The Murmurs

NEKTARIOS’ POV

  DIONY EMPIRE

Their murmurs were light and inaudible to my ears only because I had shut them out partially. I haven’t been at my best self for a while, which irritates me. My wolf isn’t helping matters either; It always takes every opportunity to remind me of that filth because I am determined to forget her. If my wolf weren’t a significant part of me, I would have gotten rid of him when he brought her up.

The elders kept whispering, and I noticed Drax calling their attention to stay mute. He looked tired; this is what meetings in the middle of the night do sometimes. You find yourself exhausted. He isn’t a vampire, so he probably needs sleep after exerting himself during the day. I am just as bored with the meeting as he is.

“If you have something to say, I advise you to blurt it out now,” I said in a low tone that brought silence to the hall.

Elder Orion raised his hand sheepishly. “Your majesty, we were just wondering. The moon celebration is in the next two days. What do you intend to do?”

My brows came together as a dark shadow rested on my face. “What does the festival have to do with me?”

He gulped hard, glancing towards the others for support, but none of them attempted to pat him on the back. Realizing they opened up the floor to his death, he kept talking, this time with a bit of hesitation. “Your—Your mate consummation.”

I smirked, knowing where the conversation would end. “And?”

Elder Thane seems impatient with the way Orion is dragging through the discussion. He cleared his throat. “Pardon me, Your Majesty. We want to be sure there won’t be anything to worry about regarding the consummation. We already know how long you have waited for your mate, but it is a shame that this isn’t what we all wanted for you. And as much as we have your best interests at heart, the Empire’s safety and core values come first.” He paused, looking straight at me for a split second before bowing his head. “We cannot have a human as our Luna Queen.” He bowed with a hint of finality in his tone.

I felt a sense of irritation and rage wash over me. Never have the elders dared to meddle in my personal decisions. That filthy thing is why any of them would have the guts to even say anything to me.

Clenching my fist, I glanced around the room, and they all had their gazes lowered. “Let this be the last time you all try to influence a decision that you already know what the outcome will be. I am not accepting that filth as my mate! I am not going to repeat myself. If anyone brings the topic up, be ready to face my wrath!” I growled.

“Your Majesty, but you have her kept in your manor since her arrival. That already means something, and we are bothered by the mere thought of it.” Another elder chipped in.

Something twitched inside me, causing my claws to almost rip out of my fingers. Still, I kept it under wraps. Any hasty decision will make them think I might be hiding something.

“You dare speak after my last words?!”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty!” He cried out.

“I have told you that I would handle this. Keep your opinions to yourself unless you want your head hanging in the square! You all should leave. This meeting is over.” I ordered.

They all bowed and scurried out of the room, leaving me pissed and restless. Drax and Damon remained.

“Why are you two still here?” I questioned.

Drax exchanged a knowing gaze with Damon and sighed. “Are you not going to involve yourself with her? She is still your assigned mate. But if you are not ready for the bond yet, all you have to do is restrict those elders, and they will go quiet.”

I flared my nose, trying hard not to lose my cool over something I could handle with caution. “No! If the rule applies to the citizens, it is one that I breathed life into. It applies to me, too.” I fumed.

Drax raised both hands in surrender. “As you wish, Your Highness. I will take my leave now.” He said as he signaled to Damon before leaving.

Damon, who had been quiet in his usual way, took a seat and folded his arms, watching me closely. I hate how his eyes try to unsheath each of my emotions. If we hadn’t been side by side all my life and he was the only person I could trust to have my back, I would have gotten rid of his nosy self long ago.

“What!” I barked at him.

He shrugged coldly, his usual dismissive tone. “Nothing. I am just wondering when all of this might come to an end. Probably, you will end up making a solid decision or just tossing it all into the ditch.”

“Speaking in parables now? Can’t you talk properly?”

“Will anything I say make a difference, Nektarios?” He inquired with a strange tone behind his words.

“Just keep quiet then.” I hissed, attempting to stand up when a guard walked in with the human maid assigned to my supposed mate. I had intentionally put her in place so she would monitor the lady if she did or said anything. She is mandated to report everything to me. Seeing her here at this time of the night only means something happened.

“Your majesty.” She fell on her knees while the guard bowed his head.

I can smell her fear, and it irks me. They are a bunch of cowards. They are known only for hypocrisy and backstabbing—nothing more.

“Why are you here?” I questioned.

She jolted like she had been electrocuted before stuttering to speak. “An unknown person attacked Lady Atariah a while ago, and she is currently unconscious after fighting off the attacker.”

“What!” Damon exclaimed, looking at me. But I made no move and showed no interest in the conversation. “What were the guards doing?” He directed his question to the guard after a failed attempt to get me involved.

“My lord, whoever did it must have been on the inside. He entered the room with ease. Which was why nobody suspected anything.” The guard responded.

