The King’s Tainted Mate
Chapter 48

Something was wrong. Even when no one was saying anything, I could feel it. I could see it too. Guards around Liira's side of the castle had more than doubled. Hallways were littered with guards in armor at every turn. Their postures were ever alert. Gazes, From my chamber's window, figures kept disappearing into the forest every so often, while a number of them emerged. It wouldn't take a military man to figure out that the patrols around the palace had intensified.

scrutinizing. Hands resting on their weapons, ready to be drawn at the slightest sign of an attack.

And apart from Carlytte, two new maidens trailed me everywhere I went. Samara and Norae were always dressed in typical maid's dresses and assumed the acceptable humble posture, but they were anything but. At least not according to my thoughts. They'd been brought as new additions to the number of maids Liira insisted I needed, but one look at the two maidens revealed a number of qualities that were odd for a typical maid. The greatest being their insane ability to put themselves between me and any other figure that would replace themselves too close while I took a stroll in the hallways or palace grounds. Many times I did not even notice the figures approaching and yet none had ever escaped those two's attention. It had led me to conclude that my two maids had to be warriors. I however did not understand why I would need so much protection, but according to Astryn's assumptions, I needed to be protected upclose and Gol being a man would not just do as I was the king's mate. I found the whole thing ludicrous but Liira would not let it go.

If that did not speak of trouble, then my own mate's continual absence was clear evidence of what I presumed. I had not laid my eyes on him since the royal gallery. The study he'd occupied down the hall had remained locked and unused. The sheets on my bed hadn't had any traces of his scent at they would before. A clear sign that even those late night visits whose knowledge I had accidentally stumbled upon had totally ceased. It was as if he'd fallen off the face of the realm.

I sucked in a breath and let it all out to keep myself from thinking too much of the situation. Apparently getting myself worked up even on the littlest of things was not good in my state. Except his absence was nothing little. And no matter how much I willed my stupid heart not to think about him, it somehow found its way to doing just that. Hoping he would show up any moment and declare that all was well. That he was well.

But that was not to be had, not yet anyway. So I'd decided to spend my days distracted with anything that came close enough to drowning my own longing for him.

As Liira had said, Lord Quent, who I had learned was the lord of the noble house, had visited me week after week. He'd worked with his seamstresses at carefully taking my new measurements while mumbling amongst themselves about how quickly my belly was growing. They had tried to guess how big I would be by the following week, but it turned out to be useless. The heir I carried seemed to enjoy everyone's guesses, except me of course. Or perhaps it was because I spent the most part of my day caressing my belly, making me aware of just how big I had become. I did not need a mirror to confirm it either. As I spent long moments staring at my buldging belly. Turning this way and that way while having conversations that I was sure made little sense to the child I carried. "You are glowing." Carlytte beamed as she came into my garden. Yes, I did get my own private garden at Liira's insistence. And even though I had fought her over it initially, I found that it was really soothing to spend so much time in here. Away from everyone else who insisted on treating me like the royalty I wasn't. And as long as I could forget that Samara and Norae were ever by my side.

"You mean I'm getting fat." I pouted.

"Well, that too." One could count on Carlytte to be brutally honest in that regard. Coupled with Astryn and one could get all the honesty they needed in an entire lifetime. "But I would say your glow is really outshining everything else."

"Of course you would." I scoffed as I reached for the cup of tea she offered me.

"Liira guarantees this will do wonders for your aching back." I had been getting a lot those and Liira was always replaceing ways to ease my discomfort. She'd attributed them tomy rapidly growing belly. A matter that had the matriarch beaming with pride. "Does she now?" I sipped and loved the taste. "Why can't she let me in on what is going on around me while she's at it?" Sounding bitter had not been my intention.

Carlytte made a show of scanning my surroundings. "Whichever world do you mean?"

"I'm not blind, Carlytte." I mumbled unhappily.

The maiden only stared at me thoughtfully. "Even then, I have been charged with keeping you and the heir happy, safe and calm."

"So there is trouble then? And will you stop referring to my child as the heir?" Even when I knew my child would soon cease being a bastard, the reminder still left me feeling uneasy.

"Firstly, I said nothing of trouble anywhere. And as for the young prince or princess what do you suggest I refer her or him as, hmmm?"

A tightness formed around my heart, reminding me of the circumstances that seemed not to dim. Naturally I thought this was the part me and my mate should decide on a name, but I hadn't seen him for too long. "I do not know. What are the royal traditions regarding names?"

