Chapter 56 #2
“High queen Zathexa, while I am certain that I speak for all of us when I thank you for your hospitality, perhaps we should arrive at the purpose for this gathering. Namely, we wish to settle on resuming the breeding schedule.”
His mother’s gavo inched higher quizzically. “Is that so, Zara? Does the court truly believe that now is the time to resume when a number of eligible females were poisoned and are currently being taken care of by their families?”
Zara flicked her gavo dismissively. “What concern is it of ours? We agreed to be cooperative amongst each other, but in truth this is about securing an heir for the Aglatha. And now that you are ill, it is even more critical.”
“How would you suggest that we proceed, then?” Zathexa asked in a cold voice.
Zara paused, but clearly lacked the good sense to know not to continue down that route with the high queen.
Instead, she ignored the warning and pushed ahead with a thin smile.
“I think that the strongest and most noble bloodline should re-establish the agreed-upon program. Gareiia deserves to lead the others in this.”
“Outrageous!” a female objected, rising abruptly from her cushions. “That is not we agreed upon when we discussed summoning the council, Zara.”
“Agreed,” another added as she too straightened. “Gareiia has already had her chance. My Aiya has been waiting patiently.”
“Aiya? What of my Briia? Briia is of the fifth house and should be the next in line,” the second hissed contentiously at the latter female.
Therxian’s gavo inched upward, fluttering lightly with his amusement. It seemed that the council was not as unified as it appeared.
“You dare to contest my Gareiia’s claim?” Zara hissed as she whipped around on her tail to face the others.
“What makes you believe that Gareiia has any claim at all?” Zathexa returned sharply, making the other female hiss angrily even as she recoiled in frustration.
A shadow moved, and a female Therxian did not recognize drew forward, settling her hand on Zara’s arm. “Be calm. Remember the purpose behind this,” she advised.
Therxian’s eyes narrowed on her. Though she spoke softly, it was the hiss of warning in her voice that caught his attention.
His focus sharpened on her as she emerged further.
She looked over at him, and he could not help but think that there was a slyness to her gaze that made him feel ill at ease.
Zathexa frowned at the sound of her voice and slowly straightened to peer at the female joining them, her gavo rising imperiously.
Her tail shifted around her into a tightening coil.
Unlike Therxian, she appeared to know exactly who the female was and did not approve of her presence there.
“Shalyia, I did not see you enter. What brings you to the court? From what I recall, I exiled you and removed your name from the records of the Shel mother-line.”
A small, tight smile pulled at Shalyia’s mouth, and she lowered her head as she slid out from the shadows of her sister.
“I apologize, my queen. I am merely here to support and advocate for the rights of my niece. Given my own poor daughter’s fate, I must expend my maternal affection somewhere worthwhile. ”
“Is that so?” Zathexa’s eyes narrowed. “And you both feel that her interests are not protected in this court?”
“It is not that, your majesty,” Zara quickly replied, delivering a sharp look to her sister.
“It is just that Gareiia did not get a proper turn, and due to our close ties, we think that it would be in the royal line’s favor to grant her another opportunity before...
others of less noble bearing,” she said with a meaningful look toward those who had objected.
“I see,” Zathexa murmured. Her eyes slid over the females coolly. “You have arranged yourselves so nicely—deciding amongst yourselves your own standing in relation to the royal line. Grooming the succession of your own lines rather than representing and caring for the shinara as a whole.”
Therxian noted that several of the noble families visibly wilted under the high queen’s scornful reproach. Unfortunately, not one of them was among the four noble houses. Somehow, the sisters of the Shel line were puffed up even more with their own self-importance.
“It is only because we care about the wellbeing of the shinara that we insist that is matter must be taken into the gravest of considerations. Therxian is an unmated male in his prime, and we cannot take the risk of waiting—” Zara began, but Zathexa cut her off with a cold, sharp laugh.
“If that is your true motivation, then you will be happy to know that you are most fortunate, indeed,” his mother hissed.
Therxian blinked at his mother in surprise. What?
Zara echoed his confusion, her expression undoubtedly identical to the one he wore. “We are? Does that mean that you agree for Gareiia—”
“No,” Zathexa replied, not even allowing the other female to finish speaking. “I mean that Therxian already has a mate. So the ... services... of your daughter will no longer be required. He will not be violating the rights of his mate to satisfy even one of you.”
Therxian was stunned. His gavo had inched upward, excitement stirring within his chest at every perfunctory word that left his mother’s mouth, only to drop as he found himself suddenly overwhelmed and in awe of what his mother had done.
Her head turned, and she met his eyes, her chin lifting briefly with pride before slowly inclining her head toward him in private acknowledgement.
She had done it for him. She had single-handedly offended the most powerful females in the council—likely those connected most intimately with Yilada—and she had made the sacrifice and took on all the risks for him.
She should have done it for Slengral rather than trying to beat the council at their own game, but that she had finally made her move visibly before the entire council meant more to him than he had believed it would.
He glanced covertly around the room, his eyes sliding over the families in attendance.
It took every bit of his self-control not to laugh at the sour look Zara and a few other females among the upper noble houses wore.
And yet, he noted with surprise at the look of relief that more than one female wore.
Though perhaps he should not be so surprised, because it was present in some fashion on the face of nearly every female who was not among the upper families.
Excited chatter rose throughout the throne chamber, and the tension noticeably dropped as the females began to speculate amongst themselves who might have had the capability and opportunity to lure in the prince despite his mother’s guard.
Zara forced a strained smile and lowered her head in a stiff bow.
“It is assuredly grand tidings for your line,” she replied, though it was obvious that every word was forced from between her tightly clenched teeth.
“Perhaps you can make the female knowable to us all so that we can all share in this happy occasion. Who is she and from which family does come?”
“Yes. Surely there would be no reason to welcome her among the council,” Shalyia added, without even a hint of sincerity.
Therxian would have scoffed if not for the risk of bringing unwanted attention to him. All the same, it warranted it. They were not even trying to be convincing. That only spoke to how much power they believed they held. Did they truly believe that they were untouchable?
Zathexa studied them for a long moment before smiling cooly in their direction.
“Impossible. She is being sequestered for her own safety. After what happened in the past, I am sure you understand why I would be particularly protective of a female mated to my son.” She looked meaningfully at Shalyia.
“Some are still paying the price for decisions that were made.”
The other female stiffened in anger, but Zara was the one who hurried to object, perhaps before her sister could say something unfortunate.
“My queen, that situation was entirely different. That human did not belong with us. They are not our kind. They do not feel or experience things the way we do. Just look at what they were doing with their violator before we stopped them. They have no thought about what they do. That is without even addressing the fact that their offspring would have polluted the royal line. Some of us were motivated out of desperation to save the shinara, however misguided their methods were. Therxian’s mate is to be celebrated as the vessel that shall continue the royal line. ”
“Indeed,” Zathexa quietly hissed. “Which is exactly why her identity will remain unknown. Her comfort and privacy during this delicate time while they are trying to conceive an heir is far too important.” She smiled.
“I am certain that you can appreciate the gravity and importance of this, especially since you addressed your concerns about an heir so aggressively.”
“But... my queen...” Zara stumbled over her words as she shook off her daughter clasping demandingly at her arm”