Blood of the Wolf: The Crown (Mackenzie Grey Book 11) by Karina Espinosa (best ebook reader under 100 .txt) 📕

“An actual African Summit? Not merely a representative for the European Summit?” he clarified.

I nodded. “Africa is too big of a continent with too many countries to have only one representative. It needs its own Summit. Don’t you agree?” I asked.

He swallowed loudly. “Well … yes.”

I raised a brow. “Any questions?”

“Are you for real, Your Majesty?”

“For real.” I nodded and turned to the next person on my list. “Maria, I have an assignment for you as well. Lunas are still oppressed even though the law has changed, and that’s a huge problem. I don’t know what’s going on in these packs and there are way too many packs in the world to infiltrate them all. Your job in Barcelona was surveillance and gathering information, and that’s what I need you to do. I want to know my most problematic packs, and then I want to send in enforcers to get them back in line.”

Maria’s bottom lip quivered. “How—how am I supposed to do that?”

I grinned. “Lunas talk. There’s nothing we won’t tell amongst each other—luna to luna. You’re very approachable, Maria. You were able to put together a whole group of lunas and take down half your pack during the Freedom Wars. The lunas trust you. Gain their trust, and they’ll tell you anything you want to know about what’s going on in their packs.”

That bottom lip stopped quivering and her eyes hardened. She nodded fiercely and I caught the glimpse of Blu I’d seen in her before. Remembering my fallen friend brought a wistful smile to my face.

I looked down at my list and pointed my pencil at my next victim. “Rowan.” I looked up and saw her eyes widen as she pointed to herself. “Yeah, you. I want you to consider what I’m asking you to do as training for the Queen’s Guard.”

She perked up and even Ranulf leaned in at that comment.

I smirked. “I want you to be a spy.”

Rowan choked on a cough and gasped. “What, Yer Majesty?”

“I have the Summits helping me with Abaddon, but I don’t trust them. They’re up to something and I want to know what it is. Even if they’re not actively trying to dethrone me while they focus on the demon, they’ve tabled their plan and I want to know what it was. I want to be prepared. I don’t want to defeat one enemy just to have another one spring up and grab me from behind.”

Ranulf grunted. “She’s a luna, Yer Majesty. The Summits won’t tell her anything. They won’t trust her.”

“You forget one small detail, Ranulf.” I grinned. “She’s Jacob’s granddaughter.” I looked back at Rowan’s stunned face. “I’m almost positive the ex-Council members are working with the Summit alphas behind the scenes. I’m not naïve enough to think they would be dismissed and go down quietly. Rowan, I need you to use your connections to infiltrate and collect information.”

She shook her head. “My grandda won’t believe me. I’ve never agreed with him before.”

“Then it’s time to get creative. Find a reason not to like me. You can still disagree with Jacob and have him believe you’re on his side.”

Rowan frowned. “How?”

“Well, first we have to come up with a reason why you hate me. Then you have to find an opportunity to complain about it near your grandfather. It can’t be too obvious, or he’ll know something’s up. Once you’ve done that, he’ll most likely approach you because he knows you’re on the Council and will want to take advantage of you to convince you to be his mole. That’s where you bargain with him. In exchange for helping him dethrone me, he has to promise to get you on the Guard. That way, he won’t get suspicious about your motives. You’re still the same Rowan.” I shrugged.

Bash ran a hand through his hair, letting out a long sigh. “You’re a criminal mastermind.”

I leaned back in my chair and tossed my hands in the air. “Don’t hate the player, baby; hate the game.”

Bash rolled his eyes, which made me laugh. I looked around the table until my eyes landed on Ailios. “I haven’t forgotten about you, my friend.”

She bowed in her seat. “Anything ye need, Yer Majesty.”

“I want you to work with Alexander on completing the treaty with the Highlanders. Once that’s approved, I want you to lead the integration of the Highlanders into Sheunta Village. Getting them residences, employment, and whatever else they may need.”

Ailios nodded. “What if they want to leave the village?”

“We can work on that, too. I won’t sequester them here. If they want to leave Scotland, they are free to do so. We can find packs for them wherever they decide to go,” I said.

“What if they don’t want to join a pack?” Ailios challenged.

The whole Council turned their attention in my direction. I could feel their eyes burning through me as they waited for my response. As Queen, I should be encouraging everyone to join a pack. Then again, I wasn’t your typical Queen.

I chuckled lightly and leaned back in my seat. “Lone wolves are no longer hunted. If they want true freedom, they’ll have it once the treaty has been signed.”

Ailios smirked. “Thank ye, Yer Majesty.”

I nodded. “You’ve all been given your assignments. Feel free to ask other Council members for assistance if needed. I know you’ll make me proud.” I got various responses of agreement. “If we don’t have any other questions, this meeting is adjourned.”

I dismissed the Council and watched as they collected their things and left the council room, excited about their new tasks, which left me alone with Alexander, Ranulf, and Bash.

Ranulf cleared his throat. “Yer Majesty, when I told ye to give them more work, I did nae mean to stir the pot, ye ken.”

I laughed. “They all have special skills and I’m putting them to work on the projects I’m interested in. Abaddon isn’t the only problem we have. We can’t forget our other duties. Isn’t that what you