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His Royal Mate 68
“Peace,” he answered. “It is the same plan we shall share with every kingdom we visit. These are peace accords, and my goal is a benevolent coexistence.” He sat up in his chair, his long hair tied back. He’d donned a white silk shirt tucked into black leather pants, yet was still wearing teeth and bones around his neck. Polonius looked every bit a warlord, despite his grooming.“And what price are you demanding for this peace?” I tried to breathe through my anger. “How am I a part of it?”“As long as you learn to love me, Aria, I will allow their kingdoms to thrive as they have without threat of Crypt Claw invasion or discontinuation of their crimson pitaya trade. We know that with Onyx Rah, my access to the fruit will increase and topple power in my favor. As long as you remain a loyal and dutiful wife, I shall not wage war against any territory in Tobran.” He sat back in his chair calmly, as if he hadn’t just detonated me.“Why do you need me to be a wife to you when all you want ar
His Royal Mate 69
He should have been next to me, guiding my steps, but we were not to be seen together. And so, he was practically shouting at me across the wide distance between us.“I hate to distress you further, sir, but do you mind shifting for me please?” I hated asking the distressed man, but I had to know if the protection spell on the gates was still working and if these attackers were targeting Midnight Moon Pack members.“Yes, Your Majesty,” he said as he shifted into a bleeding black wolf.“Thank you, sir. Guards, please take this man to the infirmary near the barracks. Also, see if you can’t have soldiers locate his wife and daughter.”Once again, I felt a wave of nausea. This time, at the thought that someone was attacking my people.“I want those soldiers captured,” I vowed. “If they are Crypt Claw, then Polonius will need to answer for them. If they are not, they’ll die.”I took one last look at Lex, and he was shaking his head again as if he was trying to tell me I was making a big mi
His Royal Mate 70
“And what of the crimson pitaya shipment I’ve requested?” Polonius's face changed as if he knew anything I’d say about that topic would be a lie.“The fields are far from ready for planting.” I told him honestly. “You must know it takes more than a few days to raise an entire crop. It will be months, Polonius. I considered using magic to disguise peaches we received from Angeline Falls as crimson pitaya, but feared your wrath when you discovered the deception.”More honesty. I needed time. The longer I could keep him from collecting the pitaya harvest, the greater our chances were of defeating him. So, I told him this small truth I thought might inflate his ego.“So your magic is strong enough to morph objects. Good to know,” he said, still remaining calm.“Please hold your soldiers back from people traveling on the road.” I went straight to pleading, needing my people to stay safe. I wasn’t going to be manipulated by him.A wide grin slid over Polonius’s teeth. “Every traveler will b
His Royal Mate 71
“My grandfather killed him the day my father tried to murder him,” he said. “The warlord Zonas simply wouldn’t die, but Harvin, my father, did. My father wanted to rule, but Zonas was still too powerful. I was ten when my father was set upon a funeral pyre, but I don’t have many fond memories of him.”“So when Zonas died, you became the next warlord?” I didn’t really care, but it was better than sitting in awkward silence.“After my grandfather died, I had to fight every Crypt Claw warrior over a year's time until they fell on their knees and swore fealty. The fights were to the death or total submission, and many times, I’d been brought back from the brink by healers. Still, I fought them all. Many died, preferring the grave to defeat.”Polonius did not sound as prideful about winning those fights as I’d expected.“How old were you?” I was growing more curious as his mood grew more somber.“Seventeen,” he said quietly.“So, if you’d had a friend…”“I would have had to defeat him or k
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Polonius had not said much to me in the car. I was happy he hadn’t taunted me after the meeting where my allies had signed in support of marital incarceration. He’d left me to my thoughts.As soon as we entered the house, Polonius stopped to address me. “I'm sure you're tired and would like to freshen up. I will meet you for dinner this evening.” With that, he followed two of his guards down the hallway.I stood there with Leonore and three of my Royal Guardsmen, unsure of where to go when a housekeeper dressed in a crisp dark blue uniform approached us.“If you come this way, Your Majesty, I’ll show you to your room,” she said.We followed the housekeeper to an elegant residential suite. It had a large canopied bed teeming with cream-colored lace and satin. There was a roaring fire in the hearth surrounded by deep blue velvet couches and a long, low table.“I will be stationed outside until this evening, Your Majesty,” Leonore said, and I left my Royal Guards to retreat to my room, w
His Royal Mate 73
“I’m leaving early in the morning. Your guards will escort you back to Onyx Rah, and within a day’s time, I will bring you to Angeline Falls to meet with Queen Nadine and Bastien Salt. Get some rest now. You look weary.” With that, he walked away, and I could finally breathe again.Not wanting to stay in the Obsidian Valley a moment longer than I had to, I undressed, packed, and had a motor car bring myself and my guards back to Onyx Rah that very night. I rushed to Lex, sleeping in our bed, and crawled beside him, curling up to his warmth, missing the simplicity of our love. It was almost morning, but I didn’t care.“You’re back.” He turned into me and draped his arms around my body. I had tossed off the dress, but I still wore the necklace. Lex saw it immediately. “Fuck him,” he spat.“Just motivation to kill him, Lex. Nothing more,” I said evenly, pacifying his anger.He kissed me, and we made love into the wee hours of the morning.Lex left not long after to train the troops, as w
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“They are fair to all but Queen Aria,” Queen Nadine said with a look of sadness.I wanted to speak as little as possible at these meetings so as not to give anything away. I bowed to Queen Nadine and smiled, but it was an empty expression, one that didn’t meet my eyes.“I hope you will allow Polonius and I an opportunity to vacation here on occasion,” I said to the queen. “Perhaps I may seek respite for a few days when needed.” I turned my head to Polonius. “I’m sure that will not worry my betrothed or threaten your terms.” I widened my smile in confidence.“We don’t allow any kind of violence here,” Bastien warned.“Oh, I know,” Polonius nearly growled. “If my wife needs rest, especially after the grueling feats of labor and childbirth, I don’t see any harm in her seeking respite in Angeline Falls for a few days. I will consider that customary, but should she get lost or go missing, well, that will be more revolutionary and in line with a betrayal of our peace accord.” Polonius glare
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“I’m going to give Lex an opportunity to protect his kingdom. The one he’s abandoned for you. He’ll thank me one day when he’s king. And I’m sure the two of you will remain friends.”“You can’t do this,” I begged, no longer wanting to convince him that the world could be different if we were friends.Polonius leaned over, and without warning, kissed my lips. It was a warm brush of flesh, hardly a peck. And yet, fire burned around it.“I’m giving you the world, Aria. Something he’s never offered you.” Polonius’s fingers lifted my chin, and he stared into my eyes. He kissed me again, another light peck, and pulled away. “I trust without Lex nearby, you’ll get enough rest.” Polonius stood and turned to one of the guards surrounding us. “Have my meal brought to me in my chambers.” Before he walked away, he slid a glance back at me. “Enjoy the view, Aria. Eat, rest, and be ready for tomorrow.” His words were almost kind, as if he might be regretting what he was about to do.The next mornin
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