KING'S MATE

Bleeding Heart

I nodded my head and fell silent. Digest everything Nickolas said. Instantly my eyes rounded and looked at Nickolas in surprise. He smiled amused and stroked my cheek softly. "so---"

"I trust everything to you. I'll handle the rest," Nickolas said quietly.

"What do you mean?" Nickolas just smiled and shook his head slowly. I looked at Josh and the others, trying to ask for answers, but they just shut up and looked at me with a look that was hard to explain.

I sighed and said, "Okay, I trust you. Why are you in my room?"

Nickolas chuckled softly and stroked the pillow that I used to wear. "only this place makes me feel comfortable and peaceful"

I smiled and glanced at Maggie. He gave me signals repeatedly. I clicked softly and looked at Nickolas pleading. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

I bit my lower lip and said softly, "may I go to the mall with Maggie?" Nickolas immediately gave an unpleasant look and shook his head. "pleaseeee ..."

"I said no. That means it's no Gween," Nickolas said firmly. I sighed and looked down, then looked back at Nickolas with my puppy dog eyes. "You won't give up, right?"

I nodded and looked at Nickolas pleading. "I need things for Lily"

"You can ask one of the servants, Gween," Nickolas said flatly. I immediately showed a frown. "You must understand Gween, you are one of the most vulnerable things to the kingdom"

"You can ask Josh or Edmund to accompany me"

Edmund immediately shook his head quickly. His face turned panic while Josh's face looked pale. I ignored their reaction which I thought was too excessive.

Nickolas was seen weighing my words because his eyes were staring at me for a long time, but in the end he let out a low sigh and said, "OK"

"YES!" I shouted happily then clapped with Maggie. Edmund wanted to protest, but he immediately closed his mouth tightly as Maggie gave a sharp look. I grinned happily and looked at Nickolas with gratitude.

"but ----" my sense of pleasure suddenly subsided when I heard that damned word coming out of Nickolas's mouth. When he saw me and Maggie keep quiet again, Nickolas continued "---- I want you to come back before dinner and you go with Josh and two warriors"

"Alright," I muttered resignedly. I got up from the bed and grabbed the small bag that I always put on the nightstand and reached for Lily who was relaxing fun.

I walked toward the door, but my steps stopped when my hand was blocked by a large, warm hand and always delivered millions of electricity into my body.

My head turned and saw Nickolas looking down at me wistfully, he rose from the bed and stood before me. His hand came down to hold me and a small smile carved on his adonis face. "have fun. Take care baby"

I smiled and nodded my head.

***

Upon my return from the mall, Josh said that dinner would be done in the dining hall of the main castle and I was required to attend the dinner.

I didn't say anything while Maggie grumbled softly. Grateful this time I am not alone, at least with Maggie by my side, there is someone else who will defend me. Moreover, Maggie is a strict person and speaks as is.

We walked into the dining hall quietly. No one took the initiative to open the conversation. Both Josh, me, and Maggie are busy with their thoughts.

I faintly heard a conversation coming from one of the big doors. Josh glanced at me briefly before nodding his head to the two guards who were standing on either side of the door. One of them opened the big door before bowing to Josh.

I took a breath and tried my best to regulate my heartbeat which was working twice as fast. With a strong impulse from my mind, I walked into the dining hall followed by Maggie.

My eyes immediately felt sharp when I saw what was in front of me.

***

During dinner, I chose to be quiet and pay attention to the plate in front of me.

Let alone to eat, just looking at the menu has made me unappetizing. With all my might I tried to hold back my tears, but there came a time when those tears could not be held.

My heart feels pierced by various sharp objects and I can only feel it without protest. My blood seemed to freeze along with my broken heart.

How come? Where I sit now, at the other end of the table. I could see Nickolas sitting at the head of the table with a flat, cold face, but that was not what made me sick, but the gaze he gave the woman sitting on the bench to his right. The bench I should sit on, the bench that should only be for me.

I don't care about the bench, it's just that somehow my heart feels hot when I see them making out. How they shared food with each other, or when the woman fed food into Nickolas's mouth.

Some people cast a sympathetic look at me, but I ignored it and chose to pay attention to my fingernails that had just been medicated.

