Half-Blooded | The Dark Child Prophecy Series [✔️]

Chapter 44: Taking It Slow

Thomas led me through the crowd and into the massive ballroom where long banquet tables had been set up along the perimeter and covered in white table linens. I noticed my cousins off to my right. Eris and Alphonse's marked places were on the dais next to four seats for the Alpha Elite, meaning Jason and Maria. Three more chairs spanned to the left of the Wolf throne, seated to Jason's right. My cousins sat just off the platform at their own table. There was excited talk amongst the wolves of running on the grounds, and I could hear whispers about the ceremony tomorrow.

My attention snapped back to the empty chairs for the Alpha Elite as two men came from the outskirts of the ballroom and climbed the dais to reach them. Both had greying hair, deep wrinkles formed on their faces. Both appeared older than Vraal, and I guessed they were part of the Alpha advisory council. Jason had once said that the Alphahood was supported by betas and elders. I wondered exactly what role the two men played, taking in their expensive suits and polished appearances.

When we reached the table my cousins were seated around, Thomas pulled out the chair next to Gabriel for me. Breaking my attention away from the raised platform, I sat carefully as he pushed me in. He bent down to whisper in my ear, "I'll be just behind you near the secondary exit. Try to remember to have fun."

I glanced up at him with a smile, feeling grateful. "Thank you, Tom," I murmured. I watched him step away to his designated post before I turned to look out over the room's large open floor where the tables steadily filled with people. I sighed, suddenly exhausted. I had traveled for over two weeks and in multiple time zones, trying to lose whoever was tracking me. And I still wasn't sure if it had worked. My stalker could be within the walls of Tanière du Loup. 

Gabe pushed a brandy snifter of blood towards me. "Here, Seren," he said.

I nodded and brought it to my lips. I swallowed a few mouthfuls before I looked at them. "Thank you... Does anyone know how long the banquet is tonight? I haven't seen an itinerary."

Nikolas nodded from his seat on Krystal's other side at the opposite end of the table. I had noticed that my chair was seated the closest to the raised platform where my aunt and uncle were going to be sitting, putting me closer to Jason. "Tonight goes until three and then there's a Pack run. You thinking about joining in?"

I giggled. "I can barely keep my eyes open right now. No way can I handle a run tonight."

"There's another on the last night. I don't know how the whole changing thing works, but you could go then," Gabriel added. "Tomorrow is the coronation ceremony and then the dinner afterwards. You should take it easy tonight."

"I plan on it," I answered him, resisting the urge to prop my chin on my hand with my elbow on the table. It was bad manners. I scooted back in my chair so I could remain sitting up straight without tiring out my back by resting on the cushion behind me. "Traveling from Canada to Scotland to South Africa takes a lot out of a person."

"You need another vacation," Krystal commented as she took a sip of her cocktail. Her eyes moved across the room as her ears tracked different voices. I had only briefly told her about the note when I had spoken with her a few days previous. She'd offered to clear my agenda with the Crown's front office, but I had refused. "I think we'll be fine without you on assignment for a few weeks," she added.

"Good, because I'm thinking Australia," I replied with a smirk.

"Oh, Down Under? I could be down for that," she giggled.

Suddenly, a drum beat three times in succession and it drew my attention to the double doors as the last of the guests found their seats. "All rise for Her Royal Majesty, Queen Eris Mezdor-De la Vega the Dark Child and His Highness, King Alphonse De la Vega of the Shadow Stalkers," came the voice of a man standing just inside the grand ballroom. He was short in stature, and I hadn't expected such a loud and deep voice to come out of someone so short. Thoughts of a small and yappy house-dog came to mind.