Carlytte blushed. "Traditions were never my strong point."

"What noble lady is not interested in learning about her kingdom's traditions?"

"Me, apparently. How was the fitting?" The distraction was a clear sign that she did not wish to talk about that particular topic anymore. It was something I had come to know about Carlytte. While she was bubbly most of the times, she had her moments when the cruelty of life seemed to sneak up on her. And in those times she preffered not to indulge.

"Perhaps if there was anything to fit at all, it would make this ordeal more bearable." I sighed, earning myself a smile.

"I'm afraid you will have to be extremely patient on that. Not only is the banquet something more than just an event meant to celebrate an heir being conceived, Lord Quent will make sure to take his time. With his noble house's reputation he will have to ensure your sacred gown is all perfection."

"I need to go out." I suddenly declared. "All this talk about dos and don'ts will eventually drive me insane." That was the truth. For someone who'd been used to living free as bird in the forgotten village, doing literally nothing was proving to be a pain. Besides, I could swear even my child was just as bored.

"Uh-" Carlytte's eyes darted between me and the maidens behind me.

"Do not dare stop me." I warned.

"Of course not. Why would we?" Whatever Samara and Norae's answer had been, it was not what had been their first thought. Neither was it for Carlytte, but the three maidens joined me anyway as I walked out of the garden.

Gol straighted up when we all emerged. A smile brightened his features, but it was not enough to completely hide the worry lines. Back at the shack, I would have insisted on him telling me what ailed him and he would have insisted it was nothing. The back and forth would have eventually drawn a smile and erased the lines. I found myself missing that and regretting that I couldn't do it now.

"My lady?" He looked at me askance and I merely smiled and pointed towards the way leading to the world outside the palace.

The sun was bright, its kisses warm and there was nothing better for my longing soul. I sighed in contentment. "This is absolutely beautiful."

"Indeed." Carlytte agreed beside me. "One does tend to forget such pleasures once they enter-"

"Carlytte, how can you be so shameless? Turning your back on your family and associating with the enemy." The serene atmosphere received an unwelcome individual. The familiar redhead was fuming. Kerina, I decided, was a sad and lonely soul. Why that was I had no interest in discovering. Shifting my gaze, it landed on my sister who had an indecipherable expression on. Beautiful as ever, regardless. I refused to acknowledge her and instead turned to the other fuming maiden. "Unlike you, Kerina, I am glad to serve the king of Xatis and if I were you I would be careful as to whom I refer to as the enemy." Carlytte all but spat.

"Well, you are not me and I do not see his majesty anywhere around here." The proud maiden scoffed.

"I do not blame you. You were always blind. I just hope the future queen of Xatis and the heir will be as forgiving of your insults and mistakes."

I gaped at Carlytte. She was making threats that had not even crossed my mind. I was not even sure I wished to be a queen. To get back at my sister yes, but to be queen? That was- I did not know what that was. "Come, my lady." Carlytte finally tugged on my arm and I was about to follow, but another sharp voice kept me from doing so.

"When did you get your wolf?" Myrna had stepped forward. Apparently she couldn't help herself or perhaps her anger had been stirred by Carlytte's words. But then none of that was as surprising as her question.

Samara, Norae and Gol stepped forward too, ready to protect, but I held my hand up to stop them. I had no intentions of making Myrna think I was in any way intimidated by her. My wolf also made certain to relay that fact as she pushed forward.

I arched a brow. "Why do you care?" Desperation flashed in her eyes before her gaze dropped to my belly. Hands clenched by her sides, she studied it furiously.

The sight would have been satisfying if not for my own surprising realization that hit me. Mouth dry, it was my turn to study her. There was something about her...about me. A pressing matter I needed answers to.

When she found my gaze again I couldn't put her facial expression into words, neither could I put my thoughts into words. Not in front of her.

"This is not yet over!" For the second time Myrna walked away from me, furious, but none of that mattered as much as the discovery I'd made. It was something that had never crossed my mind, until now.

"Gol? Myrna is my sister right?" My guard merely stared at me confused. So I rephrased my question.

"Would my own hate for her or the fact that my own family were nowhere to walk me the path when I shifted make me not recognize her wolf?" I knew that I would recognise my family's scent but until now I realized, I had experienced nothing of the sort.