One Night With The King

2

"We need to get ready for dinner. The king orders it to be outside today since the weather is so nice."

" Ugh doesn't he appreciate the luxury of shade?" She goes to leave but stops at the door. "Celeste...what are you gonna do about Marcel?"

"I'll handle him like I handle all of life's problems. Ignore it until it goes away."

* * *

Outside the castle, festive music plays, while people are standing around and watching others dance and eat.

"Meira, I want to go dance," I say moving to the music.

"You can't dance alone."

"I won't be alone."

We walk towards Mazikeen who spoke to a girl I've never seen before. "Hello, and who might you be?" I ask.

"Hi, I'm Arabella, Bella for short."

"It's nice to meet you," I grabbed her hand. "Bella, come dance with us. Take off your shoes. Come on. Dance with me."

The girls liven up to the idea and begin removing their shoes. We all laugh entering the dance space, and dancing wildly, while the king and his sister look on. Veronica looked unamused, but queen Anne smiled.

The rest of the onlookers clap and laugh along. Some of them even join us in dancing. Meanwhile, Harry and my eyes meet and I smile at him twirling around. Marcel notices this and looks annoyed.

When the girls and I became tired I decided to go looking for a walk to think. I wanted to admire all the changes to the garden since I've been gone.

I enter the large maze and begin walking, smiling at a few people I pass.

I turn a corner and spot Marcel leaning in and whispering in the ear of a beautiful woman I've never seen before. She goes in for a kiss but our eyes meet. I look away quickly, quickening my pace. I could hear him excuse himself and walk towards me until he caught up.

"I've been wanting to talk to you."

"Oh, really that's a surprise." My sarcasm takes him by surprise. He takes my arm gently leading me away from prying eyes and ears. "There's something I want to say to you." I start.

"Wait when you came to my room, I-I shouldn't have said what I did. There were other ways of handling this."

"Handling what? Me?"

"Yes, you haven't changed a bit. You're still as difficult as I remember, maybe even more."

"Difficult!?" My head tilts slightly with attitude. "Is that why you're sleeping with another? To make me want to leave?"

"It's not about that."

"Don't you think that we owe it to each other, to give it a chance? You're father may not listen now but-"

"-It's not that simple."

"Not that simple? What's not simple? We've known we were mates since we were young. We've known each other since we were toddlers. We've been in love since we were sixteen. We were made for each other. Did I do somet--"

He puts his hands on my shoulders turning me towards him. "It's not you. You, You're beautiful, and clever, and unpredictable, but it doesn't matter. What matters is what's right for my empire. Our dynasty is not as strong as you might think, or care; which maybe you don't, but I do. I'm going to be king someday, responsible for my people. And right now, an alliance with the witches could determine whether we win the war."

"If we were to marry we'd have a claim on the Lamia throne. The humans would have no allies and there are other ways to ally with the witches. You don't have to marry her or anyone else."

"You don't understand." He drops his hands to his side.

"Well I thought it was your father's decision, but it seems that you know what you want...You want her."

"I know it's not what you want to hear..."

"You love me, yet you won't let yourself."

"All I'm asking you to do is wait and see how things go."

"I've already waited a year and this has shown no signs of going away... I suppose if you can find someone else, so can I."

"Is that a threat?"

"Why do you care? Aren't you in love?" I sneer storming off before I can break down. I was furious with him.

"Celeste!" I turned around to see Marcel coming towards me.

"What!?" We were alone and overlooking the castle as Marcel confronted me.

"Please don't be upset with me. One way or another I want you in my life."

I roll my eyes. "Cut the bullshit! Do I have dumb b***h written on my forehead?" I tapped my forehead making him look at it.

"Cel-"

"-Just...answer this. If you weren't the future king of the Lycan Empire, and you were just a boy, would you want this?"

Our faces inch closer together, I could feel his breath on mine. How I missed this. I wanted nothing more than for him to close the gap between us, or for me to just grab him by the shirt, but I knew he needed to make the first move in this. I needed to know that he truly wanted me still.

"More than anything mi amore," he kisses my temple, but my face falls in disappointment as Marcel pulls away. "I can't do this. I won't."

***

As the morning light sweeps into a window in the castle, I awake to a knock on the door.

"Lady Meira, Lady Mazikeen, and Arabella of Naath, Your Grace."

I don't bother sitting up as the female servant announces the arrival of my friends. "Thanks," I mutter.

"You're still in bed?" Meira asks poking at me under the sheets.

"Yes...I'm dying."

Mazikeen moves the sheet from my face. "You look fine to me."

