Chapter 151

Charles

Grace leaned into my side as we rode to the airport toward the private hangers when the Clan jet waited. I could have taken a commercial flight, but when dealing with their President, it was better to flaunt as much of the Clans' wealth as possible. She pouted.

"Still?" I asked, chuckling. "I told you I'd be back as soon as possible."

"I know," she said softly, twinging her fingers with mine. "I just... I'll miss you."

I pulled my hand free and wrapped my arm around her.

"I can postpone--"

"No," Grace said. "Not with everything that's going on. I'll be fine."

I cupped her face and nudged her until she met my gaze.

"I recognize you're trying to be strong, Grace, and I know you feel like it's something you have to do, but with me, at least when we're alone, you don't have to lie about it."

I stroked her face. "I'm already worrying about you fretting yourself to death, and I don't plan to be gone long."

She scoffed. "Is that why you put Cecil in charge."

I flashed a grin. "Both you and your brother could use a firm, tiny hand."

I chuckled as she nudged me and leaned into me. I stroked her hair.

"Don't dwell on my absence. Through a party while I'm gone or something. George won't be there to scold Eason. It should be fine."

"Do not encourage bad behavior," George said from the front seat as Gregory laughed in the driver's seat.

She looked up at me with narrowed eyes. "A small one, maybe."

"With booze?"

"We'll watch movies with hot action stars."

I smirked. "Sounds good. The kids?"

"I'll... get Cecil some glitter paint."

I cocked an eyebrow at her. "And... who is going to clean that up?"

She smirked. "Best come home soon, hm?"

"Or let Eason retaliate," I wiggled my eyebrows. "It's about time you realize the joy of having a younger sibling, hm?"

She blinked and bit her lip. There was a question in her eyes.

"What?"

"Do you have a sibling?"

My lips twitched. "Not in the way you and Eason are siblings... At least, not anymore."

Her eyes turned soft. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have--"

"Ask me anything," I said and kissed her forehead. "I'm an open book on most things."

She sighed. "I feel like a crazy person."

I hummed. "You may have a few screws loose."

She scowled at me as the car slowed to a stop beside the hanger. I could see the brilliant red strips on the nose of the jet.

"I think you're getting a bit ahead of yourself, Your Majesty."

I licked my lips. "I... rather like the sound of that on your lips."

Her eyes widened, and she flushed. I could smell her arousal and grinned. "Seems like you do, too, Alpha Wolfe," I smirked and leaned closer to whisper in her ear. "We can add it to the costume list if you'd like?"

"What would that entail?"

I smirked. "I'll send you a photo, but in the spirit of diplomacy, I promise to miss you terribly."

She chuckled. "Flattery won't get you out of trouble when you return, Mr. Blackwoods."

"How about a deal? I'll sweeten the return with a proper date. Dinner, maybe a moonlit stroll through the woods?" I wiggled my eyebrows. "I'll even wear the crown if you want."

Grace chuckled, giving my hand a playful squeeze.

"Deal.... save the crown for some other time."

I thought of her in the throne room with me, on her knees with that look in her eye, and kissed her soundly.

"I'll be back soon. Try not to fret or drive Eason crazy."

Within a few minutes, I was in the air, headed toward the capital in the center of the States. The hum of the plane's engines provided a steady backdrop as I settled into my seat and felt the potion I'd taken earlier starting to work. It started as an itch in the skin of my jaw and scalp before I felt my beard coming back at a rapid pace and my hair growing. George let out a low whistle.

"The king has returned."

I reached up, feeling my hair with a deep sigh of relief as it was back to its length before that idiot's challenge. I sent Seraphina a message.

You're my favorite relative.

She replied a few moments later. Lies, but cute lies.

I chuckled as the growth started to slow, and I could start getting ready. I showered and got dressed in my most formal regalia. The armor on my shoulder, the sword on my belt, and the crown in my hand were grounding in a way I had never noticed before.

Maybe I'd missed this more than I'd realized. I rubbed my jaw.

