Chapter 116
RAINE
Amaris sent the convoy out the next morning like he promised. I wanted to open a portal and fetch them, but he wasnât budging.
âNo, I donât want you to drain your power. Youâve overexerted yourself during the battle. Donât endanger our pup, Raine.â He refused to let me get out of bed to arrange accommodation for the Alphas and their Luna that were to arrive later for the summit.
It couldnât have come at a worse time. The dragonsâ onslaught had severely damaged the castle and although repairs were hastily underway, it was hardly fit to receive guests. Let alone sixty odd Alphas with their better halves.
âI must do my duty as queen, my love. You need me by your side.â Why did he have to be so stubborn? I felt fine.
âRaine, I will handle this. Trust me. I will send for you when I need you.â he placed a lingering on my forehead. âRest.â
âWhat are you trying to protect me from, Amaris?â I saw right through him. He expected trouble from some or most of the Alphas.
âProtect you?â he chuckled and winked at me. âI am protecting the Alphas from you, my little _witch. You might just lose that temper of yours.â
âAre you saying I canât control myself?â I snarled at him, feeling the hairs at my nape rising.
He cocked an eyebrow at me. A flicker of a smile passed over his lips. âAm I wrong?â
I threw a pillow at him, which he caught and placed it back on the bed. âIâll call for you.â With a self- assured air, he straightened his stance and confidently walked out of the bedroom, completely unaffected by the daggers I was glaring at him.
I linked Rhona to bring me my breakfast. Being angry made me hungry. Well, pretty much
everything made me hungry these days. Feeling my pup move beneath my hands, it was just a tiny flutter, but it made me smile and calm down.
***
Sitting at my dressing table letting Lily work her magic on my hair and face, I listened to the bustling going on outside. The Alphas have arrived.
Rhona and Sarah hung the last of the curtains, replacing the scorched and torn drapes. Rhona peered out of the window. âI didnât think there would be such a lot of them, considering they suffered staggering losses from the attacks.â
âHave they arrived with burning torches and hayforks?â I imagined they were less than friendly.
Chapter 116
Amaris was going to have his hands full.
The three of them tittered nervously.
âNo, Milady.â Rhona gathered up the discarded drapes, bundling them up in her arms. âIâll just get rid of these.â
âLily, I want to look amazing.â I met the girlâs smiling face in the mirror. âPlease pick out an outfit for me.â
âYou will look breathtaking in whatever you decide to wear, Milady.â She patted my shoulder. âBut Iâve got you.â
I wanted my entrance to be unforgettable. And more than that, I wanted to take my kingâs breath away. There was no way I was staying here in our bedroom like a good little Omega. I was the queen and the High Magus, and no one was going to stop me from standing beside my king. Not even Amaris himself.
***
As I walked down the corridors towards the throne room, the devastation of the castle saddened me. So much was lost, so many irreplaceable things. But the lives that were lost mattered most. Workers were still clearing up the rubble, stopping briefly to bow to me as I passed them.
I heard Amarisâ voice coming from the throne room. âYes, you heard me. And I do not aim to rescind my decree. It is final.â
âYou would rather see our kingdom destroyed than give her up?â a thunderous voice resounded down the hallway. âIâve lost so many pack members, livestock, houses. The list is endless! And donât give a shit!â
I froze in my steps.
you
âAnd to top it off, you are opening your castle to a coven of witches. Have There was a murmur of agreement from the others.
you lost
your mind?â
âAlpha Kane, watch your tone with me.â Amarisâ voice held a clear warning. âYou forget that the queen and her coven fought as bravely as any werewolf warrior.â
âShe has placed a curse on us, Your Majesty! All of us. Look at the distraction sheâs caused.â A womanâs voice rose above the others.
âAnd she has bewitched you! Your brother would never have let this happen.â Another one cried
out.
I felt the temperature rise in my blood. But I forced myself to remain calm. I didnât want this to end in a bloodbath.
The guards at the entrance bowed respectfully as I came closer. They let me pass through the doors. Amaris noticed me immediately and stopped speaking. The heat in his eyes gave me a thrill
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Chapter 116
of satisfaction. Heads turned in my direction. No one said a word. Cowards.
Amaris stepped off his podium and walked towards me. He held out his hand, and I placed mine in his with a smile. He my fingers and led me to my throne. Ross stood with the elders to the left of the podium. I was glad he had recovered, and I smiled at him. He inclined his head in my direction, returning my smile with one of his own. It didnât escape Amarisâ eyes.
âDid ! call for you, my queen?â Amaris dark voice sent a shiver down my spine. His voice was for niy ears only.
âNo, but Iâm sure you needed me.â I looked into his eyes, all innocence. Looking forward to any punishment he would deal out later, because I knew it would be very pleasurable.
He grunted an incoherent reply. I didnât miss the sultry smile that ghosted his lips.
I scanned over the Alphaâs and their Lunaâs faces, and then my eyes landed on them. Luke and his chosen Luna, Sasha! Luke had gone a sickly shade of pale when our eyes met. Sasha clung to his arm, frowning darkly at me. I gave her a beaming smile, and she averted her eyes.
What I would give to read their thoughts!
âNow that the queen is here, Alpha Kane, and whoever has an objection, now is your opportunity to speak your mind.â Amaris gave my hand a squeeze.