The king smiled to himself as he watched her sleep. Her long hair scattered all over his pillow, with free strands covering her face.
She looked so at peace. Rome was not sure he had seen her look this way in a long while. He reached for her soft cheeks and pushed the hair away to get a clearer view of her thick and lush lashes.
He could sit and watch her sleep for hours on end.
The door of his chambers suddenly pushed open. Rome jerked his head up to stare at the intruder. His tense shoulders fell with ease when he saw Teriel.
The man walked into the room with a bold stance. He looked down at the king’s bed, and the blood drained from his face instantly.
His gaze dropped to the ground, and the king smiled.
“My apologies, your majesty. I thought that…”
“It’s alright, Teriel,” Rome replied, dismissing the rest of the man’s statement with a wave. He chuckled, and Teriel raised his eyes to the king.
“I came here, your majesty because I needed to inform you of something very important.”
Rome did not need to be told. The way Teriel had stood with his head high, yet shoulders slouched, told him there was something he had to say.
Rome sat up on the bed. He shifted away from Elora, slowly, so she wouldn’t wake up.
“Go ahead.”
“The members of the council are in the courtroom now, your majesty,” Teriel began to speak.
Rome’s eyes darkened. There was no smoke without fire. If they had gathered without his calling to see him, something was wrong.
He turned to his right and placed his feet on the ground. Rome had to prepare himself, both physically and mentally, for whatever the sly members of the council had for him.
“Shall I call a guard to help you with her, your majesty?” Rome heard Teriel ask.
By “her”, Rome knew he meant Elora. He glanced at the sleeping beauty and fought back the urge to kiss her once more.
“No. I’ll take her to her room myself.”
He’ll be damned if he let another male’s hands brush her gentle skin.
Teriel nodded trying to conceal his shock and stepped out of the door.
Rome got dressed for his meeting with the council. He carried Elora in his arms and made sure he delivered her to the safety of her room first before he headed to the courtroom with Teriel beside him.
The doors of the courtroom were opened up to him once he stood in front of them.
He was first greeted by the rowdy whispers of the lords. They talked amongst themselves, and Rome could only imagine what it was about.
Immediately he took one step into the room, silence swept across the air. Everyone fell back into their seats with heads bowed, and hands crossed on their thighs.
Silent, Rome walked to his throne, but not without noting the presence of everyone in the room.
His father was seated on the seat reserved for him. Kain Kurt was beside him, and Skye was present, standing beside the king’s throne as the king’s hand. She tilted her head up and smiled at him.
Rome settled into his throne. Once he cleared his throat, the lords raised their heads. Rome’s gaze swept around the room once more.
“Long live your majesty!” They chorused.
Rome replied with a nod and a silent wave of his right hand. He reclined into the seat, and stroked his beard thoughtfully, with his right hand.
“I was told the council members called for a meeting. My presence was summoned. I assumed I would be briefed on the reason before I came, but even Teriel did not seem to know. So,”
He sat up and spread his arms over the seat. His posture oozed authority. They all needed to remember his place in the kingdom.
“Your majesty,”
Rome turned his eyes in the direction of the speaker. The Baron of Estered had risen to his feet, his hands gestured to the rest of the council.
The king scoffed. The man had developed a lot of balls since they last met. Was it the after-effect of Monica’s pussy, or was it something else?
“It is a very urgent matter we have gathered here to discuss with you. It’s one that we believe has been put off for a long time, and finally needs to be addressed.”
When Rome corked a brow at the man, he looked around, swallowed hard, and finally continued.
“We need a queen, your majesty.”
Rome’s right nostril twitched in annoyance. He dug his fingers into the arms of his seat while fighting hard to maintain his posture.
“Why?” Rome asked.
“Why the sudden craze for a queen? I have appeased the court and my kingdom by taking in a mistress to bear my heir, have I not?”
“That is the problem, your majesty.” Count Deliere rose to speak next. A tired sigh escaped Rome’s lips.
“The palace has received hundreds of petitions just this morning, all against the slave mistress, your majesty. The people… request that the slave remain a slave, and should be treated as such. It would be a shame for the next ruler of Hanearum to be birthed by a slave girl, the daughter of a traitor. The people, we…” The man spread his arms out and gestured to everyone in the room.
“… believe you need a queen, your majesty. Let slaves be slaves, and royalty remain royalty.”
