Wolf's Claim (The Royal Heir #3) - Jen L. Grey Page 0,35

in the right direction."

"Of course, it's Elena ..." I almost said Hawthrone, but officially, that wasn't my name any longer. Not since Mason and I had gotten married and performed the official mating ceremony. "Lockly."

It's funny. That's the first time you've had to say your name since we got married. I love the way it sounds. Mason took my hand in his and winked at me.

Yeah, I need to get used to it. I liked the way it sounded too.

"I'm going to sit here and keep an eye out from the kitchen." Kassie sat in the last seat, facing the wall."

"I'll sit across from you." Tommy nodded his head. "Mona, can you sit on the other end of the booth? That way we can both scan the room, specifically the high traffic areas.”

"Got it." Mona motioned for both Mason and me to slide through. "You two need to be between Tommy and me."

Not wanting to argue and with the tension so high, I obeyed. I slid across the seat so I was positioned between Mason and Mona.

"Well, all right then." Louis sat right across from Mason. "I want to buffer Ella."

He didn't need to say anything else. None of us knew what to expect, and obviously, they had an ally who used magic. I felt his concern, and this relieved me a little as he was thinking of protecting his mate.

Ella sat, her face was tense, and her usual spark was gone.

This all had to end and soon.

"Do you think he'll actually show?" Ella picked up the menu, scanning it.

"Yeah, he'll show." Louis frowned and shook his head. "He wouldn't get any additional backing for removing Elena and Mason if he didn't at least appear to be playing his part."

"Why would that matter?" Ella's forehead creased and brows furrowed.

"Because then it looks like I tried reaching out to him and he refused." I hated politics, yet here I sat waiting. "That could paint at least some level of doubt in people’s minds if they find out. So he has to make sure the picture is clear that we're the bad guys."

"However, that doesn't mean he won't show up late." Louis shook his head as he grabbed a menu too.

"I wish people would just say what they mean." Mason's voice was deep with anger. "There's no need for all these games."

"Oh, but there is." Louis glanced at Ella out of the corner of his eye. "You see, the games have been around for years. If you aren't careful, then you are viewed as weak. There is a reason why secrets are kept and also for when secrets are revealed."

"What are you getting at?" I asked. He was hinting at something. "Stop being coy."

"No." He lifted his hands in the air. "I don't know anything. I'm just saying we need to be more careful. My father and I are on opposite sides of the fence now, and he's a little bit unpredictable. We can't remove him from the equation."

Do you believe him? Mason stared Louis down.

Yeah, I do. I cleared my throat and picked up a glass of water that had already been poured before we sat down and took a sip. My nerves were on edge, and I needed to feel in control of something.

"What do you think your father is up to?" Ella turned her body so she faced Louis and stared into his eyes.

"I'm not sure."

"See ..." Ella pointed at him.

"Let me finish, please." Louis sighed and cleared his throat. "If I was a betting man, I think my father would be working with Richard. You see, Richard needs help, and if my father helps him, then he can leverage something in return that would benefit him greatly."

"What do you think it is?" We had the one person who probably knew King Adelmo the best sitting right in front of us. Now that he had told us his little secret, he should be more forthcoming.

"Power. Control in some way." Louis ran his hand down his face. "He'd have to get something out of it. To be honest, I’m still not sure what Darren had promised him, but it never came through."

"The only way I could think of him getting more power is by owning territories in the United States." That's when everything became at least somewhat clear. "He wants to control the U.S. That's why he tried to pretend my dad and he had an agreement with our engagement."

"Dad had always said that you guys didn't know what you