chapter 16

Chapter 16

KAI's POV

Heavy footsteps stormed the ground beneath me. The throne room was so silent that the drop of a pin could reverberate against every corner of the walls as I made my way toward my study.

"Sire." A familiar gruff voice called behind me.

I continued in my direction as his presence caught up to me. "Clawface, what is it?"

My commander replied with a deep bow. Seeing that I did not pause to regard him, he hurried to catch up once again.

"Sire, the Council has been waiting for you. Your Luna has grown overly impatient as well. They referred to your abrupt delay as impertinence." He reported, a tone of warning etched somewhere beneath his words.

I halted mid step, only turning my face slightly to the left. A chuckle seeped through my parted lips.

They could all go fuck themselves if they were so pissed...

If not for my father, they wouldn't have the balls to say that.

"Come with me, Clawface. I've got use for you."

We headed toward my study together, and he held out the door for me right before I entered. My stride carried me toward the chair behind the work table, and I heaved a sigh as I reclined into it, feeling the warmth of the foam beneath the black leather.

Then, my eyes snapped open. As soon as they scanned the room and finally landed on Clawface, he tensed. "Nathan Ashford is back. What do you know of it?"

"I got no reports, Sire."

Clawface was probably the closest thing I have to a friend here in the throne hall, and even he knew better than to toy with my intelligence. He masked it well, but his thudding heart gave him away, a resemblance to someone fidgeting in his boots.

I groaned, letting the words drawl out of me. "I just had an encounter with him, and he touched something that belonged to me. Revenge, is that what he's come for?"

Within seconds, I appeared before Clawface. The blood drained from his face, paling his skin for a second. He recovered, swallowing a thick lump that bobbed down his throat.

"I want every report on Nathan as soon as possible. I want to know who he contacted, how he got back here, and finally, once you discover which entryway he came through, I want the guards stationed there brought before me." My eyes scanned Clawface's amber ones, the faint glint of blue around the rim of his irises catching the light. "Is that understood?"

"Yes, Sire." He agreed.

"Thank you, good friend."

Though my voice softened, Clawface remained stiff, unwavering beneath my firm reproach.

Something caught my attention beyond his shoulder, the door groaning as Leo walked in. Once his gaze fixed on me, it darkened. His brows knitted, blood pressure visibly rising, his face creasing into a scowl, and with fists balled at his sides, he hurried toward me.

"How could you?"

I turned to Clawface, muttering simply, "You can leave."

"Hey, baby." I put on the mask, feigning a smile that did not reach my face, aiming to pull Leo into a hug. However, he pushed past me, slipping aside just in time to avoid my touch.

"Do not do that to me," he warned. If I had not known him long enough, I would have assumed he was irritated by my very presence.

But I knew better.

"I apologize for every inconvenience I've caused. Truly."

"How could you leave me alone with your councilmen? My uncle couldn't even keep them calm much less me."

"They are yours to handle however you want. I don't need to be there before you can hold the meeting."

"Your father is watching, and I'm trying my best to help you so he could see you for the rightful heir you are, but you're making it hard." Leo sneered. "You know he speaks to me. Don't make me report you."

"Baby, don't be like that. We've got this. You've got this." I said.

Almost. I almost thought he'd buy that, then he pointed at me with his well manicured nails.

"I won't accept this bullshit from you. This isn't just any meeting." He pressed a finger to his forehead. "Goodness, you'll be the end of me, Kai."

"Or I could be inside you..."

"Oh, please. You're disgusting." He waved me off with the mimicry of a belch. "This fight will continue at home, I swear. But for now, come on. We've got to finish this."

I cast one last hushed glance toward the study before heading out with Leo.

And I blame no one else but my father. Sincerely, he allowed this restraint on me, and I've got to do what I've got to do.

Boots squeaked against the floor, echoing because of the hollowness. The path led us toward the familiar throne room. When the doors opened, I heaved another sigh, mentally preparing myself.

My sight caught the moonbeams trapped by the windows for a moment, hurling a memory my way. A smile crept onto my face as I lingered on it.

I'd die to be in Alex's arms right now. He should have been deep asleep by now. I was glad I had left in a hurry earlier to check up on him the moment I felt that skittishness.

"Your Highness."

The councilmen regarded me in rhythmic unison, all six of them on their feet, heads lowered in deep bows. Before me stood the archaic thornwood and vine spiked humongous chair that sat to the south of the room. Its frame was so enormous it stretched from the floor up toward the ceiling. The throne room itself was vast, built in a way where shadows roamed freely, casting spikes in their wake as they trapped every beam of light, looming the chamber with the perfect amount of terror.

"You can sit."

After taking my seat upon the throne as the acting Alpha King, I muttered the order. Leo sat with the councilmen, but once he had been sworn in, he'd sit beside me, becoming the official Luna recognized by the SilverFang Pack. However, the mere thought of that twisted something unpleasant inside my stomach.

"Sire, you've kept us waiting quite some time. The court has grown weary. Would you like to explain what matter of urgency required your attention?" Count Barry began, eyes narrowed at me.

"I'd rather welcome your transition to business." I grumbled with a smile. "Since you've all grown weary in my absence."

I nearly scowled at the man. Being Leo's uncle, he was the reason I was even trapped in this mess to begin with. His mercenaries were unmatched, and the pack needed them in case of any uprising. My father believed an alliance with his nephew was the right way forward. And that's why they decided to evaluate my role as the Alpha King, passing all his power to me temporarily to see how I use them. If that wasn't the case, I'd be free to do whatever I wanted.

But unfortunately, for that reason, the agreement to accept Leo as my Luna sounded as the best option. Duty came before my heart, sadly.

Count Fenvire took over. "Sire, in light of your agreement, I would like to discuss matters concerning the mating ceremony. The pack yearns to see your heir right after the coronation."

The councilmen, collectively known as the Jury, alongside the ancestral laws, stated that an Alpha needed the candidate chosen by the Jury to bear his heir.

All it truly meant was that I did not need love. I only needed someone to bear an heir, and that was what Leo was for.

My thoughts spiraled back to Alex. I could have told him the truth, but it would have been fruitless. In truth, I had wanted to wait for him until he was done healing, but duty called for harsher decisions, and I had to make them.

If not, Alex was supposed to be where Leo was.

It was all for duty.

"When is the chosen date?" I asked simply.

If anyone paid enough attention, they would have noticed the fatigue in my voice.

"On the night of the next eclipse, Alpha Kai."

"Isn't that three or four months from now?" I questioned, and Count Barry replied with almost eager enthusiasm.

"Indeed, Sire. The preparations require time."

"Well then, if this meeting is over, I'd rather return to the rest of my work."

"Uh, Sire. Nothing else matters more than this." Count Barry countered.

I snapped toward him more harshly than intended, making him recoil slightly. "You have no idea what else matters."

I heard Leo's footsteps scurrying behind me as I left the throne room. I could already feel his death glare burning holes into my back.