The King’s Tainted Mate
Chapter 43

"There is really no need to make a fuss over the matter when all that is required is a simple solution to remedy it."

"I must say I do agree with you lord Hadwyn. His highness is surely not the first wolf to come across his moon goddess given mate after having chosen another."

"My lords, at least you must understand his highness' position-"

"That we do, lord Nevan. Is it not why all the five noble houses came in haste when the king summoned us?"

"That and the fear that if this matter is not resolved quickly the consequences might be dire for the whole of Xatis. I'm sure that no one here needs reminding of what the consequences for an unstable kingdom means not just for the royal house but for us all." "What do you propose then?"

"Ah, lord Quent, I was beginning to think that the fourth noble house had enriched itself so much it did not care what happens to the rest of the kingdom."

"That perhaps might be the only thing that the third and fourth noble houses agree on, lord Evarius. We both know that there is no such thing as being too rich."

"Well, bless the gods that we at least agree on that much."

"Are we all in agreement then?"

Noise. That is what all this talk about my queen and mate by the five lords was and I'd had enough. Whatever gave them the impression that they had a right to interfere in my personal matters. In my choices.

My anger raged each time one of them opened his mouth to spew out words that only served to annoy me. And if they spoke so carelessly in my presence, I couldn't help wonder what kind of convesations they'd had in the confines of their homes when their beloved wives had obviously narrated what had transpired in my mother's garden.

It was no surprise that despite what their own ears had heard over dinner, Myrna had still played the chords of their wive's hearts and gained their sympathy by portraying herself as the one who'd been betrayed.

My wife's treachery or choosing between her and my mate however, was not why I had required the presence of the lords in the council chambers. Well, it was something to do with my mate, just not what they thought.

"As brilliant as all your words sound, my lords, I regret to inform you that that is not the reason you've been summoned today." Confused faces turned my way.

"My king, if not to speak of her majesty remaining as queen by your side, while her sister remains your concubine, then what else does his majesty require of us?"

Concubine? I hated the sound of the very word, even more so when it was meant to be attached to my mate. "Lord Hadwyn, perhaps if you had revered your king enough, those would have been your first words out of your mouths the moment I stepped inside the council chambers." I all but snapped.

"Forgive us, my king. It would appear we have been too ahead of ourselves." Evarius bowed, but it did nothing for my annoyance. "Perhaps, his highness can share his thoughts with the rest of us?"

I let out a chuckle at Evarius' words, but it was by no means out of amusement.

"Did I perhaps anger you, my king?"

At least the fool was wise enough to pick on my disapproval. "Careful lord Evarius. You make it sound as though I am incapable and are in need of you holding my hand even with my own thoughts." "Forgive me, my king. That was not my intention."

"If his head is what you wish for today, count on me not to keep you from having it." Rakon mumbled in our mind link. But as tempting as it was, I couldn't deviate from the important reason I was here for. But before I could utter a word, the doors to the chambers opened and in walked Liira, surprising not only the council, but me as well.

"Grandmother, I was not expecting you."

"Well, you did want me in the palace and I'm afraid there is little to entertain me around here."

I knew that not to be true, but it was pointless to argue. Neither could I kick her out of the council chambers as she had every right to be here as a member of the royal family. And perhaps having her here would turn out to be a good thing after all.

I watched as she floated in while all the lords rose to their feet in panic.

"Well, there is a sight I haven't relished in too long." I most definitely agreed with my best friend. The utter discomfort on the lord's faces at my grandmother's presence was quite entertaining even to my annoyed self. While they enjoyed a certain freedom in my presence whenever I was calm, the lords of the most influential houses had simply never known what to do with Liira. To them, she was as the wind. One they could not determine from whence it came or went and as such never really quite knew how to handle her. Someone put on a brave face and I watched in amusement. "Retirement has been good to you, my lady."

"Are you calling me old, Hadwyn?" Liira stopped in front of lord Hadwyn, eyebrows raised as colour bloomed on the face of the lord of the first house.

"Of course not, my lady." Despite his involutary reaction, the lord reached for Liira's hand and placed a chaste kiss there. "Age has certainly got nothing on you."

"Well..." Liira scoffed at the obvious charm where she could at the very least have accepted the compliment. "What did I miss?" If lord Hadwyn was offended by her lack of respect, he did not show it. Neither did any of the lords voice their thoughts at having been ignored by the matriarch as she went to take a seat beside me. "Liira." I bowed to acknowledge her presence.

"Just get on with it as I'm excited to see how well my own grandson is able to make these perceived powerful men who are nothing but twerps tremble in their own fancy boots." She chirped in our mind link, making me stare at her disapprovingly. "You are impossible."

"And you love me regardless." I resisted the urge to smile at that and turned to the lords.

