Chapter 106

a/n: Happy Turkey Day!
Tyson
The council went to their rooms after the meeting was over, but I still had to meet Kenriel. My mate was upstairs, likely asleep, but I was glad she decided to turn in.
I understood why King Ashital did not disclose Thadellious, his escape, or his mission to my uncle…. Xaxas would have gone on a rampage, since every ounce of his anger was pinpointed on only GhostMoon and Brutus. I dare say there might not be any races of shifter left if grandfather said anything. What he did to Jang would have been just a prelude to pure carnage.
And assassin…. Escaped… unaccounted for… with orders to kill.
It is a good thing we were all so well protected when we were young. I can’t see there being any peace now if anyone died.
Bleh. I licked my lips.
The taste of those beans lingered in the back of my throat, and my mind. For her, it’s part of her diet as being part unicorn. For me, it was clear that my diet is a little too carnivorous for those kinds of flavors.
To me, it tasted like if you ate grass covered in salt. My body rejected that food… Since I am starving. I crave souls at the moment, and I should have eaten that wolf, but I wouldn’t. I’d rather continue to be hungry, than show the Council what I am fully.
Regardless of my powers, they have not seen their entirety. I intend on keeping it that way.
And regardless of my mate’s veganism, she showed them that she is as vicious as a Luna. She held her head high, and her words were strong and clear, even when I scented her nervousness. She grows into her position more and more every day.
And I do as well, but I still need more control. How sweet the vapors of his soul passing scented… I dare say that if I would have moved even an ich, I would have devoured at least some of him.
And that is why I am in the basement. Those down here are my larder until I receive my work scrolls from hell. Those who are in the dungeons below have done so much more than attempted murder. They have wronged the wolves. They betrayed their people, killed more than 30 people, or were given to us by a Regional Alpha Council.
It’s still wrong I do this, I will not deny that…. But I cannot become bones either. This time the guards were at attention, since one of them was a bit of a lookout. They bowed as I walked past. 
“My lord, who do you wish to punish.” Asked Genikia, the current hyena on duty. The mother and daughter were off until I think next Monday.
“Take me to the most difficult.” I said casually.
They bowed, and I followed. The dungeons were a little dim, just dim enough to shine light into each cell… Each monster saw a bigger monster pass by. Each monster bowed their head. Every single prisoner here is guilty. That doesn’t mean I have the right to eat them, but I need to eat. Who better than those who have committed great and terrible crimes?
If someone must be fed off in order for me to live, let it be someone deserving. Soon, because of my new position, I will be able to feed on worse people, even worse than them.
I went down two more floors before the guard showed me Prisoner 18206, Kwiterous the Arsonist. Before he was captured, he burned down anything. He roamed as a vagabond, torching any pack or human settlement he could sneak into.
“You may leave.” I told her teleporting inside the cell. Everyone who saw screamed.
“Ah! Don’t kill me!” Kwiterous screamed. His wolf took over in his panic, making his brown eyes orange.
The pale wolf stood at the back of the cell, worried for his life, but I could see the joy he took in killing all those humans. His last act of arson was locking priests in their church, and burning it to the ground. He was caught in the Omega district of HearthMoon, a large pack in Turkey. He even caught the ship ablaze on his way here. Being on the run for 40 years, he burned down 98 buildings, killing an additional 12 people.
“You will not die, but you may wish it for a few days.” I said grabbing him by the throat.
As I held him, I had to hold myself back. Temperance. Control. Nonjudgment….
It is not my place to *make* him go below; he earns it for himself. None were spared from his oil and matches. He’d even done this to sleeping Rogues in their makeshift shelters….
It is not my job to lose my temper at the actions of this man…. But I will avenge so many lives.
It is not my right to do anything other than to take a fifth of his life. Any more and I may kill him, or he may not be able to recover and die anyway.
