AVA
I was still floating on a post-orgasm cloud the next morning to the point that I was practically
bouncing as I walked. Theo and I needed that time together last night, and badly.
“You’re in a good mood this morning, Theo,” Noah smirked when we all sat down for breakfast in the
private dining room in our suite. I’d insisted on a room being set up so the five of us could eat in
private if we so desired, and Michael had more than delivered on that.
Theo pressed a kiss to my forehead, grinning at Noah.
I shook my head at the pair of them, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face, before
walking around the table, saying good morning to and giving each of the others a kiss.
When I reached Oscar, he wrapped his arms around my waist, tugging me into his lap so I straddled
him where he sat. This is why when we chose chairs, the boys all insisted on ones without arms.
“Good morning, little one,” he whispered against my ear, his breath sending a shiver down my spine. I
smiled, leaning down to kiss him. I planned a chaste, innocent kiss… but he had other ideas.
His tongue demanded entry to my mouth, and his fingers dug into my hips as he deepened the kiss. I
moaned against his mouth, feeling both my body heating up and his getting very hard against me.
My stomach grumbled and I broke the kiss on a giggle, laughing harder when I saw the look on
Oscar’s face. “Worked up an appetite, little one?”
I nodded, turning my head to blow Theo a kiss.
Oscar’s mouth appeared back at my ear, his teeth tugging at the lobe. “Tell you what, little one. First
I’m going to feed you. Then, I’m going to fuck you until you feel me between your legs for the rest of
the day.” He thrust his hips up against me, proving he was more than ready to do just that.
After a breakfast of pancakes and bacon with maple syrup… he delivered on that promise.
Mine and Oscar’s sex-session meant we didn’t end up heading out until after lunch. Fortunately…
Michael didn’t comment on the smell of sex that we probably hadn’t managed to completely shower
off, nor did he mention the fact we were actually supposed to meet him two hours earlier than we did.
“My Queen, our scholars have finished translating a poem called “The Shrouded King.” Michael’s
voice was tense. “I should clarify though, my Queen, that the language used is very old, so the
translation might not be perfect.”
I nodded. “What have you got?”
“In shadows deep, a crown will rise,
With silent whispers, cloaked in lies.
A new king comes, his path unclear,
Yet stirs the winds of doubt and fear.
The hearts of many, once so bold,
Will turn to dust, their fire cold.
Through shattered trust, the world may break,
As darkness follows in his wake.
The sky will tremble, oceans weep,
The earth itself shall stir from sleep.
And though the end is yet unknown,
The seeds of chaos will be sown.
When kings of old begin to fall,
The fate of all will heed the call.
For in his rise, and in his reign,
The world may never be the same.”
The room was silent as we all took in Michael’s words.
“We’re going to lose a lot of people in this fight to come, aren’t we,” my voice was low as I spoke. I
hated this. I hated everything about it. These people were going to die because two psychotic
arseholes had decided they had a right to me.
“Ava… it’s not your fault, please don’t blame yourself,” Callum took my hand as he spoke. He
squeezed my hand reassuringly, giving me a small smile. “All of us are behind you all the way, little
one. We’ll get through it all together.”
“I know we will,” I replied. “But how many people are we going to have to lose for that to happen?”
“My Queen, the wolves and Lycans of the Kingdom will all fight this battle for you willingly,”
Michael replied. “They are all prepared for the potential ramifications of the fight to come.”
I scowled. “That doesn’t make me feel any better that people are going to be laying their lives down
for me, Michael.”
“Ava… perhaps try to see it as they are defending the Kingdom, not just you,” Callum added. Michael
looked like he was going to say something, but at a look from Callum, promptly stopped. “I know it’s
hard, but all of the warriors join willingly. They all train willingly to look after their packs, people and
the Kingdom. No one is being forced into doing anything, little one. And even anyone who isn’t a
warrior that fights, is either choosing to join the front lines, or is defending their family or members of
the pack unable to defend themselves.”
I gave Callum a small smile, squeezing his hand slightly. “Thank you, Callum.”
“So that’s what we’re trying to prevent?” Noah commented. It was definitely a rhetorical question.
I nodded, my face straight, no emotion showing.
“I guess we wait for whatever move is made next. At the moment, we believe Elijah is dead and
Matthew is locked up.” I bit my lip, deep in thought. “But I assume it isn’t going to be that simple.”
“Was Elijah’s body found, my Queen?”
“No,” I shook my head. “We’ve searched the area thoroughly, and no one has found even a trace of
his body. The scent has gone completely.”
“I’m not convinced he’s dead,” Oscar stated. “I know what I did should have killed him, but the fact
that there’s no scent? No trace? Something doesn’t sit right.”
“I hate to be pessimistic, but I agree,” I sighed. “I don’t think it can have been that simple. We thought
we saw someone in the forest after, and that person might have been carrying someone… but
Jeremiah never managed to catch up to or find them. It’s possible Elijah was picked up by a witch, we
know he was working with them. We would have all been too distracted by Oscar nearly dying to
have noticed anything else really going on.”
“So really what we’re saying… there’s two psychopaths that want to force you into being their mate.
You should be safe from both now, but honestly? We don’t trust that. So we have absolutely no idea
what we’re dealing with.” Noah sounded stressed, an emotion that was replicated in everyone else’s
faces.
That basically covers it.
If it wasn’t so unbelievably problematic, I’d have to laugh.