Jax followed his father out of the dining hall, leaving me alone with the others. Conversation quickly erupted, nervous words and awkward mutterings from the other nobles and guests dining with their sovereign tonight.
I forced myself to eat, and even though I refused to leave Jax’s side, no matter what was to come, I couldn’t help but wonder if every night would be this hostile.
I certainly hoped not.
A presence suddenly penetrated my senses, and before I could glance toward it, the queen was sliding into Jax’s chair.
Her large gown ruffled around her, brushing against my thigh.
Everyone else carried on talking, nobody commenting that the queen had just left her place at the head of the table to sit near a commoner.
I took a sip of wine and kept my chin up. “Good evening, Your Majesty.”
“Elowen, is it?” A smile danced on her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Her expression, as sharp as glass, assessed me. “I can see that my son is very enamored with you.”
“He is. He’s my mate. So with all due respect, of course he’s enamored with me, my queen.”
Her smile tightened, tiny lines forming around the forced expression. “Even so, I thought perhaps we should talk, female to female. Surely, that’s not too much to ask. Is it?”
“No, of course not.”
“Come.” She stood and waited for me to join her.
I shot a look at Bowan, Lander, Trivan, and Alec across the table. They all watched me. Bowan made a move as though he was going to stand to follow us, but I shook my head.
The queen led me from the dining hall, and it wasn’t lost on me that she exited the room from across where Jax and the king had departed.
Once alone in the hall, away from prying eyes, she walked languidly, her hands clasped behind her back.
“You and my son are in love.”
I kept pace at her side. “Yes, we are.”
She laughed, the sound filled with scorn. “Love isn’t what’s needed to run a kingdom.”
I had no response to that, so I kept my lips pressed together.
“And love, even to one’s mate, can cause a plethora of problems. Surely, you understand, as a female of the realm, that sometimes we have to do things for others and not for ourselves.”
My feet ground to a halt. “Your Majesty, I just spent several weeks in the prison system due to helping others, so please, don’t lecture me on such matters. I’ve spent my entire life serving others.”
Her lips pursed. “Ah, yes. You were a slave. Entrusted to your guardian because you’re a lorafin.” She eyed me and continued walking. I was forced to follow or be left behind. “Your magic is quite potent, I will give you that. I can sense it, simmering just beneath your skin, and your aura is quite powerful. Perhaps that’s why my son is so taken with you. He does love a challenge, and I have no doubt you’ve been exactly that.”
“I’m more than just a challenge, my queen. Your son and I were meant for one another. The gods declared it so by creating the mate bond between us. I’m sorry that’s not what you or the king wanted, but Adarian and I plan to be together, with or without your consent, but in all honesty, I have no desire to fight you. And I do hope that perhaps you’ll grow to accept me one day.”
She stopped and faced me again. Piercing blue eyes stared at me, so much like Jax’s that for a moment, I could only stare. We were around the corner now, away from the dining hall and the servants’ prying eyes who stood outside of it. “Ah, the mate bond. Of course. How silly of me not to discuss it more. And despite what you’ve just claimed, about refusing to leave my son’s side, it’s brought up a very interesting question. May I ask you something?”
I inclined my head.
“Is a mate bond worth strife throughout a kingdom? Is your love for my son so selfish that you would put your own desires above all others?”
My brow furrowed. “Of course not, but we’re not hurting anyone by being together.”
Her gaze sharpened, and she stepped closer to me. “You’re not? Do you know what will happen if Jax doesn’t marry a female of his standing?”
When I didn’t reply, the queen clucked her tongue.
“No, you don’t know, because you know nothing of what it’s like to rule a kingdom or what’s required to keep the ten Houses in line, or what’s needed to appease those Houses who’ve made alliances with neighboring kingdoms. You know nothing of the politics that ensures peace remains and prosperity continues. You know none of this because you’re not one of us.”
