The Conclave

Athena 

The conclave chambers are suffocating with its dry smell of old papers, wine and dust. We have been summoned by the High Council which is a gathering of all species; wolves, dark faes, vampires, witches, cat shifters, demons etc. All who occupy our realm. We had no idea they existed until a letter came right after Caspian moved to be trained for taking over the Nocturne Crown. We thought the Elder Council were it, but they are just the ones who handle the day to day matters within a specific species, and they take complicated cases here to be discussed with the High Council. Apparently the vamps thought Cas and I were such a case, and the High Council agreed. Our matebond were forbidden, and we were instructed to reject each when we turned 18. 

That was two years ago, and we didn’t reject each other. We hid our bond, playing a dangerous political game of indifference in public, when in reality we long to be together. It’s getting difficult to stay away from him, but I know if we don’t do this by the book we’re endangering our pack and people. All of them. I was crowned as Queen of the dark faes on my 18th birthday, along with getting my wolf and being handed the pack by dad. My wolf, Ellesa, is furious by the rules that are shoved down our throats by the High Council, which has been on our ass ever since that fateful day 5 years ago. 

“Rememner to smile with your eyes, darling.” Dad says, reaching up and straightening my tiara. It's a beautiful, obsidian base with gold, red, purple and silver gems scattered like stars, representing my heritage.

“Mom says to not give them a thing to put their greedy hands on.” Alec says, offering his arm, smiling a cold smile. I grin back. 

He is as bad as me, and my greatest supporter. He knows if I had turned down the Alpha position at the pack, then he would be Alpha, what he doesn’t know is that he is going to be Alpha one of these days. I have more than enough to do with my Queendom of faes, who are mostly living on packlands these days, but also fighting for my right to be with my mate. 

“Athena, a word? Please?” Aunt Ruby and uncle Nicholas ask, coming to our side just before we enter the great meeting hall in the old conclave building. I frown. What are they doing here? Maybe mom asks them to be in the gallery with her? 

“Of course, excuse me.” I smile at dad and Alec, gesturing for a niche to speak to my aunt and uncle. “What can I do for you?” I ask, confused. 

“We know about your plans, but we beg you to reconsider.” I stare at them. Mom.. Goddess. “We don’t have children,” aunt Ruby says, taking a deep breath. “So we are going to offer Alec to take over our pack as our next Alpha!” My mouth drops open now. 

“But that means..” 

“That he’ll be Alpha of his own pack, equal to you, and be a better help here and in the Wolf Council. Your father, myself and Alpha Xander have been asked to become Councilmembers, and we are accepting to also be able to help.” I stare at them, the ramifications dawning on me. 

“You know,” I whisper. They nod, not needing me to say what they know. 

“Okay. Thank you!” 

We walk back and they offer their plan to Alec who just stares at them for a full ten seconds before nodding and smiling, asking if they are sure. They are, and dad, who already was initiated, that old fox, as an Elder, precedes the change in pack leadership as uncle Nicholas doesn't want to wait. 

“But I do not have a mate yet.” Alec says, concerned. 

“I’ll stay as Luna until you do, darling. Don’t worry. Now lead your sister inside and sit as the Alpha of Silver Dawn in there. We are proud of the two of you!” She kisses our cheek and they leave, probably to sit with mom. 

Inside the air shifts when we enter, people recognize dad as an Elder, me as an Alpha Queen and now Alec as an Alpha with a pack. The vampire representative of the High Council wrinkles her nose at me, and opens her mouth to say something when movement behind me makes her jump to her feet. I know who is behind me even before I turn around. Ellesa is whining in my mind, wanting to touch him, claim him, be with him. 

“Soemthing has changed in here.” Caspian says in his dry drawl. 

His conclave and official King voice. I hate it. I want to smack it out of him, but I can’t. I turn slowly, Alec at my side. He crosses his arms, glaring at the King. He has always refused to bow to Caspian, not recognizing him as a King, ever since the day he went with the vampires to live and Alec saw how hurt I really was. I don’t even know who is more protective of who in our sibling relationship. 

