Chapter 18
POV DARIUS”
The door to the council chambers slammed shut behind my mate and a wide grin spread across my lips. I already knew she was capable of standing up for herself, but her display before the council had quite literally knocked the breath off my lungs, and my wolf howled in approval.
Truthfully speaking, it was a mistake to not tell my mate about Soraya before the council meeting but to in all honesty, I’d completey forgotten Soraya existed after our meeting, When she’d asked who my chosen mate was, I couldn’t help but smile. She was so jealous, and 1 loved it
I turned towards the council and tried not to give them a heated glare. Arya had roasted them all bus moments ago, they at least needed some time
la recover.
“Her tone was very off–putting.” Soraya said and I turned to glare at her.
Only a few weeks ago, I’d considered Soraya to be one of the most beautiful and elegant woman in the entire kingdom. Despite the fact she’d been scored by her own family, she never let it pull her down and held her head high wherever she went. I’d admired that about her.
However, after meeting my mare, every other woman began to look like Chihauhas on steroids.
“Can you clarify what you mean by that?” I asked, turning to face Soraya
“Exactly what I said.” She replied, looking away cautiously
She wasn’t supposed to speak to the king like that, none one was, but her older brother was a good friend of mine and it made me a little less strict when it came to her
Under normal circumstances, it would’ve been my place to apologize to Soraya. Despite the fact that I can’t control when and how I meet my mate. I’d made a commitment to her before the council after we’d gotten to know each other. I had no doubt she would’ve made a fine queen. She was disciplined and had a keen eye, which were great attributes.
However, the moment I made a commitment to fostering our relationship, some things about her just–changed. She adopted the nation that! was helpless without her and whenever I brought up the idea of either of us supposedly meeting our mates, she went off about how I couldn’t possibly find my mate at my age, with such a strong conviction that always seemed to battle me
I was only twenty five, without a speck of gray on my hair. Bat Soraya made it sound like there would’ve been no hope for me if I’d never taken her as my chosen mate, a position she’d merely been recommended for, not that I’d grown a personal interest in her myself that had come much
later.
–
Two months after I announced to the elders and thankfully not to the entire kingdom as well- that I’d be taking their advice and began seeing Soraya exclusively to possibly foster a relationship, she suddenly blatantly stated that she ought to have been muste queen by now.
I was open about not wanting to rush into marriage, especially when my mate could still be out there, hers as well. But she didn’t take my comment. well and walked out on our date. Perhaps it was her ploy in playing hard to get, but it had the opposite effect on me and only made her hard to
stand.
On the day she’d walked out on her date, I became briefly depressed over the fact that I’d yet to find my mate and ended up venturing out of my territory, leaving the state of my kingdom in the hands of a certain, familial member of the Lycan council
I’d always looked up to my father, Dorian Frostborne, and adored his relationship with my mother, his mate
Every member of the frostborne dynasty had always found their mate when they came of age. The thought of never experiencing what they had burdened me like heavy steel plates on my shoulders. I’d never been the type to go to bars to chug gallons of alcohol, but it felt like something had pulled me to that particular bar that night, the night I saw my mate for the first time.
I’d decided to walk into a random bar and made plans to spend the night to blow off some steam. I took a seat by the end of the bar and curned on my powers. In the Lycan kingdom, only members of the royal family were known to have more than one magical aptitude. However, I was currently the only member of my lineage who had three: Truth–seeker’s gaze, sprint and invisibility,
My truth–seeker’s gaze allowed me to be able to draw out the truth from anyone I was looking directly at, though this power wasn’t absolute and it was possible for certain people to have a resistance to it. However, I was yet to come across anyone who did. Then there was sprint, which allowed me to freeze time and make movements so fast that the naked eye couldn’t follow. But like the name suggested, I could only use this for a few seconds at a time. Then there was invisibility, which allowed me to make myself invisible. I could also make objects I touch invisible as well
Magic users are of three kinds, those whose magie can only affect others, those whoes magic can affect others and themselves and those whout magic can only affect themselves.
Calista fell under the first category, She could tell the fate of others but never her own. Arya fell under the second category because she could heal others and herself. I fell under both the second and third category. I could only make myself and objects invisible, but never other people. The only
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my truth seeker’s gaze worked on other people.
That night at the bar, I’d barely taken any alcohol when a blonde beauty sauntered in My wolf suddenly became alert for some reason and 1 watched her carefully from the end of the bar, completely intrigued. I contemplated walking over and introducing myself, but she looked like she had a lot on her mind and didn’t want to be disturbed.
I nursed my drink while I remained visible to everyone, when a young and quite arrogant looking man walked in and began talking to her. I saw she was clearly uncomfortable with his presence and I’d wanted to get up and intervene, but my wolf growled at me to stay put, which was the last reaction I’d expected from him
He was sensing something I wasn’t, so I sat still and continued to watch, When she slapped the man across the face, I almost whistled as I watched her walk towards my direction with an amused expression on my face. I was shocked when she sat down on my lap, pulled me close and took my breath away with a kiss. She smelled like the forest and honey–dew, and it feh like time froze all around ine.
I’d finally found my mate, and I wasn’t about to let her go.