I put him in his bed so he could sleep, but he will dream of his actions. He will feel what he did to all those people. With my magic I did that. I found that fair since he’ll dream anyway after what I’ve done.
“Thank you that you have fed me.” I said looking over my shoulder. Kenriel was here, on bended knee. “Greetings General Kenriel.” 
His skin illuminated the stone walls. His white hair was also a light source, but his orange eyes looked ablaze with loyalty. I’m not sure how strong he is, but I assume for Xaxas to lend him to me, that he’s stronger than I am, even now.
Honestly, borrowing such a skilled warrior who specializes in miracles and calamity mitigation is overkill. I let my nature get the better of me… and I was slightly dissatisfied with that.
I am to be better than my nature. I cannot allow myself to slip again.
I teleported and shook his wrist, so he could stop kneeling so low. I helped him stand.
“Greetings young master.” He said with one last dip of his head. His angel’s wings were spread wide. Those were a gift for saving the continent of North Amerika. If he had not offered his body to be burned alive during the war, everyone else would have been. “I’ve come to accept my post, though the Realm King may yet need me from time to time.” He admitted.
“That’s fine.” I said with a nod. “About the only thing I want from you, is to be a deterrent for any unruly Old Ones.” I said honestly.
“And you have me.” he said firmly.
/Ronitus, have the council come to my office./ I linked.
/Of course, your highness./ Ronitus linked back. /For space, I think I’ll tell them to pick one representative./
/Good./ I linked back.
“Follow me.” I said to Kenriel, walking this time. We went upstairs, and made our way to my office. It held the men this time. It seemed they picked to do this the old way, since they were unsure about my intentions.
They all had chairs to sit in. Most look like the guest chairs they brought from their office, while I sat in my large leather seat. They bowed, and Kenriel stood at my left.
“As you can see, the Realm King has gifted me a bit of a boon.” I said firmly. I looked to see who was the most displeased… It seemed about 60% were. As the number of the council members increased, so did their scowls.
“Do you not trust us to protect your pup sire?” Asked the 8th seat. “Do you think so lowly of us, that we would harm her majesty?”
“I don’t think of anyone as lowly, other than those who harm the innocent. Kenriel is only here for threats outside the castle, not within.” I said looking them in the eyes. “Should you have need of him, should a threat you cannot handle arise, he is here to help.”
“Can Lord Kenriel help with land corruption your highness?” Asked Jang.
“I can.” Kenriel said simply.
“…. The death placed on my land has been lifted. Life can grow, but the anger of the Realm King lingers a little too harshly.” Jang admitted.
“I can fix that. I can’t add any light energy or anything to your lands, but I can help your plants…. To be honest, you may have to burn all the buildings down, and plant trees over the entire pack. I can do that too.”
“I have nothing there.” Said Jang. “There are no wolves to worry about. Check for squatters, but other than that, I have no pack my lord.”
“Oh right, you’re the one who conspired with Brutus….. Don’t die.” Warned Kenriel.
“I’ll try.” Said Jang with a weak smile.
“Now, we must deal with the aftermath of the Seventh seat.” I said logging into my computer. “You said your Shadow Warriors found a cult?” I asked.
“Yes sire.” Said my 7th, Augustus. “They’re trying to end the world by harnessing undeath… They’re trying to develop a gas that will disperse the illness directly into the lungs of mortals. When my shadows discovered them, they killed as many as they could, but I will need additional help”
“I will contact the Church, and you may use my personal Shadow Warriors. I also think it’s best to send the hyena guards.” I said casually.
I think they expected me to get up and leave. I will not. I will do this as King, not General Tyson. I will hold the honor of this throne whenever I can, and as long as I can. The way they nodded, and by my own training, I knew this was what Grandpa Ashital would have wanted…. What he would have done to protect Grandma Gweneth.
I feel I need to speak with him… I feel a little lost. Is my hand too firm? Are my rulings unfair? Do I make my people suffer with my good intentions?