The King’s Tainted Mate
Chapter 31

She could have chosen anyone to befriend and yet she chose Evarius's niece!" I growled as I paced in my study, betrayal threatening to lodge itself in my thoughts and heart. I was aware of my mate's innocence in this, but by the gods I couldn't move past Shyla standing for any one who shared any relations with the one person I loathed and one I would never let near my mate and child. "Is this really about Carlytte, your majesty?" Rakon, who stood guard in his usual position in my study arched a brow that spoke of him seeing right through me.

"What else can it be?" I collapsed in my seat, avoiding his gaze before he saw what lay deeper than the thing I was currenly annoyed about. He was not my best friend for nothing, but perhaps I was not ready to share that part yet.

"Oh, you tell me. Because we both know that the maiden in question is nothing like her immediate family and she would make a perfect friend to Shyla."

I huffed, knowing that to be true. "Evarius is a sneaky bastard and we both know how persuasive he can be. For all I know, he could be way ahead of me and Carlytte might just be the thing he uses to hit me where it matters the most." My wolf growled in my head at my statement, hating what my every word meant. We may not have claimed her already, but the thought of losing our mate for whatever reason roused pain in my chest. I blocked that pain out and focused on my best friend instead, determined to stick with my own version of what was supposed to be angering me.

I frowned when I noticed Rakon walking away from me and going towards the door. It was by no means him abandoning me because of my sour mood. He'd handled me in worse moods, so instead of demanding for an explanation for his behaviour or commanding him to stay because I did not look forward to being left alone with my troubled mind, I merely watched his actions.

"Are you sure this is it?" I arched a brow at Rakon's question. I could not see the one he spoke with, but whoever they where, they smelled of wine and I couldn't help the smile that spread on my lips. I would hug him for getting me just what I needed, I decided. "Mixed to perfection just as I asked?"

"Yes, my lord."

"You may leave then." Rakon mumbled before walking back in, a long pitcher in his hands. "Why don't we talk about what is really bothering you now your majesty, hmm?" The loud bang with which he placed the pitcher on my table made me smirk. "Father would have your head for providing this kind of intoxication for me."

"You are the king now, so unless you too wish to have my head, I have nothing to be concerned about." Rakon poured a cup and handed it to me. "Drink up, your majesty."

I did and once the contents hit my throat a growl tore through my lips. "What in God's name is this?!"

Rakon smirked. "Something to loosen you up."

"More like something to kill me." My body buzzed as I sniffed my drink, taking in its weird smell that matched the unusual taste. If Rakon was not my best friend, I would have thought it to be a poison meant to end my life. "What exactly is it?" "You should care more about what it does for you." Rakon filled my cup and his. "To loosening up." He raised his cup to mine, toasting with a mischievious grin that I knew all to well. This was going to be a long night.

"To loosening up!" I emptied the cup with one gulp, relishing its taste this time around. And just as advertised, my body buzzed even more, easing the tension I was currently feeling, if only it could ease the frustration of having my mate in front of me and not being able to claim her. "Pour." I presented my cup to be refilled and Rakon did without questions asked.

"She's killing me." The confession slipped out of my mouth effortlessly after emptying the contents of my cup. I would have thought it a truth potion too, if only I was not familiar with the effects of wine. Whatever Rakon had brought might have tasted strange, but it still remained wine, only more intoxicating. "By she, you mean Shyla, I suppose."

"The most beautiful creature to ever grace my eyes!" I stated proudly as visions of her striding me down in the garden transported me to the very moment, leaving me aching with need. The feel of her body molding perfectly in my hands had plagued me the entire day and made me mentally slap myself countless times for the stupid suggestion to slow down that I had offered just when she'd been ready to indulge in what I had long thirsted for.

"I do not know how much more of this I can take." I sighed, my gaze on my cup of wine. The drink was perfection, but I realized it wasn't exactly what I needed. I longed for my mate. I wished to take her and every moment of her rejecting me was eating me and my wolf up.

"She's your mate who happens to be carrying your child and you have the bond on your side, so why aren't you using it?" I met Rakon's gaze with surprise. I knew he did not like Myrna at all, but to be careless in such a manner was so unlike him. He only shrugged to my surprised expression. "I'd rather have you happy and focused, than this regrettable version of you that will soon enough put Xatis at risk. And forgive my bluntness when I say that my queen is not the one to give you that." My blood pulsed at his suggestion while my heart hammered in my chest. "I can't believe you are using the security of the kingdom to sell this ludicrous idea." I gave myself a moment for anything in me to register some kind of a protest. I had wished to be a gentleman after all, not some sneaky bastard who would lure my mate into surrendering herself to me. The very thought sent my blood rushing in the right places.

"I can't believe you have not thought of it yourself." I had thought of it, except, I had not wanted to hurt her even more after what I had put her through. But what if I did not hurt her? What if I could make this the best experience she'd ever had with a man...with me? What if I could show her that Myrna was not the one I longed for? That the mark she'd placed on me meant nothing.

My hand reached for my neck, brushing the spot. My skin still remained smooth as though nothing was there, but I knew those prints from my chosen mate's lips still remained. Whatever it was that she'd applied on her lips had stuck like a second skin to mine, ensuring that I could not get rid of it no matter how much I scrubbed. It was the first thing I'd done after my mate's refusal of my proposition to court her. The mark had been the thing to snuff out all the hope I had seen in her eyes, making me spend the rest of the morning seeking to get rid of it.

I had to hand it to Myrna for her brilliant idea to lay a claim on me after my reluctance to mark her. But this would only last for the next few hours as come sunrise, someone from the capital would be coming in to get rid of this problem for me. Until then, I would be taking advantage of the bond I shared with my mate.