Chapter 22
Ella's POV
When we arrived I could Tell Merrick was on edge. From what he had told me the King was not a pleasant man and although I had never met him myself, I knew this would not be an enjoyable experience for either one of us. I felt bad having to act as if Phillip was just a guard after the wonderful night we had all shared. He looked so sad having to wait on us and not being able to attend the welcoming events. Unfortunately, it was nobles only. Merrick and I wade through the crowds of nobles, eager to see me. It was all extravagant. Back in my homeland, Lumanaris, we had very few nobles and my father made sure that our status never overshadowed the fact that we were all equal. However, the court had a completely different view on the matter. Lycans reigned supreme while werewolves were viewed as lower class and not worthy of the right of being noble. Many times, that meant if a lycan's mate was a werewolf, they would have to be turned by the magistrate. Magistrates we the officials that oversaw everything in the supernatural's realm, they were governors, our priests, and the enforcers of the king's law. They also were part witches, offspring to lycan and witch unions. Though they were not as common anymore they still existed.
The Grand Magistrate was a vile man who had been around for centuries and had been the confidant of the previous two kings. When we arrived at Kern, he was the first to greet us.
"Your Graces", he bowed slightly.
"Magistrate." Merrick nodded.
I could tell by the look on his face this man disgusted my mate. After some pleasantries, we were shown to the grand hall where all the nobles gathered for a welcome feast. The king saw an opportunity and even though we were here for business formalities had to be met. The grand hall had been decorated for the festivities with flowers and gold displaying the opulence that surrounded the Kingdom. After greeting many courtiers, we found our seats at the large table in the front of the room. Already seated with the queen, the Crown Prince the few nobles I had yet to meet.
After a few moments, the grand magistrate took his position at the podium and began to speak.
"Today we are here to celebrate a new member in our court, the Duchess Eleanore Saint –James. At times like this, it is nice to be at a celebration and feel the warmth of friends and family rather than the funeral of a loved one. It's also at this time one thinks of the moon goddess and how she brought us into power. Forward is well known that the moon goddess created us from wolves and the magic that she possessed. She made Lycans stronger, faster and gave us the ability to not only be intelligent but use our intelligence while in our transformed state. Though we descend from wolves we are able to maintain our humanity as they just turn into savage beasts. It is my great honor to bear witness to a new Lycan in our court and any heirs they may produce. May we now raise a glass to the Duchess of dash point and to our Kingdom may it thrive forever. Lupi vivat!!!"
"LUPI VIVAT!"
Voices around the whole room cheered. Long live the wolf, words I had heard my entire life, but it didn't feel the same coming from their lips. In my home, everyone was an equal and my father treated everyone the same. When looking around the room I could tell this was different everyone here aside from the wait staff was lycan.
A few hours had passed and the king had prepared a feast fit for himself. Large roasts, suckling pigs, and venison are piled table after table. At one point I nudged Merrick, "You'd never know there was a war going on and people were starving"
I said gritting my teeth. He grabbed my hand giving me a stern look and shaking his head "no" which took me by surprise. Kissing me lightly on the cheek he whispered "not here, he can hear you." He nodded at the magistrate that sat a few seats down from us and was glaring at me with a look of discontentment. I spent the rest of the meal in silence only nodding when a courtier was introduced or I was offered a drink.
After what seemed like many hours had passed we were startled by the magistrate when he asked us to follow him to the King's chamber. We thanked the Queen, our host for the evening, and followed the magistrate down the long extravagant corridors. Not even at our wedding had I seen so much gold in one place. I tried my best to keep my composure as we entered the King's chamber and ascended the stairs that led to his office. I had never met the King before but when I saw all the man in front of me he was exactly what I expected. From the opulent clothing he wore down to his greasy hair he looked like the atrocious brute my father had described to me over the years. He was tall and broad much like my father and though he had been on the throne for 60 years he didn't look a day over 40. His dark hair with slicked back and his beard was speckled with gray hairs. His smile was vile and when he smiled you could tell his teeth had been filed down into fangs and one of them was gold. He stood with a loud stomp making his way to my mate.
"Ah! My boy!", He stood hugging Merrick before looking down at me. "You must be Eleanore", he said grabbing my hand I'm kissing the back. His touch almost made me retch and I pulled my hand away quickly and slyly wiped it on the back of my dress. The King took his seat in the gold-plated chair behind the desk and pointed out the chairs in front of him pressed to have a seat. The magistrate joined him at his side unfolding a binder he had grabbed off the shelf while we made our introductions. The magistrate began "We have been informed by Alpha Luca Baros, of the city of Rhodes that the Duchess of Dashpointe, Eleanore Saint-James, tried to solicit herself to his pact. How do you plead?" his a voice was serious and there was an edge of power that he displayed. I may have been a Duchess but he was the King's magistrate and I was on trial.
Before I had time to react Merrick stood shouting "are you serious?! Now this is a trial? Your Highness, I came here to tell you that same alpha it's the one who poisoned my guard. He had given us wine as a gift with death pills in it. HE TRIED TO KILL ME AND MY WIFE!!!" The Magistrate jumped at Merricks words but the king just smiled and nodded. Looking at his magistrate he spoke in a cheerful voice.
"Now Saiben, is there really a need for all this? After all, it was my nephew who informed us of the Alpha's intentions first." His words dripped with insincerity.
"First?" Merrick questioned
"Yes, my boy, we received a call from the alpha himself not two hours after we spoke. Surely I knew you would never let that happen and although she was not your fated mate, her father assured me she would never betray you."
A smile goes wide as he looks me up and down and I feel that hair on the back of my neck stand straight when he raises his nose and smells the air.
"I'm assuming that I was right seeing as she has your scent all over her but I do smell another," he said looking Merrick straight in the eyes.
"My guard, he stays with us everywhere we go after the attack on Dashpointe, he has not left my side. Since we have been married I've included the security of my bride as well." He tells the king he sets back in his chair almost let down that he was wrong.
"I see", the King says as he looks down at his phone tapping away at the screen. After a few moments, there is a knock on the large door leading from the corridor and the king shoos the magistrate to open the door. I look at Merrick terrified at who it might be when he grabs my hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. It was comforting to know that my mate had my back and wouldn't let anything happen to me but that comfort left as soon as the door swung open and in walked Luca.