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"Report to the hall in thirty minutes," Váli replied curtly. Then he turned and left without another word.
"Son of a bitch," Thorsten muttered as he slammed the door shut. "I'm really starting to despise these fucking nobles. With everything going on, my family missing, and all the responsibilities that come with being a king, I don't need their shit about who I choose as my mate."
"Hey," I said softly, stepping closer to him and placing a hand on his arm. "Calm down, okay? Putting that crown on your head wasn't a mistake. You did it for your people."
"For the very people who want to take my family away," he retorted bitterly. I could see the hurt in his silver eyes, and it broke my heart.
"If you turn your back on your people in the middle of a war, it may have devastating consequences," I reminded him gently.
He sighed. "I know. But I also made a vow never to betray my mate and my children. And I meant every word of it."
"I know you did. We'll figure this out together, okay?" I promised, biting my lower lip as I considered whether or not I should tell him about the deal I made with Váli to undergo the Innangard. I decided to keep it a secret for now, hating myself for lying to my mate.
"Let's get dressed and deal with this," I said, walking over to our clothes strewn across the floor. As I bent down to pick them up, Thorsten stopped me.
"Actually, fuck that," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "The nobles can wait until we're properly cleaned up." He grabbed my hand and led me towards the bathroom, both of us still naked.
I slipped on my teal tunic and cinched it at the waist with a gold-trimmed belt, while Thorsten donned a matching noble's attire. Despite his massive size, he looked surprisingly gracefulin the Esmian royal colors. The deep teal contrasted beautifully with his white hair, which cascaded down his back like a silvery waterfall.
"Hey," I said, catching his intense silver gaze. "We're in this together, okay?"
Thorsten exhaled slowly, and then leaned down to kiss me, his lips warm and tender against mine. "I don't deserve you," he whispered, pulling away just enough for his breath to brush against my skin.
"Maybe not," I shot back with a smirk, trying to lighten the mood. "But you're stuck with me anyway."
He frowned, concern creasing his brow. "I can feel you trembling, Kal. Are you sure you'll be alright in there?"
"Of course," I lied, forcing a grin. "It's just a bunch of fussy nobles. What's the worst that could happen?"
"Promise me you'll stay calm, no matter what they say," Thorsten urged, his eyes searching mine for reassurance.
"I will, I promise,” I sighed.
With that, we headed towards the dining hall where the emergency meeting had been called. The grand room was adorned with ornate chandeliers that cast a warm, golden glow on the long mahogany table and high-backed chairs. Teal and gold banners bearing the Yggdrasil insignia hung from the walls, reminding everyone present of the royal family's authority.
"Thank you both for joining us," Váli said, his voice cold and formal. The other nobles shifted in their seats, clearly annoyed by the late hour.
"Cut the crap, Váli," Tyr snapped, his piercing blue eyes flashing with irritation. "Why the hell did you drag us out of our beds at this ungodly hour?"
Váli cleared his throat, launching into a speech about the importance of unity among the nobles during the war. I couldn't help but roll my eyes; we'd heard it all before.
"Enough!" Thorsten barked, cutting him off. "I will not allow petty squabbles to stand in the way of winning this war and reuniting my family. I'm going to be with Kal, no matter what any of you think. And when this war is over--"
"Your Majesty," Váli interrupted, his voice dripping with condescension. "There's no need for all of that. Kal has already agreed to undergo the Innangard."
The room fell silent as everyone stared at me, shock written across their faces. Thorsten turned to me, his silver eyes wide with disbelief. "Is that true?"
"Thorsten, I--" I began, hesitating for a moment before admitting the truth. "Yes, it's true. I made a deal with Váli to undergo the Innangard."
"That's ridiculous!" Thorsten exploded, his anger turning to frustration. "You have nothing to prove! The fact that you couldbirth our children is enough! You don't need to prove anything else to these people!"
He grabbed my hand, trying to pull me out of the room, but I yanked it back, holding my ground. "No, Thorsten. I'm going to Innangard."
He stared at me, wide-eyed and hurt, as I whispered an apology for keeping my deal with Váli a secret.
Váli's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "It's settled then," he said, glancing around at the other nobles who seemed pleased with the outcome. All except Thorsten, of course. He shot Váli a death glare that could've frozen the fucking desert.
"Váli," Thorsten growled, "we need to talk. Alone." They marched into the nearby massive kitchen, and I followed right behind Thorsten, hoping to calm him down before things got out of hand.