"What?" George asked.

"I should have asked for a potion sooner."

He laughed as I sat in a chair, and my assistant came up behind me to do my hair. He weaved my hair into braids before setting the crown on my head.

George cocked an eyebrow, adjusting his ambassadorial sash and buckling his sword on his belt.

"You look like you're about to march into war, Charles."

"Not one I'll lose." I tilted my head. "Why do you look oddly grumpy? Missing Eason already? I figured he'd have you wrapped around his finger in no time."

George scoffed, but there was happiness in his eyes that hadn't been there in a long time.

"He's... a whirlwind."

"Just what you needed, hm? I'm glad. And Ethan?"

"More trouble than Eason, but cooperating because Eason is crafty."

"So both of you are wrapped around his finger. Good for you."

I laughed as he scowled at me.

Before I realized it, we had landed and were heading towards the Red House. It was a stupid name, one taken from some idiot's desire to copy the trademark red stone of the Lycan palace.

Its façade was painted crimson with ebony trimmings. I remember my father once said that they had wanted to name it the Blood House, but after the werewolves lost the war, they didn't since it would seem like their enemies had painted it with their blood.

Since the stupid thing used to be White, they should have gone with a different color. Massive columns, meticulously carved with intricate patterns, flanked the entrance. The double doors, adorned with the emblem of the Werewolf State, gleamed in the afternoon sunlight. There were only werewolves among the security officers standing by the front doors waiting to receive me.

I was pretty sure Sean hadn't noticed that yet.

Good.

The sprawling gardens that surrounded the Red House were meticulously manicured, a contrast to the rugged wilderness that defined lycan territories. The scent of carefully tended flowers wafted through the air, irritating me with its makeup. Half of the flowers there would never grow together, so the scent was off-putting to anyone with any lycan. It was purposeful, of course, as the alpha president never came to the castle.

I smirked. I had a feeling that would change soon enough.

As I ascended the steps, I almost rolled my eyes. I hated this place. I always had. It was a shoddy imitation of the human's White House splashed with attempts at the regality of the Lycan Castle and something that I could only describe as werewolf self-importance.

"Let's get this done," I said. George snickered as the doors opened.

Once inside, the corridors echoed with the footsteps of guards clad in uniforms that bore the emblem of the Alpha President. Portraits of past leaders lined the walls.

We were taken to the meeting room, where Sean Caldwell awaited, sitting at the head of the stupidly shiny conference table with his newest, closest minion.

I didn't wait for them to rise, bow, or speak before taking the seat across from Sean. George took his position just behind me as I met Sean's gaze.

He still emanated an aura of sliminess that was almost tangible, oozing hatred and an undercurrent of terror. It was enough to make my stomach turn and my blood boil, but I relaxed.

"King Charles--"

"Let's skip the formalities, Sean," I said. "And I'm not going to pretend that you're worth of niceties either."

He pursed his lips.

"You've violated our agreement, and you wish to pretend that you haven't."

He cocked an eyebrow. "And how so?"

"We can start with your interest in how I sentence Devin."

He shifted. "Well, he was the alpha of one of my territories. It would be my right... However, I was under the impression that you were here to negotiate about how best to deal with the humans."

I smirked. "Did you expect me to see your meddling, your entire disregard for my authority, and not take offense?"

I laughed and stood. "I came here for one purpose, Sean. To give you a warning about your actions and the terrorists you've been employing."

Sean's eyes bulged. He flushed as I stepped away from my chair.

"You should know that I won't reinstate a single Lycan Enforcer unit until I'm convinced you've learned your lesson. As you cannot seem to render aid to Mooncrest, I will be taking on that role."

"You can't just--"

"You've allowed my grandchildren to be exposed to great harm." His eyes bulged. "It is my right to consider it an act of war and my mercy that is not making it so. You should have plenty to worry about, so you won't have much time to terrorize divorcees."

I turned and headed back to the door as George opened it. I gestured over my shoulder.

"Have fun dealing with the humans and their silver."