Elena’s POV“Well, Harvey, dear, what qualifications does this human have?”“My name is Elena.” I interject as firmly as my voice allows. My soul trembles with a mixture of pain and fury. “It is nice to meet you, Queen.”“Ah, I see. She is brave.” King Harvey’s mother turns to face me now, staring me full in the face.Looking back at her in silence, I see she has King Harvey’s brown eyes and nose. Her light brown hair flows behind her freely, long, and soft.“Mother.” King Harvey begins after he clears his throat. “You are to be kind to Elena.”“As your mother, I can act as I please. I never believed you would mate with a human.”King Harvey exhales. “We are not mated yet.”“Oh!” King Harvey’s mother brightens up, her eyes shining like the moon. “Good, go pick a worthy werewolf woman.”“King Harvey, I-!”King Harvey’s mother interrupts me by pressing her taloned finger to my lips. I have no choice but to remain silent, the claw on her pointer finger brushes the tip of my nose.“She is
Uselessly, I weep in my hands in pure frustration at the situation. I am woman enough to admit that he did protect me with his body, but he didn’t defend me when his mother stated I and the children we would have would be a problem.I have heard that my whole life, from my father, then the werewolves. She defended Jane, and even though King Harvey rebuked that, it wasn’t with any evidence she wanted. If anything, I just look like a long one-night stand.I can’t stand every downcast gaze of a werewolf because I am human, and King Harvey seems to be different.No, I know he is, and that is why his silence is such a shock to me. My heart cracks open and bleeds. I continue to cry in my frustration, wishing I could slap him in the face just once.I never expected King Harvey to stay silent when I was slandered. His mother is right, our children would have half-breeds. Would he stay silent while our children are mocked? I wouldn’t.Does he even love me?He has never said it, I have never sa
Hearing the voice of King Harvey’s mother shocks, the tears out my system and I wipe my face. Hastily, I comb my fingers through my hair to look somewhat presentable.King Harvey opens the door to my room and offers me a hand. “Come with me, Elena.”I am still upset with him. “Can you say please?”“Yes.” King Harvey picks me up over his shoulder and marches me through his study to the white room with his parents’ wedding outfits.His mother stands in front of the suit and his father stands in front of the dress. Something clicks in me as I look at them, they complete each other, that is what this means.I have never seen King Harvey’s father before. He is as wide as King Harvey, with burning red unnatural eyes. His face is as chiseled as King Harvey’s, with a salt and pepper beard. His black hair is combed back lightly, not tightly to his scalp. His ears are as sharp as King Harvey’s but longer. Two fangs pop out his upper lip, long but not threatening.He is wearing a black velvet cl
“Elena, you are very brave…welcome.” King Harvey’s father speaks with quiet respect.“What the hell do you mean?!” King Harvey’s mother turns to her husband and grabs face with one taloned hand. She squeezes his face in one hand and growls. “What the hell?!”“He has defended her and her honor. He states the truth. He is king. He has exercised his rights and power as king. We must trust his decision. We have retired from our roles and duties. If his heart is there, and hers is w-!”“How?!” She howls. “How do you know?! No, no, no!! I will not stand this!”“Did you not hear her heart, my wife?” King Harvey’s father asks smoothly. “That is why the question was asked.”King Harvey takes my hand. “Please, we must be alone.”He guides me away as the two continue to argue, and I don’t even know what to say.King Harvey looks down at me then smiles.“What, King Harvey?”“Do you really need me to defend you, Elena?”I sigh. He is correct. I held my own against them today. Maybe I don’t even ne
“Elena.” King Harvey pauses walking and turns to face me. He is guiding me by hand to the armory room because he has a surprise for me. “How do you feel about me now?”I squeeze his hand tightly and enjoy the warmth of his hand, and that he smiles.“King Harvey… after what happened, I do understand better what you meant… but you did defend me sooner…”“I know first-hand what it is to be alone on battlefield, Elena. I may be stronger than you by werewolf blood, but…pain is pain. You were correct that I swore to protect you. Yet… Elena, I am sorry to say I don’t fully grasp…the pain of words. Logically, Elena… I get it… but perhaps my heart is more calloused.”I swallow dryly. “Once we have children… that will die, King Harvey. Or…when you see me hurt.”“…I do not wish to see you hurt, Elena.” King Harvey whispers steely. His eyes soften as he gazes down at me. “…I am beginning to understand… the scent of your tears rips my heart out.”“Huh?” I breathe, absolutely confused. “Really?”“E
Elena’s POV“Elena.” King Harvey’s voice cuts through the muck of my mind. “You can take me down, use your mind.”“I am glad you believe in me, King Harvey…” Muttering, I draw in a breath. I know his werewolf ears would catch my words.Opening my stance, I swing the sword again widely and King Harvey grabs it with both his armored hands and throws me backwards.It is a soft toss, but it still sends me a few feet back. Stomping my feet to stay solidly on the ground, I ready myself again and stab upwards with the blade at his helmet. I want to see his face and see if I can take it off.King Harvey grabs the sword with one hand and drags it down.“Too slow, Elena.”“You are having too much fun with this, King Harvey.”King Harvey laughs happily. “It is good to see what you can do, Elena.”We both reset our stances and he circles me with a light step.“The armor is not heavy?”“No, Elena. But very powerful.”“Huh. Really?”“I am not human, this armor would crush a human, but not me.” King
King Harvey gives me a faltering, uneasy smile as he clutches his right arm with his left hand. His talons press into his burned skin unintentionally and he curses loudly, ripping his hand away.“I overestimated the time it would take to explain, Elena.” King Harvey exhales heavily through his mouth, his fangs popping out his upper lip. “Are you well?”“We need to get you help!” I say as I take hold of his left sleeve, as carefully as I can. Blinking the tears out of my eyes, I resolve to push away my sobs as I guide him out of the armory room as quickly as my feet will carry me.King Harvey groans softly over his pain and I am too scared to ask him how he feels. King Harvey remains silent however, as I push into my room and into the bathroom and open the faucet.The color water is ice water, and I am thankful when I check it with my hand. Freezing. Perfect. Filling a cup, I begin to run water up and down his arm. King Harvey weakly groans with every wave of water. I know if I look hi
“Elena, what do you want?” King Harvey whispers as I pull away from our passionate kiss. His silver eyes clue me in on what he wants.“I am very glad you are better… and you read rather elegantly…” Blushing, I release his face and move to not be leaning into him anymore.He twists in his chair fully to face me and picks me up by my waist, to place me in his warm lap.“Wrong way, Elena.” King Harvey whispers in my ear as he leans down to press a slow kiss to the pre-mating mark on my neck.A feverish fire explodes through my body, and I gasp, trying to control the undeniable desire to lie down and let him have his way with me. It is a thunderbolt of desire that has taken over my body and soul.I don’t have to turn to face him, he simply rearranges me, I realize he is using his dominant right hand. Is he healed fully?“Your arm, King Harvey!” Whispering to him, I barely press my fingertips to the massive muscle that is his right bicep.The skin of his arm is smooth and cold to touch, t