The King’s Tainted Mate
Chapter 61

"You are glowing, lady Shyla."

"And fat." I smiled at Carlytte's reflection behind my own, my chubby cheeks bearing witness of the fact. I sat in front of my chamber's large mirror while she combed through my hair. It still felt strange to have someone do such simple things for me. All protests over it had fallen on deaf ears. Everyone was bent on making sure I did not lift even a finger to get anything done. I bet if one could breathe on my behalf, they would have willingly done so too.

"Not that I have served many pregnant she wolves, but you are the first of whom I've seen taking that fact with more enthusiasm than usually portrayed." Carlytte flashed her usual bright smile that fit like a glove in my mood today.

"What is there not to like?" I caressed my little bump that was very noticeable in my night gown. "I'm growing someone special right here." While Xatis was excited over their incoming heir, my joy stemmed from the simple fact that a part of me was growing inside of me. Someone I would love and who would love me simply. It was the knowledge of that that had brightened my days and helped keep all the sadness at bay.

Thanks to Zillah too. It had been days since I saw her and since she'd said her usual goodbyes that were as strange as her personality. But as always, her visit had left my soul feeling lighter and brighter. While she was known as the village's crazy lady all over the forgotten village, she'd been more than that to me. And apparently to my mate as well.

I hadn't yet wrapped my head around that fact. Having them share a bond similar to the one I shared with Zillah was still as unbelievable as the possiility of it having been shared among the three of us. Of course Zillah had merely scratched her head when questioned over the matter, leaving either of us with more questions than answers.

"Which do you prefer?"Astryn appeared holding two gowns that I thought were beautiful. Both were bright and covered in prints of lovely blooms that reflected the inviting weather outside and my own mood. Either would be fine. But even if they weren't, they would still be lovelier than the few gowns I possed in the forgotten village, so I was not going to make a fuss either way.

"You know I do not care much about that, Astryn. I've worn little to nothing and I was never bothered."

Astryn's eyes widened. "Oh, but my lady, you are the future-"

"The mother to the future heir of Xatis, I know."

"Not what I was going to say." Astryn scowled. I knew what she was she intended to say, but I did not wish to hear anything of it. Simple. That is all I longed for as I went about my day today and all my days in the palace. If I did not need to face the grim and rainy part of my life, I'd bask in the sunshine without apology.

"You yourself said this was nothing more than a rehearsal, surely I'm not expected to be overdressed for something so simple." I pointed out, but the maid merely shook her head.

"You do not understand, my lady. Simple is far from it. The rehearsal for the banquet still remains a formal affair and should be treated as such. Besides, his highness will be in attendance." Astryn blushed and I rolled my eyes at the sight.

"I could be in sack cloth and his highness would still think I was the most beautiful maiden to enter the throne room's doors." I meant the words to be sarcastic, but as always they seemed to mean something utterly different to the hopeless romantics that surrounded me. Carlytte couldn't stop her mischievious grin, while Astryn kept sighing dreamily. Even Samara and Norae wore subtle smiles on their faces.

"You are right. He would not care." Astryn mumbled when she found some semblance of composure. "But we wouldn't be doing our duty if his highness only admired and didn't shake in his boots at the sight of his queen."

Carlytte was in stitches as I gaped at the maidens that surrounded me. "Has that been your aim all this time?" I'd witnessed the darkening of the gold in his eyes, the utter approval that sent his need souring together with my own, but this was not about enticing my mate. As glorious as it felt to be wanted, I did not wish to make invitations I was not ready to entertain. No matter how much I desired to have him pleasure me to no end. Again and again.

"Do not look so scandalized, my lady. It is only fitting for one to desire their mate." Carlytte cooed. "Moon goddess knows that once I meet mine, chosen or not, I do not intend to let them stray from my bed." "Carlytte!" Colour bloomed in my cheeks while the noble lady merely giggled.

"It is the natural order of things among wolves, my lady. Mates especially." Astryn added nonchalantly and somehow I knew that with all this talk, facing my mate later would be something of a thirsty challenge. Someone knocked and I was grateful for the distraction. As long as it did not turn out to be my mate. It wasn't, thankfully. The familiar scent that flooded my chambers still kept my heart too calm to be him.

"Oh, the purple would be lovely and fitting. Don't you think?" Liira waltzed in looking every bit like the queen she was and one look at her made me realize what Astryn really meant about the rehearsal still being formal. I was also beginning to realize that royalty was always big on everything. Something that would take me a while to get used to. "Purple is the queen's colour and as my great grandson's mother it is only fitting that you wear it."

Great grandson's mother and not 'future queen'. That was acceptable in my ears. As for being dressed in purple which was basically referring to me as future queen still? That, I realized, was something acceptable to everyone else who outnumbered my protests. "You do not understand, my lady. Simple is far from it. The rehearsal for the banquet still remains a formal affair and should be treated as such. Besides, his highness will be in attendance." Astryn blushed and I rolled my eyes at the sight.

"It's perfect!" Liira beamed once I was done and I couldn't very well disagree with her. Because the dress was. I did not hold lord Quent's expertise, but even I could tell that purple agreed with my skin tone and for whatever reason I couldn't wait for my mate to see me in it.

Walking out of my chambers, I was met with another reality my protests could do nothing about. The guards meant to watch over me had more than doubled. And that was apart from Gol, Samara and Norae who watched me like hawks. After my little escape of which Gol had more than a few words to say over, the three would not let me out of their sight even without being commanded to by my mate.

The walk towards the throne room left my heart skipping more beats in between the closer I came to seeing him. It had been a few hours since we'd had breakfast that was had over a casual conversation. Mostly concerning what I should expect during the rehearsal for the banquet. The desire to speak of more interesting matters was not lacking, save for the courage to do so. In the end he'd left with a sure promise of seeing me soon. It was a simple goodbye that I had not realized meant much more. Up until now, I did not realize how much I had been looking forward to seeing him soon.

The doors to the throne room were gigantic, towering over our little group by miles, leaving me feeling very small. That coupled with the multitudes gathered inside whose gazes landed on me the moment our arrival was announced. It seemed I had underestimated Astryn's words.

"So many people." Anticipation to see my mate faded and I couldn't help but clutch onto Liira's gown as though I were a little girl. "Are there meant to be so many of them?"

"It is usually the case." Sensing my discomfort, the matriarch reached for my hand and squeezed. "Although I can assure you that most of them are merely here to satisfy their curiosity and get a glimpse of the mother to be before the actual banquet." That did nothing for the cold feet that suddenly plagued me. "That is not encouraging." I mumbled.

"Your highness, my lady." Guards spilled out of the now open doors, each bowing low in greeting.

Liira acknowledged them before turning back to me. "Remember child, there is nothing to it. You might be the center of attention which can be overwhelming, but that is only because you are carrying the most precious gift Xatis could ever receive."

"Not to worry lady Liira." I froze at the sweet sound of the voice that had dripped with venom the last time I'd heard it. "As her elder sister, I will make sure she gets it right." Familiar hands slipped into mine naturally, but there was nothing natural about the contact that sent my wolf growling.