CHAPTER SIX

~FLORA~

ISOBEL WALKED UP to me. She was smiling but her eyes were cold as ice as she took a seat at the table. "You must be Lady Flora," she said.

"Queen Flora," I corrected.

She froze briefly at my words, but she caught up quickly and bowed. "Of course, pardon me, Your Highness." She looked at Bonnie, who stood beside me and flicked her head for the maid to leave.

I looked at Bonnie and gave an approving nod. As Bonnie left, I expected Lachlan to leave too and give us privacy, but the big man remained standing a few feet away from me, his eyes pinned on Isobel.

"You have a bodyguard now," Isobel said, pouring herself a cup of ale. "That was fast, and it is even the Gamma. The strongest warrior in our pack..."

I nodded and feigned ignorance as I cocked my head and said, "And you are?"

"Oh, forgive me," she said. "I am Isobel. The sister to our beloved queen before she passed." She dabbed her eyes even though there were no tears there. "We loved her. Alpha Cameron loves her..."

"He told me about her," I replied.

"After my sister passed, I Alpha Cameron and I found comfort in each other," she said. "We -"

Lachlan's cough made her stop. She gave me a small, cold smile. "How are you finding Scotland?"

"Cold," I said. "But I've endured worse."

"Be careful, princess," she said, her voice lowering. "We have constant attacks from rogues... and they have made a show at killing a queen before. They might kill another..."

I set down my spoon. "Is that a threat, Isobel?"

She smiled. "A warning."

"How kind of you." I tilted my head. "Tell me... when they killed the last queen... were you here? Did you mourn?"

Something flickered in her eyes. "She was my sister."

"I know. That must have been difficult." I picked up my cup and took a slow sip. "To lose a sister and watch Cameron grieve. To wait years for him to turn to you, and watch him choose someone else instead."

Her smile froze.

"How painful," I said softly as I set the cup down.

She picked a grape from the table and popped it into her mouth. "Cameron will most likely send you to a protected castle in the west. It is safer there, you know."

"Will he?"

She paused. The grape hung between her fingers. She had not expected me to question her.

"He would not want his new Luna in danger," she said slowly.

"No," I agreed. "He would not." I stood. "Thank you for the warning, Isobel."

Her eyes narrowed as she stood up. "Enjoy your time here, your majesty." Her voice dripped with hate.

She walked past Lachlan, touched his shoulder, and blew him a kiss. Lachlan did not move, but I saw his jaw tighten. He hated her, too.

When she was gone, Lachlan turned to me. "About what she said—"

"Later." I pushed my bowl away. The porridge had gone cold, and I had lost my appetite. "Take me to Cameron."

He hesitated. "You have not eaten."

"I'm not hungry."

"But..."

"I need to see my husband." I stood. "Now."

He studied me for a long moment, and then he nodded.

The walk was silent. Lachlan led the way, his massive frame clearing a path through the corridors. People stepped aside, bowing and greeting, but my mind was racing to pay attention to them.

We stopped at a heavy wooden door. Lachlan knocked twice.

"Enter," came Cameron's voice from within.

Lachlan pushed the door open. I walked past him into the room. Cameron was standing by the window, bare-chested, his back to me. The morning light caught the muscles of his shoulders and the scars that crossed his skin. His hair was loose, falling in waves past his shoulders.

My mouth went dry, and I felt something flare inside me. It was hot and sudden, starting in my chest and spreading outward, down my arms, through my belly, into my core. Before I knew what was happening, I was leaning towards him.

He turned, and his eyes met mine. "You're here early," he said. He waved a hand at Lachlan. "Leave us."

Lachlan bowed and closed the door behind him.

"Lachlan alerted me through the mindlink that you were coming," he said.

"I needed to see you." I replied.

He tilted his head. "Are you comfortable? Is the room to your liking? I can have you moved to a larger chamber, or—"

"Cameron." I cut him off. "Are you and Isobel a in a relationship?" I had not planned to be this plain, but it just came out as it was.

He froze. For a long moment, he just stared at me. Then he frowned, confusion flickering across his face. "What?"

"Isobel. Are you and her... involved?"

"No." He shook his head vehemently. "No. Nothing ever happened between us. I swear it."

"Me and her had a little chat," i said. "She says otherwise."

His jaw tightened. "She lies."

"She said you found comfort in each other after Catriona died." I said, repeating what Isobel said to me.

"Isobel was there," he said, his voice hardening. "She was Catriona's sister. She mourned her. I mourned her. We grieved together, but there was nothing else."

I studied his face for a moment, and then I nodded. "It would not be any of my business if you kept whores or concubines... i would just appreciate if you told me before -"

He was immediately a few inches from me. His hands claimed mine. "You are my mate. I swore to you under the full gaze of the moon goddess, and I will remain ever loyal to you. Do you hear me?"

I swallowed and nodded.

He exhaled slowly. "What did she say to you?"

"She threatened me." I managef to keep my voice from shaking like my knees at his touch. "She said rogues have killed a queen before. She said they might kill another."

"I will kill her." He growled, his wolf surfacing briefly to turn his eyes a deep shade of red.

I stepped in front of him. "NO!"

He looked down at me. "What?" His eyes ran over my face. "Then we will have the horses ready to journey you to the west. There is a very secure castle there, and you will go with a number of my men, including Lachlan for your protection."

I lifted my chin and shook my head. "No."

"No?" He asked, he rubbed the bride of his nose in exasperation. "What do you mean by No? We spoke about this in your father's pack, have you forgotten?"

I shook my head. "I am staying here. I will not be sent to a protected castle in the west. I will remain by your side, and if there is another rogue attack, I will be here to fight and defend the pack."

Cameron was silent for a long moment. "You do not have a wolf spirit, Flora. You cannot fight."

"You said that does not make me useless, or have you forgotten?" I asked.

He snorted and walked back to the window without saying anything. I took his silence as approval.

"I will join them at the training ground, and Lachlan will train me in the art of hand to hand combat, and weaponry."

He turned sharply, and I saw his disapproval in his eyes, but before he could say anything, I walked out of his room and hurried to find Lachlan.