HANAERUM"His Majesty, King Rome of Bale!" The Court herald announced as Rome appeared at the doors to the large circular chamber. Trumpets followed and the members of the court stood up as he walked in. "You may be seated," Teriel said once the king sat in his rightful position in the courtroom. The king's hair was styled back, not one strand of ginger hair out of place. His midnight blue suit was sharp and tailored exactly to his taste: tight around his arms but just enough to move. On the suit were the usual royal emblem and several gold emblems displaying his prowess in combat and warfare. The members of the court sank into their seats quietly knowing what to expect at this meeting. The king had promised that he would reveal his mistress and some of them had even bet on who he would pick. The atmosphere was tense and even in the quietness that would follow, they could feel the tension. "The meeting will start now," Teriel announced.Kain, seated in the front row just beside h
ELORAMy heart beat a frantic rhythm as the day’s activities caught up with me. How had everything gone bad so quickly?Just when I was happy with my life, getting used to my work at the library and the beautiful nights I spent with Lucy and my siblings.Deep down, I had not expected to have a normal life as the child of a man labelled a traitor but I didn’t think the problems I had escaped from in Alkarod would come back to sting me.The king's cold words rang in my ears as I followed to my new chambers in the Royal wing of the Castle. I had been very wrong to assume he would be different from all the other men I had experienced.I gave a shaky breath as the King’s Advisor slowed his steps, willing my burning face to cool. My hands were clammy with sweat as fear of what the night would bring flooded me. It seemed I had traded one prison for another."As the King’s new mistress, you will have to do all you can to please him.” Teriel’s voice came breaking the silence I had come to fin
ELORAOverwhelmed, I collapsed on the bed without getting out of the dress hoping that at least I could forget my problems if I napped, unfortunately the quiet of this wing made it hard to fall asleep, I tossed and turned and even counted sheep but eventually gave up as I was too disturbed to sleep. I couldn’t help but note the difference between this side of the castle and the servant’s quarters I’d stayed in with my siblings.Instead of the regular chatter down at the staff quarters, no sound could be heard except the occasional rustle of what seemed like wind moving through the flowers. The sky looked clearer from the large clean windows on the far side of the wall, in a beautiful shade of midnight blue. From my position on the bed, I had a fantastic view of the stars through the large window as they twinkled, teasing me.At least, they didn't have to worry about duties as the king's breeder.I sighed turning over, my aching as I thought of my mother back at Alkarod. I wondered ho
KAIN replayed the humiliating incident he had had with the king earlier in the day. Rome had embarrassed him right in the presence of the council members and worse still, he had raided his brothel and shut it down because of dealings with under aged girls.Was the King that stupid?Of course, any reputable brothel employed the services of younger girls as the patrons wanted variety. Some enjoyed older girls but many others favoured the younger girls while others didn't mind having either.Rome would have to pay for what he had done even though it would be difficult now to punish him. This would be the last time he would be a step ahead of Kain, king or not.Kain paced about in his spacious living room – one he fondly called his throne room remembering how some of the council members had had the guts to snicker as the king humiliated him.Oh, how they would pay! He thought, chest was aflame with anger.He paced some more, clenching his fists as thoughts of the previous day infuriated h
ROMEIt was a slow, quiet evening for the king and it was soon approaching what seemed like the appropriate time for him to retire for the day. As advised by the royal physician, the king, even though being a Lycan royal and seemingly all mighty, needed enough rest to rule his territory. The last thing Hanaerum needed was an unhealthy king.The physicians had advised this on multiple occasions but it mostly fell on deaf ears. Rome felt the need to bury himself in work, work that could have been easily delegated, anything that wouldn’t have him feeling he wasn’t involved in the running of the country like his father hadn’t been. "Skye." He called, looking at her where she perused a document on the table set up in his study for his Hand.The only person that kept up with his unhealthy work routine was his sister and that was because she had too much free time. Her words. She was the only person that was in sync with him in most things. Perhaps the blood of their powerful ancestors burn
ROMEAfter he got his mind in order, he stepped out of the tub donning a fresh pair of loose silk breeches in the shade of blue he preferred and a decadent silk robe in the same shade of blue with silver embroidery along the hem and sleeves.He stepped out of the bathing chamber, shutting the door behind him and walking into his bed chamber proper, staring at the space Erika's belongings used to occupy. He had ordered a long sofa be placed there so he could lounge to read when he had the time for it.The smooth leather called to him not but he didn’t want to tract water on his lush carpets. He rubbed a small towel through his hair to remove the excess moisture but before he could move to indulge in his favourite pastime, the shape of a person sprawled on his large bed took him off guard.Who would dare?Before he could utter a word, the person stood up coming to fall at his feet, hair spilling in a glittering pool that was familiar to him. "Oh, Rome. Please forgive me." His ex-wife c
Behind the heavy doors of his study, he had been able to forget what having her as his mistress meant but in that moment, he was hit with the full force that he had every right to taste this fine specimen of a woman.He almost let out a growl at the thought that his father had nearly had his filthy hands on. Elora was his now. To hold and touch however he wanted.She still hadn’t noticed him so he had time to get himself in order before she’d spot him. He strolled towards her as quietly as he could but she whipped her head in his direction, suddenly aware of him.Her amber eyes glowed with a slight golden tint that caught him off guard. He didn't know if it was a trick of the light or if her wolf was coming out to play.Rome decided then that he wanted to see this woman fully transformed. Would her wolf be as beautiful as she was in this form?"Your Majesty." She greeted bowing and forgetting the looseness of her night wear.Rome wanted to say something, anything, but the dip of her
ELORAIn a few days, I formed a routine that kept me from going insane.During the day, I visited the royal beautician to prepare me for my meeting with the king even though he never showed up but I continued as Lucy said it was very necessary as my body has to always be ready for the king’s use. Then, after hours of tugging on my hair and applying various pomades, I took a stroll to the royal library, with a guard breathing down my neck, of course.When it was darker, I snuck to the staff quarters to visit my siblings. They were also terrified that they wouldn't see me again and asked questions about being the king's breeder, questions I had no answer to.After delightfully visiting my siblings, I retired into my room and ran a bath with the special soap the beautician recommended. The night time bath lifted my spirits. I would grab a book and settle down with it.The sunset seemed especially beautiful tonight so I grabbed a book with a beautiful cover from the shelf. It was a colle