The Future King and the Commander's Daughter

Finally Mine Pt. 3

Marcus pointed out, “You don’t know that.” I argued, “I do. Whoever your mate is, or any of our brothers, they will never be like her. She has delusions about who she really is and she’s going to miss what could be. Which is her damn problem.” Dawson chimed in, “And Rhett’s.”

I scoffed, “He made his bed long ago. They have been on and off forever. If he doesn’t like how things are or were between them he could’ve spoken up. We are not passive as people, we are taught to communicate our feelings from a young age with those we love and care about. If he chose not to, those are his choices. He’s always been a shitty person, he’s just more overt about it than her. I do not envy how his mate situation has gone, and I do feel bad about his brother. I know it hurt his brother, he told me. I know they both feel bad and are trying to get back their relationship. His brother believes she’s the problem.”

Marcus scoffed, “I’d agree.” I tilted my head, “Yes and no. She’s definitely part of the problem, but Rhett should be man enough to talk and communicate with his brother. His brother did nothing wrong. Briar doesn’t lie about who she is. Rhett pretends to be someone he’s not hoping others do not see him for what he is. I always have. I debate with myself which person is truly worse though. The snake you see that doesn’t pretend to be anything but a snake; or the person who presents themself as a good person but is truly a snake.”

Dawson chuckled, “You didn’t like him even before he was mean to Astrid.” I agreed, “No, I didn’t because I’ve always known who he is. That he wants what is mine makes me want to rip him apart at the seams. I haven't for her and the misguided sense they are friends. She may not see him waiting in the wings for a chance, but I do. He doesn’t care that she’s mine and I’m hers. He doesn’t care that Briar is his, he still wants what is mine.”

Marcus asked, “Are we killing him then?” I wanted to with every fiber of my being. Astrid was pulling me back to the party. I told my brother, “Not yet. We will watch him though.” Marcus chuckled, “We have been watching him for a decade now.” I’d been watching him long before that it just didn’t need to be said.

I may feel pity for the man going through what he is, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to watch him like a hawk for the rest of his life. If he put one toe out of line and I heard about it; he was a dead man. The annoying thing was, he knew it. I preferred it when people didn’t know I was watching. It was much easier to get them then. I was a patient man though, and I would wait to strike. If he felt me breathing down his neck, that was his problem.

We rejoined the party. Astrid was looking every bit the future Queen she was. Her smile never faded and her joy when she spotted me bounced inside of me. My dad came over to me with a glass of whiskey. He hugged me, “I’m proud of you, son. This is a great party.” He slyly added, “That you almost missed. You missed the cake.” I checked the time. Damn it. This was the slowest thirty minutes of all time. Astrid sent me her laughter after realizing what my feelings were. I wiggled my eyebrows at her.

My dad said, “There’s nothing like the bond with your mate. Adding your children to it is a big moment as well. Just don’t forget to check those other bonds when new ones come in.” I nodded and studied him. I asked, “Do you think you missed something with Uncle Zader?” He replied, “Something is going on with him, but I can’t put a finger on it.” I tried, “Maybe he misses Benny.” My dad acknowledged I could be right, “That’s true. He was a younger brother to us both. I can’t believe he’s still gone. I thought he’d come home long before now.”

I urged, “Tell him that at the drop.” My dad huffed, “Your Grandpa set those to taper the longer this went on. We have drops twice a year now. No one expected he’d stay gone this long.” I reiterated, “Ask him to come home.” My dad admitted, “It would be selfish. He’s clearly got his life out there.” I pointed out, “That doesn’t mean he can’t have a life here too.” He was quiet but I felt him thinking about it in the bond.

Harper ran over to me and picked him up making a production of it. I said, “You’re getting so big.” He puffed up, “I’m four.” I teased, “I know.” I watched the rest of them come up. I watch Evin walk up. My heart tugged and Astrid sent me her understanding. He was nine and soon would be a man. He’d done all the training and would be out there at ten. It’s like they couldn’t give me a break.

Both my parents sent me mirth feeling where my feelings were going. I sent them back annoyance. I was the future King. I had to be ready at ten, my siblings didn’t. Yet they all had been so far. If just one of them could cut me a break, I’d appreciate it. Maybe Ubbe would, but his training was not trending in that direction. My hopes might have to rest with Harper and Logan. I could work on Harper. Maybe he’d wait until Gunner and Cali were ready. That had merit.

Astrid sent me her laughter now knowing where my feelings were going as I plotted. My dad just shook his head at me, but he’d be thanking me if it worked out. Speaking of the trio, they were unsurprisingly together around me. I leaned down and tapped Cali’s nose. She asked, “Where’s Astrid?” I held out my hand, “Why don’t we find her together?”