"I'm dying on the inside."

"Over a boy? That doesn't sound like you," Meira says.

I scrunch up my face in disgust. "No, I've been up all night reading."

"Eh, you'll be alright. Get up or we'll be late for our lessons." A loud groan leaves my lips as she pulls all the sheets off of me.

"Becoming lady to the queen was a bad idea. I'm dropping out and staying here forever."

The girls give each other a look before pushing me off the bed. "Your father will kill you if you get kicked out of your lessons. We all have to go."

"I know," I mutter laying flat on the ground.

"Get up!" Mazikeen yells taking one of my feet in her hands. "You are gonna get up," Pulls. "Put on a smiling face," Pulls. "And a happy innocent attitude." Pulls. "So Marcel will not be able to resist you." She drops my feet when we reach my closet door.

"Ugh, I don't care about him," I lie.

Mazikeen frowns. "Since when do you ever give up? The Celeste I knew would be walking these halls like she was already queen."

"Ok, you win I'll go." I usher the girls out of my room telling them I'd meet them by car.

***

Unlike in the human society we Lycans respected and believed that everyone should be educated. I had finished college, but since I was now a lady in waiting for the queen I needed training. Everyone who is chosen is put under a regrious training for a few weeks, to ensure we properly serve her majesty.

I was never able to go to a normal school because of my mobility, but our tutors made it feel as close to it as possible. Not to mention our subjects were very different.

For example, my best friend Mazikeen is training to be a warrior, while Meira and I are training to be ladies. I know how it sounds, but it's actually a very important position. Our actions can make alliances that may one day save our country. At least that's how my father puts it.

France has always been the main country in the Lycan Dynasty, I guess the humans would call it the capital. We pride ourselves on how diverse and welcoming we were of all life forms, unlike the humans and Nosferatu.

In the past couple of decades, there has been a mass influx of hybrids of all kinds. Were-witches and were-Nosferatu. As lycanthropes what we are is determined by our dominant or recessive gene. For instance, if your mothers is a panther and your father is a wolf, chances are you'll be a panther.

Humans get very confused by all this, and just calls us shapeshifters. All the royals are lions. They are the most powerful and rare form of lycanthrope. As the humans put it the lion is the king of the jungle. My mother is a hybrid panther and witch, while my father is a great Nagi.

I made my way to the stairs that led to the floor our classes are on. As I turn the corner I bump into someone .

"Harry," I say with a smile.

"Celeste, on your way to class too?" He asks as he steps on a stair joined by two guards. He looks at the two men and they nod in understanding before stepping back.

I look at him confused. "...Yes, it's my first day."

"I'm sure it'll be a lot different than the one back home." He smirks down at me. I bite my bottom lip slightly looking away, it was what I did when I felt awkward and uncomfortable.

"Well, it is the best University in France,"

I roll my eyes at this. "You're just saying that because it's at the castle."

"Maybe," he smiles. "You'll walkwith me?" Since Harry wasn't going to be the next king his father wasn't as strict with him and allowed him to go to classes with everyone else with a lot of coaxing.

"Well, I-"

"I wasn't asking," he smirks at me before I could decline. I watch as his hand stretches across my chest brushing of a few stubborn lint that stuck to my dress.

"Harry...."

He stands in front of me and I avoid eye contact. "Celeste..." he leans in whispering my name in my ear.

Harry knew she didn't love him back, not the way he wanted her to, but he couldn't resist. He leaned in a little closer, their foreheads touching. Dear god, he couldn't fight against the thoughts that were going through him. Her very smell was flooding his senses.

"You're brother-"

"-Has chosen someone else and will marry someone else," I frowned not yet willing to accept it till a proper proposal was made.

"It's not too late. I know he loves me still I-

Unexpectedly, his hand drifted to my hip. It settled there and pulled me closer. I inhaled sharply. I was against his warm chest, chiseled to perfection. I splayed my hand against it, intending to push him away, but instead, I left it there. His breathing quickened as did mines. He began nuzzling my neck with delicate kisses. So faint, they were whispers.

The mate bond urged me to push away, but I couldn't. My body began to tremble as his head was angled slightly to the side as his lips came closer and closer to mines. I was surprised to find my own lips parted. Our breaths mingled. My heart fluttered inside my chest. It was a delicate butterfly of a kiss.

I hesitantly looked up at him. The swirls of emotion I saw there made me gasp.

Lust and desire.

"Harry this is wr-"

However, before I could ponder about it further, he yanked me to him and covered my mouth with his in a hungry kiss.

