Chapter 6 Unforeseen Challenges
Unforeseen Challenges
Ben
After the initial shock of the announcement and the confirmation that not only was I pregnant, but I was indeed carrying the next king, we sat back down to resume our breakfast. In fact, Kris' mountain of eggs started appearing on my plate so I could eat more.
I looked at him as he just kept putting more of his food on my plate.
He looked at me, smiled, and shrugged. "You're pregnant. You need to eat," he said simply.
I heard a snort of amusement from my friend and master. Stephen smiled at me and asked the question that I had been thinking about but was too scared to ask.
"What happens now?" Master Stephen asked as he looked to both Kris and me.
I knew this question was coming and I dreaded it. Would I have to leave my home, the only home I had known for the past ninety years?
I thought back to when I’d been a scared and starving little boy on the streets and my years growing up in the coven.
Those years were difficult at first. I didn’t have a lot of friends, and it had taken some time to adjust. I’d trained.
I’d worked out and watched Devin and Stephen—how they’d carried themselves and fought.
I’d been a sponge, wanting to learn as much as I could.
I’d never joined them—I was always on the outside looking in.
Then one day, Devin had called to me as he was teaching a class and training the enforcers of the coven.
"Benny! I need you to come here for a moment," Devin yelled.
My eyes had rounded, and I’d pointed to my chest in the universal symbol of me?
He laughed. "Yes, you."
I remember trembling as I walked up. When I stood before him, he leaned in and whispered, "I’ve been watching you. I know you can do this move better than they can. Let's show them how things should be."
We then proceeded to spar and show the rest of the men there that particular move.
From that day on, I trained side by side with Dev, and we became the best of friends.
As time went on in the coven, I made more and more friends.
When Master Stephen elevated me to enforcer, it was one of my proudest days.
I had sworn to protect and defend my coven and my people. I loved them all. This was my home.
I was brought back to the present with a touch and smile from Kris.
I don't know if he saw my memories as I had seen his but by the look in his soft eyes, he had.
My mind was unguarded as I thought of my childhood and home.
I didn't want to leave my home; how could I tell him that?
This was my family. But I also knew Kris could never submit to the rule of someone else, whether or not I viewed Stephen as a father. Kris was the king of his people.
"My mate and I have much to speak about," he said regally. I smiled at how sometimes he could become so formal and imperious.
"I was thinking," he continued, "that Ben and I can get a place just outside your territory. This way he could continue to visit his friends and family."
I lit up at the idea. I could still be close, and this way Kris wouldn’t be under Stephen’s rule. It was a win-win in my book. I looked to Master Stephen with a question in my eyes.
"Perhaps you would consider staying in the coven?” he asked.
“As Benjamin's mate, you would be welcome to join." I could tell he didn’t want me to leave, either.
"I understand that you want to keep him.
However, even when I lived in Belle Fort, I was on the outskirts, just outside the pack's territory. I may not have a circle, and I’ve stayed out of the affairs of my people for millennia, but I am still the king.
I don't believe it possible for me to submit to your authority," he explained earnestly.
"I understand. However, Benjamin is like a son to me, and his safety and care are paramount. The rogue that attacked him is still out there, and I would feel better if he had the protection of the coven," Master Stephen insisted.
"Agreed—until the rogue is captured. I request permission for us to stay here within the coven. I have already assigned Roarke as his guardian protector. Any additional protection would be appreciated," Kris replied.
"You're making me out to be some feeble weakling who needs constant protection. I’m an enforcer and have been one for thirty years, as well as a tracker for thirty years before that. I can take care of myself," I grumbled.
"I’m not saying you can’t take care of yourself, love, far from it.
I know you are a warrior of your people, and I respect that.
But you were wounded and infected by basilisk venom and nearly died.
Now, you carry our child. I will admit that, with that, my dragon is pushing hard to lock you away in our lair.
Please humor me with the additional protection," Krispin said.
I just smiled and grumbled, "Okay."
There was no way I could dispute his logic, and I didn't want to be taken to his lair; did he actually have a lair? He must have heard my thoughts because he sniggered.
"What is going on here?" an angry voice snarled.
I turned at the sound of the voice to see who was interrupting our breakfast. It was a gargoyle I had never met before. He was big, and he looked like someone just killed his kitten. He was flanked by two other gargoyles–equally large and unknown.
"You're supposed to be dead!" he exclaimed.
He seemed very unhappy that I was alive and breathing, and I found that odd. Who was this guy? Did he know the gargoyle who attacked me? Why did he want me dead? All these questions swirled in my mind, and I almost missed what Master Stephen was saying.
"Elder Atticus, isn't it great news? My enforcer has fully recovered and is alive and well. Now you will have eyewitness testimony that it was in fact a rogue gargoyle who attacked my man inside my territory," he said with a smirk. I didn't know why, but the whole situation was making me uneasy.