“Your dry darkness.” I greet him coldly, bowing my head a smidge. My tiara glints in the light, drawing attention. I chose it on purpose, along with the dark blue dress, accenting my curves and niceties.

“Alpha Queen.” Caspian greets back, also bowing his head. His eyes look absolutely furious about my choice of dress for a second, which was on purpose as well. Then he turns to Alec, who is still glaring with his arms crossed.

“Alpha Alec, you’ve been accented to have a pack. The aura suits you.” Cas says, his eyes wrinkling in a silent laugh.

“Your enormous ego really got through that door without breaking it? Fascinating.” Alec answers, offering his arm to me again. 

“I think I offended him.” Cas tries to converse with me, prolonging our moment in plain sight. 

“By existing. Yeah, probably.” I answer back, raising a bored eyebrow and looking him up and down. “It really is a fascinating feat. My brother is right.” 

We leave him standing, walking to our designated seats. The meeting begins with boring topics of species interference, and how the High Council cannot condone between species relations anymore, which is political speech for ‘we want control of who you mate, even if that being or person is your fated.’ 

“All between species matepairs are hereby forbidden and will be punished with death.” The Head Councilwoman says with a satisfied smirk, so I raise my hand. She nods to me with narrowed eyes. 

“Alpha Athena.” I roll my eyes. 

“First of all, Councilwoman Kendra, it’s Alpha Queen, and until you get that right I am not getting yours right either. Second of all; what about those matepairs who have been mated for 20+ years? Are they all of a sudden forbidden as well? And by all means, if they are, please give me a heads up when you try to kill my aunts Talia and Tababtha who are ancient witches, Princesses, and very powerful. Oh and one of them is the mother of your precious King of Egos over there.” I lazily point at Caspian, who is looking at the Head Councilwoman, who is crushing so hard on him, like she has lost all her marbles at once. 

“This is of course not something we can or will date back 20 years, Alpha Queen. We are talking about the future.” Councilman Vulric says, shaking his head. 

He is a demon, but more reasonable than most others on that Council. Kendra is a wolf, but she is angry that I’m an Alpha, a Queen and mated to a King. She is also salty about everything else in her life and trying to drag it down over everyone else, which is ironic seeing as she and the vampire representative are competing about trying to get into Cas’s pants, and now she is cockblocking herself. 

“So, am I understanding this correctly,” Alec says, “you are so hellbend on being mean to my sister that you’re now forbidding all between species matepairs?” 

“You have no right to talk in these..” 

“Actually I do, Councilwoman Kendra. I am the reigning Alpha of the Silver Dawn pack, initiated and accepted just before this meeting, giving me a voice in these halls. You will hear me, and you will understand what you are doing is bringing us back to the middle ages. Between species matebonds are not dangerous, no matter how much the Darkmoon Coven and other Covens moan that they are. You being bullies to my sister is just plain ridiculous.” Alec’s tone is even, calm and cold. The hall is eerily quiet after his speech. 

“We will vote on it next session.” Councilman Vulric says, final and nods to Alec. 

The last point on the agenda is of course Caspian and I. I roll my eyes. 

“We are friends.” Cas says, the words hurting more than they should. “We are allies, and we are friends. We grew up together. You cannot fault us for that.” 

“No more?” Kendra and Miriam, the vampire, ask together. The greed in their eyes almost makes me gag.

“What the fuck do you think?” I ask, my voice hard now. “That pompous asshat is not the boy I grew up with. We are friendly and allies. We work together. And Goddess be thankful for that.” Caspian winces and I mentally apologize.

We agreed on this charade, but it’s hard to keep up. We do our best. We act cold in public, letting our true feelings only show when we’re alone. Cas has pointed out more than once he thinks they have forgotten he is half witch by his mothers side. A side he hides, but it’s here. A steady presence I can sense every time we are near each other. Our magic reaches out; invisible, drawn and known.

The meeting ends with Councilman Vulric telling the bitches to stop their nonsense, and we have answered all their questions for today at least thrice. They reluctantly do, and I sigh a breath of relief.