Chapter 28

Tyson
I got no rest.
I may have slept, but all I could see and hear, were the gossiping mortals.
That I’m putting on a show.
That I will just pardon him….
That I am no king, merely a boy left to babysit the throne, and that grandfather would have resolved this already…
That it’s a shame that all those souls now belong to Tarteron, separated from their wolves…. How would a mortal know that?
Some of the Omegas here, like Mr. Julian are as old as the original King… but if that’s the case, it means the older Omega staff are gossiping as well…
I will look into that. Another thing on my plate.
Then there were the visions. I knew that part was true as well. My mate was with Jang, though he behaved himself, by choice. It made me trust him ever so slightly….
Then I saw what Kaizen did in detail. As if killing 20 Warriors and 5 Unsworn wasn’t bad enough… 20 wolves lost their mate…. 20 live to mourn, while 5 were so young that they hadn’t even found their one yet…. He murdered 25 in total, but it impacts so many families.
No wait… Ludvick’s mate is still in the process of dying, in intensive care…. But she will die too. Asanguis sharpens his blade at her bedside.
We do not die…. This event will feel like yesterday the rest of those mate’s lives… To lose one’s mate is to suffer…. So much lamentation… So much death… So many innocent bodies laid before my grandfather as an offering for nothing, for no reason.
I got up and brushed my teeth. I make sure to floss too. I could always heat my mouth to hellfire temperatures, but that makes my breath smell like a demon’s, not minty. I’m sure my mate made of purity would appreciate the courtesy of *not* doing that.
I put on a simple t shirt and shorts. I honestly didn’t care of what cloth was on my body, but I assumed this early the others would be informal. I went into my office and closed the door. I don’t think I’ll have my office open this morning, yet Mr. Julian knocked lightly with breakfast.
“Your majesty, this morning I have elk.” He almost sang, being chipper. He was trying to hide something I already knew. His intentions were more of telling me later, and it not being the first thing I hear.
This was a bribe.
Bacon wrapped, lightly pan seared elk tenderloins held together by the bacon’s weave too…. Rosemary, Thyme, Garlic and Onion… *Clemontine’s* Homemade Gravy. Any wolf’s mother fucking favorite.
Yeah, nice try.
“Come in.” I said stoically, and he put the plate on my table. “What of the Omegas who insulted my mate?” I asked. The meat was fresh, killed likely right after sunrise… They made this dish with about 5 pounds of pure meat, the *best* cut too… Mr. Julian knew me too well.
The bacon was woven over it in a lattice of perfectly crisp, tender meat…. My mouth watered, and I had to admit… I wasn’t pissed.
“They are without pay a few days. Initially they were intimidated to do this by Ahgillia, the pureblood cousin of the Queen.” He said firmly.
“How did that happen? King Sagrinal doesn’t even have a belly button.” I said firmly. Sagrinal was made not born….
“Her father is one of Queen Skylia’s half brothers. She was born without any unicorn blood my lord.” Julian bowed. “She holds or rather *held* the position of Elf Delegate. King Nanatori has sent an apology letter via magical telegram.”
A small, wax sealed letter was placed on my desk. It was a cold apology, one that lacked any real remorse.
He likely got his cousin to do this, and she seemed like the kind of snob to *want* to do this anyway.
I put it between my fingers and incinerated it. “Tell Nanatori that the Wolves will hold their honor, however any aid is only out of the obligation of being in-laws. No wait, I’ll write it out myself.”
It took a long time to get penmanship right after I gained hands…. My High Elvish was immaculate now though, from years of practicing literally every day for about 30 minutes. Every curve was done as if it were made by an artist, and I knew by how formal I’d made it, that he’d lose his shit.
I handed the letter with my black and gold wax seal. I made sure to make it *extra* ‘fancy’. The technique taught to me by my grandmother allowed me to fill the crest part of the seal with the gold wax, and the background black to make it pop. The wolf breathing fire would be seen *very* well.
If his wish is to be petty, there’re none pettier than the Horned King.
/Your Highness, are you up yet?/ Linked Ronitus.
I did not respond.
I ate in relative peace, allowing the Council to ask my mate questions, and socialize with her. If they thought I was up, it would alter their mannerisms, especially the odd seats, since originally the court was split between the distrustful odd seats, and the loyal evens.
That played out for thousands of years; how many I wouldn’t know and honestly don’t really care. So long as they are honorable now and serve well, it matters not their past.
I also saw a formal request to attend Wix’lek’s party.
With the way I felt about the drug trade… There was no way in hell I’d go to South Dekotah to socialize with that man.
