Captain Armand Evander told me they had left her a note explaining things, but now I want to know what they wrote down. No male or female would stay away from their potential Mate, but for some reason, Umayza has been avoiding them for two years, and if I have to guess, it would add up to nearly three years. That is why none of us ever saw her at the Academy, and at least now I understand her sealed records. "What do you mean she has known all along?" Vivyanna asks, and I tell them everything Evander and Conri told me about that night; I can see the realization on their faces. But why would she have declined their invitation, and why had she asked Council-member Boaz to give them that message? I eventually ask those questions out loud, but no one has an answer, and I had not expected anyone to have an answer. "Well, let's hope that some forced time together will help them in the right direction," Dayanah says, and I wonder what she means by that. A knock on the door stops our conversation, and Council-member Boaz walks over to open it for whoever is on the other side, while Council-member Armas asks me how my search for my Mate is going. I listen to Council-member Dayanah as she tells someone they might remember me. My jaw drops as I hear a voice answering, and the answer has me spinning around to stare at Umayza; she was gorgeous the first time I met her, but now she is even more stunning. "Hello, Umayza. It is good to see you again; I understand you are in service of the King," I say. "Yeah, helping out where I can," she answers, but her eyes never leave Council-member Boaz, and I wonder if he knew before today. Suddenly it sinks in; she is reading the room, and by the look on her face, she is not pleased with the Council-members. "Umayza, once we explain the assignment, you will understand that you are the only one qualified for it. I would have asked Captain Ragnar, but he is on another assignment, and I can't pull him from it," Council-member Armas says before she gets the chance to blow a gasket. "As you know, we are investigating Roger, Talon, and Ayden, and there is an investigation we need your ability for. Princess Taliyah will be here soon to explain a few things. After that, you will leave on your assignment with Captain Armand and his Squad," Armas tells her. Umayza They want me to go on an assignment with Captain Armand and his Squad; that means I will have to face Evander and Conri for the first time in almost three years, and I am not sure how I will react to seeing them with their girlfriends. I know they won't be tagging along on our assignment, but I know they will be there to see them off. "You may not like seeing it, but it won't hurt you. There is no Mate-bond between the three of you, and as long as you stay away from them during the days of the Full Moon, you will be fine," Yade says to me. She is right; if I can wrap this assignment up before the days of the Full Moon start, I won't feel the Mate-bond, and I will be able to avoid them as I did before. I know every Werewolf and Lycan wants to find their fated Mate, but I also know that Yade will always protect me from harm, and we both know that I will get hurt if the Mate-bond snaps into place. "I will listen to what Princess Taliyah has to say, but if I think someone else can do this job, you will not send me on this assignment," I say to Armas, and he just nods his head. "Fuck, I really am the only one for this job," I yell at Yade as the reality sinks in. I was so deep in thought I didn't even hear them come in until Council-member Dayanah calls my name, "Umayza, I want you to meet Princess Taliyah and her Mates, Malachay, Ward, and Eamon." I look at them, and each one nods his head as she mentions their names."Thanks for catching me, Your Highness. Usually, I am the only one using the stairwell, and I had not expected to run into anyone, literally," I say as I keep a straight face, and Princess Taliyah hides her face in Eamon's chest as she giggles. Ward looks at me as if he wants to kick my ass, but it doesn't intimidate me at all, and I stare right back at him. As I stare at him, another event that happened in this room makes its way into my mind; I am witnessing the moment Armas realized that Princess Taliyah was the Daughter of Princess Izabella. I witness her family meeting her for the first time, the tears and sadness from her Grandmother, and her interaction with King Alaric. A hand on my shoulder pulls me out of the memory, and it takes me a minute to be able to focus again. "Sorry for that. Did one of the Council-members tell you anything about me, Your Highness?" I ask as I look at Princess Taliyah.