AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“A queen with a mate of each element has the best chance of ruling in the interests of all instead of one element, like my father selfishly did.” Strategically, my thought process protects all the packs’ interests. Each mate would hear from their sibling as to what their people need and will act upon it almost immediately.
“She speaks with knowledge beyond her years,” King Idris says, then looks back to his queen, who is smiling. “Finally, a queen strong enough to hold a throne, rule well Belladonna,” Queen Bethane says as she bows her head to me. “We of the earth pack vote to dethrone Grimshaw and place Belladonna on the Shadow Throne.” King Idris’s booming voice states firmly.
King Mateo looks back to his queen, and she nods, looking at him. “We of the Water Pack also vote to dethrone Grimshaw and place Belladonna on the throne. One must never strike one’s mate.” A soft growl escapes his lips, and his eyes glow golden like his wolf’s.
So far, that’s two votes for me to ascend to the Shadow Throne. Technically, we don’t need the Fire Pack’s vote because I already know King Coro is in favor of me on the Shadow Throne. “Flint? What’s your vote?” King Coro asks gently. Flint looks me over, then down to his notes.
“I would almost like seeing a deathmatch, father versus daughter, for the throne.” A wicked grin crosses his lips as his eyes rake over me.
Laughing, I lean back and grab a bottle of water to drink. I take a sip, then look up at him, smiling. “Read up on the shadow gift of pestilence. I don’t even need to touch him. I don’t even need to be in the same room as him.” A smirk plays on my lips as I look at the potted plant next to Flint. “How far away from here are you? About three hours?” I furrow my brows as I reach back into the shadows behind me, preparing to mess with his head.
“About that, why?” He raises a brow in question as he stares at me.
Most of his office is in darkness and I wink at King Coro, then move the shadows searching for Flint. I wave the envelope he had sent me at him. “All I need is something that belongs to someone to find them.” Using the shadows, I knock several books off the shelf behind Flint. When his attention is on the books, the shadows move on camera and surround the plant. When the shadows dissipate, the plant is dead and only sticks remain.
I lean back as the other kings stare at their screens in disbelief. “A death match is pointless, King Flint,” I say, drawing his attention back to the computer screen. His eyes finally land on the now dead plant on his desk.
“How?” Flint motions to the plant then looks at me.
“I’m stronger than both of my parents combined.” I leave what I’m inferring as truth hanging in the air, letting him connect the dots himself.
King Flint tosses the dead plant in the garbage can beside his desk, then clears his throat. “Considering the evidence presented to me, I vote to dethrone Grimshaw and place Belladonna on the Shadow Throne.” With his decision made, they confirm the vote is unanimous between the four packs.
“I shall not fail you,” I state to the other four kings and lower my head in deference to them before hitting the button and ending the call.
Slowly, I turn to face King Coro and smirk. “So, what do we do about my father?” I tilt my head to the side.
“For now, you need sleep. I grant you permission to sleep in the recliner in your mate’s room.” Coro wraps me up in a hug, then shoves me toward the door. “Tomorrow, we hold the ball, and you formally claim Kaedyn as your mate.” Coro tick’s things off on his fingers. “We celebrate for a few days. You two seal your bond when you’re ready, then we formally announce your ascension to the Shadow Throne.”
Arching my right eyebrow, I look at Coro like he’s gone mad. “You make it seem so simple,” I say, half laughing, more out of nervousness than excitement.
“One day Bella, you’ll look back on this day and see how easy it really was. The tough part is over. You found your mate. It’s all downhill from here. I promise it gets easier, and I’ll be here to offer guidance.” Coro wraps me up tightly in a fatherly hug. “Sleep well, Queen Belladonna,” he says before scooting me out of his study.
Chapter7
Kaedyn
I awaken,feeling like a dump truck has hit me. My body aches all over and parts of me I didn’t know could hurt are hurting. Bella’s scent hangs heavy in the air like a warm blanket wrapped around me, comforting me. Rolling to my right, I see a leather recliner with my mate fast asleep. She’s placed herself between me and the door, protecting me from whatever may come. On the nightstand between us is a wax sealed envelope bearing the royal insignia of the Fire Pack. Reaching over carefully, I flip it over and see that it’s addressed to Bella. It’s a curious turn of events that King Flint sent a letter here for her.
“It puzzles me too.” I hear Bella’s voice softly escape her lips as her eyes faintly glow as she looks at me.
Offering her the letter back, I sit up and the sheet falls down my chest and pools at my waist. Bella’s eyes flair to life, glowing like beacons in the night. It’s difficult to tell where she’s looking when her eyes are pools of liquid emerald. “Let’s open the letter and see what Flint is up to.“ I wave the envelope to break her out of the trance she seems to be in.
“Yes… Let’s…” she says as a pale pink blush creeps over her cheeks as her eyes lose their glow. It’s now that I see her pupils were locked on my toned chest. My wolf prances proud that our mate seems to like our furless appearance as much as she likes him. Bella fumbles with the envelope and pulls out the handwritten letter. Her eyes scan the letter quickly, then looks up at me.
“It’s a notice of betrothal announcing his eldest son has already accepted a mate from the wildling pack.” Bella rolls her eyes, then looks at me. “One less pompous ass in the pool… Joy!”
I can’t help but laugh at my mate’s accurate description of the Fire Pack as a whole. “Wait till you meet their king, he defines pompous.” I raise my eyebrows and waggle them slightly and elicit a giggle from Bella.
Bella suddenly pales, then sits up perfectly straight. “I have something to tell you. A lot happened while you slept yesterday. Remember when my father struck my mother, and he was taken away?” Bella says cautiously. The tone and pitch of her voice changes several times over the course of the conversation.
“I do. My dad was looking to remove him from the throne.” I state the facts plainly as I think about the ramifications of the events.
Bella nods, folding her hands in her lap, staring at them. “Your dad was successful. Flint is calling for father to die in the pit in a death match.” Her eyes look up at me and the normal glow is gone. They appear hollow and very human now.
“What happened Bella? Your father off the throne is a good thing, right? You said it yourself he hasn’t cared about your people in years.” I toss my throw blanket over her folded hands, then reach out to grip her hands through the blanket.
A soft smile graces her pale pink lips as she looks up at me. “It is a good thing, but that means that I will rule the Shadow Court. Ryker will never heal fully, thus they have deemed him unworthy to rule.” Bella draws in a deep breath and smiles weakly. “We will rule the Shadow Court along with my other mates.”
