The King’s Tainted Mate
Chapter 41

next few moments.

I was beginning to get a headache, but whoever was demanding for my attention would have to wait still. As long as I remained in my bed chambers, basking in the reality of my mate laying peacefully in my bed, my mind link would remain shut. And with all the heaviness that surrounded the invisible link, I knew someone or a host of them had been trying to force me to answer their calls. But as long as Xatis was not burning, I considered every other reason less important compared to being with my mate...at least for the I knew I had Rakon to thank too. For holding down the fort and having no one finding themselves at my door, banging and demanding to be let in. I just hoped that the ordeal had not sucked away the entirety of his patience and charm, otherwise I would be faced with a very grumpy head of my guard which in turn would not favour me at all or those who'd been seeking my attention. Because without Rakon to make me see reason if anyone got unreasonable, not even this immense peace I felt at the moment would be able to save them.

"Perhaps you should bring her along too." My gaze fell on my mate at my mind's suggestion. And while I should have thought it ludicrous, I found myself considering it...seriously. I'd never considered anything of the sort with Myrna. If I was being honest, apart from the moments I got intimate with my chosen mate just to father my heir, I preferred her far away from me as possible.

Shyla was a different story however. And not for the fact that I was reluctant about being away from her, but because there was just something that felt right and appealing about having her by my side in those endless council deliberations. While I attended to all those matters that plagued Xatis and listened to individuals that were less than desirable to listen to.

Shyla would keep me calm no doubt, for the fact that she was my mate, but I possessed a certain curiosity as to how she'd react to important matters to do with Xatis. Would she welcome being by side in such a manner? I found myself hoping she would. And if Liira's fascination with my mate spoke of anything, it was that she would not be the type of queen meant to just have tea and conversation in a pretty garden while she looked pretty herself. The battle in Dovah proved that, making my mind's suggestion even that much more appealing.

But then, she'd only just accepted me. I couldn't burden her with such responsibilities just yet. Especially when I hadn't made her queen yet.

I had turned the idea in my mind for a while now. Before she accepted my proposal, the idea becoming a reality was far fetched then, but now, I could almost taste it. I just needed a plan of execution of which I'd need Liira's years and year's worth of kingdom politics to make it happen. I made a note to see grandmother later over it and maybe she would share the discoveries she made about my mate last night too. I hoped non of those put my mate in a dire situation in any way. "Perhaps if she were awake I would consider it." I gazed, amused at the sight of my mate.

The morning sun was all the way up in the sky and yet I still waited for those very beautiful eyes to grace me with their enchanting gaze. Shyla still remained asleep, albeit peacefully. I did not know whether to attribute that to the fact that it had everything to do with being in my bed or just the plain fact that her body had taken on too much and it needed more rest than usual.

A smile danced on my lips and a warmth spread in my heart at the memory of her shattering in my hands. I probably felt an inch taller too.

And whatever the reason, I was not complaining at the moment as the sight of her would serve as inspiration for the little note I was about to pen to her. One I hoped she'd wake up to in the absence of my presence. I did not wish for her to wonder of my whereabouts, or to think I regretted our intimate moment and bolted before she awoke. So I'd decided to leave a note to that effect.

I meant to make it short and sweet, but I was feeling very poetic. Or perhaps it was because I knew how much she'd enjoyed my little invitation that I wished to pen more words than I had settled for when I invited her to dinner.

I reached for a new bundle of parchment paper I had delivered from the capital. The merchant assigned to supply it had done an excellent job at selecting the simplest yet exquisite paper that I knew would appeal to my mate if not my own words. I smiled at the thought of how she might stack them in a private place to read them over and over just as Astryn had narrated to Rakon my mate had done. The maid had innocently narrated the story out of fascination, but unknown to her I got wind of it and now I had every intention of surprising Shyla with as many of these as I could pen. The sneaky idea left me feeling giddy too and was glad I was still behind closed doors. As the sight of the king of Xatis with an endless stupid smile pasted on his lips would not just do out of the confines of my bed chambers.

Satisfied with myself after the little deed and after a chaste kiss for goodbye on my mate's temple, I schooled my facial features before slipping out of the room. I expected to encounter a fuming Rakon but was instead faced with a frowning outlaw. His eyes went beyond me and to the door I'd just closed.

"She lives." I mumbled when he looked at me askance. "Only she's still sleeping." I kept the fluttering of my belly at the thought of why to myself as the man relaxed only a fraction, a hint of unbelief in his eyes. "See to it that she's not disturbed." My command was met with a scowl.

