Claimed by Prince Daddy

7

The whole room erupted into chaos. Voices yowled in protest from the werewolves. Even the shadow fae nobles snarled in outrage. Some werewolves rocketed from their seats, their claws unsheathed, and a few Shadow Fae shot up, their eyes glowing with menacing power.

King Azarril’s voice boomed over the Great Hall. “Silence! Order in the Hall!”

I felt my own body respond to the stifling dominance and bloodlust that permeated the air, so thick that I tasted the acrid bitterness on my tongue. My gaze swung to Ember. Her face was pallid, and her jaw slackened; she gaped at my father. Her eyes were rounded with terror, but whether it stemmed from the declaration of mating or the impending violence was unknown. Then, her gaze collided with mine, and held it. We stared at each other across the Great Hall, oblivious to all else, as if we were the only two people in existence in the world of Lanair.

Then, the temperature plummeted to near-freezing. The shrieks of anger ebbed as Lanairs’ heads whipped about in search of the source. I blinked at the ice that began to film a thin sheet over the walls—icicles hanging from the chandeliers like talons from a bird of prey.

My head spun to the left. The frigid glare from the elf king spoke of death.

One by one, the Lanair caught sight of the penetrating glare of the elf king and ceased their protests. The yowls and snarls of rage died on their tongues under the icy weight of his gaze.

“Hear me,” King Tridar spoke when a hush fell across the room. He faced the elf king, and shock claimed me as I watched his eyes widen imploringly toward King Nazarril. The king gave a slow nod.

“We are all listening,” King Nazarril murmured. He fastened a narrowed glance at King Asar. “Aren’t we, King Asar?”

The king of the werewolves' features were botched red, the tendons of his neck in stark relief. His chest heaved with restrained rage. Claws were slicing in and out as if wishing to sink into my father’s throat. One glance at the queen, the alpha female, didn’t bode any better. Her upper lip was peeled back as wicked incisors bared at the shadow fae king. Only Ember appeared to be the calmer of the two royals, though I assumed that it was primarily due to her being in shock.

I wasn’t in much better shape. Anger blazing in my chest like a furnace.

Why did my father drop this s**t at the Great Hall? Is he trying to start a star's damn war?!

“King Asar,” my father spoke to his fellow king. His chest heaved with a bracing breath. “I ask that you let me explain.”

Plain shock colored his face. He blinked owlishly. Queen Lunatha looked at her husband.

“My King,” she hissed. “You can’t possibly consider entertaining him.”

King Asar dropped his gaze to the floor. Queen Lunatha spoke again, her tone more urgent, when her husband held up a hand to silence her. She closed her mouth with an audible snap. The silence was deafening as we all waited for what the king would do. After a long moment, he slowly lifted his head.

“I’m willing to listen, but—” he jabbed a finger at the king of the shadow fae. “That doesn’t mean I will agree to anything.”

King Tridar nodded. “Duly noted.”

Casting his gaze not only on the king but the rest of the werewolves in attendance. “I have learned of my son finding a life mate in Princess Ember.” He stretched out his arms from his side and exclaimed, “What could be a better solution to peace than an alliance? An alliance between our children who—” my father’s gaze dropped to me. “Are already fated mates.”

“You have no right to stand over there spouting such nonsense,” Queen Lunatha hissed, a low grow rumbling from her throat. Her eyes went amber. “How dare you claim my daughter is…m-mated to your son!”

“Tell her,” King Tridar told the king of the werewolves. “You know as well as I do the truth.”

Queen Lunatha stilled. She slowly leveled her gaze on her husband, who refused to meet her questioning look. “What is he speaking of?”

King Asar swallowed thickly. My eyes narrowed.

He knows…my father knew of the bond—he could sense it. Can the werewolf king see the thread of fate as well?

Then, King Asar turned to his daughter seated behind her parents. She flinched as he stared at her. Her tongue flicked out to lick her lips, lips parting as if to speak, but no sound came out.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” The king asked her, his voice a low rasp, yet I could hear it clearly as it echoed throughout the Great Hall.

Ember’s face paled even more, the light dusting of freckles along the bridge of her nose even more pronounced. “I…I…” her voice trailed away, and she slammed her eyelids closed. A shudder racked her body.

A sharp pang pricked my heart for her. To be a spectacle for all these Lanair…the temptation to leap from my seat, haul her into my arms, and bolt was strong.

King Asar sighed heavily. With a slow shake of his head, he slowly faced the king of the shadow fae. “I can see it.”

King Tridar gave a curt nod. Keeping his gaze fixed on King Asar, he said, “Won’t you tell your mate?”

The werewolf king flinched as if he’d been struck a blow. Queen Lunatha’s gaze flitted between the two kings.

“My King,” she said to her husband. “What is he talking about?” Panic crept over her features. “Tell me.”

Whispers began to peak from both sides, the shadow fae and werewolves murmuring among themselves. Queen Lunatha whirled on her daughter when the king refused to offer her a reply. “Ember, what is your father not telling me?” Ember bowed her head. The Queen hissed, “Have you mated that fae?”

She uttered the word ‘fae’ like a curse, but I honed in on the black despair shadowing Ember’s gaze under her mother’s heated glare.

Enough was enough.

I rose to my feet and addressed the Queen. “She has not been touched.”

Queen Lunatha spun, her gaze drilling into me, but before she could retort, I said, “I discovered we are fated mates yesterday at the start of the summit.” I pinioned both royals of the werewolves with my dark glare. “Ember did nothing wrong. I pursued her. I spoke to her. She told me we can’t be mates.”

Let me take the heat. Keep your filthy mouths off Ember!

Gasps of shock and outrage pealed from my people. Beside me, my own siblings stiffened. I could handle taking the heat for wishing to be with the enemy, but I’d be damned if I let Ember fall with me. She didn’t deserve that.

“What say you, King Asasr? “ The elf king asked the werewolf king. All eyes swung to him.

He stared at my father with a look of disgust and despair. He heaved a sigh, then turned to the elf king. “I request a break to mull over this recent…discovery.”

King Nazarrill turned to my father. “Do you agree to this?”

King Tridar nodded. “Yes. I understand.”

The elf king nodded. His voice echoed across the Great Hall as he announced, “This meeting is adjourned then. We will meet back here in two hours. Dismissed.”