ROME
From behind the curtains, he could see the room already filled with members of the court and members of the royal family. He peered through the purple curtain and watched them talk to one another.
The courtroom was a large oval hall with seats that ran all the way up like steps. A large room where meetings with delegates from all around the continent could meet. Right now, all the seats weren’t filled, but the noise in the room overwhelmed him.
He leaned against the wall, just beside the curtain, watching every person. In his few years as King, one of the things he learned quickly about people was that he could learn a lot about them by studying them.
As he looked from behind the curtain at the back entrance, he could see everyone fairly well as he observed their countenance and guessed what they were discussing.
Jace, Kate, and Henry – his half-siblings – children of the whore, as he preferred to call them, were seated beside their mother. Their Mother, Monica, was his father’s mistress and had been one of the worst things to ever happen to his family. She was Kain Kurt’s sister and was almost as bad, if not worse than he was.
She was conversing now with the Baron of Estered, one of the members of the court. They seemed too close in their discussion, as her hand was on his thigh and they were laughing. It looked like she had found her next victim. Rome rolled his eyes in annoyance.
Bloody whore.
Next to them sat Count Deliere. He was a blood wolf, one of the rarest kinds of hybrids. A werewolf with the ability to shape-shift to whomever he’d had a taste of their blood. He had been of great asset to Nathan in his years as King and a greater asset to his grandfather. He was one of the oldest members of the court. A good-hearted gentle Lycan, but a brutal enemy on the battlefield.
Count Deliere was discussing with Chester’s father, Mr. Romanoid- he was one of the major court physicians. Next to them sat the devil himself, Kain Kurt, the former hand of king Nathan of Hanaerum. He was seated beside his newest mistress, a dark skinned Lycan woman that he claimed he would marry. Everyone knew she was just another hole for him to use. Rome and Skye had placed a friendly bet on how long she would last.
The next person he could see in the hall was Erika. The moment his eyes found her, his mood darkened as he sank deeper into the gloom he was becoming too familiar with.
She was dressed in the ceremonial black color, her hair styled differently from usual. Erika didn’t seem the tiniest bit remorseful. Rome wasn’t sure why that hurt him, seeing that he would never take her back after realizing she had been cheating serially. She sat beside some of her other family members looking as confident and regal as she had before beside him. He studied them for a moment and realized that almost every bad thing that had happened to his family was connected to Kain Kurt. Erika was his daughter just as Monica was his sister. The bastard had his web spun into the linings of this family and kingdom.
What would he want next?
The throne?
A few other dukes and duchesses were already seated, dressed in attires befitting their class and never once ceasing from their endless chatter. He knew their chatter was all about him and Erika.
“Your Majesty.” Someone said behind him.
He turned to see Skye standing in her full regalia as commander. It was befitting, an attire displaying loyalty to the crown.
She would be announced to the court as the king’s hand.
Just behind Skye stood Teriel, his trusted Advisor, as steady as a mast of a ship. Rome had told him his plans and they had listened and agreed before now.
“Skye.” He said, more a sigh of relief than an acknowledgment.
He was glad she was there. He was glad they had stood beside each other for so long, and never let the fact that they were half siblings separate them.
“Teriel.” He called.
Teriel handed him the papers that had the terms and the verdict sealed with the royal seal of the King. For a moment, he paused and looked through. Since he hated the attention such infidelity would bring, he had decided to let Erika go with some land and money she had received as a gift from her time as Queen. Teriel had thought it wise.
“It’s time, Rome,” Skye said. And as usual, she reached for his face and held it for a second. “You’ll do good, Your Majesty. They can’t stop you from getting what you want.”
“Of course!” He smiled, placing a hand on her hand holding my face. “Let’s get this over with.”
With that, he walked into the court of the king of Hanaerum with Skye and Teriel, followed by some of the royal guards.
“All rise!” The herald announced, “The King approaches.”
*****************************
ELORA
By the time I got back to the room, Olivia, Bennett, and Brian were awake. They’d been discussing with Lucy who sat on one of the beds beside Olivia.
“The King?” I hear Olivia ask as I walked in. Her eyes were wide with wonder and shock. Somehow, they hadn’t seen me walk in and they were still deep in conversation.
“Ahem!” I coughed, drawing their attention to myself as I closed the door to the room.
“Ellie!” Olivia squealed. “Are you okay?”
She leapt off the bed and embraced me as I came towards them, a flicker of warmth blooming in my heart on just seeing them safe and happy.
“Are you okay, Ellie?” Bennett and Brian chorused, still seated on the bed.
I knew they would have wanted to embrace me but they weren’t about to let Lucy see them as anything but brave strong bad wolves. They would do anything to make themselves not look as young as they actually were.
“I’m okay. I had to go check out where I’ll be working in the palace,” I said as I sat on the bed beside Lucy ruffling their hair as I usually did when they were being cute.
“How did it go?” Olivia said, “Lucy said the King needed to talk with you. Are you okay?”
The flood of thoughts from my earlier meeting with the man came rushing back. The King and his red hair, the sudden sensations and feelings that had stolen my breath and set my pulse racing at the touch of his hand, and the feel of his eyes gazing down into mine, reaching deep into my soul.
Gosh! I caught myself.
Shame on me.
The King was helping us. I reminded myself, feeling a warm blush rising in my cheeks.
“Sure! It went really well.” I said, turning to Olivia and then to Lucy. “Thank you for today, Lucy.” I touched her shoulder and my heart warmed at her smile.
“I thought you were back. So I thought to come see you, but I met your family instead. And Olivia has been the nicest person ever.” She laughed. “And oh! You’ll have to report to Denise before you retire. That’s why I was looking for you. She said to find you and bring you.”
“Where is Denise?” I asked dreading that I had to travel down the flight of stairs again.
Lucy smiled. “Have you seen the Kitchen?”