Chapter 13

Samira
I was pointed to the garden’s maze, which was so well decorated and elegant that I felt out of place.
Outside, the garden area had carved statues, even more than in the front of the castle. The hedge maze was at least 20 feet tall, though there was labeling inside to lead me to the seating area. There was a stone path that led to the center, and I just followed it to the seating area in the middle… With all the directions, fining the white marble table and chairs were easy.
The sunflower smelling, orange lilies here attracted blue lantern butterflies, a kind of butterfly with wings that create bioluminescent markings. The extremely dark blue and metallic gold tipped roses were likely from the elves, as that variety… They’re rare because the gold leaf tips of the petals are real, thin as they are.
I sat at the white stone table in the center of the maze, and I called Allister back when I got situated. I sat at a stone table that looked hand carved… Even though I was to eat breakfast with my mate *inside*, they still brought me tea to sip. I’m sure there were many nosy ears at the door, but it was a little far off from where I was.
“Hello?! Hello?! Are you alright?!” He yelled, and I smiled lightly. “I’m so sorry!”
“I’m not a bicorn Allister.” I said hearing him sigh in relief.
“This is *Still* My fault! Nanatori lost his shit, and he’s headed there…. He gave me a black eye too.” He complained.
“I mean… You did send me to the Night Court, and now I’m a part of it.” I said with a small cheeky smile…
“Is he really your mate?” He asked.
“Yes, I’m marked by the Moon Goddess… and the Horned One.” I said hearing him lose his mind.
“If you do change… know that I will welcome you home if you ever wish to come back!” He said so upset I wondered was he crying.
“Brother… if I change I can never come home.” I said quietly. “You are purity, and I would not be… my very existence in the castle in that state would turn me to dust….”
That also meant I could never really be in my mother’s presence again… She’d purge me. I wouldn’t be the first child of hers that she’d have to do that too either…. Or father. They serve the Lord of Light. Me being here isn’t a problem so long as I don’t lose my horn….
“…. We’ll see what Nanatori says. He’s coming to make sure you’re still… well you.” He mumbled.
“I know…. I just hope he doesn’t pick a fight with Tyson.” I mumbled.
“You know he will. It’s tradition in father’s stead that one of us test his mettle.” Said my brother. Allister’d calmed down now, but I could hear his anger… He was likely mad at himself that he didn’t get me married off to a ‘proper’ stallion… “I should have married you off to Redmane before you left.” He hissed.
“But even still, Tyson is my true mate.” I said a little angrily. “You can’t just expect me to choose tradition over true love.”
It really was… the love that blossoms from matehood… there is no comparison…
“But you wouldn’t be in the arms of a Duke of Demons, an actual general of Hell. I bet he bewitched you.” He snorted. In unicorn, it was more of a sentence ender. It meant something along the lines of ‘I have spoken’. As high stallion, only he has the right for such a statement, but I was the Queen of Wolves now…
I’m sure weakness would be looked down upon here as well. I would stand up to my brother. I was no longer a citizen of my kingdom…. He no longer had any power over me.
“Yes, and the Duke of Demons has promised me his heart and half his soul… It’s over Allister. Please don’t make trouble between the great houses, and shame mother.” I said a little angrier. That he called more to lament about marrying me off than worry irked me…
“Moldy mash you’re stubborn… come home and we’ll figure it out together.” He said soothingly, like he was talking to a small child…. I wasn’t just going to keel over and leave the mate I Just got!
“I’m not being stubborn.” I growled. “And he uses no magic.”
“You are. You’re seeing this with rose glasses; I bet he charmed you with *demon* magic.” He retorted. “Come home and let us fix this. You’re too young to know what you’re doing messing with someone like that. Had he been as the former crown prince, I’d trust him.” he said as a command.
“Fluff you!” I yelled, hanging up. He called again but he was ignored this time. The nerve!
I know what he was going to say anyway… he was going to say that if I’m not a sullied monster now I will be soon… But I’m also sure that dream was *real*… and that I’d been given a task… Tyson is the Horned One’s only paladin… It was why he picked someone like me to be with his grandson in the first place.
….He also owned me since before I was born, but didn’t mark me with his symbol thankfully… I might have been purged as a baby in my crib if he would have….
My betrothment was done before I was born, and they should respect my wishes. I was picked up and hugged close. Tingles trailed with the intense touch… There was comfort to replace my sorrow.
“Are you alright?” Asked Tyson. “I heard you shout. Did it not go well” He held me as a bride, and servants brought the food out here… You wouldn’t be able to tell that a massive party was hosted last night… Everything was so clean and beautiful…. And here I was with all this ugly family drama.
“I am, but my eldest brother is on his way here. They seem to think that you brainwashed me with magic.” I grumbled.
“I doubt Allister really believes that. He’s worked with the House of Charred since the inception of the Crown Prince Council, the very training for his new position…. He *personally* knows my father, mother, and my mother’s father. Grandpa Kaiden was the original Crown Prince….” He sat down, and put me in his lap… All the while I could feel comfort through our bond.
“Then why would he say such things?” I said savoring the tingles and his strong scent…His anger made him smell like a bonfire. I hugged his neck. His eyes looked like a bonfire too….
“Because he likely promised you to your former betrothed.” He hissed. “To indulge the thought, *if* he actually believed I’d hurt you, or purposefully turn you, he should know better. It’s painfully ignorant too.”
“I apologize in advance.” I said a little quietly. He still held me in his lap, and I felt him gently kiss my mark… It was almost healed, but anything he does only brings pleasure…
“Don’t apologize for their folly.” He mumbled low… His minty breath danced on the back of my neck.
“Will… will your people feel the same way?” I asked a little worriedly…. I knew he didn’t care, and would defend me, but I still didn’t want friction…
“Werewolves above all respect the mate bond little dove. Even if you were human, an Omega, male, or whatever, no one would question the goddess… If anything, the one you fear most was the most impatient on seeing us happy.” He said caressing my neck gently.
“I should thank him…” I looked at the table, feeling a slight, completely soundless whoosh of a small breeze.
“You’re welcome.” Said the Realm King, Xaxas.
“Ah!” I jumped. I felt like a baby that I screamed, but it couldn’t be helped! He appeared RIGHT behind me!
Both Kings looked amused.
However, King Xaxas’s horns were double the size of my mate’s and in between them was a flaming crown…. He was so close I could feel the heat off it…. His power made me queasy, as it can be felt…
“They tend to do that… a lot. Morning uncle.” Said Tyson, holding me closer to his chest. He shielded me from the gaze of the Realm King, though the almost playful smile told me that King Xaxas came more as a curious uncle, rather than a destroyer.
“It wasn’t my intention to startle you.” He said sitting down.
With a wave of his hand, he sat upon a bone throne. Some bones were too big to be human… but others were. It was woven tightly, while black and red trimmed cushions were embroidered into the seat.
“…. *Really* Uncle?” Said Tyson rolling his eyes.
“Hey, this baby’s a classic!” Countered the Realm King. “Plus it can do this now.”
“See what I mean.” Said Tyson. “You aren’t startled or anything are you?” He asked gently, rubbing my shoulders.
“No… I don’t know how though.” I said honestly.. That was my first time seeing …. Remains of likely innocent people.
With a snap of his fingers… the damn thing reclined. “Ah” He was served a myriad of foods, not just meat. He cut into a fried egg, and sparked casual conversation.
I took this chance to be polite. I bowed, and he replied with a light nod. “Good morning, your highness, I was merely taken aback by your magic use.” I honestly was… no one expects someone to soundlessly appear behind them, but other than that… I could guess it was my connection with Tyson that took the fear away….