VULPINE: Her Second Chance

The Unhidden Mark

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The Unhidden Mark

Well, here's hoping I don't get murdered...

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Daniel Sky Jackson, the Mad 'Wolven King. They called him so in secret, with hushed and terrified voices, in the nations surrounding the Central Moonstone Kingdom, also known as the Moon Kingdom. Apparently, though, the murmurs did not spread through the king's lands. Thalia figured they didn't have the gumption to even whisper the words within the packs under the king's rule, lest those whispered rumours reach his ears.

The other nations did not speak without reason, however.

After the suspicious death of his true mate, many attempts were made by the shifter's council to replace her and provide an heir to the throne. Each candidate, whether she was 'wolf or 'bear or any other kind of humanoid, had been carefully selected by the council and dispatched to the king with hopes that he would accept her as his new mate. And each candidate had never been seen again, as far as anyone knew.

Eight females had been sent to the king, and subsequently reported "missing", before the council had finally given up on getting their way.

There was never any blood, nor signs of struggle, nor anything else that could be used as evidence of whatever was happening to these females. They were merely disappeared from the king's castle, usually within days of meeting with the king. And, while they were in his home, none were allowed to enter nor exit the grounds, which stalled any investigation.

Some more immature humanoids would whisper that he ate the females, and anyone else who disobeyed. Others would say they had been torn apart, and the castle thoroughly cleaned up afterwards. The only known, confirmed truth was that the females could not be found there.

These happenings, paired with the king's strange behaviour, led to and perpetuated tales of his assumed madness. He rarely left his home, and thus could or would not quell the rumours. And the last missing female had been reported just last year; hardly enough time for a reform.

Scott knew of this, just as Thalia had, but he had always craved more power than she felt he knew what to do with. He wanted to have some sort of tie between the Union and the Kingdom, and he couldn't think of any better way to achieve those ties than to "sell" his mate.

Regardless of what was going on with the previous females, Thalia would have expected her own mating with the king to go the same way, except for "Scott's" clever plan.

He may have considered Thalia expendable, but apparently not enough to outright send her to her death, and he had luckily been searching for a way to forge the union of the two nations without fully losing his "asset". Thus, he'd readily taken the idea of a new, differently structured mating offer with the king than the norm.

Which, of course, Thalia had made sure would be suggested to Scott, once she'd caught wind of her impending re-mating.

She wanted to be free, and would probably be okay with dying to achieve that, but she'd rather avoid it if she could. So she had thought some things to "herself", wondering aloud how she could keep herself safe from the king. She'd supposed several options and was glad to see that the spy had brought back the best of stipulations to his master, just as expected.

The terms were thus: Theirs was a contracted mating, and if the king did not like her, he was to send her back home. He was also required to mark her in full view of both nations' Courts, as well as a member of the clergy, before they ever left Carnelian soil. Thalia could bring five of her own people with her to the Moon Kingdom, ostensibly to be her lords- and ladies-in-waiting, and truly to make sure someone knew where she was at all times.

She'd looked over the final proposal herself, and hoped fervently that it would be enough to save her. She hadn't fully expected the king to come out of his castle for mere politics, but he apparently retained enough of his own faculties to recognise the value of a mating connection with the werefox nation.

He had more than met Thalia halfway by even showing up for the mating ceremony. All she had to do now was enter their pack and gain the king's favour, a task that would hopefully be made easier by the mating mark.

Speaking of, the holy servant had finished his speech - basically a more flowery reading of the contract's terms - and it was time to face the music.

"Do you, Lady Thalia Weiß, promise under the watchful eyes of the gods to perform your duties as Queen and Luna to the Moonstone Kingdom and the North Star Sapphire Pack, to the best of your abilities?" The officiant held out his right hand again and Thalia clasped it with hers.

"I do." Their joined hands glowed slightly as the holy vow solidified. The human then turned gentle brown eyes towards the king.

"And do you, King Daniel Sky Jackson, promise under the watchful eyes of the gods to welcome Thalia Weiß as Queen and Luna to the Moonstone Kingdom and the North Star Sapphire Pack, to the best of your abilities?" Without letting go of Thalia, he stretched his pale hand out and connected it with the king's left.

"I do," The king finally spoke, his voice quiet and deep. Once their vow was also made, the priest placed Thalia's hand into the king's and spoke the last necessary words, in an ancient tongue known only to clerics and the gods they spoke to. Once done, the priest smiled gently and spoke to the couple.

"The gods have accepted your vows and your union has begun." He lost some of the formality in his voice as the ceremonial part of the integration was over.

"You are now blessed packmates, your majesties. Once you have performed the mating bite, King Daniel, you and your queen are free to leave with your retainers. I believe the Queen Luna has selected three Spirited shifters to accompany her to the Moonstone Kingdom."

Only the king was required to carry out a marking today. Thalia could - and would - wait to mark him in return until her heat rose in a few weeks. This would result in a one sided bond between the two. It was another safety precaution, this time suggested by the king's people.

Before the bond was completed, the king - having claimed her as" his" - would be able to feel Thalia's pain and emotions, but she would not be forced to feel his. If she were to die, he might die as well, but would definitely be morbidly ill, since his mark would tie his life to hers, but not hers to his. This was all ignoring the fact that Thalia was pretty sure she might not even go through a heat.

The king's eyes were suddenly boring into hers, as though she'd spoken her worries aloud. Thalia felt the somewhat new-to-her sensation of someone requesting permission to speak with her via mind link. It had been a long while since someone had "knocked" before entering her thoughts. Curious, she allowed him entry.

-Are you sure?- was all that came through, in a slightly louder version of the king's low tone, short and to the point.

Despite how verbose her chosen family and friends were, Thalia actually appreciated a man of few words, as well as a direct one, and simply gave an almost imperceptible nod in reply.

She unclipped the collar of her dress and laid it down, realising that if she were to refasten it afterwards, the king's mark would be covered.

The Queen Anne cut meant that, though a werewolf's mark on her neck would be hidden, Scott's already faded 'fox mark on her collarbone had been proudly displayed. Which was why, Thalia was irritated to realise, he had insisted on the slightly unflattering addition to her outfit.

Thalia likely would have noticed his trick sooner, but she had been stewing in her annoyance over his need to dress her up like a doll.

At least he's consistent in his spitefulness. She almost rolled her eyes externally at the constant pettiness of her ex-mate. She sensed the king's amusement and realised he hadn't left her mind, yet, perhaps waiting for a mental response.

-I must admit I am intrigued by how your mind wanders, but please focus on me, for the moment.- And with that, she felt his presence leave her, though reluctantly it seemed, with the feeling of a warm balm lingering at the back of her mind.

Apparently, amusement made the king more talkative, and Thalia almost went off on a mental tangent about that reluctance she'd sensed, but managed to rein herself in in time to catch the king stepping closer and leaning towards her.

Thalia lifted her chin, then turned her head and showed him her neck, her vulnerability. His mark there was meant to be an oath, another sacred vow to respect and protect those softer parts of her.

As sharp teeth pierced her flesh, she hoped that this time would be different, and the king would be a better male, a mate who would honour their commitment.

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