The King’s Tainted Mate
Chapter 36

Her light grip around my fingers tightened, drawing my attention to my mate. We were about to step into the hall filled with my guests waiting to dine with their king. This was one event that those who had the priviledge of being invited to, gladly attended. Some using the opportunity to tighten the already existing ties of the noble families to the throne. Others using the moment to get back into the good graces of their king after misunderstandings or plain disobedience had severed those ties. The invitation being the biggest opportunity to mend those bridges.

Still others, those that were bold enough, were here seeking to win the heart of the king or hoped to catch his eye if his heart proved to be out of reach. Young maidens for whom there was simply nothing shameful about winning the king's heart the old fashioned way which involved landing in his bed first.

Among my guests was Myrna, my mate's sister. Someone Shyla was not eager to see.

I hated doing this to my mate. Making her face her family and all the pain, but every one of my plans had changed when I laid my eyes on her tonight. The sight of her had been the one to birth a need for this. Tonight, as with my own guest's intentions of attending this not just for the food, I too was not here for the food at all. Tonight was for something more important. Something I hoped and prayed to the gods my mate would accept.

The moment I had stepped into her chambers, I was hit not only by her beautiful scent, but by a certain truth I had not thought of before Myrna's treachery. While desire and every other strength of the mate bond had been perfectly duplicated by the spell, something unusual had struck me as I entered my mate's chambers.

Up until then, the need to claim my mate had always been the thing to draw me to her, or so I thought. But more than that, I realized, there was a purity to the bond shared by real mates, which proved Cerus's words true.

It was not just desire, but between us, lay the gift to protect each other if only we would connect to it.

After having been plagued with thoughts about Myrna and the false bond the entire day, I had been overwhelmed by the heaviness of it all, but once I stepped into Shyla's chambers everything had evaporated as mist before a flame. Nothing of what I'd felt or thought lingered. I had proved my theory right there and then and everyone of my plans had changed to what I was about to do now.

My own grip tightened around my mate's delicate hand, assuring her of my presence by her side and my heart swirled when her response involved leaning into me for obvious protection and comfort.

"Good evening, your majesty." The usual greetings drew my attention to my guests that had gone deathly silent, there faces bearing varying expressions. Confusion, curiosity, surprise, indifference, fake smiles and genuine ones too, no doubt directed at the sight of intimacy that I shared with one they would all consider an unexpected guest. I did not care for any of those except my mate's as I led her past the figures and up the grand dining table to our seats in silence. She hated having all the eyes on her. "I've got you." I whispered to Shyla when unease took over the earlier calm she felt before we stepped into the hall.

"Oh Elian! She is so beautiful!" My mother gushed as she suddenly appeared before us, her tone full of emotion and catching me off guard. In the midst of everything, I seemed to have forgotten that my parents would be in the midst of my very many guests. "Hold yourself Sarabeth!" My father scolded, clearly not impressed by the sight he was seeing. "This is not the time, nor the place."

My mother glared. Now that she was no longer queen, she let her emotions show very often in front of guests and before she did more than glare at my father who had it coming, I held my hand out to her and placed a gentle kiss on it in greeting while I still held on to Shyla. "Is your own son invisible, now mother?"

"Of course not, but she..." My mother held out her hands to Shyla, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears, making me realize how unfair I had been for not working harder to grant her request. "She is perfect." I lost the warmth of my mate to my mother and while I hated it, the resulting sight was warm enough for my heart. This was so very different from the first time she'd hugged Myrna. The love was still there, but my chosen mate had simply not melted into one of the most loving arms I had known as Shyla just had. Myrna had been more concerned with presenting herself perfect than enjoying the warm welcome. Shyla on the other hand held on to my mother as if her very life depended on it. No words came out of her mouth and yet so much was spoken in the moment. We should have been seated by now, but I waited a moment longer, relishing the beautiful sight until someone else demanded my attention.

"Son, what is the meaning of this?" My father's nose flared as he mind linked me, but I was not about to indulge him yet. With his views on what I should do with my mate fresh in my head, I knew he would not be pleased with what I had chosen and would fight me on it, so I smiled instead.

"Hello to you too father. Glad you and mother could make it." My gaze flickered to the two ladies, heart swooning at the sight.

"Is that all you have to say for yourself?!"

"Of course not, but this is not the time for such utterances." I replied, making the former king of Xatis glare my way. It was all he could do when so many faces were watching our exchange intently. We might have been using the mind link, but our body language was clear for all to see and I knew he was not about to have this conversation in front of everyone.

"Sarabeth, my dear, now that is enough. Let the poor child breathe." Father tugged on my mother's arm and she let go of my mate reluctantly.

"We should have tea soon, my dear." My mother smiled, drawing Shyla's smile too as both my parents got back to their seats.

"Your... majesty?" I stiffened at Myrna's voice. Shock laced her tone, but by the time I turned to her, nothing of that shock remained on her perfectly put together face. I, however, knew the mask would c***k eventually. It was just a matter of when. Reaching for my mate, I nodded. "My lady." My greeting felt flat even to my own ears. It was also not the appropriate greeting for my own queen, but after what she'd done, it was more than she deserved. But of course, she'd never let that show.

"I did not know we were expecting more guests." Myrna flashed me a seductive grin, that was every bit inappropriate for the occasion while she kept the fact that Shyla was her sister perfectly hidden from everyone else. Even when I knew of their meeting earlier, Myrna still pretended not to know the maiden by my side.