As our lips crushed together, I felt like I was walking on air, the way his lips connected with mine. His mouth was so warm, the caress of his lips softer than I remembered and I opened my mouth with a low moan.

He pulls back and my chest pounded as I took in deep breathes. My right-hand goes to my head as a woozy feeling overcomes me. Harry smirks wiping my gloss off his lips with his thumb as he watches me amused.

"This isn't funny," I mutter regaining my senses.

"Yes, it is," he says running a thumb over my lips. I move around him knowing the rumors that could start if we were caught in such a close embrace. Hey tried to grab my arm and pull me back, but I move out his reach.

In our society mate bonds were important and special, but they were also a choice. Some people are very religious about it, but now a days most people chose their mates. It's becoming more rare and harder to find your mate since we've grown and expanded so much.

A female is seen as fair game and legally single as long as she's unmarked by a male. Doesn't matter if she's met her mate or not. No mark no claim. Marking someone was basically the human equivalent of a marriage.

It's very intimate and special for a couple. There's usually a ceremony or "wedding" and then in front of family and friends or in private if you like, couples mark one another, binding their souls for eternity. It was very big and serious decision.

No one really cares about being pure and untouched. Casual s*x and love was a big part of our culture. It's encouraged and welcomed no matter what you identify as.

"Don't."

He pouts before giving me his award winning smile. "Alright mi amore." He puts his hands up in surrender at my glare chuckling. "Joking."

We defend down the rest of the steps and the first person we see is Kendall. I smile as he looks up seeing me. "Hey, loser." I tease.

He rolls his eyes. "Oh look who's returned. Celeste, I see you've been released from your psych ward."

"Oh, we both know I escaped." I say turning to see the rest of my friends leaning against the wall chatting with Harry's friends. We did all grow up together and used to hate each other, until one day we all just clicked.

Meira gets off the car examining the outfit I had put on. "Sexy."

"Celeste!" I'm instantly taken by surprise as four strong arms engulf me.

"Nate, Stiles, I can't breathe." They both let go examining me from head to toe.

"You look hot," Nate says.

"I knew your teeth would grow in," Stiles adds with a laugh.

"They were the same last year doofus," I roll my eyes as we all made our way down the hall. Looking over at Nate I see he is quickly trying to write on a piece of parchment. "You forgot the work?"

He nods and looks at me hopefully. "You didn't happen to get Karington for latin language did you?"

"Yup."

"Did you do the work?"

"It's my first day."

He scowls. "Damn, I was hoping to cheat off of you." Mazikeen whispers in Nates ear and smirks seeing his face turn red with embarrassment.

***

It turns out we all have the same core classes thanks to Queen Anne. I assume she wanted to make this transition as easy as possible for me. After all, she did promise my mom she'd look out for me. Since Meria and I are going to be ladies we have different classes after lunch than the others, who were training to be warriors with a title.

I ignored all the dirty looks I was getting from females, and the whispers of people talking about me. It wasn't a secret Marcel and I were mates. Marcel's smirk passed through my mind and I frowned. Why did it have to be so difficult? I barely listened as Mazikeen went on a rant about something as we all walked to class.

***

"Hey Celeste over here," yelled Harry waving wildly as I got my lunch. I roll my eyes in annoyance. Gosh, he's so loud.

"You will not believe what I heard while I was leaving latin." I say sitting down at the table.

"What is it, did aliens take over the world while I was sleeping in Mandrin?" Kendall asked leaning forward in anticipation. I stop giving him a weird look.

"I'm convinced your wet nurse dropped you as a baby," I state before looking at Harry touching my belly. "Apparently I'm pregnant with our love child."

He gasps getting on his knees, touching my stomach. A laugh leaves my lips knowing this would fuel the rumor even more as people stared. "It must be a son. I must have an heir and his name will be Edward the eighth the duke of Shirshire."

I could hear the loud lightbulb snaps of a photo being taken. "Well, now we know the next news topic." Meira rolls her eyes tucking her hair behind her ears.

I take his face in my hands. "Don't worry my love you will have a son. The future king." We all burst into laughter as the secret service guys looked amused at our childish behavior.

Mazikeen groans laying across the bench, going on about how soar she was from training.

I frown. I too wanted to be a warrior but my father refused. He had great expectations for my future. Ones that didn't include me dying on a battlefield.

Ladies In Training

I slouched in class next to Meira wanting to do nothing more than jump out the window. I look over at my best friend to see her latching on to every word the teacher said. Sitting up straight I decided to tune in.

