Chapter 6

• Paul was rushing through the corridors of the palace. Cursing himself internally for running behind. Glancing at his watch. He noted that now he was seven minutes late. Getting to his cousin’s office, he rapped on the door. Counting to three, he opened the door. “I know!” he put his hands up in the air. “But what I found is worth every minute I was late!” He closed the door as Prince Mael, his cousin. Maximum his older brother. And his cousin, Alpha King James. All of them had given him the stink eye.
• “Well, don’t leave us waiting!” Alpha King James motioned with his hands for his cousin to sit.
• Crossing his legs, “so,” he looked at his brother, then Prince Mael. “Miss Iris O’Brian is not her real name!” He stated. He watched as Alpha King James’s mood darkened even more. “Nor is Dr. Marko O’Brian his real name. The only truth about that was the title of doctor.”
• He had spent months working with a man who had called himself Dr. Marko O’Brian. “So, what are their real names?” Alpha King James was growing impatient. The thought of being fooled bothered him, but not as much as having a feeling there was something off about the doctor.
• “Dr. Marko O’Brian was born William O’Donnoly!” Paul had to hide the smile that was forming on his face. The name had always brought a sense of fear to others. But for his cousin, the name brought regrets. Paul could imagine what thoughts were swirling around in his cousin's head. Believing that if he smirked even the slightest, his cousin might jump over the table and give him a whooping. “Iris O’Brian is quite the mystery! It turns out that her personal information is mostly kept under wraps, making it a bit tricky to gather details about her life. Everything from her adoption papers to health records and even information about her family and friends is locked away. The only insight I could get was from her school records, which took some time to track down. But here’s the interesting part ... she’s a true genius!”
• Alpha King James tapped his finger on the table. “William O’Donnolly!” he repeated the name several times. “The son of a bitch is still alive after all this time.” He filled his lungs with air. “It was reported that, regrettably, William and his wife died seventeen years ago. They perished after an attack by Myingan Pack members,” he recalled, his memory as clear as if it were yesterday. At that time, Alpha King James still didn’t believe a word that had come from William's mouth. It would take another seven years before he was presented with evidence backing up William O’Donnolly's claims. “He faked his death. But what about Lilly-Anne?”
• Paul clapped his hands together. “I found it a bit easier to gather information about Lilly-Anne, but I still ran into some challenges. When I asked around, no one seemed to remember her last name or the last time they saw her. Which struck me as a bit strange. I mean, it’s hard to believe anyone could forget such a significant event, especially one involving the Myingan Pack. The lack of recall regarding her last name was also puzzling. After spending a few days poring over news articles and visiting cemeteries, I finally uncovered what I needed. It seems that the reports given to us differ from those published in the newspapers. While the papers claim that the couple tragically died in a house fire, we received information they had been attacked.” Paul glanced at Alpha King James. “I came across some interesting discrepancies in the reports! It turns out that each article had a different last name for Lilly- Anne. It was quite a surprise! If I hadn't stumbled upon William's grave, I might never have found out that Lilly- Anne was actually a Bloodmoon. What's even more fascinating is that their burial sites ... William O’Donnoly and Lilly-Anne Bloodmoon ... are right next to each other!” He clapped his hands together. Proud of the work he had accomplished
• “Sorcery! It is the only thing that makes any sense. But why would anyone go to this extent to hide someone's identity?” Maximum asked as he glanced around the room.
• Paul smiled at his brother. “I was thinking about that as well!”
• Something had clicked in his mind. Alpha King James continued to tap his finger. “They were hiding the existence of a little girl!” He muttered as he rested his index finger under his lips. “The Magical community would only do that if they had good reason to believe it necessary!”
• Paul smiled, “I think I might have the answer to that!” he had grabbed their attention once more. “I flashed my money. No one would bite. Even used the royal seal as intimidation. Basterds would not budge. Nothing was getting me access to Iris’s personal information. So, I took a different root. With the best blow job he had ever been given … he who will not be named … began to speak.” He rubbed his hands together, knowing this stall was going to piss off his brother. “Iris was born Rosalie Bloodmoon. Her parents were William and Lilly- Anne. Every summer, Iris will visit her grandmother's place. Who is …” he hit his hands off the desk as if he were playing the drums. “The grand Archmagess! The leader of the Magical community.”
• Everyone locked their eyes on him, “WHAT!?” Prince Mael shouted.
• “Oh, and it just keeps getting better!” Paul chuckled. “Everyone knows the Magical community is a mix of humans and practitioners! With a few shifters but not many. During Iris's time with her grandmother, her father was also there. It turned out that Dr. Marko O’Brian was training them during that time. The ‘hunters’ and ‘huntresses’ are making a comeback! Stronger, faster, and better assassins than ours! That’s what I’ve heard, at least!” He took a breath, realizing he was rambling. “The Magical Community is excitedly looking at Iris to step into her grandmother's role when Meggie is ready to pass the torch.” Paul glanced around the area. Waiting for anyone to say something.
• “Just when I thought things could not get any worse.” Alpha King James muttered. “Next thing you are going to tell me is that they are coming after us!”
• Paul chortled, "Actually, Meggie has been collaborating with Alpha O’Connor and Dr. Marko O’Brian for the past fifteen years! The amazing Dr. O’Brian has been instrumental in their training. Meggie has also been working hard to change the negative stigma associated with humans and practitioners, and I have to say, she’s making great progress! More and more people are starting to move past those outdated stereotypes and give humans and practitioners a fair chance.”
• Alpha King James leaned into his desk. “I am beginning to see a bigger picture.” His mind was beginning to spin as the theories started to link together... “It is a cover up so that … O’Donnoly doesn’t find out.” He leaned back in his chair. “William knew! He knew … his father was coming for the crown. And … what is William’s plan?” his mind was beginning to drift away.
• “Given the extensive measures the doctor and his associates have undertaken to conceal various aspects of this situation, add in the information we have ... it is my persumption that his intentions are to protect the crown.” Prince Mael was the voice of reason. "I believe the cover up may be linked to your interaction with William twenty years ago. It’s possible that the doctor is waiting for you to recognize that William O’Donnoly was correct during his visit here two decades ago. Only then do I think their schemes will unravel!"
• “Dr. O’Brian wouldn’t go this far to cover up and then hide in plain sight.” Maximum had his sight on his cousin. “We should wait to see what Iris and Marko do next.”
• Agreeing with Maximum. “During the time that Miss Iris O’Brian is under my protection … we will keep a close eye on the girl.” Alpha King James was rubbing his chin.
• “I might be able to fill in some of the gaps.” Paul waited to see if he was going to be given the platform. “He who will not be named … told me that the grand Archmagess wants to close the gap between our races. The good doctor wants the crown to remain in our name. Individuals like Iris is going to make sure that happens.”
• With a brow raised, “I don’t know what bothers me the most … having a Bloodmoon under my roof or knowing O’Donnoly staying in the Capital for the weak?” Alpha King James muttered out loud.
• Paul smirked, “How about the thought of a sorceress that is related to the O’Donnolys … who is also destin to be the leader of the Magical Community?”
• Everyone shook their heads as the thought sunk into their minds. “You're a bastard!” his brother hissed at him. “I would rather deal with our mother!” he chuckled.
• “I have other things that need to be completed. Iris and Jayden should be landing at the airport,” The Alpha King looked at his watch, “in two hours! Mael, make sure everything is set up, and the camera is up and working. Max, finalize the security detail.” he looked at Paul, “be useful and find out more information on Iris O’Brian. Her file can’t be that locked and sealed that you can’t gather more information. I don’t care how you get it … give more blow jobs if need be, but I want to know more about that girl before she gets here.”
• Paul stood up. "You would be surprised. Males are not as easy as females. Males are not that willing to drop their drawers.” He snickered as he left the room.
• Maximum and Prince Mael glanced at each other and then at Alpha King James. All of them burst into laughter as they stood up. “Father, I don’t know if this will help, but I don’t believe Iris is the enemy.”
• “Don’t believe or don’t want to believe? If she is a sorceress, that makes her more dangerous than O’Donnoly. Make sure you keep your distance from her.” Alpha King James told the three men.
• Maximum crossed his arms over his chest, “You are scared of her!?”
• Pointing his finger at Maximum, “everything about her makes me uneasy. Sorceress! Bloodmoon! O’Donnoly! And worst of all her father is William O’Donnoly!” He let the air out of his lungs. “Her grandmother is the Grand Archmage … how the fuck did things get to this point?” Alpha King James seemed more than stressed.
• Maximum recalled the time he crossed paths with Iris. "That woman has bigger balls than most men," he said, placing his hand on the doorknob. “And that is saying a lot!” chuckling, he opened the door and left the location.
• Prince Mael waited for his cousin to leave as he watched his father put a file in the cabinet. “Father there is something else about Iris that you need to know.”
• Alpha King James turned around, “what?” he pushed the air out of his lungs. Exhausted already over the matter.
• “Iris belongs to me as much as I belong to her!” Prince Mael watched his father rush to grab his chair as he flopped down.
• “WHAT!?” his eyes were bulging out of his eye sockets.