I had to stay back till when the Alpha finished his courtroom session. I was pacing up and down in his chamber when my maids came to report that the session was over.
Gladly, I headed to the courtroom and realized the nobles had all left. I commanded the guardsmen not to declare my arrival and I entered.
I met the queen regent and Lorien in a heated argument. How desperate can a mother be for her criminal son?
"I'm so sorry to interrupt your highnesses. Alpha, can I have permission to go outside of Duskbane?" I asked calmly.
He stared at me intensely.
"You are the queen Seraphina, you must not be seen anyhow in the kingdom. It's dangerous!"
"Then how do we bury my maid? She has been killed by the traitor!"
His mother seemed offended but I did not care.
"Did you go to see him?" Lorien asked.
"Well..yes, I had to.…
"Why Seraphina? He used a love spell on you and went ahead to see him without my permission? Those guardsmen will be punished for letting you in." He said as he stood up.
I rushed to him quickly, holding his hand. "I'm so sorry Alpha, but I needed to. He has murdered my maid outside the kingdom, she needs a befitting burial. Please." I pleaded softly he nodded.
"But you will not be going, I'll send my warriors to bring back the body. She will be buried here in the castle."
"That's outrageous!" The queen regent objected sternly.
"Only royalties are buried inside this soil, not some useless slave; you don't even have any evidence that it was Alistair that killed her," she added.
"The crowned prince told me himself the location of where he murdered my maid….
"And you're so sure of that? What if he was pulling your legs?" she interrupted.
I was getting furious and Lorien noticed.
"That's okay. I'll send my warriors to bring the body, and it's going to be buried on this soil. Come on, Seraphina let's go."
He grabbed my hand but my eyes were on the queen regent. I disliked her vibe and her attitude. She is not mean and did not even bother to hide it. I just hope she doesn't cause trouble in the castle.
We got to Lorien's chamber and our maids stood outside the door.
I took off his jewelry gently and his heavy attire.
"Your mother is stricter than I expected."
He smiled. "She has always been like that."
"I wondered how you copied with her during childhood."
"She is not my biological mother, hence the support she gave her son."
I widened my eyes. "That's the reason she treated both of you differently, I should have known."
"She just has a lot of ambition and intents for her son. I mean nothing but the Alpha to her." He beamed hiding the obvious pain in his eyes.
I embraced him immediately, that's the reason he was ruthless. He had no motherly love or care. He must have been trained all his life to become a ruler and never show mercy.
He raised my head with one of his fingers and smiled. "You act like a baby."
Before I could reply, his lips came down swiftly to mine. I could not resist his overpowering figure so I just accepted his lips in mine.
The kiss started snailishly then he took me by my waist and placed me on the table gently. I wrapped my legs around him slowly as he explored my mouth roughly.
"I've been admiring your body for so long Seraphina. You're a wonder." He whispered against my neck as his hands raised my gown, stroking my thighs with every chance he got.
He suddenly broke the kiss and turned away from me. I caught my breath and wondered what was wrong.
"Are you okay?" I asked and he shook his head positively.
No, he was not! He wanted me for the moment, and the next moment, he ignored me.
"Why do you act so tough if you want me? I feel wanted, and the next moment, I feel useless and unwanted; why?" I blurted out.
"We spoke about our relationships in the court today Seraphina. They said it was time for marriage." He said as he looked at me.
My mind became blank for a while. Marriage was not part of my plans in Duskbane, and why would I marry a man who acts as if he's got mental issues?
"I…I am not ready for that Alpha….
"It's okay, I'm not forcing you."
I became relieved. Of course, I had my own life to live.
"I am commanding it as the Alpha."
I looked at him shockingly.
"What are you saying? Command? Is that not the same thing as forced? And why will I agree…..
"That's why I am not asking for your consent dear Seraphina. I need to wed you to govern the domain affairs entirely and my hold on duskbane will be strong if they see that I'm planning for an heir." He explained and that even made me more angry.
"Are you serious? Wed me to govern your matters? You want to marry me so I can provide an heir? That's not gonna happen!" I fumed angrily as I got off the table, feeling hurt.
"They're no other reason than that, Seraphina, and you have no choice but to agree to me; if you don't obey me, I'll force you." He stated as he got on his bed.
I held the tears in my eyes as I headed to the door. To think that I was already falling for the pitiless Alpha! How stupid is that! I had forgotten that I was just his mate to him.
My maids followed me to my chamber and I cried in my bed, in peace.
Later on, I heard horses galloped in. One of my maids ran in.
"Her body….she is here, your highness." She said as she bowed, her hands trembling.
I knew who she was referring to and I paced down to the warriors who went to bring her body. I got there and was welcomed by the horrid smell, the queen regent and Lorien were also present.
The body was wrapped up perfectly, I teared up as I saw the sight before me.
"Her head was beheaded, and the wild animals had feasted on part of the body. Your Majesty, this is what we were able to recover."
The maids bursted out mourning, my body boiled with anger and I turned to the queen regent slowly.
"You defended your son so well when he kidnapped me but what about this? Do you have the right to defend him!" I said, trying my best to stay calm.
"Mind your language, young lady." she retorted and I smiled.
"You won't know what the less privileged are facing because you're a royalty. When you should have trained your son well, you focused on yourself…..
"Warn your mate, Lorien…..
"You failed as a mother!" I yelled at her and they all became surprised. "I said what I said, you can come to me in my sleep and kill me later or even kidnap me as your son did buy you, failed as a mother." I interrupted her.
She was speechless and left the scene silently.
"Seraphina…
"Let's bury my dear maid, we shall give her a good farewell." I interrupted Lorien and the warriors carried her body.
They dug a grave while the maids and I changed into black attire. We buried her and decided to spend the cold night outdoors in the tents.
I was sitting on the bench when I saw Aurelia in the distance. She waved to me, and I waved back. It was the shadow Lorien told me about, I smiled and was slightly happy that it was not a real child but a shadow. She must have come to check on its guardian's burial.
My maids wanted me to go back to my chambers, but I stayed behind, and we sang, danced, and mourned our lost member in the moonlight.
I could feel Lorien's gaze on me from his window but I did not care.
It was a sad and heartwarming experience.
~~~~~~~~~~
A day passed peacefully and I spent it in my room respectfully.
The second was bubbling with activities in the castle, I wondered what was going on and decided to ask one of my maids.
"What is going on?"
"The preparation for your wedding has begun Your Majesty."
Darn! Wedding!
"Ohh, I see. So we just head to the altar straight?" I inquired calmly.
"Of course not! There're lots of activities you must do with the queen regent and the Alpha before they match both of you together," she explained.
"With the queen regent? But why? I'm not getting married to her, am I?"
"You're not but these are the traditions you must take before the Alpha fully accepts you."
I nodded slowly, and the door opened; it was the queen regent. I stood up immediately, she was ready to torment my life.