I was surprised she’d been able to see me while I was invisible, especially since it was obvious she hadn’t noticed my presence when the first walked in. Even from our first meeting, our bond was already so strong that my magic had come undone just for her.
When she kissed me, my wolf howled in delight and I could barely contain myself. I’d waited so many years for this, waited for this moment, waited for her.
Anyone could’ve imagined my horror when I woke up the next morning and saw she was gone. So many thoughts had crossed my mind at that point. Had I dreamt it all? Was she even real??
But I could smell her scent on the sheets of my bed. She’d even wandered into the bathroom while I was asleep. Despite my agony at the fact she was gone, hope filled my bring.
Waiting all these years, I’d almost resigned to fare. Perhaps my mate had died a long time ago and I was searching for someone who no longer existed. But seeing her that night had filled me with a new sense of hope. Now that I knew she was alive somewhere, it didn’t matter how long it took: I’d find her if it was the last thing I did.
When I saw her again during the trial, I never thought I could’ve possibly been happier again in my life than in that moment. My life was finally complete, or so I’d thought.
To think I’d waited all these years to finally meet her, only to find out she’s fatally ill and won’t even live long enough to have our child. The thought alone immobilized my mind and rid me of any sleep. It didn’t matter what I had to do to keep her alive. I’d journey to the very depths of hell to make sure she lived until she was gray.
In the meantime. I was going to love her as much as I could, now and forever. While she was still alive, now that I could see her everyday and have her by my side, I’d make sure to drown her with all the love in my heart, all the love that was rightly hers.
“Your graces, I propose that this meeting be adjourned until further notice?” Soraya suddenly said, cutting off my train of thoughts.
“There’s no use for an adjournment. I’ve made up my mind and nothing is going to change it.” I said.
“If you truly insist, then we don’t have much of a choice.” One of the elders named Zimuzo said, winking at me as he rose from his seat.
Zimuzo was the only other member of the council who wasn’t bigoted. With his nearly bald head, stubby chin and happy looking face, he was the only elder of the council I truly respected from the depths of my heart.
I was sure he’d stayed quiet throughout the meeting to access my mate’s character. That wink just now showed his approval and I smiled at him.
“B–but your grace, she’s a werewolf” Soraya said, her calm and graceful act slipping for just a second.
The other elders shifted uncomfortably. Arya’s speech had clearly gotten to them, even just a little.
“May I propose a solution that guarantees satisfaction for both the council and the king?” Another elder proposed, raising his arm as everyone turned to focus on him. He too had unsurprisingly remained quiet throughout the meeting as well and I rolled my eyes at the silver haired man.
“Let’s hear it,” I replied.
“I propose a test to see how good of a queen his majesty’s mate will make. A test to see if she truly has what it takes.” He said.
“And if the passes the test?” I asked.
“The council will give our blessings to your union.”
“What if she fails” Zimuzo asked, a little concerned.
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Chapter is
“I hope not. But if she does, His majesty will have to reconsider his decision to take a werewolf as his queen” He said.
My fois clenched.
“Does the council approve?” He asked, glancing at the other elders who nodded their heads in approval.
A wide grin stretched across the silver haired man’s face.
“Leave that lo nie.
“Your majesty, wait for me? Someone called after me as I exited the council chambers.
“Don’t follow me.” I growled.
Theard the silver haared nan laugh as he raced to catch up with me Of course, no one was within eyesight to see the clearly aged man run down the golden columns of the open corridor like a teenager. Then again, he was a teenager
I let out a breath and turned around, waiting like he’d asked.
There were Il columns on each side of the corridor. By the time he made it past the oth, he’d transformed into a beautiful woman, retaining her silver hair that bounced at her in Large coil.
“Darling!” she screamed, flinging herself into my arms.
I caught her and we spun together as she laughed delightedly.
I carefully set her foot down and stared down at her, a bright, warm smile spreading across my face. Her caramel skin glistened under the afternoon sin and the blue of her eyes sparkled
“What’s this about you having a mater How come you never told me? You haven’t been cheating, have you?” She asked with a frown on her face and Hlaughed
“I wouldn’t dream of cheating on the likes of you, Jars.” I replied, placing a soft kiss on her palm as she smiled.
“As long as we have that cleared out” Jada siid as we continued our walk.
“Did you see Soraya during the meeting? She looked seconds away from bursting into flames Jada laughed.
“Did she? I didn’t notice.” I replied.
“Of course you wouldn’t, You were staring at Arya the entire time. Speaking of which.“Jada said, her voice breaking off as she stood in front of me
“I’m not going to do you any favours when it comes to your mate. I’m going to really put her to the best to see if she’s worthy of my darling. Jada
“You should be testing me to know if I’m worthy of her.” I replied, running my fingers through my hair.
“Ohh wow. You really do have the hots for her.”Jada said.
“I wasn’t trying to hide it replied.
Suddenly, a devilish grin spread across her lips and I sighed in defeat.
“What do you have in mind for her test?” I asked, knowing she was going to be brutal now that she was sure I was madly in love with my mate
“It’s a secret.” jada replied, skipping ahead of me.
“At least give me so
me some detail” 1 begged.
“Nope, but for your sake, I’ll try not to give her any trauma.” she replied.
“What was that?”
“Nothing darling.” Jada replied, a wide grin spreading across her lips.
