The King’s Tainted Mate
Chapter 84

Merry making had finally ceased around the palace as news of the chosen reached more and more ears than I would have liked. It seemed I had underestimated how much palace gossip could travel around the royal abode and how many believers in the chosen Xatis actually had. Not even the spell that surrounded the castle had kept that news in the confines of it. That was evidenced by the multitudes who had now flocked around the spell's barrier wishing to get a glimpse of the chosen. Although, for some I suspected it was out of fear after what had transpired in the council chambers. It seemed knowing about the chosen and actually meeting them had inspired different emotions. The display of fear on some of the wolf's faces in there was still etched in my memory. It was by no means how I wished anyone to relate to me. Gift or no gift.

"My life will never be the same, will it?" I sighed as I hid behind the curtain drawn over a window that overlooked everyone who longed to have a glimpse of me. Some powerful chosen I was.

"Our lives are never meant to be the same, my lady." Astryn pointed me to my seat, comb ready to style my hair for what could be the last time. With my impending journey from the palace, I was aware that this could be the last time I would be seeing and hearing my maid speak her mind in my presence. And the sadness that came with it had caught me off guard. Blocking out the undesirable emotions, I walked towards her as she continued speaking. "And rather than be afraid of failing, we can only do our best." At that, I almost smiled. Because for once, my maid was wrong. I was not afraid of failing, but of something much worse. "What if it changes me? This gift, what if-"

"Is it not too late to worry about such things, my lady?" Astryn frowned at my reflection, making me sigh.

"That is not exactly comforting."

"Forgive me, my lady." My maid's frown morphed into an apologetic look. "What I mean is, it's not like you can ask the gods to take any of it back."

"That, she cannot." Liira walked into the king's chambers I'd retreated to, trailed by Zillah, my mother and more maids carrying all sorts of items I was sure I did not need but Liira would insist otherwise. The entire entourage made it appear as though they were on a mission to ready a bride for her wedding banquet when what they were here for was not even close. "Because then she'll doom us all. And that is by no means meant to scare you, child." The matriarch offered one of those comforting smiles that did little to hide the excitement she was feeling. Despite the looming war and the burden it placed on me, one I had barely been able to ignore, Liira had been beaming with confidence in my capabilities and my sure victory. Her only regret was that she would not be there to see my uncle's downfall or to be a part of it.

"And perhaps this makes for a right moment to let you know that you do not have to do this alone."

"I don't?" I faced Zillah wondering what she meant. Up until now, she'd not mentioned anything of the sort. I was aware that with every wolf being bound to me, I could easily command armies of my own. Even with everyone trapped within the palace, many still remained free outside the spell's threshold, but I'd already decided against it. Until it became absolutely necessary I would not be placing anyone else in danger.

"It is a burden you can choose with whom to share. Different magical creatures have once before chosen to share it with their given mates. Once they mated or accepted each other, a part of them, if the chosen wished to, transferred part of their gift. But being free to do so means you can share it with whomever. And it is by that fact that Evarius hopes to get his hands on your gift."

"Wait. Does that mean my own uncle wishes me to mark him? To be mated to me instead of fighting me for the gift the good old fashioned way?" I was beyond appalled by the very idea.

"Evarius would mate with my daughter?" My mother's voice boomed in the chambers. An unlikely display from the usually calm woman.

"We can assume, that is the reason he captured your mate. In exchange for him, he hopes you'll willingly give yourself to him." Zillah replied, making me think that to be the stupidest plan yet. And if Evarius was even remotely banking on my cooperation then there lay his downfall.

"Of course, underestimating the fool is what got us in this predicarment in the first place." Liira warned, but underestimating my uncle was by no means the reason that sense of victory had washed over me and drawn a smile out of my lips. It was Evarius' own underestimating of the mate bond. His own actions so far placed him at thinking I would do anything for my mate because of the mate bond. Of which he was quite right.

"Astryn, have Lord Rakon ready the former queen. We'll march to wherever my uncle wishes once I'm done here."

