Promised To The King

Children of the Heavens

SILAS' POV:

    "Ha! Of course. We only see you when you need anything!" Aries scoffed. "How dare you bring her to our home and expect us to lay down our packs and our very own lives for you?!" 

    "Aries. Mind your tone." Leo warned raising his hand. He turns his attention to me. "Silas, your father and I were great friends. But tell me, why should I lay my life down for a fight that has nothing to do with me?" 

    I stepped forward slowly. "I understand your doubt, Leo. But just because the fight is knocking on my door alone, doesn't mean he won't turn his attention to yours soon after. Why not stay ahead of the game and annihilate him now? You know how power-hungry he is. Wouldn't ending him be easier together?" I tried to persuade him. 

    "Silas, what did this war start over?" He asked me as he eyed me curiously. 

    "If you want honesty, he started this war when he invaded my castle and killed my parents needlessly," I said baffled by his question. 

    "But you encouraged it by invading his castle to retrieve your bride. Is that correct?" Leo said raising an eyebrow.

    Everyone in the room froze. He was right. He knew this is the reason for such hasty decisions on Everett's part. He watched me waiting for my answer. "Yes, I suppose it is." 

    He nodded slowly allowing himself to go into deep thought. "I see. So, is it safe to say that she is who we would be fighting for?" He watched me. "Is she worth the lives that will be lost?" 

    "Leo, I mean no disrespect. You have to understand, whether I went to get her or not, I would be in the same situation. The only difference is now I know he is coming. Befoe I would have just been a sitting duck." I said trying to make him understand. "You would have done the same for your mate." 

    I could tell I may have struck a nerve. "Yes, but you see, I would not have left him alive." 

    He was right. It was my fault. I should have killed him when I had the chance. I watch him. "Yes, I suppose I should have. Maybe we wouldn't be in this predicament now. Leo, please see it from my side. I do not think we can attain victory without you." 

    "Am I correct to assume that an army of humans is more powerful than an army of well-trained vampires?" He looked at me. 

    "That is where you are mistaken. You know Everett will attempt to defeat me no matter the cost. I believe that he will attempt to find rogue witches, vampires, and werewolves to fight for him. Under the promise that we will be killed. I am sure there are a lot of wolves that would love to see you dead, just like there are a lot of vampires that would love my head delivered to them on a silver platter. So no, in short. I do not believe that an army of humans could destroy me. I believe that their joining forces can. Please tell me you don't honestly think he would just stop with me." I corrected him. 

    He nods and watches me in all seriousness. "Say I actually believe that any werewolf, whether they hate me or not, would join forces with a human that wishes to end all supernatural existence. Say that I take your word and I side with you. What would you say we do next? Lie and wait? Wait for the danger to find us? Do you know how many would die because of that? Do you honestly think I should take such a huge risk on a new King?" 

    I look at him matching his serious tone. "Leo, you know Everett, as do I. You can't honestly think that he would be stupid enough to face my whole army with his humans and one witch." 

    Leo looks at me surprised for a second. "Wait, you mean a supernatural has already joined him?" 

    I nod watching his surprise. His confidence faltered. "Okay, I will consider it. But we have much to discuss. Don't get me wrong, Silas. You are a good boy. And I have no doubt you and your Queen would make excellent rulers. But my alliance was with your father. You and I have yet to build one of our own. SO before I decide yay or nay, we will need to meet and discuss any future possibility of an alliance. What we will gain from each other if we continued the alliance I once had with your father." 

    I nod eagerly. "Of course. Yes, we do have much to discuss. I appreciate your consideration regardless of the answer." 

    "Well, most of this will be settled today, I suppose. But later in the day, I suppose it wouldn't be so much to ask you to grant an old man the wish of spending time with his best friend's son. I will have Scorpio show you to your room. My home is your home. I will see you for lunch." He smiled and pat me on the back as he turned to walk back to his throne. 

    Aries stopped him in his tracks. Of f*****g course, she was going to say something. "Dad, you can't believe this bullshit? Why would she want to take Everett down? What if they are leading us into a trap?" 

    "Now now, Aries. Calm yourself. I will have her sit down with Sagittarius one on one. He will be able to tell you if she speaks the truth." Leo said calmly dismissing her. I knew most of this would arise so many questions from my bride to be. The complete supernatural world was still so new to her. 

    I looked at Blakely who seemed to have so many questions behind her eyes. She was taking everything surprisingly well. We quickly follow Scorpio out of the room. He leads us down a few corridors before we reach the room we will be staying in. 

    "You should know I have my beta retrieving your driver and taking him to his living arrangements now as well. I will try to get dad to get you back on the road tomorrow afternoon. I am sure you still have much to do regarding Everett. But, you know how dad is. He loves the company." He laughed a bit. 

    "It is fine. I left my kingdom in good hands while we stepped away. I am not pressed for time, I trust Everett doesn't have many people right now." I smiled as we stepped into the large room. 

    Blakely walked in and sat on the bed as I shut the door. Her nerves finally started to show through. She grips her chest as if trying to force her heartbeat to slow down. "That was...difficult." She whispered as she tried to even her breathing. 