Damon snarled viciously. “Can you hear yourself? Do you have a death wish? Have you gone mad? What is the essence of all your training if you can’t guard a mere human and fish out someone who isn’t a part of you? Find me that bastard if you want to remain alive. I had better not hear any excuse from you. Also, get a doctor to attend to her.”

The maid and guard scurried off, leaving just the two of us again. I didn’t know how I was supposed to feel hearing that someone attacked my mate a second time. They are all out to get blood. Thirsty to get back at me.

“Nektarios, aren’t you going to say anything?” Damon queried. “Your majesty!”

“What do you want from me, Damon?” I inquired.

“Someone just attacked your mate. A second time in a week. Doesn’t this point out the obvious? Someone or a certain person is after her life, and they definitely wouldn’t back down until they see her end. No one should have the audacity to go into your manor, but these folks did, and she could have been dead. You did hear the maid say she fought off the attacker before the guards came by. What if she met her end?”

“It would have been good riddance to bad rubbish. At least I wouldn’t have the filth blood on my hands.”

“Nektarios!”

“What, Damon! What do you want from me? That lady has brought nothing but trouble to me since she arrived here. Who would dare to ever talk to my face or cross the line to go into my home? It all started with her. And I still do not see any reason why she is still under my fucking roof!”

“That is because she is your mate. You will end up lonely and heirless. That is if the gods don’t punish you with more eternity so that you can watch many generations go and come while you remain fruitless. At least for the sake of an heir, stop ignoring her existence.”

“I have told you this before and will repeat it. That thing isn’t any of my business.”

“So you and your wolf agree that she can go to hell?” My wolf growled in response, putting a satisfied smirk on Damon’s face. “I didn’t think so.”

The motherfucking wolf who doesn’t know how to be discreet. Left to him at the mention of our mate being in trouble, he would leap forward to find her and hold her close to his heart. But thankfully, I have enough control to keep him in check. I am not going to set my eyes on that bitch, and that is it.

Damon huffed loudly, “I understand you, Your Majesty. But can you at least check on her for posterity's sake?”

“I will be damned. Just increase the security around the filth since you want her here so badly. I am not setting my eyes on that misfortune.”

“She is a living being, Your Majesty.”

“More like a full-grown pest. Also, whose side are you on? Aren’t you a werewolf? What is your deal with a mere human?”

He held up a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “This is me doing my best for the possible future queen.”

“In your fucking nightmare!” I hissed, walking out on him.

I sighed heavily, intending to have a glass of whiskey and some sleeping pills and hoping it would get me at least an hour or two of sleep. I can’t remember the last time I slept through the night or bothered about it. But tonight, I must forget that this nonsense happened for a few hours. She can do fine if she can protect herself from one of us before passing out. I tried not to envision her face as I entered the room.

I already felt her presence before she stood naked in front of me. Her tongue teased my ear while her hands roamed my body. The kisses were wet and needy. Taking a deep breath, I eased her off me with one hand.

“Stop it, Anastasia,” I warned, moving past her to change in the closet.

She stood in my way in a flash. Showing off her sexual grin. “Why, baby? I know you have had a long day, but you never pass off on this snack!” She winked.

I wonder if she has forgotten that I have a mate now.

“Get out of my way.” I insisted, pushing her aside this time.

Anastasia huffed, stomping behind me. “What’s with the cold shoulder? You haven’t been in my arms for almost two weeks, and you seem cool with that?”

“All the same. Did I call for you?”

“Baby,” she cooed seductively, tracing her long nails on my face. “Honey, you know I do not need any permission to be in your bed. Even if you refuse to marry me, I am still your favorite girl.”

I ignored her and began unbuttoning my shirt. She tried to do it, but I wiggled out of her hands. “Stop this, Anastasia. I have a mate now. I do not need this from you.”

After staring at me for a few minutes, she burst into laughter, which pricked my nerves and annoyed me.

“Didn’t realize I was now a comedian,” I mentioned.

She waved a hand in the air, gasping for breath. “I am sorry, honey. But you are funny. You? Mingle with a human! That is never going to happen in a lifetime. You hate them. Your mate or not, as long as she is that species, you loathe her kind. I know you will never have anything to do with her.”

The assurance in her eyes made my insides churn. I detest it when someone, aside from Damon, claims to know me so well and is sure about what they think I would do or wouldn’t. Anastasia is getting too comfortable, and I do not like that.

Shutting my eyes tightly, I gritted amidst clenched teeth. “You have five seconds to get the fuck out of my room, Anastasia.”

“What? Why, baby?”

“Get out!” I bellowed.

She staggered to the back and stared at me for a split second before scurrying off to gather her things, storming off afterward.

Cursing under my breath, I punched the wall angrily, ignoring the pain it sent through my muscles. “That bitch!”