Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 58

Chapter 58: Lady of the House

Derek sat behind the wide oak desk in his private study, the low lamplight on the table casting long shadows across the scattered reports. Stacks of folders lay open before him— welfare summaries, supply logs, and financial traces for the Western Packs under his rule. The smaller packs on the borders had been sending concerning updates for weeks and he needed to sort them out before his so-called honeymoon vacation.

Fiona, Ruby’s assistant, stood on the other side of the desk, with her tablet in hand as she walked him through the latest figures.

Derek tapped a finger on one particular line in the latest border-pack report. "This allocation for the Silverpine Pack. The grain shipment was logged as dispatched three weeks ago, yet their alpha says they received nothing. Explain."

Fiona swallowed, flipping through her tablet with trembling fingers. "Your Grace, according to the records, the shipment left our central stores on the fifteenth. The manifest is signed and sealed. But... the Silverpine alpha’s report claims the wagons never arrived. I’ve cross-checked the route logs, but the final checkpoint entry is... incomplete."

Derek’s eyes narrowed. "Incomplete how?"

Fiona hesitated. "The signature on the final receipt is missing. Normally Miss Ruby would have the handwritten ledger entry from the escort team. She kept a separate, more detailed trace for the smaller packs because they sometimes... adjusted the numbers to suit their needs. I don’t have access to her private ledger."

Derek leaned back in his chair, jaw tightening. The welfare of the border packs was delicate. He had trusted Ruby to handle these sensitive traces precisely because she knew every alpha personally and kept meticulous off-the-books records. He missed her efficiency. Usually, he could ask a question and she would have the answer before he finished the sentence. Having to deal with Fiona’s stuttering was a reminder of why Ruby was his right hand. Seeing the chaos her absence caused made him realize just how much he relied on her. She didn’t just manage packs; she was the heart of its logistics.

He drummed his fingers once on the desk. "Send for Ruby."

Fiona blinked. "Your Grace... she is under house arrest."

"I know what she is under," Derek said, eyes hardening. "Send for her. Now."

Fiona bowed quickly. "Yes, Your Grace."

As the assistant hurried out, Derek leaned back and rubbed a hand over his jaw. He opened his mind-link and sort for one of the gammas in charge of guarding Ruby’s quarters.

’You’re to allow Ruby Veyle out of her quarters and escort her to my quarters. Just for tonight.’

***

Kira trudged up the grand staircase, her shoulders hunched in exhaustion. She had spent almost the entire day at Aethewulf organising and sharing fliers for her first charity fund raiser, in preparation of a honeymoon she still couldn’t quite believe was happening. Halfway up, Ruby’s shrill voice drifted out from Derek’s study.

Kira froze, wondering what Ruby was doing in the King’s quarters. Wasn’t she supposed to be in confinement? She told herself it was none of her business anyway.

This marriage was open. Whatever. She had packing to do, a week-long forced proximity to survive, and far more important things to worry about than whether Derek was currently entertaining his so-called bestie.

She was halfway past the study when the door swung open. Ruby stepped out and stopped dead when she saw Kira.

"Oh! Your Highness." Her smile was sharp and fake. "You’re back. I was just about to make coffee for the King and me. We’ve got rather a lot of work ahead of us tonight."

Kira felt the familiar prickle of irritation bloom low in her belly, but she kept her face perfectly composed. Ruby would always find every opportunity to remind her of her position. Kira was tired of it all and needed to put her in her place. Time to stop playing nice.

Kira mirrored her smile. "Oh, I’m definitely back, Miss Veyle," she said sweetly. "It’s the best part of being the Lady of the house, always having a home to return to. Must be tiring, practically living in the palace corridors the way you do. Don’t let me keep you from your very important coffee duties."

Ruby’s face paled, then flushed a deep, angry red as she caught the jab. Her mouth opened, closed, opened again, but no sound came out.

"Ouch. That sounded like a bit of a demotion, didn’t it, Ruby?" Kai taunted. "From ’Welfare Manager’ to the ’Tea Girl’ in under sixty seconds." He lifted his gaze, smirking viciously. "At this rate the Queen will have you scrubbing the courtyard stones before breakfast."

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify