"Should I perhaps summon lord Nevan?"


    I scowled at Rakon''s ludicrous suggestion. I was frustrated, not sick. And the fact that my best friend found my state so amusing as to suggest inviting that insufferable lord of medicine, infuriated me.


    "It was just a thought." Rakon shrugged his shoulders yfully, making me wish I could bite his head off.


    "I did not ask for your help." I snapped before shovelling at the parchments littering my study table. I should have been studying these carefully instead of spending the entire time I had been awake tonight thinking of my mate. Someone who I was sure as hell was not sparing me even a single thought at the moment.


    "Doesn''t mean I cannot offer it. I mean it''s pretty clear you need some intervention of some sort."


    "I am perfectly fine, thank you very much."


    "But are you?" Mischief danced in my best friend''s eyes and as much as I did not wish to sumb to Rakon''s taunting, I found myself giving in.


    "How in god''s name does she do it?" Exasperated, I pushed my seat backwards, the furniture making enough noise to wake the dead on the floor. Whether I meant for it to be heard by her all the way in her chambers, I did not know.


    "How is she not being driven insane by the pull that exists between us?" It had been days since that night. The night I was sure would birth many more like it. The night whose morning my mate had chosen to leave my chambers never to return.


    I had expected to find her lyingfortably in my bed, patiently waiting for my return. Or perhaps lost in the sweetness of the words I had penned to her. My heart had fluttered as the thoughts brought a smile to my face. I was in for a surprise, however. My chambers still held the same lonely feeling. Quiet as ever and with the bed linen having been changed and her gowns washed, not even a whiff of her scent had remained.


    A quick mindlink to the maid who''d been charged with her for the day only revealed the unexpected. Sh had practically escaped my chambers not so long after I had left which only spoke of the fact that she''d been very awake while I still remained in the chambers. She''d yed me.


    "What exactly has she done?"


    Apart from the fact that she''d done everything possible to avoid my presence, she''d rendered my entire move to Liira''s wing utterly useless. I had thought I would outsmart her by having her this close, but the doors to her chambers remained locked, denying me ess even when she slept. She''d made sure to move out only when she was certain I was nowhere nearby. And between me and her, one would think she was the king as she''d gotten nearly every staff on her side, leaving me scraping for anyone willing to furnish their king with what I wished to know.


    As much as that frustrated me, I couldn''t deny the pride I felt too. I did not care about what she''d done or said to inspire such loyalty, only that if she could do such a thing, it was evidence of how perfectly suited she was for me. The mere thought stirred something in my blood and it only served to deepen my longing.


    "How many rooms down the hallway are we?" Ignoring Rakon''s question that had an obvious answer, I got up from my seat and walked over to one of the windows in my study.


    "What madness is this? Don''t tell me you intend to sneak into her room." It was clear Rakon was amused by this.


    "If she insists on ying this game..." I undid my cloak and set it aside before loosening my boots. "Why not?" Excitement reced the frustration I''d felt, my wolf sharing in it too. My heart fluttered at the thought of her reaction. Was she going to scowl, kick me out or melt into my arms?


    "You are insane."


    I was, but more than that I was thirsting for her. And tonight, with my little n, my thirst would be filled.


    "May I remind you that the archers won''t spare a dark figure scaling the walls seeking entry to your mate''s chambers."


    "A matter that can easily be resolved." I smirked as I linked the head of the archers, making my instructions clear. "Done."


    "Or you could just walk over to her doors and knock."


    "And spoil the fun?" Now that I was doing it, I wished for nothing less. I was too excited to consider changing my resolve. But that was not to be had just yet as the doors to my study burst open revealing a less than amused former king of Xatis. "Father?" The man''s gaze took in my form before inviting himself to sit. With that scrutinizing expression that used to drown my confidence when I was younger, he kept his gaze trained on me.


    "I would never peg you for a night owl even in your retirement." Despite my state, I stood straighter, ascertaining my position before he thought me as his son only.


    His gaze took in my new stance before letting out a sigh. "How can I sleep when trouble is looming everywhere?" I had endured sleepless too, but I was not about to admit to that lest father thought the little schemes cooked up by the noble houses was of any significance. Districts all over Xatis were beginning to riot over the most insignificant things. On the surface, it seemed justified, but I was aware invisible strings were being pulled by those who had the most to gain from it. And my sleepless nights had been as the result of deciding what the fitting punishment would be for the culprits. Well, a bit of that, with the rest being taken up by thoughts of one beautiful maiden that had made it her mission to avoid me.


    "Perhaps because it is not your burden to bear anymore?" Annoyance prickled, but if he noticed it, my father chose not to acknowledge it. He instead shifted in his seat, ensuring he wasfortable. His determined look making me know he would stick to his mission.


    "Would it kill you to give in even one single time?" He did not have to mention what I needed to give in to as we both knew what he was referring to.


    "You know it would." The mere thought of what he was asking of me hardened my expression.


    He sighed. "It is not like you have to give her up to appease them and avoid this looming nightmare. She would still remain by your side, but not just-"


    "If that is all you have to say, I''m afraid I do not have the time." I growled, dismissing him. I needed to see my mate, not stand here and listen to my own father speak of a ludicrous decision.


    "Son... You have to believe that I''m on your sid- what in God''s name are you doing?"


    "I will see you father." Having had enough and feeling more annoyed than amused, I went through the window and jumped to the next without a second thought and before the former king of Xatis could say anymore.


    The journey turned out to be shorter than I had thought and thanks to the warm weather, Sh had chosen to leave a window open. I watched for signs of life before I slipped in. Her scent was ready to wee me and I inhaled to my heart''s content before a sudden movement from her bed caught my attention.


    "Your majesty?" She all but squeaked and if I wasn''t still annoyed I would have smirked at her reaction. "I mean, good evening, your majesty." She bowed impossibly low and I instantly hated it. She was no servant of mine to greet me in such a manner and this time around I hated her calling me by my title. But then I realized that she was merely using this to hide from me. She''d been hiding and not avoiding me. I ate up the distance between us at the realization, heart wishing for nothing but to be close. "Please rise." I was no longer interested in ying.