Chapter Twenty-Seven
River
The disappearing three dots of her reply had haunted me for thirty minutes. What did she want to say, and why didn’t she?
I wished things could go back to how they were, that I could just walk up to her and talk issues out like when she lived here. Having her in Fogoya, in my court, made me hopeful that even with the challenges of war, my life could be worth something.
We had never shared a bed, yet having her so far away affected my sleep more than I cared to admit.
It was as though knowing she was tucked in, sleeping soundly on her mountain of pillows just a couple of rooms from mine, allowed my body to truly rest. With her gone, I couldn’t listen to her steady heartbeat or the soft little whimpers that escaped her in her sleep.
Her scent still clung to the bedding, and more than once I found myself wandering into her room just to not feel as… abandoned.
Last time I’d seen her, Ava smelled of another male. Too strong for someone she’d only seen once. I had no right to be angry, not after betraying her, but the thought of her offering herself to somebody made me break out in flames so restless I struggled to control them.
It scared me; I couldn’t show her what craving her did to me. I would just push her into that other man’s arms.
I was a failure of a mate, but I would be damned if I gave up on our future without a fight.
My little witch needed to find the Crones, and I was her best chance. As much as she hated the forced proximity, I would use it to my advantage. I would show her that I was worthy of her forgiveness and that the colossal fuck-up didn’t define me.
The reputation of a ruthless ruler clung to me ever since I took over the throne and introduced bloodier tactics of fighting back. The gore didn’t bother me. I wasn't concerned with the people I killed or the pain I caused. Not until it was her on the receiving end.
Hurting her was all I thought about when she first arrived.
I had so many plans on how to torture her and make it so she begged me for death.
Now the thought of it made me sick. She was supposed to be my revenge, yet the mere chance she might look at me with those soulful, understanding eyes like I was still worth something had become the reason I forced myself to keep going.
Winning her over wouldn’t be easy, but I had a plan and I already knew what bothered her. Words meant nothing without action, and I would show my mate that I could enrich her life and provide peace and safety.
Weeks ago I said I enjoyed the hunt. I would make this my greatest one yet.
‘They’re here,’ Michael informed us after checking his phone. One of his spies must have been on the lookout.
‘I’m glad,’ Councillor Ramonds said with a note of detestation that usually clung to his voice whenever he needed to see us. My fist itched to see what the sharp ridge of his cheekbone would feel like as it crushed beneath it.
The only thing that calmed me was that he seemed to treat Ava better than the rest of us. The last time they’d spoken, he’d been almost pleasant when he handed her the box containing the directions to the Crone.
Besides, punching him would only get me into trouble with the Elders. They would probably impose sanctions on my kingdom, and it was the last thing I needed when I had to focus on winning Ava back.
She walked into the conference room, and her grass-green eyes landed on mine, her gaze lingering for a fraction too long.
‘Elder Ramdons, good afternoon,’ Ava said as her siblings took their seats.
Taking the seat beside me, she offered me a shy smile, and I had to force my fire to settle. Especially when her intoxicating scent of peaches and roses nearly drove me delirious. The little witch was like a drug. I was hopelessly addicted to her and completely at her mercy.
A single spark of her fire could send me over the edge. With her beside me, I wasn’t sure where reality ended and something better began. The two blurred into a life so beautiful it surpassed everything I’d ever heard others say about matehood.
‘King Dracon?’ The Elder cleared his throat, and I finally looked at him.
‘What?’
‘Perhaps, if you deem us worthy of your attention, we might start the meeting? You could at least grant us that, since you insisted on being here when your presence is utterly unnecessary.’
My fists tightened. ‘I’m sorry, how exactly is my lack of attention affecting your ability to carry out this meeting that is in my court and that I organised, councillor Ramonds?’
Ava cleared her throat and placed a hand on my thigh to placate me.
It only made my blood boil, though for an entirely different reason.
As if she sensed it, she blushed and quickly withdrew her hand before offering, ‘Perhaps we can all calm down and get down to business, shall we? Why are we here?’
