"Will you rx?" Rakon''s words jolted me out of my thoughts and brought my pacing to a stop. "Even if she did refuse your escort, Astryn assures me that they''ll be here soon. So there is no need for all this panic you are enduring."


    It still stung to know that Sh had adamantly refused my escort, but I knew my mate woulde. If not for me, then for our child. Because she had to eat, Liira would ensure it as her personal nurse. So that was in no way why I was panicking or pacing about so nervously.


    I had invited her for breakfast, wishing only to spend more time with her and seeking to appease my wolf that had whimpered with the loss of contact with our mate, but that simple invitation had turned into something I was not so sure my mate would wee as much as I had. I no longer just wished to stuff my belly while I basked in her presence. I wished for this moment to be our beginning. As awkward as that sounded and with the many sins I still had to atone for, I wished for us to begin our journey anew, right here. Having chosen an intimate garden that overlooked the forest that I''d caught her staring at dreamily, I hoped the setting would ease us into a more friendly flow of a conversation. Lying down on that couch and as I had stroked her hair, I had wished we could have that kind of mundaness. The two of us chatting an afternoon away, or perhaps our wolves having a run in that forest she gazed on so much or better yet, waking up to her lovely smile while she curled in my arms the way she''d done on that couch. "It has been too long since I saw one of those. A genuine one too!" Rakon''s smirk only served to widen my smile. I was not about to argue or offer a smart reply to that as merely thinking about my mate made me wish to break out in song.


    A door opened and my heart sped up as I turned hastily expecting toy my eyes on my mate. But disappointment awaited me when it turned out to be Liira instead. My disappointment, however, quickly turned to utter surprise when I beheld my grandmother d in perhaps one of the least garments I ever thought would flow over her frame ever again.


    "I should have known that it would take my mate to make you step out of the shadows." I couldn''t help but tease her over the unexpected sight. Even after so many years, she still looked magnificent in purple, Xatis''s royal colour for every queen ever crowned. And as the matriarch''s royal gown swayed with everyone of her steps, I couldn''t help thinking of that being Sh. My mate would look just as beautiful...and as powerful.


    "That poor child has been through enough pain tost her a lifetime." I flinched even when Liira''s words were not aimed to me. Knowing I had been the source of that pain was enough. "She needs someone on her side." That would be me! I wished to protest, but my past reminded me of how far I had before I could make such a bold statement.


    "And well, she has kind of grown on me." A broad smile graced Liira''s lips as I pulled up a seat for her on the table that was set for two. "And I absolutely think we do need one more strong she-wolf to keep the royal men in line." I rolled my eyes at that, knowing what that meant. My poor mate would soon be enduring being educated on how that got done for my own torment. Though I had an inkling that Sh would not be enduring that much as she was pretty much there already. And why was I finding that mere thought extremely...desirable?


    "Will you wipe that stupid grin off of your face? I''m here on more important matters."


    "Isn''t this the part where I remind you that you are not invited? I huffed.


    "I need no invitation in my own pce." She sipped her tea like the queen she was, earning a smile from me. "Besides your mate will be a while and why waste a perfectly good moment for some chit chat?"


    "I missed you, grandmother."


    "Me too. Although I must point out that you are wrong for thinking it took your mate for me to get here. Perhaps it took my grandson bing king and his mate is simply a bonus."


    "Father must have been a handful, I suppose."


    "Well, sons are meant to be that, while grandsons are meant to be the sweetest things and if it so happens that they are not, well-"


    "Grandmothers are meant to use any means necessary to ensure that they are." An approving smile slipped out of Liira''s lips, making me shake my head. "You are impossible."


    "I taught you well." Liira beamed with pride to which I scoffed, much to her annoyance.


    "And what is this?" My eyes widened when I saw a familiar figure behind her. "Gol?"


    The savage stood tall behind the closed door that had been opened momentarily by a servant. He''d lost part of his ouw look and was now dressed in a soldier''s garments and instead of my insignia on it, it bore my grandmother''s. "How in God''s name did you get him to do that?!"


    I remembered his conditions of not being answerable to anyone in and outside the pce.


    Liira gave me her mischievous grin. "We have an understanding."