Rome’s heart sank when he saw heads nod in agreement. How could he possibly escape this?
As if on cue, Kain Kurt rose to his feet.
Rome glared at the Lycan in annoyance. He had several scores to settle with Kain Kurt. It was a wonder how the man had mustered the audacity to stand before the court.
“I must agree with the Count on this one, your majesty.”
Rome hissed. Kain Kurt would agree with anything, as long as it was against him.
“The girl and her siblings should be treated as slaves that they are! They should be taken to a brothel, and forced to work with their bodies, just like their father made other young girls do.”
Rome shifted in his seat. Rage boiled in the pit of his stomach as Kain spoke. His fingers clenched, and he gnashed his teeth.
Beside him, Skye reached for his little finger – the closest one to her – she pinched it gently, a sign that requested his calmness.
Oh! But he was far from calm.
“… they should be fed to hungry men, needy for the bodies of young girls to do as they please with, they should be thrown in a den of whores, left to be fucked until they…”
Kain was still speaking, and Rome could barely contain his fury.
His dark eyes turned bloodshot red. As he watched, he imagined all the many ways he could end Kain’s life on the spot.
“Don’t do it, Rome.” Skye pleaded.
“… they should be sold, killed even. After all, their father took care of disobedient slaves in the same manner and likeness, and…”
Every iota of reasoning disappeared from the king’s sight, mind, and heart. Skye stretched her hand to hold him back, but he was out of his seat faster than she could reach him.
With the speed and cruelty of his Lycan, Rome rushed to Kain. He seized the man by his neck, his right fingers clasped around Kain Kurt’s neck.
Murmurs and shrill cries erupted from the court. The lords rose from their seats, each man staring at the king with eyes widened. Skye called out to him, but Rome was too far gone.
Rome was going to kill him. Molten rage flowed through his blood as he glared at the man. By heavens! He was going to squeeze the life out of him, and have his tongue removed after that.
“Your majesty! Please have mercy!”
“Have mercy on him, your majesty! He was only being silly!”
Their pleas did nothing to Rome. He was determined to end Kain Kurt’s life for the foul words he had directed at his mate.
Everyone else seemed to value his life except him – Kain Kurt, himself.
While the lords, and even Skye, pleaded on his behalf, the man’s eyes dropped to look at the king.
Kain Kurt smirked. A widespread grin conquered his cheeks.
Rome’s anger burst into flames within him.
“Pardon him, your majesty!”
“Your majesty, please put him down.”
“He’s not worth it, Rome! Please!” He heard Skye cry out.
Rome hissed. He flung Kain Kurt across the room, hoping he would break his limbs and lose his ability to work.
He fixed his eyes on Skye, his chest rose and fell heavily as he fought to steady his breath.
“Do not ever call me for such a meeting again. And if anyone, and I mean anyone, mentions ill of Elora or her siblings, I would not hesitate to tear them into pieces.” He tilted his neck to look at Kain’s body, numb on the ground.
“Regardless of who they are.” He concluded.
The king stomped out of the courtroom, and out of the palace. He made his way to Red River, the only place he could regain his calm mind.
Skye followed him behind. He could hear her footsteps run to catch up with his.
“Rome! Wait!” She called out again, once they approached Red River.
Tired, Rome turned around to glare at her.
“Seriously, not now.”
She stood still, and a small pause followed. She had to catch her breath.
“I have to say something, Rome. And I have to say it now. What is the matter with you?”
His fingers raked down his red hair, and he rolled his eyes.
“You have to learn to control yourself, Rome. Do you have any idea what you just did? If you continue like this, you would only give them more reasons to fucking hurt her!”
Skye continued to scream at the top of her voice.
Rome knew she was worried, but wished she wouldn’t be.
“She’s under my watch.” He said. Skye heaved a breathless sigh as she watched him.
“No one would dare dream of hurting her. I’ll kill without hesitation, Skye. Without a single thought.” Rome’s rage was still pent up in his blood.
He needed to hit something, anything at all. The anger in him had to leave him somehow.
“Rome…” Her eyes softened.
“I think it’s best you leave, Skye. I need to run with my beast.”
Rome could tell Skye had a lot more she wanted to say but thought it wise to leave him at that moment.
She turned her back to him, and he took off his clothes by the river bank. Slowly, he morphed into his Lycan, and ran past the river, straight into the woods.