Even though Nickolas just showed his sweet attitude to me, but what now? Does he want to play with me? Doesn't he already know everything? So what?

My hands trembled violently. I immediately hid it behind the table and made my face as a shield. Maggie gave me a sad look from across the table and I could feel the satisfied gazes of the elders including the woman herself.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Counting one to ten to calm my heart and soul that was so disheveled.

Hell it feels like I want to scream and slam all this expensive tableware. My hands were clenched into fists and my lips tightly closed.

Ting ting ting

The sound of knocking spoons that meet with glass glasses immediately filled the room. Instantly everyone stopped talking and turned. Looked at Elder Rowin who was standing with a happy face.

Josh, Edmund and Gabriel openly gave Elder Rowin a sharp look, while the others preferred to have a flat face. Maggie gripped the tableware she was holding and I would bet that she was currently planning a murder for Elder Rowin.

"Good night everyone," Elder Rowin's voice, which sounded heavy from age, echoed throughout the room. He exchanged mysterious glances with her before turning back to the people present at the dinner table.

"As you know, that for decades after our late King and Queen, King Nathaniel and Queen Sofia left until now the seat of a queen's throne is still empty and has not been occupied by women who deserve to accompany our current King. King Nickolas" everyone whispered small while nodding their heads in agreement.

"It's time for this kingdom to have a proper queen. Not only to be a good queen, but also to be a woman who will always support our king in every circumstance," everyone nodded their heads in agreement.

"Therefore, I would like to announce one thing that ---"

"Enough Rowin, let me finish it" interrupted Nickolas firmly. He gestured at Elder Rowin to sit, while he rose from his chair. Nickolas nodded his head briefly at Jax and said, "I want to inform you that now you will have a future Queen."

Everyone whispered again and gave her a sharp look, while the woman just grinned triumphantly and her chin lifted. Shows that he is the boss here, if he feels he has won. "May we know who the candidate is, Your Majesty?" asked one of the men, whom I knew was part of the council.

Nickolas reached out his hand to the woman who was immediately accepted. "She is my future candidate. Britanny Drake. Daughter of Alpha Red Moon Pack"

Britanny smiled happily while showing the ring finger which was already filled with a diamond ring, "we are engaged too"

Srekk

I looked at my best friend who was currently standing while staring at Nickolas with a killing look. Her hand gripped the dining knife so tightly that her knuckles turned white. "Maggie, please sit," Edmund pleaded quietly.

"I can't stay still if my best friend is treated like this"

"Maggie please ..."

"fine" hissed Maggie. She slammed her body back into the chair and brushed aside all the dislike eyes that everyone was throwing at her. Really I salute Maggie. She doesn't care about other people, if people who are important in her life are treated badly, then she won't stay silent.

Unfortunately, her mouth likes to talk and it's hard to keep secrets. Luckily she never spread my disgrace so embarrassing. "Is there anyone else who wants to interrupt me?" growled Nickolas angrily.

Everyone shook their heads and Nickolas nodded in satisfaction. He again said, "the marriage and coronation plan has been set. The event will take place two weeks from now"

I can hear the sound of shards on the marble floor. A broken heart that falls to thousands of pieces. I bit my lower lip trying to hold back my sobs. Everyone laughed and congratulated them. They didn't realize that the cheers and applause they gave could kill one soul.

That is my soul.

***

"Gween? Are you okay?" I took a breath and quickly wiped away my tears that were pouring down. I don't know why I cried, is this purely from my heart or is this the reaction of the mate bond between me and Nickolas.

I blinked and turned around. Giving my little smile to Maggie and nodding my head. "Yes, I'm fine. I just feel disappointed that's all"

"Are you sure?"

"sure"

Maggie looked at me skeptically, but she didn't press me and chose to change the question. "How about we watch Korean drama Marathon?"

I glanced at Lily who was rubbing her body at my feet. She snored happily then tilted her head. Her round eyes looked at me straight. Lily meowed softly. "You also agree, isn't it Lily?"

She meowed again as an answer. "okay"

"Okay, now we go to Edmund's mansion."

"Why not here?"

Maggie sighed and answered flatly, "at the risk of seeing you depressed because Nickolas and Britanny?"

"What do you mean?"

