The King’s Tainted Mate
Chapter 64

She was all I wished for. For all eternity. I'd known it, but when she stepped through those doors, the desire had become something of a pressing matter, making me wish a rehearsal for my child's banquet was not what we were there for. Her slow march, that mundane placing of one foot in front of the other, while she held my gaze, had drawn me from this realm and thrust me into worlds unknown. Worlds where she was both my light and my darkness and everything in between.

Dressed in that purple gown, the sight of her was of perfection. A queen. A vision of a future whose longing went as deep as my bones at the sight of her. By my side, that is where she belonged. There was no doubt about that, only conviction that grew with each step taken towards me. My chosen mate had been by Shyla's side, but she was as an unwanted shadow. An unwelcome presence.

"Will you not even stop to comfort your pregnant queen?" My mate all but snapped the moment the door to my chambers closed. This was by no means the way I'd dreamed of having her back in my chambers again, but in the wake of what I'd decided, it couldn't be helped. Well, it could be as between my chambers and the throne room lay many saloons that would have served for this very purpose, but for whatever reason my feet were drawn only to my chambers. And I was glad they did. The sight of her, with her growing belly in the confines of this personal space brought memories and painted more visions that had my wolf and I vowing to protect till death. That however, was not the reason I'd dragged her all the way to my chambers. The bitter question she'd asked was a huge part of it.

I watched as she stared everywhere but me, laying bare what was really in her heart. Despite the obvious bitterness in her tone, she cared. Even when she had no business to, she did. Even when she had all the rights to want Myrna dead and discarded to the very depths of hell, that heart that beat in her chest would not let her. It was as if the gods had made it incapable for her to wish the worst even of her enemy.

I had seen it in her eyes. The moment my chosen mate's desperation trickled to my mate's heart, her expression had been one of pity and not satisfaction as Myrna's would have been. I had seen the pain of her expectation when she thought I'd choose Myrna again. "I have." I couldn't help the fierceness in my tone, because it was the truth. She was the only pregnant queen I longed to comfort. Hers was the only heart I wished to tend to. She was the reason I'd gone ahead and summoned the bond keeper. Because, damn the consequences, she was the only one I wished to be bound to in any manner, in this realm and the worlds beyond.

Eyes clouded with confusion and hurt snapped up at me, searching my own. Whatever they found there only deepened those emotions, forcing her to look away as her feet carried her deeper into my chambers. "You shouldn't have."

Despite her words, I knew that to be the sort of thing that would crush her. I'd made that mistake before when I chose Myrna, never again. "It was my decision to make."

"She's carries your child." Her weak protest struck a chord in my heart.

She'd believed her. I knew she had the moment those words had left my chosen mate's mouth. I would have believed it too if not for the reason that I'd not touched her in that manner ever since Shyla returned. Because, Myrna was indeed pregnant, the scent was unmistakable once she'd declared it and drawn my attention to her. And if not for my desire to comfort, to let Shyla know that the child was by no means mine, I would have been having a different conversation right about now.

"Something that the acceptance ritual at the banquet can prove. The child is not mine, Shyla."

"It's not?!" The utter shock should have angered me, but I could not blame her for thinking anything else but me staying true to her. "B-But, she just said- It's not yours?"

"I never touched her. Not since you've been here." That only added to the shock my mate was currently feeling and again I could not blame her. I was glad however, when it faded after following a few thoughtful expressions. Perhaps the lack of the evidence of it, the pain of me mating with anyone else but her had dawned on her. Whatever it was, I was just glad she believed me.

"Will you complete the ritual?" Her voice was low, unsure, almost timid. "Will you strip her of her position?" I thought that would make her happy, but those beautiful eyes only looked at me askance.

"I have made my decision, Shyla."

"Can it wait?"

"Wait?" If I expected her to make any request of me, it was not that I should wait to cut off Myrna from my life. To strip my chosen mate of the position that rightly belonged to my mate. "Why would you ask that of me?"

"Just until the banquet. You did say it could prove the child is not yours right?" Apparently that was not something I needed to do with her. She believed me. The reality of it had something loosening in my chest. Perhaps we would be alright after all.

"Besides announcing the coming heir during the banquet, a part of it is dedicated to a ritual of acceptance. It's nothing more than a display confirming that the child is truly of royal blood. So yes, it will prove that Myrna's child is not mine." "It's a test?"

One I was sure she would not fail. "Yes."

"Then perhaps you should inform the bond keeper that you will be waiting until the banquet. That is if you still wish to-"

"I do." I closed the distance between us. "More than you know."