Chapter 16 - The Word He Refuses to Say
Silas had not returned to the throne room.
He had gone straight to his private chambers and shut the heavy stone doors behind him harder than necessary.
The sound echoed like a warning through the hallway.
He paced.
Back and forth across the large room carved into the mountain.
His boots struck the stone floor in slow, controlled steps.
But there was nothing controlled about what was happening inside him.
He could smell her.
Even here.
Even through walls and distance and stone.
Soft. Warm. Wild.
His wolf was not calm.
It had been restless before.
Agitated.
But now?
Now it was awake.
Pacing violently beneath his skin like it was trying to claw its way out.
Silas dragged a hand through his hair and exhaled sharply.
This had never happened before.
Not in war.
Not in battle.
Not in negotiation.
Nothing had ever made him feel... unstable.
A knock sounded at the door.
He didn't answer.
It opened anyway.
Rowan stepped inside carefully.
"My King."
Silas didn't stop pacing.
"What."
Rowan studied him for a long moment before speaking.
"You can feel her."
It wasn't a question.
Silas's jaw tightened.
"Yes."
Rowan nodded once, like that confirmed something.
"She is settled in the east wing."
Silas stopped walking.
He hadn't asked.
Yet Rowan had told him anyway.
His wolf surged at the knowledge.
She was close.
Closer than she had ever been.
Silas turned slowly.
"Why does my body react to her like this?"
Rowan didn't hesitate.
"Because she is your mate."
Silence fell like a dropped blade.
Silas went completely still.
The word echoed in his mind.
Mate.
Impossible.
His eyes darkened.
"No."
Rowan held his gaze. "Yes."
Silas shook his head once. "She smells wrong."
"Because she is suppressed," Rowan said calmly.
That made Silas pause.
"Suppressed?"
"By ancient magic. Mage magic."
Silas's chest tightened.
His mind flashed back to the way her scent had felt buried. Hidden beneath something unnatural.
Rowan continued.
"My wolf felt it too. The moment I saw her."
Silas turned away sharply and walked toward the stone window carved into the mountain wall.
Outside, night covered the forest in darkness.
He could still hear her heartbeat if he focused hard enough.
Feel the faint pull in his chest like a thread connecting them.
Mate.
The word made his wolf push harder.
Demanding.
Claiming.
Silas gripped the stone ledge until his knuckles whitened.
"This cannot be coincidence," he muttered.
"It isn't," Rowan replied.
Silas's voice lowered.
"Does she know?"
"No."
"Good."
Rowan watched him carefully.
"You cannot go to her tonight."
Silas's head snapped toward him.
"I wasn't going to."
Rowan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Of course not."
But they both knew the truth.
Silas had already considered it.
Already felt the urge to walk down the hall and stand outside her door just to breathe in her scent.
To make sure she was real.
Silas exhaled slowly.
Controlled.
Measured.
"I will speak to her again in the morning."
Rowan nodded. "As you wish, My King."
As Rowan turned to leave, Silas spoke again.
"Rowan."
He stopped.
"Yes?"
Silas's eyes drifted toward the direction of the east wing.
"Post guards outside her room."
Rowan tilted his head slightly.
"From what?"
Silas's jaw tightened.
"From anyone who thinks she does not belong here."