    "Well, if it counts for anything, you handled it like the true Queen you are," I said gently taking my spot next to her. 

    She laughed a little and looked up at me. "It was weird to be around people who didn't know me, yet already hated me." 

    "To be fair, they didn't all hate you." I laughed and nudged her side lightly. 

    She laughed a little and laid her head on my shoulder. "My mind is just racing is all." 

    "You must have a lot of questions regarding Lycansbane and how Leo does things. We are only here for a few moments to settle in before we make a visit to him again. So if you have any questions that you don't feel comfortable asking him or any of his children, you can ask me. Dad educated me well on the ways of his friend and the wolves." I smiled as I watched her. 

    She looked down shyly hesitating for only a moment. "Well, now that you mentioned it. I do have a few. I guess for starters, why are they named such unusual names?" 

    I smile at her. "Ah, to tell you that is to tell you their story." I glance at the clock. "We have time, I believe." I crawled into the bed and sat with my back against the headboard motioning for her to come to sit with me. She did so quickly as I placed my arm around her pulling her into me. She laid her head on my chest as I played with her hair gently. "First, I will give you just a small history lesson. Their beliefs differ from ours. I am sure you heard of the ancient wolves that could only shift during a full moon? Those wolves were known to have little control, to be animalistic if you will. 

    A few centuries ago, the wolves began to control themselves, and when they shifted. It was then that the moon goddess had first shown her true self. She is otherwise known as the spirit of the moon. She believed that it was not fair for her children to be ostracized any longer. So she granted them the ability to control themselves and use it for the greater good of their kind. According to legend, she decided to grant them this piece of land. A place where every wolf could be themselves. Without fear of hunters. Without fear of losing their loved ones should their secret slip. Now, I am not saying that there are not hunters living today. The wolves still have to protect themselves from hunters. But they can do it openly now. After her work of setting her creations up in their new home, she returned to her own. 

    It is said that the moon is shown brighter in the sky with her happiness and joy for her pups. As time went on, stars begun to appear in the night sky making specific formations. These stars formations were known as her children. These children were held so close to the moon goddess's heart. There were thirteen of them. Their names were Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, and Ophiuchus." I watched her as I continued with the story. She looked up at me confused. I rose an eyebrow and held my hand up. I already knew she had a question about why the people met today matched those names. 

    "Each of these children of the stars was said to have specific characteristics that set them apart from the rest as well as certain animals that matched those said characteristics." I smile as I start telling the story again. "You will learn all of those in due time my sweet princess. There are way too many to sit here and list all at once." She nodded as I played with her hair. "A few centuries after the formations had appeared a young woman became pregnant with her first son. The young wolf was supposedly barren. But she had prayed so hard to the moon goddess to bless her mate with a child. A son to be exact. The young couple was so overwhelmed with joy, they decided to thank the moon goddess in a special way. They took the child to the river and lay him there beneath the moonlight. They prayed to her. 

    The young mother spoke the treasured words that would define her son's whole destiny. She said 'Moon goddess in the sky, I bring to you an offering of our eternal gratitude. We want to honor you with the very child you blessed us with. We have decided to give him the destiny of your very own children of the heavens. His name shall be Leo.' The moon goddess was so overjoyed by the kind gesture, for she gave them a son and expected nothing in return. She graciously took the offer and a brilliant light shown down on the child. Fairies spun around him quickly. And before their eyes, a small birthmark appeared. For he was named after her own child, Leo the lion, King of the Zodiac. He would grow to be loyal, courageous, and intelligent and rule the kingdom of Lycansbane. Ever since then, Leo had done the same in honor of the moon goddess. WHich is how each of the children received their names. Together they make up the full circle of the moon goddess' children. She proclaimed them as the Zodiac. Leo and his children are known as the heavenly alphas. While they are not the only Alphas Lycansbane has, they are the closest to the moon goddess's heart." I smiled as I pulled her closer to me. I always loved that story. 

    She looked up at me confused. "But, Gemini is one star, yet Pollux and Castor were called the Gemini twins." 

    I laughed a little. "Ah yes. The precious Gemini twins. The formation known as Gemini is actually dominated by twin stars." 

    She looked up at me. "I see, they are named after the stars within the formation itself." I nod as I watch her take it all in. "I really like that story." 

    I smiled. "I do too. When I was little, I would make mom and dad tell me that story every night before bed. It is my favorite." I tried to hide some of the sadness behind my eyes as I remembered the good times with my family. 

    She looked at me. "I have one more question for now. What did Leo mean by interrogation with Sagittarius?" 

    I smiled a little. "It is nothing to worry about truly. Sagittarius is known as the centaur. He is the truth-seeking explorer. You can't lie to him, if you do, he will know. He is a walking lie detector. He will just ask you questions, my love. You have nothing to worry about. Leo just wants to be sure that you will not betray us." 

    As if on cue, Scorpio knocked on the door as he entered the room. "I am sorry it is so soon, but Sag is ready to see her now." I nodded but as we stood to follow him, he stopped me in my tracks. "He only wishes to see her. I am sorry, but you may be a distraction to her. We do not want her answers influenced by your presence." 

    I stepped back, but before I could speak he had already ushered her out of the room and shut the door.