Chapter 5

(Natalia)

“This can’t be real. Her Highness and the King’s best friend? How did this even happen?” Arturo exclaimed before glaring at Blaze who was sitting by my side and then at me. The lord’s gaze softened. “Blink twice if you are being threatened by the General, your highness.”

Blaze let out a low growl, stopping the conversations in the dining hall all at once. In another time, I’d be amused. Arturo was my godfather and one of the very rare lords who was able to prove himself and gain dad’s approval and trust.

But I couldn’t trust him with the truth. It was better that he knew nothing, than to be involved in this mess. The less people who knew, the better.

I glanced at each of the lords who surrounded me like predators, staring at me like I was their prey to catch. In this twenty-four-seater dining table, I was the only woman sitting because the council still believed that only men, especially alphas, should have to deal with official matters.

It was my first time facing them without my dad by my side. I would lie if I’d say I wasn’t nervous to present myself before their judgmental eyes.

“Do you think I can be threatened, my lord? That’s very offensive,” I shot back as calmly as possible as I stared affectionately at the man who I vowed never to meet again. “Look at my alpha. Do you also think he needs to use threats to get a woman?”

Even now, as we gathered here, the female staff kept blushing while glancing at the General who looked like he had just stepped out of a woman’s dream in his dark suit that was perfectly molded to his body. Of course, the men around us didn’t share the same belief. To them, he was huge and menacing.

The council didn’t give me the chance to rest. All of them rushed in as soon as they heard that I was back. Since they were here, Blaze and I decided to use this opportunity. We invited them to dinner to properly announce our engagement. As expected, none of them were happy about it. 

I could almost taste their aggression in the air, making it hard for me to appreciate the feast the chefs prepared for us. Too bad, most of them were my favorites. It was hard to even swallow right now.

The men around me looked suspicious, which was expected. This just meant that the General and I would have to work harder in the following days to convince them of our love story. It wouldn’t be easy. Blaze and I were not prepared. Everything happened too soon. We didn’t have much time to discuss what kind of lies we wanted to spread.

“When did your relationship start?” lord Richard asked next, who was now sporting a swollen eye when my fake fiancé defended me a while ago. “How come we didn’t hear about it?”

“Not everything in our lives need to be announced,” Blaze spoke with the confidence and arrogance of a king. “But for everyone’s peace of mind, it started the day the princess’ bond mark appeared when she turned eighteen.” His eyes held me hostage, looking at me with such intensity that made my skin tingle. He held my hand firmly. Protectively. His hot mouth pressed a kiss on the back of my hand, making me shiver, as a slow, sinful smile stretched his lips. “Natalia has become mine since then.”

Gasps and murmurs echoed in the hall. I fought hard not to wince at the memory of said night.

I’d moved on. That was what I’d been telling myself every day. But it didn’t mean I no longer remember the pain and the nightmares that followed since that night.

Who would have thought that three years later, we would be glued to each other’s side like this? Pretending we were not bad for each other, pretending he didn’t ruin me.

Pretending I didn’t volunteer to represent the shifters in the human realm just so I could run away from the bond rejection. From him.

“You two are mates?” two of the lords asked almost at the same time, their eyes wide.

“We are,” I answered, my voice steadier this time. Blaze’s presence, as much as I hated to admit it, had helped soothe my fraying nerves. Maybe because I knew that even if I couldn’t trust him not to hurt me, I could trust him not to harm this realm unlike most of the lords around us. “We wanted to inform the public about it in our own time, but then, this happened. That’s why I apologize, my lord, I can’t marry your son.”

Richard cleared his throat. “Well, mates are a rarity nowadays. That’s a… blessing from the Goddess. Congratulations. However, you are the crown princess, the sole heir to the throne. Your title gives you the power to claim as many alphas as you want, your highness. How about taking my son as a concubine instead? After all, royalties having harems was not uncommon in the past.”

“While we are on this topic, I would like to also offer my son, your highness,” Martinez added. “Not to brag, but he is one of the most sought-after alphas in this realm. If your father is here, he can vouch for him. Dominic is wanted by many women in the city. With our family’s strong genes, he is sure to provide you with a son who can shift unlike you. You are too weak, but that won’t be a problem. My son can strengthen-“

Lord Martinez didn’t get to finish the rest of his sentence. His screams resonated in the hall after Blaze stabbed his hand with a fork. The General was half-mage, half shifter. With the latter’s mana, Martinez couldn’t free his hand even if he wanted to.

“Disrespect my mate again and I will make sure you will be unable to use your filthy tongue for the rest of your life, my lord.” Blaze’s jaw clenched as he rose from his seat. “The princess is tired. She needs to rest. Excuse us.”

Blaze extended his hand, and I took it while some lords, including the staff, rushed to take the fork off Martinez’s hand although they might need a mage for it to be possible because the available mage right next to me had no plans of helping.

“Thank you, love,” I told him with a bright smile before locking eyes with Martinez whose hand was bleeding because of the fork which Blaze wrapped with his mana. “Don’t look at me like that. If anything, you deserve to be punished, my lord. But don't worry. I will remember to send a royal healer at your place after my beauty rest.”

Arturo smiled, suddenly looking amused while Blaze’s face was grim as he guided me out of the dining hall without letting go of my hand. This was what dad would have wanted for me. An alpha who would defend my honor. 

I couldn’t even find it in me to remain offended when I could still hear Martinez sobbing like a little girl while cursing Blaze at the same time.

“General Kingston? May I have a word with you?” Arturo asked, stopping us from retreating to my chambers.

Blaze looked like he wanted to decline, but I nodded politely and whispered, “Go ahead, General Kingston. I could take it from here. Great work today. I appreciate it. Truly.”

His eyes narrowed, but my godfather and I didn't give him the chance to say no. I took my hand back and smiled encouragingly at my godfather who led him somewhere while Alec appeared from somewhere and approached me. He was my schoolmate. He’d always been very vocal about telling me he wanted me to be his luna. He was charming, good-looking, and kind unlike his father, but I’d always wanted a man. Not a boy who couldn’t even speak without trembling in front of my father or the general.

“Are you really going to marry the general, your highness?” he asked, looking hurt.

“Yes.”

“I get that your mates and all that, but no offense, your highness. You deserve better. You are too young for someone like him. The King had you pretty late. General Kingston is the same age as your father! I mean he’s… ancient! In the human realm, he’s almost like your great grandfather!” he blurted out as if he could no longer help it. His chest heaved.

“I bet this ancient grandfather can take you down in a single blow if you wouldn’t stop messing with his mate. Get the fuck out, boy. Your opinion is not needed here.”

Both of us were stunned after hearing Blaze’s voice. I didn’t think he would be back so soon. Luckily, it didn’t turn into an argument because Alec ran away so fast. I didn’t even get to answer him back.

I was right.

He was still a boy. A hundred percent.

“Fuck that kid,” Blaze’s face darkened as he continued to lead me to my room. “Are you alright?”

I knew it was wrong to laugh given the situation we were in, but I couldn’t stop it while looking at him. He looked royally pissed. I was sure that the lords wanted to point out our age difference, but no one had the courage to say it directly in his face.

As if reading my mind, Blaze paused. His dominating gaze landed on me, stopping me from laughing. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe properly. My pulse roared in my ears. A slow grin quirked his mouth like he could tell what he was doing to me.

To my body, particularly.

“I would bet on everything I have that no great grandfather can make you wet the way I do, Natalia.”