"Lord Yanric?!" My father''s eyes were as wide as saucers after the introductions while the subject of his shock remained as calm as ever. "It is Gol now, your majesty." The ouw said with a low bow.


    My father merely waved him away dismissively. "Bless the gods!" The former king of Xatis ate the distance that separated the two men and took him in a fierce embrace that surprised not only me, but Gol too. "The fall of the royal house of Carene was a bitter pill to swallow, but hearing of Alde''s betrayal had left many royal houses'' trust wavering in those entrusted with seeing to their safety. Xatis was not spared either. Our onlyforty in the fact that no particr noble house was charged with watching the royal house. The sight of the lord of the house of Alde and hearing of its innocence serves to restore that trust even if it''s only in this old soul."


    Gol flinched at the praise. "If only my being alive was enough to restore the royal house of Carene and indeed my own house."


    "Mereen and Lavina''s bravery are forever remembered by every nobledy." My mother said with a smile that lit something in the ouw''s otherwise sad eyes.


    "Thank you, mydy. Your words about my wife and daughter are truly a source offort." Gol respectifully bowed in my mother''s direction. "Although, I''m afraid Alde''s betrayal has flourished over the years and it has unfortunately extended to the royal house of Xatis." "What is this?" My father looked at me askance.


    "The reason I requested for your presence here." I reached for the piece of armor I had ripped from the spy who''d attacked me and ced it on the table that separated us.


    "The emblem of Carene?" My father frowned, his eyes darting to every other face present in my study beforending back on me. "By any chance is it supposed to mean anything to me?"


    "A few days ago, I was attacked in the pce grounds. That piece of garment was ripped from the assant''s armor."


    His eyes widened. "And you are only telling me this now?!"


    "Are you alright?" My mother, as expected, fussed more than everyone.


    "I''m fine, mother. Thanks to my wolf healing."


    "Why did you not say anything?!" My father demanded. "A spy in the pce is no small matter."


    "And that is precisely why I did not." I straightened up. "It is not as if the pce of Xatis is so pourous, one from the kingdom of Carene would simply waltz in and stab its king."


    A thoughtful look graced my father''s face. "Do you suppose we have been betrayed?"


    "That is the obvious thought and convenient too."


    "But?"


    "Sh''s parents may not be her parents at all." My mate''s sadness over that discovery still haunted me. I had no part in it, but I was determined to ease the hurt. For whatever reason, I did not share her sentiments of her not being wanted. I was hopeful there was a reasonable exnation. And I hoped to the gods I was right.


    My father frowned. "What has your mate and her parents got to do with anything? And didn''t you just ensure that they were speaking the truth?" My father''s confused gaze settled on Liira.


    "That was before the poor girl''s wolf recognized someone else as her family in the capital."


    "Family? The capital?" Exasperated, my father shot me a demanding look. "Why don''t you start from the beginning, boy. Because it sure as hell sounds like your mate has a lot more do with this than anything." I hated to think of it like that, but with the recent discoveries, my father''s conclusion did not sound so far from the truth.


    "The mercenaries that attacked us in Dovah had demanded that we hand her over and up until Gol''s recent trip to Dovah, I had thought it was one senseless attack with the brutes only seeking to acquire the maiden whom they would sell to those despicable brothels in the ouw city." The mere thought sent my wolf growling.


    "It was not?" My father looked between me and Gol.


    "It so happens that that particr group has enjoyed Carene''s gold coins more than a few times. But whether my brother has any personal interest in his majesty''s mate or not, I cannot say."


    "That matters less when ites to kingdom politics." My father sighed. "Carene has attacked the royal house of Xatis twice. That in itself is enough to wage war."


    "Which I am certain has been someone''s hope." I stated. "The same someone who had not anticipated that Sh would be mated to me in the first ce."


    "The same someone who is very aware of your mate''s origins and is bent on keeping her from interfering with their ns." My father caressed the base of his chin thoughtfully. "I wonder if this attack was meant for you at all." The thought had already ured to me, hence the presence of Samara and Norae to apany my mate everywhere she went if I couldn''t be with her.


    "Great! Now that we are on the same page, I think it''s time we extended an invitation to the kingdom of Carene." Liira dered with her usual excitement that came with her mischievious plotting.


    "What on earth for?" Father protested. "Why would you wish to be allied with those traitors? No offence lord Yanric...I mean Gol."


    "Because, dear son, this royal house that you are so proud of may end up just as the royal house of Carene if we don''t."


    "How does inviting them to my grandson''s banquet keep that from happening?"


    "Because, dear son, there is so much to learn when men party and make merry." Liira beamed and I hoped that would turn out to be true. Not only for Xatis, but for Sh. I was hoping that ghost in the crowd would make their presence known as my search back in the capital had yielded nothing.


    "That will be all." I rose to my feet, heart itching to behold my mate. It had taken everything to keep my focus on the matter at hand, but now that we were done, I wouldn''t be wasting anymore time.


    "Mother, father, grandmother." I bid them good bye before either of them stopped me for anything.


    "One look at you and one would think hell was hot on the heels of their king." Rakon wore a smug smile when he caught up to me. I was practically running towards my chambers, mind set on freshening up before I spent the rest of my day with my mate. She had not mentioned it, but I saw the relief in her eyes each time I showed up. And if I was being honest, seeing her eyes light up like that had be the favourite part of my day.


    "It is not my fault you cannot keep up."


    Rakon only scoffed at that. "I guess you will not be needing me then."


    "Not for a while. You are free to take a nap and gather your strength." I grinned before disappearing behind my chamber''s doors.


    "How long will you keep punishing me my love?"


    "Myrna!" I swung around quicker than I could let out a breath, wolf snarling. "What the hell are you doing here?" That much was clear by the little pieces of clothing that made for her garments. "You are my king and I am your queen, surely that should answer your question."


    "Get out!" I roared while I linked Rakon.


    "You do not mean that." Myrna purred as she approached and before I drowned in the iing wave of her invading scent that threatened my very sanity, I held the door to my chambers open. "Escort her to her chambers or wherever she wishes."


    "My king?" Rakon gaped at me. "She happens to be unclothed!"


    "I do not care."


    "You are throwing me out?!" Myrna hissed as reality dawned on her.


    "Be d that is all I''m doing." I red before walking away.


    "But my love-Elian-!"


    "My queen, perhaps you should-"


    "Do not touch me, guard!"


    "Forgive me your majesty, but we cannot find your mate." The urgency in Norae''s tone sent a cold chill down my spine and I was out of my chambers before she could say anymore.