"I was just about to inform the council that the banquet announcing the heir of Xatis will be held soon."

"Oh, it's about time Xatis knew of my great grandson." Liira beamed.

"Is the queen finally with child, my king?" Lord Nevan asked excitedly while the rest of the council looked on, expectation written on their faces.

"My mate carries my heir." My heart fluttered at the thought while it took everything to not get distracted by the hot memories of her that I had locked away for the moment.

"But my king, I thought you just said our words over the matter were brilliant. Will you now choose to present a bastard as-"

Temper flared and canines elongated as my wolf came forth ready to punish whoever had dared to insult my unborn child. Liira was quick to distract me however, as she gripped my hand.

"As entertaining as this might be, a lord murdered by his king at such a time as this will just not do." When I didn't relent, she added. "The fool will get his day, do not risk everything by indulging in what will turn out to be a regrattable deathly lesson for all of us especially the one I assume is the reason you are doing all this."

Shyla's face flashed in my mind and more than Liira's sensible words, it calmed the beast in me. Enough to send me back in my seat and breathe easily. "I said they sounded brilliant, not that they were, lord Evarius." I leaned back. "Should I take it that the third house will not-"

"Of course not, my king." Heart still hammering in his chest, Evarius bared his neck in submission. "The third house will do it's due diligence for the banquent of the young prince...or princess."

Evarius' answer was satisfactory, but I did not acknowledge it as I chose to address someone who clearly did not expect me to. "In light of this, a ceremonial gown detailing our ancestry will be required."

"And you wish for me to create such an important piece of attire?" The man swallowed hard.

"Will there be a problem, lord Quent?"

"Will there be a problem, lord Quent?"

"Of course not, my king. It is just that you caught me by surprise. That is all."

"Surprise?" I arched a brow. "Doesn't the fourth noble house boast of the best designs in and beyond Xatis?"

The enigma of a man straightened proudly, his expression more open than it had ever been. "It does, your majesty."

"But?"

Quent's eyes darted to lord Evarius as I had expected or hoped before falling back on me "Well, you did refuse my house's offer to dress the queen when you wedded."

"Oh that was purely my Queen's decision." I did not care for it at the time, but after seeing the interaction between Evarius and Myrna, I wished I had. "I was made to believe the third house's designs were more to her taste."

"Oh? And is his highness' mate leaning towards the fourth house then?"

"My mate cares not for such things, but I have every reason to believe that whatever would come out of the fourth house will definitely be to her taste."

Delight and pride painted the lord's face. "In that case, I and my house would be honoured to do this sacred undertaking."

"It is comforting to know that you understand that the whole undertaking is sacred and not just some event meant to showcase your designs." Liira narrowed her eyes at lord Quent. "I'd hate for anything to go wrong when the moon goddess already laid a blessed path for my great grandson when he was conceived before his mother ever shifted."

Eyes widened at Liira's last statement including mine. But one in particular unsettled me and I couldn't help growling at the excitement that flashed in lord Nevan's eyes.

"My mate shall not be used in any of your experiments lord Nevan!" I all but growled.

"Of course not, your majesty. But-"

"But?! You dare defy your king?"

"Oh great king! It is not so." The man of medicine bared his neck in submission. "Believe me when I say that my house will consider this a true blessing to be enjoyed in our lifetime and as far as studying goes, we will only go as far as his highness sees fit. Assuming this is something the king would be proud of being mentioned of his heir in the history books."

Truthfully, I hated it, but I also knew it had to be done. And because it infuriated me to no end that I had to bow to our traditions once again, I dismissed everyone so I could understand grandmother's need for doing this.

"Why would you reveal such a delicate thing in front of those snakes?" I all but sighed at my grandmother. And only because scolding her would earn me more than a scolding. King or no king.

"Do you think me immortal that you have now decided to take your damn time to learn from me?" Liira scoffed while she patted the space next to her. "There is a war on the horizon. One meant to shake your reign and this has been done to ensure that once everything has come to pass, Xatis and you will stand proud. And don't go pretending as if you yourself aren't doing the exact same thing."

"I do not know what you are talking about." I feigned innocence.

Liira scoffed. "We both know how proud Quent's house is and you granting them the chance to dress your mate for such an important event is more buttering of their behinds than anything. You may have just earned their loyalty and put more strain on their relationship with the third house."

"Well, they are the best and nothing but the best for my mate." A smile graced my lips as I sipped my wine that I had not touched until now. "And while I cannot have Evarius' head yet, I can have his pride."

"Divide and conquer." Liira took in a breath as though the very words bore a nice fragrance she longed to inhale. "Well played. I might have been wrong about you taking your time to learn."

"Of battles and wars, it is always to one's advantage when they are not seen coming."