Chapter 63: New Developments

(LOCKE)

Corrine has no choice but to tell Erik the truth about George. Needless to say, he’s not pleased, but he cannot deny that the deputy commissioner was a useful ally. He also promises to grant further financial aid to his widow and sons.

“We’ll pay off the mortgage on their house and transfer title to the widow’s name. I’ll also make sure she is set up with a generous monthly stipend.” Erik leans back in his chair, frowning. “But down to the matter at hand. If these people are following you, that means they want you for some reason.”

“Maybe it was a coincidence,” Cassian pipes up. We had to involve him in this meeting because he’s the face of the task force. When I glare at him, he shrinks in his seat. “Or maybe I’m wrong.”

“The ability to mask their scent.” Erik looks perturbed. “This is not a good thing.”

I exchange a look with my mate before speaking. “The assassination of the former king and queen of the North might share a link with the current kidnappings. I know you’re against the autopsy, Erik, but we need to verify how long these people have been attacking our kind. I haven’t had a chance to go over the contents of the flash drive yet, but George mentioned that there have been a lot of cases. There is clearly something in their bodies, something that can lead us to the culprit. Why else would those corpses have disappeared from the morgue?”

Erik’s jaw tightens. “I already told you—”

“And I’m telling you that I trust Maya. She’s the only one who has the skill set necessary. Be reasonable, Erik. These people have the ability to mask their scent. They must’ve created some formula that works on them. Nobody is safe. And it’s obvious that they did not want those bodies cut up and examined. We need to conduct an autopsy on Harold.”

Cassian hesitates. “I have to agree with the king. If even one human discovers we have such a unique anatomy, there’s nothing to stop them from trying to capture our kind and study our bodies. We could be diving into a very dangerous rabbit hole here.”

“I disagree,” Healer Jerry interjects. “I’m quite interested in Maya’s skills. And she already has an idea of how our bodies function, considering she’s been looking after young Finn for so many years. I would like to learn from her as well as take her under my wing and teach her. But I understand that she has a very sick mother whom she cannot abandon, so asking her to cut ties with the human world might not work.”

“But, Uncle!” Cassian protests. “The dangers of allowing a human to work on our bodies, to learn our secrets—”

“Cassian is right.” Erik shakes his head. “The threat is too great.”

With that, the meeting ends, and Corrine and I wander outside to find our son. He is playing happily, so we sit in the gazebo and watch him for a while.

Finn is more than excited about staying in the palace with Sigrid. He has bonded with my attendant, and seeing her eyes light up when he calls her “grandma” makes me wonder if Rothan is going to be pressured into giving her some grandchildren soon.

“He’s going to be fine,” I assure Corrine as she watches our son running circles around Sigrid in his wolf form. “Sigrid will take care of him. She has a lot of experience. She used to be the only one aside from my parents who could tire me out.”

“What if he misses me?” My mate looks anxious.

“There’s a very low probability of that happening,” I muse. Given how animated Finn is, he’s forgotten about his mother by now.

“Alright,” Corrine gives me a wan smile. “Point taken. Let’s go home.” “A word, you two?”

Erik’s voice has me looking over my shoulder. The king is standing at the door we came out of earlier, and he motions to us.

“Now what?” I mutter.

“Be nice.” Corrine squeezes my hand. “Come on. Let’s go see what he wants.”

We follow him deep into the palace, the silence tense. Erik doesn’t utter a sound, and I can sense the beginning of Corrine’s tension. Something is up.

Finally, we reach a steel door, and Erik puts his thumb on a small, lit-up pad beside the handle. There is the sound of unlocking, and then he opens the door, revealing a white, marbled room.

“Maya?!”

Corrine is obviously shocked to see her here, and I stare at the loud-mouthed human girl for a moment. Then my eyes settle on the only other occupant of the room. It’s Healer Jerry.

“What’s going on?” Corrine steps inside, her voice strained. “You told us less than an hour ago that you weren’t going to bring Maya in. What is this?”

“Why don’t you ask Jerry here?” Erik says tightly. “He seems to have all the answers.”

Before the healer can say anything, though, Maya speaks up. “Jerry approached me a few days ago, Corrine. As you know, my mother is not well. Jerry offered to try to heal her. He was able to give her a few hours of lucidity.”

Corrine makes a small sound. “How is that possible?”

“Her disease is of the brain,” Jerry explains. “I can’t cure it, but I can offer some relief. Dr. Sorin has agreed to completely integrate with our kingdom. She will stop existing in the outside world. Her only demand is that her mother live with her on the palace grounds and receive regular treatment from me, which I am willing to provide.”

Erik sighs as if he’s getting a headache.

“Given my mother’s health, she doesn’t have long to live,” Corrine’s friend says quietly. “I’m willing to sacrifice my life in the human world if it means I can spend a few more years with her and give her some relief.”

“There’s something else you should know.” Jerry exchanges a look with Erik before revealing, “A few days ago, there was an attempt to steal Harold’s corpse. He was buried in his family’s mausoleum. The intruders were unable to break his casket, and while they were trying, they were interrupted by Dr. Sorin and me.”

“Hold up!” Corrine lifts her hands. “What were the two of you doing there?”

Maya looks guilty, as does Jerry. She tells us, “We wanted to convince Harold’s extended family that conducting the autopsy would not be disrespecting his body. I have a lot of experience in these procedures, and I can be very private about it. Nobody would have to know.”

Erik scowls, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Of course, that included me, as well. These two managed to convince Harold’s family, and they were on their way to retrieve his body. Dr. Sorin and Jerry sneaked Harold into the palace last night. I only found out about it after our meeting. With his family giving permission and your friend agreeing to cut ties with the human world, there is not much I can do but agree.”

“Oh.” Corrine seems to be temporarily speechless. “You should have told me, Maya—”

Erik gives the human doctor and the healer a disapproving look. “I agree. You should have. We would have stopped—”

“I would have helped,” Corrine finishes, cutting off Erik.

He shakes his head. “Whatever. Conduct your autopsy in private.

Nobody is to know about it.”

“There is one more thing.” Jerry holds up a sheaf of papers. “The preliminary medical examination report that the intelligence unit gave you has two pages missing. We didn’t catch it before because the flow was uninterrupted. But the page numbers indicate that two pages are not there.”

Erik frowns, checking the report. “They’re not the type to be reckless. I’ll go have a word with them.”

“What about Harold’s body?” my mate asks, stepping forward. “It must have decomposed a lot. Will you be able to conduct the autopsy properly?”

A strange look passes over her friend’s face. “Well, that’s the odd thing.

His body is perfectly preserved.”

Jerry nods, his own expression tense. “It’s as if he died just yesterday. Aside from being cold, there is no change.”

“How is that possible?” I glance at Erik, who looks equally shaken. “A year has passed.”

“We’ll find out for sure after I examine him. You’ll have my report in a few days. I need to test his blood, which is going to take a while since I’m working alone without a full laboratory.”

“I’ll arrange one for you.” Erik sounds defeated.

I can sense that my mate wants to stay, but it’s been a long day for everyone, and I want her to rest. “I’ll be taking Corrine home now.”

“No, you won’t.” Erik gives me a grim look. “A message arrived from the North. Your presence is needed.”

I stiffen.

If a message arrived at the palace here, that means it was sent by the elders.

What are they up to now?

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