The Rogues Who Went Rogue
Chapter 136

After lunch, Lucianne and Xandar met with the vampire rulers to discuss bringing back the Secret Service. They have been watching Greg and his followers. Not only did they conclude that none of them went out of line, they agreed that none of them went anywhere near that line. The initiatives they took were highly commendable; their commitment in the cooperation was unwavering; and their loyalty outshone their pasts, no matter how dark they were painted to be.

Octavia even mentioned that it didn't feel like they were doing what they did to be pardoned. The royal mavericks helped because they wanted to help. Margaret's followers were more split - about two-thirds helped because, like the royal mavericks, they grew to like working with others beyond their own. But the remaining one-third were just there for the pardon, excluding the traitors, Kate and Howard, of course.

As a precaution for the sake of the kingdom and empire, Lucianne suggested that all rulers be given a regular update on the ins and outs of the Service for the first ten years. If all went well, then less frequent updates would suffice. The mavericks would have discretion as to how they operated, but the rulers had the power to stop assignments or shut down the Service altogether if such a time ever came.

Xandar was relieved that Lucianne brought this up the previous day when they were discussing the matter between themselves. At present, Lucianne didn't want to give Greg unrestrained power and authority, but she didn't do it for her husband.

As much as she personally trusted Greg now, she couldn't deny that, as queen, she had a duty to make sure that precautionary measures were taken for the sake of the other civilians in the kingdom. If the mavericks ever went too far, the rulers would be able to terminate any task and hunt down the ones involved. She definitely hoped that this would never happen, but if it does, they would know what to do.

When the decision was finalized, Pellethia noted the obvious, "So, the only question that remains now is DOES the duke want to lead something like this. They've been free for so many years of their lives. What we want as precautions for our people would stifle the mavericks' movement to quite an extent."

Xandar argued, "We're not stifling their movement. We just want to be kept in the loop. They would finally be safe to move around the kingdom without needing to hide their faces or mask their scents everytime someone from law enforcement is in their proximity. The need for updates isn't that bad, but it might involve...a level of tediousness that my cousin is rather allergic to."

Octavia disagreed. "His Grace may not like procedures the way we uphold them, Xandar, but he doesn't hate being tedious, I replace. In the tasks that interest him, he strives for perfection as much as we do. Look at the way he brought back our people and dealt with the scientists." Lucianne stroked the back of Xandar's hand and murmured, "He also had to be tedious in his security measures for him and his followers to live right under our noses for so long."

"Under mine and Christian's noses." Xandar muttered before taking another sip of his drink.

When it was time to leave to visit the hybrids, they left the castle and headed for their destination. Weaver and Yarrington arrived shortly after meeting with the ministers of education and environment on the vampire's side, and they checked up on the families and with the professionals looking after them before taking their leave.

Lucianne and Xandar went home to get Reida from Mrs Parker before going to the Den to meet Greg. The moment they stepped into the lounge, Greg took a quick glance at their exhausted postures and tired eyes before asking, "Long day, you two?"

Lucianne, who was holding Reida, replied, "Two meetings. One hybrid visit. It gets busy like this sometimes. We're fine, really."

"Uh-huh." Greg replied, not at all convinced so he threw his cousin a doubtful look.

Xandar explained, "Yes, she's drained. This is our last stop for the day. Once we're done here, she'll be fine."

"That was more believable." Greg uttered before meeting the princess's large eyes looking straight at him, and while Lucianne was telling Xandar something about needing to give the hybrids and the others more clothes, the baby holding her teddy gave her uncle a little wave as she mouthed 'f**k'.

Greg's smile had never been broader as he briefly waved back, utterly impressed at how the little girl got around her mother's fierce, repeated reminder of not using that very word.

His sights were only torn off his niece when Lucianne prompted, "Well, shall we, Greg?"

"Of course. Right this way, My Queen."

He led them to a small discussion room with a round table and three chairs. After Lucianne took a seat and placed her daughter on her lap, she began, "We spoke to the vampire rulers, and we've come to an agreement that we want to bring back the Secret Service, but only if you want to lead the initiative."

