Page 138 of A Crown Without Mercy

“I am going to ask my mates right now.” She turned around, but Muriel grabbed her

forearm. “Sylvie, we don’t have time. Do you know a shifter named Amarok?”

“How the hell do you know Amarok?”

“Pascal introduced us the other morning, it’s the reason I wasn’t working. Amarok said he would be back today, and he’s waiting for you in the forest.”

“I can’t go there alone. It’s too dangerous right now. Go and tell him to come here. I would try to call to him, but I know my mates might be listening if I speak telepathically.”

“Sylvie, you know the guards would sniff him out before he made it through the gates, and I certainly can’t sneak him through the tunnel. If someone saw, it would be the end of us both. I am not in your position, least you forget.” She smiled.

Sylvana took a moment to contemplate the situation. “Shit, I can’t.”

“Do you think your mates are going to tell you the truth? They haven’t even told you they found your father’s stallion. You have been looking for information on your mother for so long I thought you would be excited, but if you don’t want to go, I’ll tell him to leave.” She then removed a small flask from the pocket of her shawl and took a sip. “Would you like a drink?”

Sylvana’s mind was spinning, and her heart was beating against her breast. “Yes.”“Sylvie, he’s not far beyond the tree line, just out of sight of the guards. I will be with you

the entire time. We are friends. You can trust me.”

Amarok would never betray me, and he will certainly protect me,she thought. “Fuck it, let’s go.”

“We need to hurry. It won’t take them long to find out you are missing and I would like to keep my head attached to my shoulders.” Muriel chuckled.

After another drink, Sylvana reluctantly followed Muriel. They made it to the forest without being seen, and Sylvana leaned against a tree, and did her best to quell her beating heart. “Where is Amarok?”

“Wait here so you don’t have to venture too far. I’ll go get him.”

Sylvana’s body flinched when she heard a branch snap off in the distance. “Muriel?” she whispered.

When she did not get an answer, she took a few steps forward, scanned the immediate area, and listened intently. It was ominously silent, and she knew she was being watched; she froze when she heard the crunching of brush getting louder. “Muriel? Amarok?” she whispered again.

“Hello, Sylvana,” Amarok said, as he and Muriel appeared.

She placed her hand over her chest and let out a sigh of relief. “Shit! You all scared me half to death.”

“He walked up to her, rubbed his large head against her legs, and looked up at her. “Let’s walk.”

“I don’t have much time. What have you found out?” Sylvana asked.

“The Faye have your father and mother,” he said.

Sylvana stopped mid-stride and stared at him with a blank expression. Muriel ran her hand over her shoulder, handed her the flask, and Sylvana took another large drink. “Amarok, how do you know this?”

“I heard a few of the Lycans speaking to the one named Ranan.”

She looked at Muriel and then back at Amarok. “Ranan?”

“Yes. Ranan saw them fighting with your father and heard them speaking of his mate. I can only assume it was your mother they were referring to.”

“Is she alive?”

“I wouldn’t think so?”

“I can take you to where he was last seen, but we need to go now,” Amarok offered.

A stampede of chills marched up her spine.There is something in his voice?she thought. “Amarok, thank you for telling me, but I’m not comfortable getting involved alone.”

“Sylvana, I will go with you if you like?” Muriel offered.

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