Mated To Rival Kings

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Raven's POV

I didn’t really know why I kissed his forehead. It wasn't something I had planned, and it certainly wasn't something I would have dared to do to a King who was lost in rage some minutes ago. But seeing him sitting there on the floor, surrounded by the wreckage of his own room and looking so small despite his size, I just felt like he needed it. He seemed to be completely lacking any kind of genuine affection in his life.

Valen looked stunned. He sat perfectly still, his dark eyes wide and blinking rapidly as if I had just cast a spell on him. He looked completely blown away, his usual scowl replaced by a look of pure shock.

I couldn’t help it. A sly smile tugged at my lips, and I decided to tease him a little.

"Why, your majesty?" I asked, tilting my head. "Have you never been kissed before?"

Valen’s face turned a deep, dark red. He opened his mouth to retort, but no sound came out. He looked flustered, which was a look I was starting to enjoy on him. I moved to get back up, my knees popping from sitting on the floor, but suddenly Valen’s hand shot out.

He placed his hand firmly but gently on the side of my neck, his thumb resting just under my jawline. His eyes were back to their usual dark intensity, the madness was gone. He looked at me squarely, his voice deep.

"Thank you," he said.

It wasn't just the words. Being an Omega, hearing such words from such a dominant Alpha felt really good. Also, I could feel the waves of genuine gratitude rolling off him. It was warm, and it made my own heart ache.

"Yeah, yeah, it’s fine," I mumbled, feeling suddenly shy. I stood up quickly, brushing the dust off my leggings.

Then, to my absolute surprise, Darian shoved his face right into my personal space. I jumped back an inch, looking at him in total confusion. He had this expectant, almost pouting look on his face.

"My kiss," he demanded.

I stared at him for a beat, then looked over at Valen, who had started to smirk. We both burst into laughter at the same time.

"Oh, for heaven's sake," I laughed. I stepped forward and gave him a quick, soft peck on the cheek.

It was comical how satisfied he looked. He straightened his shirt, his amber eyes glowing with a smug sort of triumph as he glanced at Valen. Despite the chaos of the last hour, I was actually glad we were able to share a moment of laughter.

"Now, I would really like to go crash in my bed," I said, backing toward the door. "Goodnight, your majesties."

I left them there in the middle of Valen's wrecked room. I didn't know if they were going to start fighting again or if they were going to help each other clean up, and frankly, I didn't care. The moment my head touched the pillow in my own room, I was out.

********

The next morning, the change in the atmosphere was undeniable.

It was obvious that Valen was putting a massive amount of effort into being a better person. Usually, the air around him felt like a thunderstorm waiting to happen, full of constant irritation and angry vibes. But today? He was almost... pleasant. He didn't snap at the staff, he didn't growl at Darian over the breakfast sausages, and at one point, he even tried to smile at me.

It was so weird and uncanny that I actually considered telling him to just go back to being his usual prickly self. It was like watching a bear try to act like a house cat. It was impressive, but you were constantly waiting for the claws to come out.

After lunch, Valen vanished to do God knows what, probably checking in with his Northern Alphas through whatever magical communication they used. I retreated to the lounge with my novel, finally getting to the part where the elf princess discovers her powers.

I was deeply engrossed in a chapter when a shadow fell over the pages. I looked up to see Darian standing there. He looked relaxed, his dark hair perfectly styled as always.

"It’s a beautiful afternoon," he said, offering a hand. "Would you like to take a walk in the garden? The greenhouse is nice, but the outdoor paths are open to us today."

"I’d love to," I said, closing my book.

We walked out into the sun-drenched gardens. The air was crisp, but the sun was warm on my shoulders. As we walked, Darian began to talk about Southern poetry.

"In the South, we believe that words have their own scent," he explained as we passed a row of blooming lilies. "We have poets who spend their entire lives trying to capture the feeling of the first rain after a drought. They use a structure called 'The Golden Verse'. It’s patterned, like a heartbeat."

He quoted a few lines for me in a low, melodic voice. It was about a sun-scorched earth finally meeting the sea. He told me about his kingdom, describing the white stone cities that sat on cliffs overlooking the ocean, and the vast fields of lavender that turned the horizon purple every spring.

"It sounds beautiful, Darian," I said softly.

"It is," he agreed, stopping beneath a massive willow tree. The long, weeping branches created a sort of natural curtain around us, dappling the light across the grass. "But it’s been a long time since I really looked at it. I’ve been so focused on being a good King that I forgot to enjoy the view."

He called my name and the way he said it made my stomach flip. He stepped closer, and I saw a different look in his amber eyes.

He started leaning in, his movements slow and deliberate. My heart began to race, and I felt actual butterflies fluttering in my belly. Was this it? Was this going to be my first real kiss? I found myself tilting my head forward too, my eyes fluttering shut as his breath fanned across my lips.

Then, the sound of voices drifted through the willow branches.

"And over here, your majesty, we have the Southern Star Lilies. They require a specific soil pH to maintain that vibrant yellow hue," a voice explained. It was the middle-aged gardener.

"Interesting," came a familiar, deep voice.

I snapped my eyes open and pulled back just as Valen stepped around the tree. He was trailing behind the gardener, looking remarkably innocent, as if he had no idea he was interrupting a private moment. His dark eyes swept over us, landing on Darian’s frustrated face and my probably-bright-red cheeks.

Valen let out a gasp of mock shock, raising his hands in a defensive gesture.

"Oh!" he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "I didn't see you there. I was just getting a tour of the flora. Don't mind me."

He didn't move to leave, though. He just stood there, looking far too pleased with himself, while Darian looked like he was about to commit regicide.