That was the next thing on the agenda. I had Shadow Wolves investigate the location, and they were bringing some of the culprits here… This was an international incident. I won’t be able to behead them without Allister and Wix’lek here.
It made me email Wix, and he sent a Zoomie invite.
I answered. “Tyson speaking.” I said casually, looking at the green man in his office. The epitome of luxury adorned his wood epoxy desk, and life-sized painting of his father behind him. Before long, the Elf King also joined, as well as the Vampire King.
Victor looked especially agitated. This was his bedtime. The pale man was even paler today. As Vampire King, I could just about guess the mess he was either cleaning or covering up. His mate, Anuli, or rather Lucia, was absent. I knew she worked with Harmony. They ran a nonprofit and food bank together.
“Oh, wow… I feel like I’m seein’ double.” Standing King Wix’lek grinned.
“How so?” I asked.
“Just like the king is all. Congratulations.” He beamed ear to ear.
He must mean Xaxas. My appearance is of the Night Court, not the Wolf King.
“This is serious Wix’lek.” I said holding a growl. I would be professional.
“It really is.” Said Allister. Nanatori nodded with his brother.
“It would have been more serious if you wouldn’t have tried to make bad blood the *first* day of my betrothment.” I rolled my eyes as my sister does. Grace got it from mom.
“Yeah, I heard about that.” Said Wix’lek. “That’s fucked up, and you *know* it’s fucked up coming from *me*.” He pointed his tiny clawed thumb to himself. I think he was 4 feet tall? Maybe shorter.
“Again… the House of Skylia and Sagrinal…. We apologize.” Said Nanatori. “We were children, but our people are more important right now. My elf assassins have recovered… 100 kilos of processed unicorn dust… 1 kilo is 1 unicorn…. And 100 grams of crushed horn… 1 gram is one unicorn….”
“The Secret Police have confiscated about the same amount… one of which was the chief of the Witchita Branch.” Said Allister.
“I interrogated and culled one of yours Wix.” I said firmly. “They’re killing children. Those bricks are babes too young to even shift.”
The eyes of Nanatori went wide. “What.”
He heard me; he didn’t believe it.
“I’m not surprised….That strain’s called baby’s breath….” Said Wix. “Whatever the crown can do, I will do it. If there is any favor I can pull, tell me… This has besmirched my house… my father’s bitter legacy has reared its head again.”
“I will take the left hands of as many-” I cut off Allister.
“Revenge won’t work. Killing random civilians will only sour their hearts to your plight.” I said firmly. “My Shadows have collected one of Wix’s involved relatives, and he will talk.”
“Do whatever you want to him. He’s no blood of mine.” Said Wix. “Any caught with *any* supernatural parts belong to the party they felled. That’s already law. Blood for blood.”
“Blood for blood is enacted.” I said banging my gavel on reflex. As the Realm King’s Second, I was already tasked with holding emergency meetings in his absence.
Well, more like his second so he can fuck off and around all day.
And play Cod.
Damn Bum.
“I… I hate that my father started this feud Lord Allister… He was bitter about my grandfather’s death, and the fuck up for our homeland… but… Do what you want to um. If they ask for mercy or an audience from me, tell ‘um that they already did.” He growled, but as a goblin, Wix just sounded human.
The ‘fuck up’ he speaks of was how Atlantis fell.
That was their homeland, a technological masterpiece now buried and exploded, in pebbled ruins from a unstable bomb made by humans. The Goblins gave those humans access, and they wanted more than just access to trade… They wanted the island.
Their greed and Wix’s grandfather’s blunder and explosion resulted in over a hundred million goblins lost, as well as his grandfather eaten by the Battle Bull for his incompetence. I don’t know the exact number, but that piece of history is in most shifter curriculum.
When Grandpa Kaiden was Crown Prince, he changed a few classes throughout all the packs. Now schools have *more* than wolf history, but a general brushing of everyone’s as well as extremely basic customs and such.
I also added $40 million in funding from my personal account; however, the program was already made. My contribution is minimal.
“Thank you Wix for your aid. I can see you’re genuine.” Said Nanatori, breaking the somber silence.
“Ey, I don’t want goblet blood on my hands. Well, unicorn foal. Force of habit.” He said looking as if a hundred pounds were put on his shoulders. Indeed, they were…
He inherited a blood feud.
His father Hadeon was the first to ‘discover’ the high one gets, and Skylia culled goblins for their left hands as luck charms in retaliation…
And I inherited this semi-rotten court, and the prisoners under my feet, in the basement.