Mated To Rival Kings

CHAPTER TWENTY

Darian's POV

I have never wanted to kill someone as much as I wanted to kill Valen in that moment. The man was a master at being insufferable. He stood there with that fake, innocent look on his face, ruining a moment I had been waiting for since I first saw Raven at the Summit.

How were we going to survive staying here together? It was the question that kept me up at night. Neither of us was okay with the other party getting close to Raven, and yet we were tethered to the same woman. It was troubling to think about, and that was saying something. I rarely find myself in situations I can’t handle with a calm mind and a quick strategy, but Valen was a wild card that defied logic.

I adjusted my collar, forcing my expression to remain cool. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me ruffled.

"Of course we won't mind if you continue with your flora tour," I responded, my voice smooth and formal. "And we will continue with what we were busy with."

I felt a surge of satisfaction when Valen’s eyes flashed with a spark of genuine annoyance. He clenched his fists at his sides, his jaw tightening. For a second, I thought he might actually lung at me. But then he shifted, regaining that irritatingly cool demeanor.

"Actually," Valen said, stepping closer, "how about you guys come get this tour with me? It’s really interesting. The gardener was just telling me about the medicinal properties of these lilies."

Raven was just looking back and forth between us, completely speechless. I knew the moment was definitely ruined now. The romantic atmosphere had evaporated the second Valen’s unpleasant face showed up. Who knew when I would get the chance to be alone with her again?

I decided to give in for now. Fighting in front of the gardener and Raven would only make me look as unhinged as the Northern King.

"That’s a great idea," I said, putting my arm possessively around Raven’s shoulder. "We will follow behind you."

Valen conceded for all of six seconds. He started to walk ahead, then suddenly stopped, turned back, and marched right toward us.

"You guys shouldn't be walking behind like some lovey-dovey couple," he said. Before I could stop him, he deftly unhooked my arm from Raven's shoulder and slid his large frame right between us.

He smiled, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "Now, this is perfect. Balanced."

The gardener just watched us in silent amusement, probably thinking we were the most dysfunctional mated pair… or is it group?… he had ever encountered. He led us around the rest of the garden, pointing out vibrant flowers and a patch of ground where the leaves were broad and green.

"Those are sweet potato tubers," I told Raven, leaning around Valen to catch her eye. "Back in the South, we prepare them with honey and spices. I’ll cook them for you one of these days."

Raven giggled, her eyes lighting up. "I didn’t know you knew how to cook, your majesty."

"I have many talents," I said, shooting a look at Valen.

Valen, not being one to be outdone, reached out and snapped a flower stem off a nearby bush much to the visible disapproval of the gardener. He presented the bright red bloom to Raven with a flourish. "For a pretty girl like you," he said.

I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt. The man was as subtle as a landslide.

The sun was starting to go down, casting long, orange shadows across the garden, when a guard approached us. He bowed deeply. "Your majesties, letters from both your territories have arrived. It is requested that you attend to them with urgency."

The gardener took the hint. "Our tour has to come to an end, I suppose. We will continue another time, your majesties." He turned to Raven and gave a respectful bow. "My lady."

He took his leave, and the three of us followed the guard back inside and down a quiet hallway to the study. I figured we would have to share the room while dealing with official matters. It made sense to keep us in one place where the guards could watch the door.

The study was grand, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and two large, heavy oak tables. The lighting was good, provided by bright lanterns that flickered with a warm glow. A pile of papers sat on both tables. Reports from the South for me, and whatever mess the North called "paperwork" for Valen.

Most humans in the nearby towns used telephones or cellphones these days, but wolves didn't usually bother. We could form permanent mindlinks with our inner circle, and when the distance was too great for that, we sent letters. There was something more secure about ink on parchment.

I picked up the fountain pen on my table and sat down, ready to dive into the trade reports. I saw Valen sit at his table, but he didn't start working. He just stared at the wood.

Raven walked around the room, running her fingers along the spines of the books, probably admiring the collection.

"Where is my pen?" Valen asked suddenly.

Both Raven and I looked at him.

"Don't give me that look," Valen snapped. "I really don't have a pen. My table is empty."

Raven went over and checked his table thoroughly, moving the papers around. She turned to me and shook her head. "There isn't one here."

I smirked, leaning back in my chair. "No problem then. You can just wait until I finish with my work. I have quite a bit to get through, so try to be quiet."

Valen clearly didn't like that plan. His face darkened. Raven sighed and headed for the door. "I'll go find the housekeeper and get another one. I'll be back."

The moment she left the room, Valen stood up and walked over to my table, his shadow looming over my paperwork.

"Let me use the pen first," he demanded. "My matters are more urgent."

I looked up at him, unimpressed. "Do you realize how petulant you sound right now? This pen was on my table, which makes it mine. What right do you have to demand it? For that matter, what right do you even have to talk to your elder like that?"

Valen let out a harsh, dry laugh. "Elder? What makes you my elder? One year?"

I leaned forward, enjoying this a bit too much. "Actually, it’s two years. I am thirty-four, and you are thirty-two. I am two years your senior. Will you respect me now? Maybe you should call me 'sir'."

Valen lost his cool. Without a word of warning, he swung and punched me squarely in the face.

My head snapped back, the copper taste of blood filling my mouth. I stood up slowly, wiping my lip. "You started it," I hissed.

I lunged, swinging at Valen’s ribs. My fist connected with a satisfying crack, but he looked completely unaffected. He was definitely a brute, built for taking hits. We both moved to hit each other again, our wolves rising to the surface, when the door swung open.

We both paused dramatically, fists raised, like statues in a museum of bad decisions.

"Really?!" Raven shouted.

She looked furious. Her hair was a bit messy from her errand, and her chest was heaving. "I went to find a solution. The housekeeper says they are yet to deliver some of the office utilities to the mansion, which is why there's a shortage. I leave for five minutes and you are fighting? Like children?"

I can't explain it, but I felt genuinely scolded. I was the King of the South. I led thousands of people. And yet, under Raven's glare, I felt like a boy who had been caught stealing bread. I looked at Valen to see his reaction, and he looked just as confused as I felt.

Raven cleared her throat, her expression softening slightly. "I'm sorry, your majesties. I might have overdone it with the shouting."

"No!" Valen said hurriedly, waving his hands. We both looked at him. He gave a small, sheepish smile. "I don't mind. You can scold me all you want."

I wondered if his brain had finally turned to mush from all that anger and rage.

Raven sighed and looked at both of us. "In that case, both of you have to hold hands for five minutes."

The silence that followed was loud. I looked at Valen’s calloused, scarred hand and felt a wave of pure revolt. "You can't be serious," I muttered.

"I am very serious," Raven said, crossing her arms. "Hold hands, or I won't see either of you for the rest of the week. I’ll lock myself in my room."

Ugh.

I couldn't risk her ignoring me for days. Slowly, feeling like my dignity was dying a slow death, I opened my palm toward Valen. He looked at my hand like it was a poisonous bug before he gingerly dropped his palm into mine.

His grip was too tight. Mine was just as firm. We stood there, two Kings of warring nations, holding hands while Raven watched us with a satisfied nod. It was the longest five minutes of my f*****g life.