"Britanny moved from the guest house, to this place Gween," Maggie said in a tone of frustration mixed with frustration. I don't know who those two feelings were directed at. I don't want to know.

My head nodded and walked towards the walk-in closet. My heart sank when I saw Nickolas's cupboard which was unlocked. I sobbed quietly when my hand touched one of his shirts. Smell the distinctive aroma inherent there and squeeze the clothes tightly.

It took me several minutes to calm down and pack all my clothes to bring to Edmund's mansion.

This might be better.

***

As I descended the stairs with Maggie and Lily --- she was in Maggie's arms --- we ran into Nickolas and Britanny in the front hall.

I could see the soft look Nickolas was throwing and how his hands were wrapped around Britanny's waist with possessiveness. As if he didn't want to let go of that woman or share it with the world.

Nickolas immediately shifted his gaze from Britanny towards the travel bag that I was carrying and then his eyes went up and met me. There was a look that I was unable to explain in his gray eyes, but I wasn't trying to find out what it was, "where are you going Gween?"

"She will stay with me at Edmund's house. Is something wrong? It's better if you let her go back to New York with me," Maggie said. She underestimated Nickolas by giving him a relaxed posture. Her eyes were busy watching her nails painted red.

Nickolas growled and released his hand from his Britanny body. He walked over, saying, "nobody left without my permission. I didn't ---- ughh" Nickolas groaned and closed his eyes. He looked in pain and his hands were busy massaging his temples.

"What? You want to confine my friend here? She is not a prisoner Mr. Andonov"

Nickolas growled and looked hard at Maggie. "You---"

"STOP!" I shouted, stopping their endless debate. Don't they realize that the person they are talking about is standing near them? "If you want to fight, go ahead. I don't care"

"Gween ..." Maggie murmured softly. I moaned in frustration and slammed my travel bag on the floor. I could see Nickolas flinching slightly, but his face still looked flat. Is that just my hallucination?

"Don't you guys talk about me like I'm nothing" I growled. I looked at Nickolas and gave him a piercing look. "This is my life and I am entitled to determine it. Whether I go or not it is my business.

If I want to go back to New York, that's my business. So shut up! Don't be as if I am your pet! "After I said that, I immediately walked towards the exit. Don't forget to accidentally knock my shoulder to Britanny who looks happy to see me suffer.

"You jerk," I muttered in the silence of the night. The Warriors who guarded the main door were seen bowed their heads in fear and stepped back.

Good thing they know. It was the best choice to stay away from me, because a broken heart could be more dangerous than a knife.

***

"Just admit that you have feelings for him." Maggie muttered the next day.

My mood that was initially calm returned emotions, but when I saw the sharp gaze that Maggie gave me, I sighed. "I don't know, it feels so complicated"

"Tell me," muttered Maggie, changing her sitting position to cross-sitting. She faced me and her eyes fixed on me.

I removed Lily from her lap and thought. "I feel different when near Nickolas. Every time he is near me, my heart will beat faster. Then I feel comfortable with him. It hurts if I see him sad or hurt. Like that ---- actually there are many more, but I can't express all these feelings with just the words "

"You love him, Gween," Maggie concluded.

I shook my head quickly. "No. It's not possible. Nickolas and I have not long known each other and the only bond between us is mate bond. He will marry another woman. So it's not possible"

"So you think all those feelings?"

"That's all I feel because I'm his soulmate. It's a natural thing, but to love him --- I don't know maybe this feeling is just ... like"

"That's what you think, but I saw it with my two eyes how the gestures and the eyes you give to each other"

"but he----"

Trust me Gween. I remember Nickolas saying that, but could I believe it? He already knew what had happened, but what would he do to repay their actions? "I am not a fan of Nickolas and I absolutely do not support your relationship with him, but if you want we can give him time" I chuckled softly when Maggie pressed the word 'fan' and 'did not support' in the sentence just now. That's right, seeing what happened at the dining hall and at the mansion's hall, I'm sure Maggie immediately made Nickolas a list of people she didn't like.

"Do you think this is the best choice? Waiting?"

"Ask your heart the answer, Gween. Because the heart is the most holy and vulnerable thing. It will never lie"

Yes, Maggie is right. The heart doesn't ever lie and my heart says to give Nickolas time before giving up and backing off.