Ah, the prank. I can’t help but grin at the memory. If Regan hadn’t swapped places at the last minute . . . Still, the look on her face when she took her seat was absolutely priceless. I offered to lick it off, but she wasn’t having it.
“She has to admit, it was a good one,” I defend, holding back laughter.
Before Lyon can retort, the chamber falls silent. All attention shifts to Zirah as she begins to address the council. I feel a swell of pride watching her command the room, every word she utters resonating with power and authority.
As the meeting wears on, the push and pull of council politics evident, I lean back in my chair, letting my mind wander. It’s not that I don’t care about the matters at hand, they are crucial, after all. But watching Zirah work the room leaves me with the all-consuming thought of ripping that dress off her.
Sensing my thoughts, Lyon leans in again, whispering, “Don’t even think about it.”
“Think about what?” I reply innocently, my mischievous grin returning when he stomps my foot under the table, I hiss when suddenly a hand falls on my shoulder, the grip deadly. I glance up at Regan. “You’re making her uncomfortable, stop it, or I will toss your ass in the dungeons for a week,”
“With Zirah?” I ask, he grips my jacket and yanks me from my seat, “I’ll behave, I’ll behave,” I hiss.
Lyon just shakes his head, chuckling softly. “I swear, one of these days . . .” Regan takes his seat beside me, and we watch as Zirah is sworn into the council, and they decide what to do with King Slavic’s kingdom.
The meeting finally draws to a close, and as the council members disperse, I make my way to Zirah’s side. Sliding an arm around her waist, I whisper, “You were incredible today, as always.”
She smirks, arching an eyebrow. “Trying to make up for this morning’s mischief?”
“Perhaps,” I admit, pulling her closer. “But can you blame me? Watching you in action here . . . It’s exhilarating.”
She laughs, swatting my chest playfully. “You’re impossible, Zeke. But tonight, you get the couch for making me flustered!”
Chapter Sixty-Two
A FEW MONTHS LATER
The sun’s first rays paint the sky in pastels of pink and gold, heralding the promise of a new day. As the castle awakens from its slumber, so does its inhabitants. The hustle and bustle outside contrasts with the tranquility of my personal chambers. Before the world can demand my attention, I revel in a few moments of solitude.
Perched on the windowsill, I find myself idly twirling a small, silver pendant between my fingers. A family heirloom depicting the ancient emblem of my lineage—two intertwined serpents, each biting the other’s tail, symbolizing eternity and the cyclical nature of life. It makes me wonder if that is where my mother came up with her curse.
Lately, I feel as though I’m trapped in a never-ending cycle—facing the council over Slavic’s death, managing internal disputes, and continually striving to prove my worthiness. Did destiny dictate this path for me, or am I merely a puppet in the grand theater of life?
A soft knock on my door interrupts my contemplation. “Come in,” I call, knowing it will be one of my mates, but why they bother to knock when we share a room is beyond me.
Regan steps in, his presence instantly warming the room. His eyes, always observant, quickly notice the pendant in my hand.
“Contemplating the mysteries of life, are we?” he teases, moving closer.
I smirk while dangling the pendant before him. He found it in the basement. In fact, we found an entire room of my parents’ belongings covered in dust. “Merely pondering the threads of fate,” I reply playfully.
He takes my hand, studying the pendant before lifting his gaze to meet mine. “Some believe that fate is immutable, but I’ve always believed it as a tapestry. While some threads might be predestined, it’s our choices, our actions, that shape the final design.”
I ponder his words, comforted by his unwavering belief in the power of choice. “So, in this vast tapestry of life, where do our threads intertwine?” I muse.
Regan leans closer, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I believe our threads have been entwined from the very beginning,” he whispers. “Even before your mother cursed you to us.” Before I can respond, he captures my lips in a gentle yet passionate kiss.
Regan is my constant, my anchor. With him by my side, I feel equipped to navigate the politics and this life I’ve been thrust into. So I know I made the right decision. I couldn’t do this without him.
“We should go. I was coming to see if you were ready,” he tells me. I sigh heavily, I just want to stay home for one day. Since everything happened, we’ve hardly had a rest. If I’m not dealing with royal politics or my coven’s business, we are rebuilding the city.
“Not really, but I don’t have a choice,” I tell him, and he cups my face with his hand. “I can go by myself. I don’t mind,” he tells me, but I shake my head.
“Would you let me go by myself?”
“Definitely not,” he is quick to reply.
“Then there is your answer, My King,” I tell him.
