Chapter 235


    ASHER


    | had never expected the condition to be so dangerous for me. Of course, expectation was one thing and reality was another.


    | stared down at the killer whose throat had just been slitted. He was the third killer we’d been forced to take the life of this week.


    Though these would-be assassins were not very skilled, they all seemed to be loyal to their master. None of them had said who


    sent them here to kill the king before their deaths, but Kane and Ss had their theories. My stepbrother thought it could be just


    about anyone, but the Beta assumed the man who hired these assassins was his own father.


    Though Oliver was the most suspected of the bunch, Kane suggested that it wasn’t just him who wanted to use this chance to


    take the crown.


    The second and third killers came only half a day apart, which meant our whereabouts had been exposed. It came as no


    surprise to me that our route had beenpromised. Since we had takenmand of the Myriad and taken a few elite soldiers


    with us, Oliver must have gotten the news from his spies. The old Beta had eyes everywhere in Wega. As much at | hated to


    admit it, we were never truly safe from his watchful gaze.


    If only I''d known that Oliver Moses was so wicked before all of this had gotten so out of hand. | would have dismissed him from


    my court much earlier bamshed him and his viinous family to the bordends,


    All except Ss, of course. The youngest son of Moses had been a worthy ally and | was grateful to have him at my


    side


    “Til be sure to ensure that our soldiers are extra vignt from here on out, Ss swore. his golden eyes fixed intensely on the


    body of the assassin’on the ground.


    “That’s not enough” Kane remarked, his face worried. The more Packs we visit, the more people will know what situation their


    Alpha King is m. It might incur more and more killers from different parts of the country.


    “Then what do you suggest we do?” | wondered as frustration swelled within me. “Do you have a n?”


    My stepbrother ran his hand through his hair and then nodded. Sort of. What we need to do is figure out which Packs are ging to


    fight for the Alpha King once this war begins We need to know who is going to have your back once things in Wega escte.


    That being said, we need to keep you hidden away for now. Allow me to present myself and do the talkin S presence will also


    show them the king’s authorityUpstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    kid want ine to remain in the shado “I cut him off as my eyebrows creased together


    “Yes and no Kai teplied gently “The Alpha King doesn’t need to be present during this campaign of ours, but that doesn’t (rated to


    remata is the ‘stay at one of nns when we meet with the Alphas of the differem Packs


    “What do you man and It was clear that my stepbrother had a n in mut, but | wasn’t following it


    (mund,


    “Tuned dogue yote capitained aid he stepped away for a moment and returned with medium sized ba


    in avatarred thar bot and resealed iba konbenta


    Take (pards.


    A fake king? An imposter?


    | wasn’t sure how to feel about this n.


    “Do you intend for one of the soldiers to pose as me?” | asked him


    He shook his head. “A soldier wouldn’t work Warriors of the Myriad have all gone through intense training. They''re too hardened


    to pass as a king and have no experience or opportunities to witness how a royal is meant to behave.”


    | stared at Kane for a moment and then understood what his brother truly meant. It was a crazy idea, one | didn’t with


    | began to speak. “Do you intend-”


    “Yes,” he said with a nod. “We need to change clothes. You will disguise yourself as a soldier, and I’ll-”


    quite agree


    | shook my head before he could finish his sentence. “This is too dangerous, Kane. You''re too important to risk. You''re the brains


    of this operation.”


    “Tll take that as apliment, Kane said with an amused smirk. “But that’s precisely why | need to take the job. | know how to


    act since I’ve been living in the pce for so long. I’ve observed your father and yourself for years. | know your mannerisms.


    your speech patterns, everything. We may not look much alike, but | know how to conduct myself the way a king should.”


    “Be that as it may, | don’t think this is a good idea,” | insisted. “I appreciate that you''re willing to take this risk for me, but this is a


    dangerous n, Kane.”


    “| know it’s dangerous, Asher,” Kane replied with a steady gaze. His violet eyes were even as they stared into mine and he raised


    his chin slightly. “I know what I’m taking on in doing this


    Ss and | exchanged a cautious nce with one another. The tall Beta didn’t seem too convinced of this n either, though he


    likely wouldn’t speak much on the matter. While Ss was intelligent, he had a quiet disposition and usually allowed me to make


    the decision rather than offering his opinion. That said, | knew if | asked him directly, he would speak his mind.


    | didn’t want to offend Kane, but as a headache bloomed within me, | found myself at odds with his daring n.


    JM


    “Asher, you have to let me do this.” Kane pressed, and he took a step toward me. “I don’t see any other option here.”


    “And what happens if you die?” | blurted out. “What do we do if one of the assassins gets ahold of you and attacks you, thinking


    you''re the Alpha King? | cannot ask you to make that sacrifice for me, nor would | ever want to..


    Kane remained silent for a moment, and we stared at each other for what felt like an eternity until he spoke again.


    “My death would be better than yours, Asher,” he said firmly, his tone full of resolve. “I’m receable. You, however, are not. You


    have a duty to Wega, and you need to follow through and remain safe. | will take your ce.”


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