CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED & SIXTY FIVE
Talia’s POV
“My wolf thinks he was coerced,” I told Nolan once we were outside in the corridor.
“It would also explain why torture did not work,” Nolan said. “He is afraid of what Michael will do to whoever he is protecting, which is scarier than anything we could do to him.”
“We need to figure out who he could be protecting,” I replied.
“Does he have a mate?” Nolan asked.
“To be honest, I am not sure. I never took the opportunity to get to know him as he was my father’s personal confidante,” I explained. It felt odd saying that now. I would make it a point to get to know all pack members moving forward.
“Then we should review the servant records. If Robin has family, we will find it there,” Nolan recommended.
“Yes,” I agreed. “Let’s go. We don’t have any time to waste.”
The archive entrance was in the east wing of the palace, past a set of heavy doors with two guards posted at either side. One of them stepped forward when he saw Nolan approach. The other gripped his shoulder to pull him back, but he shrugged him off.
“I am sorry, Alpha,” the guard said, stepping in front of Nolan to block his path. “But you are not permitted here.”
The guard looked up at Nolan, matching his gaze. He was young and foolish for defying Nolan, but he was brave and loyal.
“It is of utmost importance that I access the archive,” Nolan responded.
“The Alpha King’s standing order is that the archive is restricted to senior Silverfang members only. I cannot permit entry to anyone outside that designation,” the guard said firmly.
Nolan said nothing. I half expected him to toss the guard away from him, but he turned his head to look at me with a raised eyebrow. I stepped forward and said, “With everything going on, I am glad you’re taking your job seriously. However, this is Nolan, the Alpha of Bloodmoon and my mate. Seeing him is like seeing me and he has my father’s full trust. I am asking you to extend the same courtesy.”
The guard looked between us. Then he stepped aside. “Of course, Luna Talia,” he said. “My apologies for the delay.”
We went inside. The archive was long and low-ceilinged, lined on both sides with shelved records organized by year and department. It smelled of old paper and lamp oil. Nolan found my hand in the dim light and stopped walking.
“Nolan?”
Nolan leaned forward and kissed me passionately. I had to push him back to catch my breath. “What are you doing?” I asked.
“What you said out there about trusting me,” he said quietly. “It means a lot to me.”
“You are my mate, Nolan. Of course I trust you,” I told him and kissed him on his cheek.
“Do you remember the last time we were in the archive?” Nolan asked.
I blushed and turned away. I remembered how I was all over him, begging him to mark me. I cleared my throat and said, “Focus, Nolan.”
We found the servant records in the third row. Robin’s file was not difficult to locate. It was thick from eleven years of service, and the personal information was near the front. His mate had died four years ago. They had a daughter named Annie. She was one year old when her mother died, which made her five now.
“Robin has a five-year-old daughter,” I said.
“Let’s see what else we can find. Check incident reports,” Nolan suggested.
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I went through the secondary file. Three pages in I found it.
‘Michael took his daughter,” I said, passing the report to Nolan. Annie had not been seen at the servants’ quarters in over a week. Robin had told the guard she was staying with a relative in the outer district. The guard had followed up once and accepted the explanation.
Then we have what we need to get him to talk,” Nolan replied.
We went back to the dungeon. Robin had not moved from the chair. I sat down across from him.
“I told you everything I am going to say,” Robin said. “You’re wasting your time. Just kill me.”
“Annie,” I said.
Robin’s head snapped up. His eyes filled with tears, and he turned his face away from me again.
“We know she is missing,” I continued. “We know what Michael told you would happen to her if you did not cooperate. Robin, look at me.”
It took him a moment, but he did it. Tears were now rolling down his face.
“I am going to get her back. That is not something I am telling you to make you cooperate. It is a promise as your Princess, but I need you to help me find Michael because if we cannot find him, finding her becomes much harder.”
Robin didn’t respond and Nolan walked up. He squatted next to Robin and said, “Do you really think Michael would keep his
word?”
“He swore on it,” Robin muttered.
“Do not fool yourself into believing that Michael will keep his word. You are an omega and to him you are less than the dirt under his shoe,” Nolan argued. “What do you think he is doing to your daughter while he has her?”
“He said he would never hurt a child and especially not a little girl,” Robin countered.
“Michael hates weak wolves. He once hurt me when I was his son’s mate. He did it because he believed I was an omega,” I retorted. “Once you are no longer useful, he will not keep her alive.”
“No!” Robin’s hands trembled violently. “I didn’t know what else to do,” he said, voice cracking under the strain. “He told me that if I helped him, he’d give her a better life… that she wouldn’t have to live as an omega.”
“He is a liar, Robin. You’re not the first person he’s lied to get what he wanted,” Nolan told him. “You want what is best for her, right?”
“Yes, of course I do,” Robin said.
“Then help us get her back,” I said. “Tell us where Michael is. I will make sure she is safe. Every day you stay silent is another day she suffers from him.”
Robin didn’t say anything. For a moment, I thought we hadn’t gotten through to him. I stood up and motioned to Nolan to leave. Nolan stood, scoffing in disgust.
Before we exited the cell, Robin said, “Fine! I will take you to him.”
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