Greg's brows furrowed, and his entire posture froze for two whole seconds before he blinked and asked, "Pardon me, My Queen, but...what?" He thought she came to ask for a favor and was cracking his head the whole day wondering whether there were any loose ends that weren't properly tied up. Lucianne registered his shock and clarified her question, "Would you like to lead a legally-recognized body where you have full discretion of its operations and network, but would have to submit biweekly reports on any venture that you'll be sending your people on? The difference between what you've been doing all this time and what we're currently offering you is that your followers would no longer have to hide in the shadows or mask their scents. Those employed by your supplier and any other individual who want a second chance in the kingdom have the option of assimilating into society again as well. If they wish to continue in the...rogue line of work, it must be in the service of the kingdom, meaning it's to monitor suspects, sniff out threats or anything like that. If they insist on pursuing intentions that harm the kingdom, we must hunt them down and run them through our legal system."

Greg muttered to himself, "Hm. Didn't think they'd get a pass, too. They didn't even do anything."

"They got you your supplies, didn't they? Those that allowed your mavericks to earn some money before our cooperation?" Lucianne asked.

"Yes." Greg uttered in defeat.

Lucianne continued, "And, Greg, there is also the...dreaded condition that we are to be kept informed about what's going on."

Greg immediately said, "That's not a dreaded condition, My Queen. It's a rational requirement. I impose the same thing on every rogue and maverick living in the shadows of the kingdom."

Lucianne was surprised to hear that, but went on nonetheless, "I should also mention that should we ever see the need to dissolve the Service, we retain the power to do so, in which case, members would be expected to go their separate ways and if any...questionable members are involved, we will hunt them down and run them through the law."

Xandar added, "Or, if the situation is severe, we'll use our royal prerogative to deal with them as we deem fit."

Greg uttered, "It's funny how you almost never use that, cousin. Uncle Lucas waved that thing so many times like it was a flag."

"I'm not him." Xandar noted.

"Clearly. Anyway, I'm interested in hearing the dissenting opinion of this idea." Greg said with a smirk shot at Xandar before his attention returned to Lucianne.

Her delicate brows furrowed when she said, "There was no dissenting opinion, Greg. This is a unanimous agreement."

Greg looked back at his cousin in disbelief when he asked, "Really?"

Xandar managed a diplomatic smile and replied, "Really. I'm not going to lie, Greg. I hated the idea of us working together..."

"The feeling's mutual." Greg muttered.

Xandar let out a brief, amused scoff before he continued, "Before we met your followers, I...expected some of them to stray and turn against us. Even when we started cooperating, I expected you to...do things that you weren't supposed to do, both with regards to the cooperation and to me personally." Greg didn't even bat an eye when he spoke crudely, "Cousin, as much as I hate you less than I did before, it doesn't erase the fact that whatever I did wasn't for you personally."

At that point, Lucianne started whispering affectionately to Reida at a volume that both cousins could hear, "Did you hear that, Reida? Uncle Greg hates daddy less now, and daddy is giving Uncle Greg a chance. Isn't that great? You're going to grow up with three uncles in our big, happy, and slightly scary family."

Reida chuckled even though she had no idea what her mother just said. Their daughter's laughter softened Xandar's heart, and whatever Lucianne just said touched Greg's soul.

Greg tore his eyes away from Reida before turning to his cousin and said, "Anyway, it wasn't as bad working with you and Blackfur. As for the offer for leading the Secret Service, thank you for your support." Greg tried not to show how weird it felt to convey thanks to the very creature he'd spent so long hating.

Xandar was caught by surprise as well. When he snapped out of it, he asked, "So, you'll do it?"

"Yes, why wouldn't I?"

Xandar noted the obvious, "Because you hate law and the authorities?"

Greg retorted, "That was before I found out those under you two now had more brains and speed than those under Uncle Lucas and Vera. The present authorities are nowhere near perfect yet, but they are not a lost cause, unlike their predecessors. As for why I used to hate them... honestly, can you blame me? And I'm not just talking about speed and intelligence here, cousin. Even with all those procedures and so-called precautions in place, they couldn't even do things right. I mean, just look what the ones from the past did to them." His hand gestured at the door leading outside, where his followers were.

Xandar got the point. "I admit, we should have done more for those under your care. We are doing more now. Prisoner reentry was the only topic of discussion in government headquarters this morning."

Lucianne added, "It's not right that they've been overlooked and neglected, Greg. We're doing whatever we can to fix this now. We really do admire what you did for them when no one else was there to help. It certainly explains your scent."

"My scent?" Greg asked, feeling somewhat small when he could tell that even Xandar understood what she was saying.