weak. I stood up and looked at her squarely. "Amelia, I'm sorry, but those are the terms."
She huffed out a breath and shook her head. "This isn't over."
"Yes, it is," I said firmly. I'd make sure of it.
Amelia scowled at me, her glare so sharp it almost made me flinch. Sighing, she turned to leave. She opened the door limply, then paused before stepping out. "You think you're doing the right thing, Nate. But all you've done is make a lot of powerful people very angry."
"Goodbye Amelia," I said dismissively.
She disappeared without a word.
When the door finally closed, I exhaled in relief and cracked my knuckles. My nerves were frayed. I never wanted to dwell on it, but the reality was, Amelia was right. By allying with Daphne Sinclair, I'd alienated not one, but two kingdoms. Possibly more. And I'd based it all on the certainty that my ally was more powerful than her enemies.
A sudden realization struck me, and I wanted to slap myself for not thinking of it sooner. I didn't need old-fashioned policework and forensics to find Avery when I had access to magic. Evelyne Brandon had been willing to help me out before, so I had no doubt she would again. And where they might fail, Daphne Sinclair would surely succeed. Though given her volatile nature, I'd rather use her as a last resort.
Hold on, Avery. I'll find you, and I'll make your captors pay.