    "An understanding?" I frowned, but her pursed lips kept anything from slipping out. "I''m curious."


    She ced her cup of tea down reluctantly. "Well, I couldn''t have him standing out and if he wished to protect my future daughter inw, which is admirable by the way, he needed to blend in."


    Now why hadn''t I thought of that? "I thought it was something dark." I scoffed, knowing my grandmother''s famed persuasion skills.


    "Among other things." I arched a brow as she beckoned a servant to her side. "Things unfit for a young king''s ears." She shot me a disapproving look. "The less you know, the better."


    Definitely dark things. "I''m beginning to wonder if I should even celebrate your return to my pce."


    "Only a useless king wouldn''t celebrate gaining a powerful ally who would not butter them in any way during their reign and you, my king, I do not consider useless."


    "You do know that I have no intentions of having her stay in your wing for the rest of her days,right? Which means he will not always be at your disposal."


    "With what you have on your te, you will have to prove that my grandchild and its mother will be safe before I let them be by your side?"


    "Let them be by my side, you would keep them from me?" I teased, knowing I wouldn''t put that past her. Fortunately it was something I approved of. As much as I wished to have my mate close, now was simply not the time.


    "I would do worse to ensure the future of this kingdom." I was treated to that deathly expression Liira wore when I hit a nerve and something in me filled with pride to know that I was descended from her.


    "And to think the noble houses think that charge of protecting the future of this kingdom lies with them." I scoffed.


    "It is to our advantage that they keep thinking so. Now will you tell your grandmother what treachery has befallen you so far?" She sat back, face set in a serious expression and I felt like a spoiled child narrating all the evils that had befallen him in his grandmother''s absence just so he could get some punishment for his enemies. I knew Liira better than that, however. My enemies would get their punishment no doubt, but this was more than petty revenge. It was Xatis''s future.


    "You have one strong she wolf for a mate." Pride seeped out of my being at Liira''s statement once I was done. "Not that there was any doubt if her pregnant self was a able to handle her body shifting and a battle without any harming to the child in her belly. And as much as I hate your father''s tendencies to be carried away with being a politician, thinking about his words, I do understand."


    "You agree with him? You would have me take Sh as my mistress" That would be the first and only time I would hear Liira agree with father and his craziness."


    "I understand, there is a difference, child." Liira seeped her tea. "But-"


    "Imagine what value such a strong wolf would fetch with those wretched traders." My chest rumbled at the mere thought of Sh being taken from me. "And God help us if they know that she carries your child that bears those qualities and more. But if she had the protection of the king, however-"


    "It would lessen the number of those who would dare to seek tomit such a crime even from my own pce." I sighed unhappily, now that it all made sense.


    "You would only be doing this because recing your queen is one messy political affair, especially when she hasmitted no crime at all. Not in front of the people of Xatis anyway." "You''ve been keeping an eye on Myrna?" I frowned.


    "What? Do not give me that look. I was not the one with a broken heart. And it''s not like you are innocent either." Liira shrugged and my eyesnded on Rakon who only shrugged too. "I just wish I''d done it sooner, she''s proved to be rather...resourceful too. But no matter, I''m very patient. I will leave you to enjoy the rest of your morning peacefully, now that your guest is here."


    I wished to continue this discussion, but my mate''s scent hit me before Liira finished her statement, plunging me into a sea of need. And when she stepped through the door, I was undone while my wolf howled possessively. Mine! I no longer desired the mundane in the moment, I wished to devour her whole.


    "You do look lovely my dear." Liiraplimented my mate, but I strongly disagreed with her words. Lovely was not it at all!


    "Thank you." She curtsied, perfectly, then blushed and giggled, setting me on a path of destruction. She was beautiful, but this... enchanting, extremely alluring, totally desirable, sexy as hell and I wished for nothing but to drown in her.


    "What did they do?!" With my mouth suddenly dry, I turned to mind linking.


    "I believe the words you seek are thank you, your majesty." Rakon smirked, but I disagreed with him too. That was not it at all either. "Just shout if you need saving."


    I would definitely need saving, I was just not certain that I wished to be saved. Not from the goddess that stood before me.