"Yes, it is wonderful he’s alive and healed," the elder forced out, sounding like it was the last thing he wanted to say. "But how? Don't tell me the dogs and the human actually figured something out," he said snidely.
Growls erupted from the wolves at the table and from Master Stephen. Even Kris let loose a snarl.
"Excuse me, I meant wolves," he smirked. "Come now, tell me what this cure was and why does he reek of that human?"
"Elder Atticus, you will do well to remember you are a guest in my territory, and I’ll not allow disrespectful comments; my Beloved is a wolf. Enforcer Morgan was healed by the blood of his Beloved, who is that human, as you put it," Master Stephen said.
"I apologize for my comments," he said as he bowed his head to Master Stephen. Then he turned to me and asked, "When will you be available to give me an account of the rogue?"
I was about to answer, but Kris beat me to it. "My mate and I will meet you later this afternoon for his account," he said firmly, daring the elder to dispute him.
"I don't believe it would be necessary for you to accompany your mate. I’ll meet with him in about an hour," he replied, answering the dare.
Before Kris or I could reply, Master Stephen cut in. "Enforcer Morgan will be in my office with his mate and myself at two this afternoon. You can get your account then." Effectively ending the conversation with his order. The elder nodded and left the room.
"I don't trust him. He seemed too eager for Ben to be dead," Devin said.
"Yes, he did,” Kris agreed. “I don’t trust him either.”
"Why do I have to give my account to him anyway?" I asked, confused.
"Before you passed out, you claimed it was a gargoyle attack. Elder Atticus was sent by the Circle of Elders to investigate the claim. When he saw your wound, he determined it wasn’t a gargoyle and claimed we were making it up to accuse his race," Master Stephen explained.
"I don't trust him. I don't know if he was involved with your attack. We’ll need to keep an eye on him. "
Kris wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me close. Don't worry, sweetheart. I will ensure you and our son are safe, he swore though our link. I sighed and rested against him.
Elder Atticus
Outrageous, impossible. How is he still alive? I thought as the elevator stopped at the rooftop garden. I needed air and a chance to spread my wings. They were holding back; no way a mate's blood could have stopped the basilisk venom.
Unless Harper had lied to me. She had told me nothing could cure basilisk venom.
Paranormals and humans all died from it, and there was no stopping it.
I should have known better than to trust a witch.
I’d always been a sucker for a pair of nice legs and big tits.
She was a good fuck, that was for sure, but that was all she was good for.
She’d better have an answer, or she would die, no matter how good a fuck.
The doors opened, and I walked out. No one was on the rooftop, which was surprising.
I had heard the coven master's mutt loved the gardens.
Damn bloodsuckers and dogs! I spread my wings and took to the sky.
I was an elder of my kind and had the power to keep my form during the daylight hours, while most were relegated to stone.
Only those mated to their true mate or elders had the ability to be free during the daylight hours.
As I flew, I thought of my people; for far too long they had allowed the other species to pollute them.
Our men continued to pair with men. Fucking fags.
They needed to mate with our females, so our race could stay strong.
Our females weren't any better; they mated with vampires, dogs, and any other type of shifters. Whores. Damn Annel. I’d given my heart to that bitch and had been with her for a hundred years!
I’d had three hatchlings with her! And what the fuck had she done?
She’d claimed to have met her true mate in a bloodsucker and spread her legs for the bastard!
I shook my head. No need to think of that bitch.
I had to find Bazer before any of the leeches did.
I couldn’t have this attack linked to me.
Bazer was the former chieftain of a nearby clutch that believed that all these fucking creatures should be slaves.
The idiot had gone and gotten challenged—and fucking lost. That was when we had to come up with the plan of starting strife among the bastards.
The tension could help us sway the other elders of the Circle.
The majority of the elders still believed in peace between the species and inclusion.
Fucking idiots. They needed to understand that these kinds had no place in the world—except maybe as our slaves.
They needed to understand we had to cleanse our race from the dregs and become pure and strong once again.
A sound caught my attention and I turned to look. It was Cobox, my guard. He was mated to a nice female.
"Elder, forgive the intrusion," he said. "We have a report that Chieftain Tomlin from the Chadwick Clutch is coming to lend aid in searching for the 'rogue' that attacked the vampire."
"Damn it," I yelled, veering a little as I flew with rage.
"Will that asshole stop interfering with my plans? Bazer should have killed him long ago, before he gained any foothold in the clutch," I growled in frustration.
Now I definitely needed to find Bazer first.
"When Sorun wakes, take him and find Bazer. These bloodsuckers can’t find him. I’ll deal with Chieftain Tomlin," I ordered.
This flight was supposed to clear my head. It just made it worse. How was that leech still alive? If only he had died. A thought occurred to me.
Hmm… Maybe I can still use him to win over the elders.
First, Bazer needed to be found. Then, one way or another, I would have the elders convinced to cleanse our race, and I would use the little bloodsucker as my ticket.