Chapter 187

“Can you do me a favor?” I asked Theo. We were still driving through the countryside on the way back from Queen Yarrow’s. “Rather than taking me straight back to the hotel since Charles isn’t even there, can we find a temple for the moon goddess? I’d like to pray for guidance.”

“Sure,” he said. “You know? It’s funny. When I first took the job, I didn’t pick you as the devout sort. But you really seem connected with the moon goddess.”

“Maybe it seems silly, but she speaks to me,” I admitted. “Not just in a feeling but in dreams and such. Like real conversations.”

He nodded. “I’ve heard of people with these connections like that. It kind of makes sense because I don’t think it matters which God or goddess you lay your faith in. It seems like the ones who are touched by the deities are always the ones who struggle with the most trials in life. And you certainly have trials.”

He made the request of his navigation app to find us a local temple to the moon. Crescentshire was too small to have one, but the nearest city did, and it was only an hour’s drive each way.

“Do you still want to go?” he asked.

“I might as well,” I said. “Charles drove all the way down to Brindle Cove. He’s visiting with his family. I don’t expect him before night. So, I don’t see that we’re going to miss him. Besides, we’re staying one more night here before we fly back, anyway.”

“You know, they’re probably tracking where you fly. Is the Queen going to be all right?”

“She is,” I said. “She has already told me that she’s leaving for a new hiding spot. She knew that staying in that house is no longer safe, but she felt like this information needed to get out. I’m the one chance for it to get out via somebody the people will believe.”

“She does have a point,” Theo agreed. “Do you think you ought to fly to a few more places before going back to Packhaven? Given what you told the king, you would be doing as far as supposed interviews go.”

“Probably,” I said. “Leaving Packhaven again will also give me time to do my research uninterrupted. It’s not like I can pull out the laptop that I used to get on the dark web while I’m in Packhaven and under watch.”

Theo chuckled. “You did a good job of hiding it from me. I don’t doubt that you could get away with it again, at least for a short time. But you’re right. Moving around is a better way for you to do your research. And it might not end up being a total lie. Instead of interviewing people to supposedly make the king look good, you can find the missing heir.”

“I just wish I had a better place to start than some rumors in the Alpha Archives. I don’t know that the alphas know anything more than what was recorded in the medical documents. That’s exactly why I want to go to the moon goddess’ temple.”

We were already on the highway headed for the city with the temple. The rest of the ride, Theo and I talked about any and everything that didn’t have to do with the royals or our current situation. I felt at ease and was glad that he was along.

Somehow, for as much as I felt like Charles was my other half, my love and my partner, Theo, had somehow become a part of the family I had collected as an adult. I missed Cathy, Todd, and Violet. But they couldn’t come with me while I dove down this dangerous path.

Theo’s ability to go into the heart of danger with me made him special, even among friends. And I had liked him before, but somehow, in saving his sister, a new bond had been forged between us. I was positive that we would be lifelong friends.

The problem was, I just didn’t know how long that life would be once I exposed the king for the horrible man he was.

Part of me really hoped that I would find a real heir to the throne. If I could, I would have a small chance at clemency through them. If I could find this heir and prove that they were the offspring of the Alpha King, then I could expose the king for all of his wickedness.

If we could place the heir on the throne, then I wouldn’t be at the mercy of a tyrant. I would be at the mercy of this newly restored royal family member. Hopefully, their gratitude for placing them back on the throne would be enough to protect me.

When we reached the temple of the moon goddess, Theo let me go in on my own while he guarded the entrance. Some quiet monks and priestesses wandered the grounds, but it was the middle of a day on a weekday, and otherwise, the temple was empty.

I lit a few sticks of incense and set them before a statue of the moon goddess, then took a place on my knees, bowed my head, and prayed.

I sent a plea to the goddess to guide me in the correct direction. She had said on the plane in my dream that I was on a good path. Or at least the path of truth.

But if I was going to stay on that path, if I was going to do my best for her children, the werewolves, then I needed more information. I needed a nudge in some other direction.

Whispers of moonlight surrounded me, and I opened my eyes, shocked to find myself staring at a pair of naked feet with an immaculate pedicure. Feet that looked like they should belong to the moon goddess.

But that was ridiculous because these feet were solid, and no one saw the moon goddess in person.

I glanced up, expecting to see a person standing over me. Instead, those perfect feet did indeed belong to the moon goddess. She stood perfectly still, smiling down at me.

“Stand, please, my child,” she crooned.

I scrambled to my feet, keeping my head bowed. She placed a gentle hand on top of my head, the power of her touch like a weight.

“There’s no need to keep your face turned from me, my daughter. I would have you look upon me with all of the love that I know is in your heart.”

I glanced up at her, still afraid of being face-to-face with a very real goddess. As if she knew, she was smiling at me with the most motherly and reassuring smile I’d ever seen. It made me want to hug her and run from her at the same time, with all of the overwhelming emotions she churned up in my chest.

“Please, moon goddess, I need advice,” I begged. “Please tell me you’ve come to give me guidance.”

I looked around, suddenly aware everyone in the temple could probably hear us, but the surrounding area of the temple was completely empty. I had no idea what the moon goddess had done to keep everyone away so we could have a private conversation. But I was grateful. Somehow, I wanted this moment to be just between the two of us.