She was truly a good actress and being reminded of Rakon's words the day I chose her, I now strongly felt there was more to what happened on that fateful day. But as I had said to my father, this was not the time nor the place. I turned to Shyla and was taken aback by her demeanour. My mate had lost all the charm and warmth she'd displayed with my mother and only a blank look remained in her beautiful eyes. The same look I despised each time she chose to ignore me altogether. As always, it was so perfectly displayed that for one who knew not the truth, descerning that the two were actually sisters was close to impossible. I was not about to hold it against her, however, as I chose to draw her in and hold her protectively.

"She is not 'our' guest, but mine. Now if you will excuse me, this dinner has delayed enough." Confusion graced my queen's eyes and I fought to keep from smirking. I had no doubt with the bond she'd forced on me, Myrna expected me to pool at her feet in worship, but little did she know of the armor I possessed against her spell.

Unlike the last time I had struggled in her presence, there was not a single whiff of Draxuin in the air to corrupt my senses except my mate's heavenly scent.

"But of course, my love." I stiffened just as a low growl rumbled in my mate's chest when Myrna linked her own arm in my free one. I seemed to have forgotten that she was not one to give in so easily. It was a wonder that Shyla's hand remained in mine after the action. "What kind of hosts would we be if we kept our esteemed guests hungry or on their feet?" Myrna's gaze darted towards Shyla with every intent to highlight what a fragile thing she might be. Her action angered me and I was about to defend my mate when Shylas's own voice kept my lips pursed.

"Oh, don't mind me, I've suffered worse." I flinched at my mate's retort as much as I was surprised. If there was a reply to be had, Shyla's was not one I expected. The words proceeded softly out of her mouth and yet their weight was enough to slap the smirk off of Myrna's face in the most dramatic way. My mate was mad, but kept her emotions so well hidden, making her display the true qualities of a queen. And if I wasn't Xatis's king laden with obligations to the crown and expectations from its people, I would have swept my mate off of her feet and kissed her right there and then, letting her know how proud I felt in the moment.

Instead I led both women to our seats with Myrna grudgingly taking her usual seat next to mine on my left while I had Shyla safely sit on the seat next to mine on the right. She did so without even sparing me a glance and if I said that that did not bother me, I would be lying.

My actions had not gone unnoticed by my guests either as their curious gazes betrayed what they were itching to discover. I was not about to indulge them yet, however. Reaching for my cup of wine I raised it in welcome to everyone who had accepted my invitation, which happened to be everyone I had sent invitations to. "Do enjoy yourselves tonight."

"I'm sorry, your majesty, but what is the meaning of this?!" I was halfway down to my seat when Myrna suddenly sprang up from hers, sending my wolf into alpha mode at the obvious challenge. Bitterness dripped with my queen's words, her earlier mask cracked open just as I had predicted.

And I would have ordered her to take her seat, but that would only speak of my reluctance to let my decision be made known when I would reveal it later. So I chose to indulge her at her insistence. But because this was not meant for my queen's ears only, I stayed on my feet and faced my guests, hand reaching for my mate.

"As you all know, I had searched for my mate far and wide..." I began while I felt Shyla stiffen beside me. In a way it was a silent plea, begging me not to go down whatever path I intended to, but I had no intentions of the sort, even if my mate hated me for it. Although, I hoped she wouldn't. "...I had given up when my search came up empty, but as it turns out, the moon goddess hadn't. She still brought her to me. And while circumstances are not as they should have been, I have chosen to accept my mate, officially." "Officially?! As what?!" Myrna's angry tone rose above the ensuing loud conversations after my announcement. That was a right reserved for me alone and while I let her other challenge slide, this I could not forgive. I let my wolf at her, snarling and threatening, sending her sliding back in her seat and everyone pursing their lips, lest they became the object of my anger next. Except for one regrettable soul...

"That is wonderful news your highness!" The loud mouth as usual was the first to rip through the silence.

"If you have nothing significant to utter, keep your mouth shut, lord Evarius." Myrna hissed, a first for me to witness. I couldn't blame my wife however as this was the first time he seemed to stand against her.

"I mean a mistress is an acceptable means to help with the demands on both you and his majesty." Of course he would think that. Just like father, I knew the lords would only see that as the only probable path. That did not bother me as I had expected it. Something else did, however. "Why do you suppose he is too quick to accept this?" Rakon mind linked my very exact thoughts.

"Did I perhaps ask for your help, Evarius?" Myrna sneered before I could reply to my best friend, making me decide to settle their back and forth before it got out of hand.

"I have no intentions of having my mate as my mistress, lord Evarius. If she'll accept me, hers will be the place that's always been meant for her." Blazing eyes met mine when I finally turned to Shyla and before I could say one more word, my mate flew out of her seat and headed towards the open doors with Myrna following suit.

"Let them be!" My mother's and grandmother's voices ripped through my mind link at the same time. Liira had barely just stepped into the room.

"Let them be?" I was inches from following after my mate, a sinking feeling making me think I had lost her and when I shot them a questioning look, both she-wolves only flashed me knowing looks as they took over the roles of playing hosts to my guests seamlessly. Conversation flowed soon after, but all I could do was wait impatiently, eyes fixed on the doors my mate had exited moments ago, hoping mother and Liira were right.