:

Once Nathaniel had left, Brunhilde untied her protectors and helped them to their feets. Taking off the clothes they had in their mouth, Brunhilde looked at them critically. Herman was looking fine and she couldn't find any mark on him. Jorgen on the other side was looking quite bad. His face was bruised and he was clenching his right shoulder with a painful expression.

"Herman, can you help me? That son of a bit** dislocated my shoulder." Jorgen asked through gritted teeth.

Nodding, Herman took a moment to examine his shoulder before taking his arm and putting back into place. Once it was done, Jorgen took a calming breath, massaging it with his hand to ease the last of the pain he was feeling.

"Now, how did the two of you end up in that state?" Brunhilde questioned.

Immediately, her two protectors put a knee to the ground.

"We sorry Duchess, we failed you."

"Stand up, I don't care about that, tell me what happened!" She ordered.

"You should go first, I was in the restroom when it started." Herman said once they were standing again.

"I don't know how it happened Duchess, I was making coffee and he just appeared from nowhere. One moment, I was taking my mug from the desk and the next he was just in front of me. He took me completely by surprise and attacked me. I managed to dodge the first strike but the second hit me hard and the third knocked me out completely. I was awakened from the pain when he dislocated my shoulder. I was already tied to the pillar with Herman at that moment, he threatened me that the next time I aimed a gun at him, he would cut my arm off. After that, he just walked into your room." Jorgen explained.

"Your turn Herman." Brunhilde ordered after thinking about it for a moment.

"Me, I never heard a thing. I was coming out of the restroom when I saw Herman tied up to the pillar. Before I could run to him, I had a knife on my throat. The blade had just prick my skin but he told me that if I were to move, I would kill myself. I couldn't do anything so I just followed along trying to wait for a mistake but he didn't make one. Once tied up, he unlocked the door and opened it. On the other side, his wolf was waiting and entered the room. He told it to watch over us and then told me that he will not harm you in any way. After that, he wakes up Jorgen and you know the rest."

"Show me your neck Herman." Brunhilde asked, coming closer to him.

Pulling his shirt and vest aside, Herman did so. A little blood stain could be found on his throat like he said earlier but it greatly pale to Jurgen numerous injuries.

"He was telling the truth, his knife was right on top of your jugular vein, at the slightest of moove, you would have bleed out in a minute." She affirmed after looking closely at it.

"What do you want to do now Duchess? We need to strike back." Jorgen said.

"No." She answered instantly. "He was right, we are the aggressor in that situation, he did that because we provoked him. If we continue, this is going to escalate and I don't want to start a war."

"Even if it turns into a war, we will win!" Jorgen exclaimed.

"Maybe, yes but at what cost?" Brunhilde shook her head. "No, we will stop and I'm going to walk with him. Alone." She had the last bit looking at them.

"Duchess, it's against the code, you can't be alone without your protectors present. Especially with someone this dangerous." Herman object.

"I know that Herman but ultimately this is my decision and you can't stop me from doing what I want." She explained kindly.

"It's true, I can't and I know better than trying to convince you otherwise." Herman added frustratingly.

Seeing him like that, a smile came to Brunhilde's lips.

"You remind me so much of your grandfather Herman, sometimes, I think you are the same person."

"Can you at least take your sword and maybe a gun? Please, for my peace of mind at least." He begged.

"Of course, I'm not a moron. I don't believe he will try something but either way, I'm not going out without a weapon." She said before going to her room and coming back with her silvery belt in place and her purse in hand.

"I will not be long I believe and if something changes, I will keep you posted." Brunhilde add as a parting word before exiting the suite.

Looking at each other, Herman and Jorgen could see that they had the same apprehension and fear. They knew very well what would happen to them if the Duchess were to be injured or killed and they were not there to protect her. But they simply did not have the authority to go against her wishes. Looking downward at the blood on his shirt and vest and sighed. Without saying anything, he walked to his room to change. After he closed the door behind him, Jorgen hastily picked his phone and dialed the first number that he saved. He did not have to wait long for the line to connect.

"We have a problem." Jorgen intoned.

*****

"I wasn't expecting you to come, Duchess." Nathaniel said in the lobby of the hotel.

"Oh, why is that?"

"I was convinced that your protectors would prevent you from doing so."

"Well, they tried but I usually do what I plan on doing. Shall we?" She asked.

"Of course, after you." He said with a sweeping motion.

Exiting the hotel, Nathaniel led her to the right in the direction of Elysian Park. Nathaniel was to the right of Brunhilde and Andy was following along and took position between them. Looking at the wolf in question with curiosity before looking at Nathaniel.

"Can I ask you where you found your pets? They are quite uncommon if I said so myself."

"Now that you can ask everything about me, you are asking questions about my pets? Ah ah." Nathaniel laughed.

"Well, it seems to be as good a place as any to start."

"I'm surprised you don't know considering the means you put to dissectate every part of my life." Nathaniel lifts an eyebrow at her.

"I have clues but it will be better if you tell me the story." She responded.

"Fair enough. The truth is, they found me, not the other way around. I was just playing chess with my grandfather in our home here when I heard a noise. I walk in the direction from where it came from and I find them hiding in a bush. They were emaciated, famished and injured. Jaydon was extremely weak and Andy was in the same state so I brought them to the vet to be taken care of. It happened they had escaped from braconners who specialize at selling exotic pets to the highest bidder. Let's just say that they met an horrible ending, I tend to have little to no consideration for people who prey on the one who can't defend themselves." Nathaniel explained.

"I can understand that and it does fit with something you would do. You speak about me digging on your life but I'm sure you did the same to mine." She remarked.

"I didn't look into you Duchess." Nathaniel answers truthfully.

Looking at his face, Brunhilde couldn't find any sign that he was lying.

"Why? It's not like I didn't give you enough reason to do so."

"A friend asked me to not do so and I made a decision to respect her demand."

"Lucie?" Brunhilde asked, connecting the dot.

"Lucie." He nodded.

"She mentioned that you were working together but was not really forward with what that work is exactly." She said.

"I'm afraid that I can't give you more clarity for obvious reasons but let's just say that we help people that nobody else can or want to help."

"I see." She mused out loud. "It sounds like dangerous work."

"Everything can be dangerous, even walking side by side together can be considered dangerous." Nathaniel remarked.

"Dangerous for me or for you?" She added, lifting an eyebrow.

"That's the whole question isn't it?" Nathaniel said, giving her a wolfish smile that she returned with a twinkle in her eyes.