Lana removed her hand from Isaiah’s shoulder as he stood up to move towards Zira.
“We’re just talking, Zi. Like old friends,” Isaiah said, stepping in Zira’s line of sight.
“No need for the dramatics, Zira. Any idiot could tell how much Isaiah cares for you,” Lana said while moving towards the door. “I’ll go see what’s taking so long.”
She exited the room as Zira brought the plates of food to the table. “Here, I made this for you,” she said with a hint of malice and plopped it down in front of Isaiah, nearly breaking the plate.
“That was nice of you,” Isaiah said, holding back a smile from her obvious jealousy. Her eyes focused on the door Lana exited from before turning to Isaiah.
“So,” Zira said, stuffing her face with tea sandwiches, “what’s the deal with this Lana person? I saw a picture of her on the mantle face-down and that conversation seemed pretty…intimate.”
She saw his body stiffen before he recovered with a dry laugh. “I’m surprised you heard us over your little private eating concert. It will always be a mystery of how you make sounds come from food like no other.”
Deflection, Zira thought. “It’s a talent. Now back to my question, Isaiah.”
Isaiah laughed. “We had…play dates here when we were kids and lost touch for a minute.”
“Is that everything,” Zira asked, raising an eyebrow.
Isaiah looked at her before smiling. “Well, we reconnected when I did my Alpha training here and she was training to be part of the Council or something. If you’re asking if we were ever romantically involved, then yes. Only briefly,” he said with a bit of hesitation. “She was…my first.”
Zira choked from the sandwiches just as the doors on the other side of the room opened. Councilman Faulkner walked in with Lana.
“Let’s make this quick. I have other matters to attend to,” Councilman Faulkner said. He looked at Zira’s stuffed face with disdain. “It seems we do not have this so-called White Goddess Wolf book you claim you need. So, I guess this is a dead end.”
“Actually,” Lana stated, “we have this book.”
Councilman Faulkner glared at Lana. “What?"
"We've had it for quite some time now."
"And you didn't instruct the Council?"
"I have my reasons and, besides, I got distracted with all the commotion,” Lana said, glancing at Zira briefly, “from the other day and it's been a while since I’ve heard it by that name.”
“Well, I for one, would love to see this book,” Councilman Faulkner said.
“No,” Lana said flatly.
“Excuse me?” Councilman Faulkner was shocked.
“I do not answer to you, Councilman Faulkner,” Lana said coldly. “I answer to the Alpha King.”
“I also answer to the Alpha King,” Councilman Faulkner retorted, “and I don’t think he will be happy finding you’re keeping secrets from him or his council. It could be seen as an act of treason.”
“The Alpha King knows everything he wants to know. Our fealty will always be with him as it has been in the past. Besides, no one can read that book. It has been locked forever. We tried many ways to open it and failed. However,” Lana paused, looking at Isaiah and Zira, “I think Arias might be the key.”
“How,” Isaiah asked.
“I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I have a theory. If he touches the book it might respond to him just like the crystal around his neck.”
“Why are you so sure it would work with Arias,” Zira asked.
“Both the crystal and the book were created by the founders. If the crystal reacted to him as you said, maybe the book will too.”
Zira clapped her hands. “Okay, so we should get this book and bring it back to -”
“No,” Lana briskly interrupted her, “that book has never left our library and I would like to keep it that way.”
“Why,” Zira asked, clearly getting irritated.
Lana just simply smiled at her. “A lot has been taken from white wolves throughout the years and something as precious as the Lefki Thea Lykos needs to stay within our borders. It might have secrets worth protecting.”
Zira stood up to face Lana eye to eye. There was no way she was backing down from this. “That book could be the key to saving my son.”
Lana matched Zira’s stance. “Then I would be happy to extend an invitation to Arias to come and visit. He is one of us, after all.”
“Actually, I think it’s an excellent idea, Lana,” Councilman Faulkner smiled. A feat Zira didn’t think was possible. “Leave Arias in the care of the White Wolves and they would get to the bottom of this so-called illness.”
Zira laughed harshly. “If Arias goes, then so do we. There’s no way I’m leaving my son to do this alone.”
“But you’ve done it before,” Lana said, her face devoid of emotion. “Leave that is. What’s another week or so?”
“What did you just say?”
Zira clenched her fists and readied herself to jump over the table. She wanted nothing more than to scratch the pretty emotionless face, but she felt Isaiah tug the bottom of her shirt. His face was calm, and he smiled at her before standing next to her. He was being careful of the space between them, and Zira was glad. Her heat flaring up right now would be the worst possible situation.
“I don’t see the problem with extending the invitation to us, Lana,” Isaiah said calmly. “It won't cause any alarm.”
Lana's usually blank expression seemed to soften a bit before she returned her gaze to Zira. “Let’s just say the circumstances now have made me reconsider my position in letting people in. I have to make sure we are protected from all threats at all times. I don’t want to bring about unnecessary…trouble, especially if I can avoid it.”
Zira scoffed at her. “Me? Trouble? What kind of trouble could I bring?”
Zira could see an almost smirk on Lana’s lips as if she was prepared for this question. “After learning about Arias, we’ve kept tabs on your family. Aside from the chaos you created the day before and seeing that you have yet to rectify that problem,” Lana said, indicating Zira being unmarked by Isaiah, “I wouldn't want it to happen again.”
“Wait-”
“Not to mention,” Lana continued, “the trouble you caused on your journey. Would you like me to list them?”
Zira knew of the troubles Lana spoke of but some of them weren’t her fault. It was one of those ‘wrong place, wrong time’ situations but she didn’t like the fact someone was keeping tabs on them. She felt a low growl trickle from her lips and moved toward Lana, but Isaiah stopped her from moving by holding the bottom of her shirt.
"How do you know that," Zira asked, trying to put the pieces together. Percy?
“I don’t see the problem with this arrangement,” Councilman Faulkner said. “I think his Majesty would agree this is best for the child. Seeing how Lana is trying to find a way to cure your son. Wasn’t that what you wanted all along?”
Zira was about to speak when the door opened.
“Daddy!”
Arias appeared at the door with Isabella. He ran to Isaiah, who swiftly picked him up into a hug. Zira immediately joined the hug. Arias stayed in their hold for a second or two before trying to wiggle from their embrace. Zira couldn’t contain the excitement she felt about this. Even with Isaiah touching her and her heat just beneath the surface, Zira didn’t want to let go. Everything that she wanted was within her grasp. Now she had to make sure it stayed this way.
“This little family thing is cute, but if we can get back to business. Lana,” Councilman Faulkner said.
Isaiah nodded while he sat Arias on the floor and took his hand. Zira took the other and she was happy that he didn’t pull away.
“Look,” Isaiah started, “I understand your need to protect your people, Lana, as you can understand our need to be with our son. If we can’t come to an agreement, then we will look elsewhere.”
“Isaiah-”
“Alpha Isaiah,” Isaiah interrupted her.
If there was a way to make sure her heat wouldn’t ruin this moment, Zira would’ve kissed him right now. She looked at Lana’s half-shocked expression as Isaiah corrected her and did a little dance in her mind.
“As I was saying, I think Queen Luna would frown on the fact that you are trying to separate a mother from her son when she could clearly see how much Zira cares for Arias. So, either the book comes with us, or we go with him to the book, or he doesn’t come at all? Your choice…”