That slightest touch made it nearly impossible to think clearly, sending me into a frenzy that humoured Michael enough to snort and kick me under the table.
My witch had me behaving like a desperate fool.
It was unbecoming. To add insult to injury, Alec watched from across us, undoubtedly sensing how badly I wanted his sister.
He hadn’t been my friend for a long time, and she was my mate, but the situation was so awkward it was almost funny.
I fought hard not to cackle, especially since the moment the councillor realised what was happening, he downed his whisky in one go and muttered a quick prayer for divine intervention.
Oh, well. I guessed he never felt the restless need to fuck his mate senseless and sate needs she didn’t even know she had.
‘Can we continue?’ he asked.
Pouring myself a glass of water, hoping it would cool me down enough to pay attention, I listened as Ava encouraged the Elder to explain why he had gathered us.
She was so polite and formal when she needed to. Seeing how much she had grown in power, confidence, and the way she carried herself made me certain that she would make a great queen. We would serve Fogoya together, leading it into prosperity and peace.
‘I’m sure you realise the leader of our Council had stepped in as an interim monarch of Ortensia, which cannot continue. The kingdom has two living, attainable royal family members and as such, it is between the two of you to decide which one of you will take over.’
‘Aren’t you looking for our mother?’ Willow asked, speaking for the first time since they arrived. The girl looked surprisingly normal for the bitch Ava shared she was.
Ramonds placed his hands on the table. It was a tactic I knew, meant to make him look honest and understanding.
Qualities I believed he lacked. ‘We are actively searching for the former Queen Harper and your older sister Princess Lilian; however, since the state she left her court in was troublesome at best and bordering on annihilation at worst, we are against reinstating her. We would rather the reign be passed to the next legitimate option.’
‘They aren’t options, they’re heiresses,’ Alec seethed, slamming his fist hard enough to rattle the glasses.
The councillor paled. ‘Of course. I apologise for my choice of words; I didn’t mean disrespect.’
Alec didn’t seem convinced. ‘Regarding them as objects wasn’t meant to be disrespectful?’
‘Let it go, Alec. We all know what he meant,’ Ava said, crossing her legs and hiding her hands in between her knees.
Stressful situations tended to make her hands go cold lately; the raging blaze within my veins rushed to warm them for her, but it wasn’t the place nor the time to test her boundaries with me.
‘Since you have been staying away, wisely so, you may not know how dire the situation had been growing in your kingdom. Unfortunately, the Ortensian court had chosen not to cooperate with the interim monarchy, organising… distressing protests to urge the Council into bringing back a legitimate ruler,’ he informed us with arms crossed as if he disapproved of what had been happening.
As much as I hated Ortensians, I understood why they rejected the Elder involvement. Their generic approach was insufficient. Though I would be lying if I claimed it didn’t make my life easier.
Ever since the Council ruled over the halfling kingdom, they had stopped attacking my armies and the villages near the Gem Fields. My people were hopeful the disappearance of Queen Harper could lead to peace.
I wouldn’t allow myself to dream, but I needed to make it happen. Whether it was by politics or bloodshed, I would make sure my people stopped suffering.
‘Why are you speaking to both of us then?’ Willow raised her voice and smirked as if the Elder had spewed nonsense.
‘The two of you are the only heiresses—’
‘Ava doesn’t even command water!' The blonde demoness shot back with resentment.
‘You have a week to decide which one will take the throne,’ he said, ignoring her jabs. ‘If you cannot reach a unanimous decision by then, the Council will organise a tournament for volunteers.’
‘Volunteers? Are you insane?’ My mate’s sister screeched like a woman possessed. ‘The kingdom is ours.’
Ramonds stood and started putting his coat back on. ‘Then you better start acting like it.’
My little witch looked stuck in deep contemplation, staring at her older sister who was now raising her voice at the councillor and accusing the Council of being useless and serving no purpose. Alec nodded, agreeing with her points as she berated Ramonds until the second he walked out of the room.
The girl was intense and possibly insane. I just hoped she would rule better than her mother because looking at my mate, I already knew what she had decided.
Ava wanted nothing to do with that court.