"Soon the queen will become the queen mother. Some of you will go to serve her and others the new queen. As you all know there are formal ranks among ladies-in-waiting. In order, the greatest ranks are the Mistress of the Robes, The First Lady of the Bedchamber, the Ladies of the Bedchamber, the Women of the Bedchamber, and then finally the Maids of Honor. Most of you ladies will work on seasonal rotation. Unless you are chosen queen then you will choose your ladies-in-waiting."

A few girls giggled and that's when I realized some of them were the girls brought here to potentially marry my mate. Although it seems he's smitten with Amelia. They still had hope he'd choose them.

I roll my eyes looking out the window. I already knew I'd never be queen. There was no possible way Marcel and I could be together. Not with his attitude.

"Can you believe it," Meira mutters to me lowly. "You could actually be the queen."

"Your optimism is stifling. Besides all the rules would drive me crazy."

"Well...you could be the one to change all that. Everyone says they will make things different, but no one actually has."

She was right. The new queen always promised change for women but has never come through. More than likely cause she just rolled over and wagged her tail to whatever her husband wanted, but that wasn't me. I would never.

***

I walk down the castle hall towards my room, to get ready for my duties to the queen. After my morning classes, I was to join the other girls chosen by Queen Anne. When arriving back to my room I pause at the door handle sniffing.

There was an overwhelming smell of blood coming from my room. I cautiously open my door and gag at the gruesome sight. There was so much red. It was everywhere. My sheets, rug, dresser, and all over the floor.

I fell to my knees puking at the sight in front of me. On the floor lay a girl who looked like me, with her neck so violently cut it was halfway severed.

"Guards, someone help!" I scream getting up and running down the corridors. "Somebody help me, please! Guards!"

I rush into a round royal blue room that seemed to be holding some kind of important gathering, but I didn't care. "I need help now!" A few guards looked at me with confused faces which quickly turned into ones of concern as they see the panic in my face. "Now!"

They follow in tow as I rush back to my room. I was so focused on the girl I didn't even notice Marcel following as well. When I reach my room I didn't bother going in allowing the men to look inside.

There was a lot of chatter before one of them rushes off. While others began to question me on what I saw.

"I-I don't know. I-I"

"Give her some space." I turned around surprised to see Marcel.

"Whoever did this failed in their attempt on you."

"Attempt? Why on earth would anybody want to kill me!?"

Marcel tries to comfort me by holding my hand. "It could be someone who wants to make sure I marry Amelia."

I take my hands from him angrily, but none the less he leads me away from the crime scene and chaos as more men arrived to take care of it.

"Look I'm so-"

"That I was almost murdered because I'm your mate? Well somebody should go ahead and let them know that you don't want me anyways!"

"Celeste.."

"What!?" I snap. "It's true."

"You know that's not true," He sighs. "I want you. But I have duties to my kingdom...I think it's best we- you move on."

"Move on? Move on? We're not high school sweethearts Marcel. We're mates. There is no moving on once we've met and you know it. The only pleasure I have right now is knowing that the matebond is making you as miserable as I am." I bump his shoulder as I angrily leave the room.

"Don't walk away from your king!" He yells angrily.

"You're not king yet!"

***

King Henry and Marcel stand in the corridor discussing what just happened in my room.

"The wizard royals can't do this, not under the laws of diplomacy, not under lycan law, not in our home," Marcel says angrily.

"You can't prove they did anything until the autopsy gets in."

"Corner the their envoy, torture him if needs be... He's had no problem speaking ill of Celeste since he's gotten here."

"Avo's having a glass of Sherry with my advisor. He's well aware of the consequences if we can prove he's behind this."

"You're not gonna do anything, are you?"

"I didn't say that."

"Of course you wouldn't mind if she died."

"That's not true. I have great plans for our little Celeste. Alliances are weapons."

Marcel narrows his eyes. "Her life is at risk over an alliance we may never honor."

"Her life is always at risk. She's the mate to the future king of the Lycan dynasty. You're not changing your mind about Amelia are you?"

"Of course not."

"I'm intrigued by how much she matters to you now. All this worry for a girl you claimed you no longer had an intrest in marrying."

"Like you said. She's my mate."

***

Due to the recent event of my assassination attempt the queen gave me the day off, so Meira, Mazikeen, Nate, Kendell, and I are all outside when Francis came pulling me to the side.

"The wizard Envoy has been questioned. He had an alibi for everything."

"I'm not surprised," I mutter looking away.

His hand touches mine gently causing me to look at him. "I hope you know I'll do everything to assure your safety."

My voice shakes as tingles run up the arm that the touches. "H-How?"

"You'll just have to trust me."