Harper slapped my hand away and spat out, “My Cali!” Gunner shot me a look and took her other hand, “Our Cali.” Several people chuckled, including me. I told Harper, “Hey, I’ve got my mate. I just need your trio’s help to find her.” Harper studied me, “You have a bond.” I agreed, “I know but I need my super sleuthing trio.” Cali giggled, “Come on guys! We have to help Bo.” Harper and Gunner huffed but we all knew they would follow her.

Cali took both their hands and I followed picking up Logan. I snagged him a cracker and gave it to him. He cooed, “Tank coo.” I replied, “You’re welcome.” I spotted Astrid and Kashe easily. Astrid had heard our game and was peeking out from behind a statue. When Cali found her she squealed, “There she is!” Astrid gasped, “You found me!” Cali grinned, “I did!” Harper patted her on the back, “You’re the best finder.”

Benjamin grumbled, “I found her seven minutes ago. I’m the best finder.” I chuckled as Harper shot him a dirty look. I knelt down and set Logan on his feet. I whispered, “You are a very good finder, Benjamin.” I wondered what he’d say one day when he found out he looked a lot like his name sake. I wondered if that would bring Cousin Benny home, seeing our Benjamin. Benjamin perked up, “I am.” I complimented, “Definitely the best of us.” He looked at me, “You mean that.” I nodded, “Yes, I do. So far, your aptitude for finding things is the best of us which means the whole realm.” His feelings picked up under my praise while Astrid talked to Cali, Harper, and Gunner. She was really just talking to Cali, but by extension it was also the other two. Where one was, the others were right there or not far away. They were adorable.

My watch beeped. I swooped in, “And that ladies and gentlemen is my thirty minutes.” I stepped to Astrid who opened a portal and ran through it. I gaped and felt her laughter at my reaction. Marcus felt disappointed because he thought we were going to start an orgy. Same, brother. Same. Where would she go?

I opened a portal to our rooms but she wasn’t there. I opened a portal outside, not finding her there either. I opened a portal to where she and I had both left from on our first mission. Where we were each other’s firsts, where she made a man out of me and I made a woman out of her. I felt her here.

To my shock, there was a picnic blanket with a basket and candles set up. She came out from behind a tree. I asked, “You want to eat?” She nodded, “I do.” I grumbled, “You had thirty minutes to eat.” She threw her head back and laughed and patted the seat next to her. I begrudgingly accepted I would do anything to make her happy.

I got out some food and told her, “You forgot your wine.” She replied, “I didn’t.” I looked around, “Where is it then?” She shrugged. I teased, “Then you forgot it, Stella Mea (My star).” She nudged me, “I purposefully didn’t get it.” I asked, “Why? It’s your birthday. I made sure the whole party was stocked with your favorites.”

Then it hit me. I asked, “Did someone drink it all? I will clunk their heads together and…” She nudged me interrupting, “Seriously? You went there instead of the obvious.” I asked, “What’s obvious?” Then it hit me and I nodded, “You’re not drinking because we are trying to start our family. That makes sense.” She straddled me.

I told her, “I’m getting mixed signals because this is not going to ensure you eat.” I ground up into her and she moaned. I teased, “Sensitive.” She looked at me, “You have no idea.” I nipped her neck, “I could get one.” She put her hands on my chest, “Bjourn.” I wanted to curse but pulled back. I asked, “Yes?” She said, “We aren’t trying.” I frowned, “Ok. If you want to wait, that's…” She cut me off, “I’m pregnant.” I blinked, “Are you sure?” She giggled, “Well, Kashe made me pee on a stick then Doris confirmed it. Based on the timing she said I got knocked up when we marked each other.”

I admitted, “I didn’t know you could find out that fast.” She shrugged, “If we were humans, no. I don’t know how they wait. I had no patience wanting to know if I was pregnant.” I said, “You’re growing our family in there already?” She told me, “Just the one baby.” I rolled my eyes, “You know what I meant.” She agreed, “I did. We are officially starting our family.” I pulled her mouth down to mine, stopping hers an inch away from my lips. I told her, “Plus amo quam quicquam, Stella Mae. Hoc me tam beatum facit (I love you more than anything, Stella Mae. This makes me so happy).” I sent her all my love in our bond and my happiness.

I began making plans while making love to her with the tenderness the mother of my child deserved for giving me this gift. Her guard would be around her at all times. Anyone who looked at her funny would be imprisoned and questioned. I would protect my family at all costs.

PHEW we are here! later than my usual but let me tell you it is not tis the season to be jolly in this household. it's tis the season to get sick repeadedly. I keep getting nap trapped. BUT THE CHAPER IS HERE :)

Astrid pulled back from Briar and Bjourn is now watching and has a bond. Guards EVERYWHERE for everyone lol. We will meet Astrid's in her chapter. Bjourn has lots of observations that are probably hints at future books and things :) Possibly some we see in this book. B/A are offically mates (which we knew) They are marked and started in their family. How extra will Bjourn be about pregnant Astrid? Next level? Yeah....probably LOL