"So soon?" My mother rushed to my side, distress gracing her face. "We have barely said our goodbyes."

"It cannot be helped, mother." I marvelled at the unusual calm I felt after having been unsure of myself. Perhaps it had everything to do with knowing that I could choose not to do this alone. I could have him fight by my side. Despite our past, and apart from Gol, there was no one I'd rather have standing by me. "The sooner we journey, the sooner this madness has a chance of ending."

"You say that as though it were some minor quarrel." My mother protested, making me smile.

"I thought you had faith in the chosen. In your daughter."

"You just came back to us." Warm trembling hands cupped my cheeks. "So forgive my reluctance to let you face that mad man all alone. And besides-" Those trembling hands dropped to my belly. "You shouldn't be doing this in the first place."

"I shouldn't, but I am. And I will come back to you. I promise." I got up before my mother could protest some more and proceeded to readying myself.

"I'm afraid there has been no progress with the spell surrounding the palace, so you will have to journey alone." I simply nodded at that. They didn't know it, but Zillah's words were a source of comfort as I knew that apart from my mate, everyone else I cared about would be safe. Even if it meant them being trapped behind the palace walls.

With my newfound abilities, I would not need it, but the dagger gifted to me by my mate was the first thing to find it's way on my body while I dressed. Well, make that the second thing as I couldn't very well strap the dagger to my body without the stockings. In my state, they were a bit uncomfortable, but I had Astryn help slip them on for reasons that my heart demanded. I missed him.

And if it had not been a sensible thing to take a moment to think before giving in to my uncle's demands, I would have indulged in a senseless rescue just so I could inhale my mate's scent again.

"Because Lord Quent will not be able to stand by your side, he hopes you will accept his gift." Liira handed over an exquisitely wrapped gift box that once opened revealed one more of Quent's brilliant designs. The gown was quite unusual. Seemingly metallic, but to the touch it was as any other precious material. "It has protective properties, but besides all that, the man insisted you need to look the part." Liira rolled her eyes, making me smile.

"The fourth noble house has my gratitude." I bowed while Liira took up the honours of slipping the gown on me. And a look at the resulting image had even me looking twice at my own reflection. I did not just look the part. I embodied the chosen, the queen... And as heads bowed one after the other, those of former kings, of lords and commoners alike, it made for the most glorious of goodbyes to a once insignificant maiden that could have never dreamt of having the realms look to her for their safety. Gratitude instead of pride still gripped me as I stepped into the carriage meant to slip me and Myrna out a secret gate, away from all the multitudes gathered around the palace.

"You took your damn time!" The bitter greeting from the former queen of Xatis was to be expected. What I did not expect, however, was the accusation that seemed to have been festering right until the moment I sat facing her. "Are you here to gloat?" Huddled in a tiny corner, Myrna sneered, looking every bit like a crazy wolf. "Did he make you scream? Moan at the top of your lungs while he claimed you? Did you like it, Shyla? Writhing with pleasure, knowing very well how much pain you were putting me through?" Yes, would have been my answer to every one of her questions, but I refused to entertain her misplaced grievances. She was my prisoner after all and catching up was the least of things I'd be indulging on the journey. So instead I turned to Rakon, asking the head of the king's guard to ensure that her shackles would not be coming loose for whatever reason.

"You would have me remain shackled?" The shock in her tone was actually amusing, making me stop to marvel at her.

"How should traitors be treated then, dear sister? Perhaps leave you unchained, but have a brute defile you before snuffing the life out of you? Would your own ways be preferable to you?"

"So what is this? Revenge?" She smirked and dared to look at me with her haughty attittude. But I wouldn't be having that today and before she realized, I let my wolf at her. Growling and snarling, right into her mind link.

"You would have to be someone important for anything of the sort."

"W-Wait, h-how did you do that?" If she could find refuge in the carriage's walls, the traitor would have begged the wood to swallow her up and keep her from the terror my wolf seemed to have inflicted. And I should not have enjoyed the sight, but seeing Myrna not know what to do with me for once was unusually satisfying.