"She's my concern so I do not need you telling me what to do." I could live with that so I made no point to argue. Apart from Rakon, he was probably one more person I trusted to keep Shyla safe. Despite my dislike for their relationship, I had no doubt he would lay down his life for her if it came down to it. Why that was, I was yet to discover.

"Your majesty." My own guards straightened when I stepped away from the door.

"Rakon?" I inquired as I acknowledged the greeting.

"My lord was summoned by former queen Sarabeth, your mother." The guard bowed while I frowned.

"And what is it my mother required of him?"

"I do not know, your majesty. Although lord Rakon did say to inform you of his whereabouts once you had awakened since he could not get through to you and neither could her highness."

Hearing that my mother was among those searching for me, I took down the barrier I had put up. But instead of linking my her, I opted for my best friend just so I could get a hint of what the hell was going on before I walked into a regrettable situation. "Do you favour serving my mother more than your own king now?"

"About damn time!" Rakon's reply was immediate and filled with relief. I was glad to note that there was no grumpiness in his tone too, despite my actions.

"What are you, my wife?" I eased into the conversation as I normally would between us.

"I would choose anything right now, except the bastard who's keeping the king hidden."

I let out a chuckle at the exasperation in my best friend's tone. "And who has accused of you of such a crime?"

"You better get here." Seriousness crept into his voice and I knew the matter could not be ignored.

"And where exactly is here?"

"Your mother's private garden."

I frowned at Rakon's answer. "Isn't mother supposed to be entertaining the noble ladies right about now?" I knew this to be true because it was a long standing tradition for the wives of the most influential men of Xatis to meet in such a manner the morning after a dinner as I had held last night to speak of anything that might have arisen during the meal. Which I seemed to have forgotten was overwhelming after my proposal. A glance at a palace window I'd just passed agreed with my assumption that the timing was just about right. "Why the hell would you be stuck in the midst of a bunch of those? Why would they let you stay at all?" The whole function spelled of secrecy among the noble ladies and having Rakon in their midst was more than odd. "Apparently she's doing more than entertaining and you happen to be the centre of attention. Well, your queen too."

"Myrna?" I had always dismissed the entire thing as nothing more than a moment chosen by the noble ladies to gossip, but knowing Myrna was there too had me heading to my parent's wing of the palace in haste before whatever this was, got out of hand. The moment I stepped into my mother's private garden, a weight rammed into me and I was instantly washed by the scent of that bitter plant...Draxuin. I hated how I was hit with a desire to lean in and inhale some more. Thankfully I regained my senses just as quickly.

"What is the meaning of this, mother? Annoyed by my queen's reception, I couldn't help but growl while I pulled away from Myrna, determined to keep her away from me.

My mother only stared, her lips at a loss for words. A glance around the space revealed varied expressions. Mostly judgemental ones. And if I wasn't keen on getting an explanation to what was going on, I would have dished out punishments at the noble lot who at the moment thought themselves worthy to judge their king.

"You've been with her?" Myrna did not give me a moment's rest before she accused.

Not that I had any intentions of hiding the fact, I just did not appreciate her demanding tone and so I hissed. "And since when was I answerable to the queen?" I would be to Shyla. I realized that I did not mind that at all.

Rakon stepped up. "Perhaps we should all sit down before this gets out of hand."

"This?!" Anger raged as my eyes darted between my best friend, my mother and chosen mate. And only that second look made me see what I had not seen before. "What happened to you?" Utter surprise overshadowed my anger. This would make it the first time I had ever seen my queen not so put together. I doubted she'd taken an effort at all. She was as someone mad with her hair out of sorts. Her face covered in the dried remnants of what I knew to be tears and she was still clad in her night gown that could have easily passed for tatters. I was beginning to realize that something was wrong.

"If only you'd answered when I called, this could have been avoided." My mother finally found her voice and scolded in our mind link.

"I do not understand. Am I being blamed for something here?"

Mother sighed. "Apparently whatever you did or did not do with your uh...mate seems to have plunged your dear wife in immense pain while you were at it." When I only frowned at her, my mother blushed before speaking again. "I know not if this is true, but she claims the mark she'd oh so lovingly placed on you is to blame."

"Her what?" My gaze shifted to Myrna. And while I wished to dismiss my mother's words as nothing but my wife's antics to get her way, my chosen mate's sadness hit me without warning, making me realize that her claims had to have some truth to it and that I had still underestimated the power of Myrna's spell despite the warning from Cerus. Her and me both apparently. If the misery that now clouded her eyes was anything to go by.