Chapter 4
1178 Words
KAIVEN
Loud chatter floods my ears, making me regret agreeing to this meeting in the first place. Dragon court is easily my favorite activity of the week but lately, it's becoming nothing short of a taunting travesty of how sad a King's life is. Ive been ruling for a good few years which means I've effectively averted the topic of my marriage but now things don't look too good for me, for the dragon lineage under my hegemony.
There's not a thing I won't do for my people, but irritation becomes me at the thought of having a mate hand picked by the dragon court.
“King Kaiven.” Draco swallows, and I can't wait to hear his convincing pitch as to why I must adhere to their proposed demand. “Our clans are pressuring us.”
I hold his gaze, except mine is a glare and I bother not to hide how pissed I am at the entire court. “Is this your way of telling me you can't control your subjects, Lord Draco?”
Draco's face falls, his mouth opening and closing with nothing but stutters. “No, I- I just meant..”
“Oh, for fire's sake, your Highness!” another clan leader grunts. “The heart will weaken without the missing piece and you carrying this bloodline is what can save it, it'll buy us more time to look for-”
“You've been looking for over a century.” my sister laughs, immediately infuriating our mother. “What if you never find it?”
“Kehlani.” Kaleigh warns, staring her twin down with purpose.
“What? Would you like to expand our bloodline dear sister? Oh wait, you can't. Your blood is probably tainted with all the geysers you fuc-”
“That's enough.” I order, catching a glance at the clock behind Kaleigh. “From everyone, this meeting is adjourned.”
“I'm sorry, my King but its not over until a solution is found, noted and placed into motion within the next twenty-four hours.” Caspian grins, his statement welcomed with agreeing murmurs for the f*****g traitor. “Your rules.”
“I will get married” I huff, smoke emitting from my nostrils.
“Wonderful!” my mother claps, snapping her fingers in Kaleigh's direction. Kaleigh slides over a file which makes mother grin wider. “We have taken the liberty of selecting suitable ladies from reputable clans whom you can choose from.”
“No.” I bark out, the room instantly halting their celebration of my previous assertion. “The council has expressed their concern towards my need for a bride to protect the heart, and as King I have agreed to it.” My fingers play on the table as I eye each person that voted towards the decision to force me into marriage. “However, I shall choose my bride and nobody here will have a hand in my choosing her.”
“Of course.” Kaleigh nervously giggles, “But take a look. Each clan selected five wo-”
My eyebrows furrow, “Did I not just express my desire to choose my bride alone?”
She nods, her gaze shifting between our mother and I. “We just want to give you the list in case you need to read their background checks.” she grins, feigning innocence but I know my sister, she and my mother are obviously set on a lady of their choosing but I'll have to disappoint them.
“No need.” I grin, raising from the table, with me more chairs screech as everyone raises. “I already know who it is that I intend in making my wife.”
“Excellent.” Ezra, representative of the lantern clan beams. “Who is it?”
“I will let you know when the time is right, until then, have a drink or shag a w***e in your martial bed as you're used to doing in your pastime.”
“Kaiven!” my mother gasps.
“I have a pending engagement I'm last for, I bid you all goodbye and a safe trip home.” I grab my jacket off the arm rest of my throne. Everyone bows as I walk out, expressing their courtesies, a show of respect to me as their King. I'm about to walk out of the room when I hear Kehlani laugh, “It must kill you all not knowing who my brother will marry but I know who it is.”
Of course, Kehlani knows. Everyone pays particular attention to what I'm up to but only Kehlani uses her heart to see situations before her mind registers them. “Lani.” I call out. “Come with me.”
“I won't tell.” she instantly defends herself, the click of her heels loud as she follows me. When I feel her close enough, I walk out the door, with her a few Strides behind me. “Am I in trouble?”
“Not at all, I trust you will keep my love's identity to yourself. We wouldn't want her finding out from wandering gossip now would we?”
Kehlani hums her answer, now walking two strides ahead of me. “Might this be because you haven't confessed?”
“Don't let Kaleigh, Kenna or anyone else trick you into telling them. Do you understand, Lani?”
She pauses, looking down at her phone. “Oh my God, the were mating ceremony was a disaster. I knew it would trend but not for this reason, oh my hot fire lords! Alpha Karla is missing!”
Karla?
My heart skips a beat at the her words. I can't even begin to stomach the possibilities of what or who has taken her. The thought of the lovely Alpha being in any danger triggers something destructive in me, my hands begin twitching to snap any and every neck involved in her disappearance.
“Don't forget to take your meds before bed.” I order my sister, taking purposeful strides out.
“Wait, wasn't I coming with you to Silverline so I can keep my mouth shut about your bride?” Kehlani calls out behind me, but in unable to answer her. I'm running too far off.
I spring to my car and dial Damon, my friend and representative I sent to the were-people mating ceremony to represent me because I couldn't watch one key bond-seal transpire.
I call him a second time as I drive aimlessly, and on the third ring he answers, and I can hardly hear him through the music. “Damon, what the f**k is happening in Silverline?”
“It's lit, you should have come!” he yells over the loud music. Their Alpha was kidnapped and they're f*****g celebrating? I only manage to fight the strong urge to burn the darn werewolves, because nothing is more important finding her.
“Where is Alpha Karla?” I demand, spending through the night, but the moon has illuminated even the darkest roads.
- Writer
