Just Friends

"I absolutely will not!" I rolled my eyes. 

Tears filled his eyes again, but this time he held them back. He knew better than to cry in front of his people.

"You're a cruel leader!" Rhys accused me. "Why is your brother not in charge?"

"I don't want to marry Hunter either!" Zeke proclaimed.

Father chuckled."That was actually funny."

"I lack the confidence and overall leadership skills that Zelda has." Zeke informed them. "Plus she looks better in the dresses."

"Recycled joke." I muttered. 

"I think we should all take a breath." Mother said camly. "My daughter is a brilliant ruler, and she is doing a noble thing by letting you into our home."

"She is doing her duty, like she is supposed to." Enya rolled her eyes before attempting to take a drink from her cup.

Mother clasped her hand, causing the liquid to evaporate from Enya's cup. "And it is my duty to remind you that my daughter will not be disrespected!"

"Thank you Mother." I smirked before taking a drink from my cup. 

"I need a refill on my drink!" Enya snapped. 

One of the girls hurried to pour her more wine. I tried my best not to look disgusted. Then Penn caught my eye and all the disgust left my body. 

It was replaced with attraction and burning.

***

Even though his parents were assholes, I still agreed to talk to Hunter after supper. My parents were right, we should be able to work together. 

"Have you thought more about my proposal, Empress Zelda?"

"The answer is still no, Hunter. I think we would be better off as friends."

"Friends?"

"Yes! Comrades, buddies, pals." I playfully punched his arm. "If we don't have a friendship we cannot defeat the Aleni. That is what's more important don't you think?"

"Um, sure, why not? And then maybe down the road we can talk about a more romantic friendship. Get to know each other, fall in love, lose our virginities."

I snorted. "Lose our virginities, that's funny."

"Why is that humorous?" Hunter questioned. 

"You're not really a virgin right?" I asked. "That's a joke?"

"Of course not. I have been saving my body for my mate...for you."

"Oh shit. Um, I definitely didn't do that." I admitted. 

"You've been with other men?"

"I'm an Empress, Hunter. Almost every man in this kingdom wants to be in my bed. And sometimes I allow them to be."

"Oh. Well that is okay. I can live with that. My body will still be for you only. Consider it a gift to you."

"Aw, you really shouldn't have." I forced a laugh. "Um, so we're friends right?"

"Of course, Empress Zelda."

"Good...so tell me about Penn."

Hunter frowned. "Beta Penn?"

I nodded. "Does he have a mate or anything like that?"

"We all have mates."

"Has he met her yet?"

"No he has not."

"And is he doing that adorable celibacy thing that you do or has he had a few romps in the werewolf hut or wherever you live?"

"Beta Penn is not a virgin, why do you ask?" Hunter questioned.

"Well he is your right hand man, I want to familiarize myself with him." I shrugged. 

I wanted to be very familiar with him. 

"Oh...you really are a very dedicated ruler." Hunter smiled. 

"Yes, I am. I plan to be very dedicated to this particular subject." I grinned. "So I'm fatigued and exhausted, I must get some rest. We can discuss strategy over breakfast tomorrow. The Aleni wait for no one."

"Good night, Empress Zelda." Hunter took my hand and kissed it. "Sweet dreams. If you find your bed uncomfortable and lonely, mine is available."

He's a virgin, what the hell would we even do? Grope each other above our clothes? No thanks.

"Thank you Hunter. Goodnight."

Posy was waiting for me in my chambers. "Please don't tell me you've accepted that oaf's proposal."

"Oh please, why would I do that? I certainly don't have the hots for him!" I laughed. 

"Really? He is attractive."

"Then you be his mate."

"No thank you." Posy giggled. "Are you worried about the Aleni?"

"At first I wasn't and then hearing Hunter's story...I'm not sure we can defeat them. I mean half of his pack wiped out? That's a bit out of my league isn't it?" I whispered. 

"Nothing is out of your league, Zelda. You just truly have to take this seriously. Everyone is counting on you."

"Yeah, no pressure at all. I just have to be perfect and work with this ridiculous Alpha and save our world as we know it."

"Exactly." Posy shrugged. "Easy peasy right?"

"I should have never taught you about sarcasm. It really has only made my life worse."

"What I'm here for."

"You actually make my life significantly better." I admitted. 

"Thank you for standing up for me today. It means so much." Posy's wings twitched a little. 

"You're my sister Posy. You have every right to hold the position that you do. The Luan pack are assholes."

"Really cute though. Especially that Penn."

"Yeah he's something." I smiled. 

"Zelda, be careful. We don't know what they're like. And to get involved with a Beta may cause trouble with the Alpha who swears you're his life mate." Posy pointed out.

"Oh what's Hunter gonna do to me? Not make me a Luna? I welcome that."

"It's more what he'll do to Penn."

I didn't think of that. Hunter couldn't punish me, but Penn could be punished. This is why I needed Posy. She reminded me to think outside my own world. 

"I will be careful." I promised. "We should get some sleep. It's going to be a big day tomorrow."

Posy hugged me tightly. "Good night Zelda."

"Goodnight. Also could you do me a favor and use some of your sleepy persuasion on Hunter? Don't want him getting any ideas if he can't sleep." I smiled. 

"You got it. And I may curse his parents with nightmares."

"Well the first night in a new place is always the hardest."

As always, I watched from my door as Posy went down the hall to her room and closed the door. 

I had actually planned to go to sleep, but as I was closing my door I saw another door open. It was Penn's. He quietly slipped out of his room and took off down the hall. As Empress, it was my duty to follow him and see what the hell was up.

I made sure to be very quiet and follow at a distance. I had a feeling he didn't exactly want to be followed, but I deserved to know everything that occurred in my kingdom.

I shivered slightly as I followed Penn outside. It was chilly. If only I knew how to control fire. He went into the forest and stopped when he came to the clearing. He put a pile of wood together before looking around.

Was he going to shift into his werewolf form? I wondered what color he was and if he was gentle the way Zeke was when he transformed.

Penn's focus went back to the pile of wood. He held out his hand and my eyes widened as fire shot out of his fingertips. 

He does have powers!