“Deserts are ready?” Castelo, the main chef of the kitchen in the castle, shouted to his sous chef, who had everything under control. They have been working on the menu since yesterday. Some desserts needed to sit in the fridge overnight, the same as spiced meat which they are going to serve at today’s event. Everyone in the castle felt overjoyed. Not only for having finally a queen but they wished for their king to finally have a family to call his own. After losing his parents, he seemed to close himself to most of the emotions. He smiled, although it wasn’t genuine. They could recognize it. “Everything is ready, chef.” Terri, the sous chef, informed his colleague about the food, drinks and everything they prepared for today’s event. They waited for this moment for too long to screw it up now. “Good. Guests should arrive within twenty minutes. I already heard the cathedral’s bells.” Castelo once again measured everything in the kitchen. They prepared servings for nearly two hun
“King Dreyfus Lockheart of Terea and his wife Marian Lockheart.” Olin introduced the first couple entering the main hall. Low ranked aristocrats were present during the presentation since they won’t get the opportunity to privately speak with the new queen, yet they got the invitation to attend the coronation ball. “Queen Atalante of Mistwoods.” Olin introduced another guest. Daniel seemed to be highly surprised by hearing her name. He leaned to the side, only to see whether it was really here. Last time he saw her face was nearly fifteen years ago. Her country leads a secluded politics and only rarely attends such events as this one. “Did something happen?” Ariana asked him curiously, seeing his reaction. At first, she thought the woman was his childhood sweetheart but after looking at his expression, she didn’t know what to think. “Fifteen years ago, she burst out with an envoy in front of the main gate of my city. Unannounced. She signed an alliance with us with significant be
“King Marcus Allus Sierra of Allus Sierra.” Just as Daniel talked to king Tannus, Olin just announced a new incoming guest. Ariana’s heart stopped as she heard his name. Her throat felt dry, and she almost fainted. She was expecting anyone but Marcus.“What’s this guy doing here? Did you invite him?” Tannus pointed at Daniel. He himself had some unfinished business with Marcus, so seeing him here only made his blood boil.“I didn’t invite him. I don’t know what he’s doing here.” Daniel’s tone sounded sharp. He was ready to fight if necessary. Daniel glanced at his newly crowned queen, his mate. Her hands were trembling.Daniel quickly pressed her hand into his, supporting her physically and emotionally. They had to preten
“I told you not to come back.” Daniel greeted king Marcus with harsh words directly, with no pleasantries. They weren’t needed. King Marcus didn’t come to be nice or play nicely.“You said you would take good care of my baby. I am here to see how you care about my son.” Marcus still didn’t know about the girl. Ariana felt relief. If he doesn’t know the real gender of his child, he won’t be able to take her. He would search for a son, not for a daughter.“Oh, I surely did, and I am planning to keep my promise. You didn’t have to bother yourself by coming here. As you see, you are not exactly welcome among the people here.” Daniel had the upper hand. He was aware of it, but Marcus’ insanity ran deep. He could attack randomly and kill dozens of people before they
“And who you might be?” Marcus looked sternly at the woman. She had the guts to interrupt his conversation with Ariana. The guests in the hall watched the events unfolding in the front of the hall, but kept a respectful distance for fear of Marcus. They couldn’t hear exactly what they were talking about. Ariana completely ignored the eyes of them. Her eyes kept following Marcus, guessing his every move so she could react appropriately. She sensed a person behind her and recognized Atalante by the voice, but she couldn’t turn to her without showing her back to Marcus. “Someone even your grandfather would fear, boy,” Atalante answered him with a hint of superiority in her voice. Her attitude, her gestures, and her tone suggested superiority. But when Marcus looked at her, she didn’t seem to be strong. She was half a head shorter than him and looked like an average wolf. He couldn’t tell who she was, even from her smell. Atalante had no scent. Not even the pinch of a wolf. “You know my
“As I said before, I am not here because of you. Get lost, pup!” Atalante let out another order and Marcus had no other choice but to follow. He hated to be overpowered this way. Atalante could order him around and he didn’t understand why or how. It made no sense. He was a Lycan and not just an ordinary one. A royal bloodline from Allus Sierra. How is it that a woman can order him around? Atalante turned back to Daniel, a broad smile on her lips while she watched the girl firmly standing in the room’s corner. “You are not afraid, are you?” Atalante crossed the distance between her and Ariana, ignoring Daniel’s questions. She came because of a rumor she heard a few weeks ago. Atalante wanted to confirm those rumors by herself. “No. I am not.” Ariana answered her honestly. Although she didn’t understand what had happened and why her body couldn’t feel fear in a moment like this. Atalante took a deep breath, inhaling the air around Ariana. “You gave birth recently. I’d like to s
“I deeply apologize for the disturbance caused by our uninvited guest. Please keep celebrating. He won’t bother us again.” Daniel apologized to the guests present in the hall. Some were looking at him with concern written on their faces, while others seemed to be rather apologetic themselves. Each guest reacted differently to the situation but almost all of them had the same question in their eyes. ‘Is he not going to come back?’ Daniel saw the question in the gaze they gave him. He couldn’t properly answer the question since he didn’t know what exactly Atalante did. For the first time in his life, he saw Lycan obey an order. They do not obey even their own parents, not to mention a stranger. Atalante was a stranger to Marcus. Daniel was curious about what Atalante wanted to talk about with Ariana, but one of them had to remain present in the hall. Daniel had an excuse for Ariana. He could easily tell the people that the attack on Atalante shook her by her former king. Not everyon
“Is everything okay?” Daniel asked the next morning when Ariana got out of bed. She couldn’t sleep yesterday. The celebrations lasted well into the night and Ariana didn’t feel like going back to the hall. She had a lot to think about. Most of all, she wanted to be with her daughter, whom she had not seen for more than half a day. Daniel didn’t join her until around 2am yesterday when he found her sitting in a chair with a sleeping baby in her arms. Ariana looked out the window at the full moon and pondered everything Atalante had told her. There was really a lot. “Not really. I don’t even know. Everything seems so surreal. A few months ago, I was slowly being chased. Marcus chased me around like a game, and now I’m the most wanted person in the world.” Ariana complained quietly to herself. Daniel got off the bed and walked a few steps toward Ariana. He wrapped her against his chest and gently stroked her hair. “Well, it’s a good thing I took you for myself. I don’t know what I’d d