Chapter 208
Fiona
After two days of resting, practicing my mental shield, spending time getting to know some of the pack members, and prepping for today’s luncheon, I feel a bit better about how things will go from here.
Just a bit, though, because a wave of nerves still hits me when Ethan and I enter the palace. The overwhelming feeling of everything being large feels just as heavy as it did the other two times I came here.
“Why don’t you live her since you’re the King now?” I whisper, peeking up at Ethan as the guards lining the hallways bow.
“This is more of a historic building now, than an actual home. The King is a title used to appoint a leader who steps in during war, times of unrest, country legal matters, and a few other situations,” he answers, squeezing my waist gently. “It’s a bit different than in the years past, but I can still run and live in my pack as long as I also attend to my Kingly duties.”
I’d been wondering, but hadn’t been brave enough to ask because I don’t think I would be comfortable living in a palace. This place is so much larger and more antique looking than anything I’ve ever seen.
“There will be times we stay here, though.”
“Really? When?” I’ll need to mentally prepare for those times, I think.
Ethan chuckles, the deep sound sending a zing of awareness through me that I have to shove down. This is not the time to become aroused. Not when we’re about to meet with a group of important people.
“During the last month of the summer where we hold near daily meetings with the leaders of each pack to make sure things are running smoothly across the country; if there is a dignitary from another country visiting for either peace or civil talks; when deciding or changing laws; when the heir is born—”
“The baby? I thought Kings were appointed through the Selection,” I say, confused. It’s how he was crowned, so I figured that’s what it was like every time.
Ethan nods in understanding and stops before the big double doors, turning to look down at me. He rubs his hands up my arm, trailing them across my shoulders and up my neck to cup my cheeks.
“If the current King has no heir, then one must be appointed through the Selection process. The former King, Arthur, lost his mate and they never had children before she passed, so he had to elect a new King.”
I guess that makes sense. If a ruler doesn’t have a blood heir, they can’t just let anyone take the position.
Nodding, I hook my arm in Ethan’s again and turn toward the doors, ready to mingle- because Queens mingle, apparently- and hopefully not make a fool of myself.
“You’ll do great,” Ethan whispers, and I mock glare at him for reading my mind. He chuckles in response, kisses my forehead, then pushes the large double doors open.
A man on the other side of the door pounds a large staff on the floor before announcing, in a loud, booming voice, “King Ethan and Queen Fiona have arrived.”
All eyes turn to us, and I try my best not to lock up. There are a few familiar faces, like Aaron, the two Elders I met, and the former King. Ethan told me that council members, the former King, and the three highest noble families would be here.
I don’t recognize most of the people, but an older lady catches my eye. She looks familiar somehow, but I can’t place why. It’s even more strange when she turns and also stares at me, blinking as if she’s recognized me, too. I don’t think I’ve seen her before.
“Ethan, we’re glad you could make it,” the former King says, walking over to us. Aaron follows behind him, and I send him a smile and a small wave. I don’t know if that’s Queenly, but oh well.
“Me as well. I haven’t been able to formally introduce you,” Ethan says, nudging me forward a bit. “Arthur, this is Fiona, my mate. Fiona, this is Arthur, Aaron’s uncle and the former King.”
The man in question takes my hand, and I think he’s going to shake it until he beings to bow and lift my hand to his forehead. The gesture reminds me of when I first me Sophie and her brother. I’d completely forgotten about it.
“Hi, Arthur,” I say softly, and he smiles when he straightens up. Aaron does the same, bows and touches my hand to his forehead.
“Hi, Aaron. It’s nice to see you again,” I tell him, unsure what else to say. As he returns my greeting, the old woman catches my eye again, and she’s still staring. I smile at her, hoping it’ll bring her closer, but even as she steps toward me, an older man stops her and pulls her to speak with someone else.
I really wanted to ask her who she is, but I guess I’ll have to wait because Ethan leads me to a chair and sits me down.
As I meet the gathered group, I make eye contact with the woman three more times. In between meeting council members, elders, and nobility, she keeps an eye on me, but she doesn’t approach.
The lunch is nearly a feast, with so many different delicious dishes that I feel like I’ll need to be rolled out once I’m done.
I don’t talk much while we eat, but I do listen as Ethan and some of the council members set up a meeting to discuss some trouble brewing in the Northern Packs.
“How are you feeling?” Aaron asks, gaining my attention.
Something about him being near has a light air of happiness filling me, and I smile. I chalk it up to him being nice and including me in conversations. He could make a good friend.
“I’m good, but this is a little overwhelming if I’m honest,” I whisper, glancing at Ethan. As he speaks with the council members and eats with fancy silverware, I can’t help but think that he looks made for this. He’s in his natural element.
Aaron chuckles and smirks, “Not ready to be Queen?”
Shaking my head, I nearly drop my fork and fumble over my words, “No, I just never thought something like this would happen. I’m happy that Ethan got to reach his dream, but I’m just a normal woman. I don’t want to mess this up for him.”
“I understand. I was born noble, and I still find it overwhelming sometimes,” he tells me, throwing a grape into the air and catching it with his mouth. The old lady who’d been watching me sends an icy glare at Aaron, and he jolts, making a choking sound and cursing softly.
He apologizes softly, and I slap a hand over my mouth to keep from bursting into laughter.
“It’s not funny,” he grumbles. “She’s scarier than she looks.”
I burst into a fit of giggles. Maybe this won’t be so bad.
“What is that?”
Ethan looks up from his tablet and out the front window of the car. A large crowd is gathered just outside the palace gates, so large that the driver must slow down to keep from running them over.
“Down with the human Queen!”
“Out with the human!”
“Lycan sovereignty only!”
People shout, thrusting posters and signs at the car.
Something slams into the window, and I jump back, knocking into Ethan. His arm is immediately around my waist, pulling me closer just in case.
Screams and yells from the angry crowd are
“What is going on?” Ethan demands as the driver honks the horn at the crowd blocking us.
“Sir, they’ve been gathered and protesting since the Queen was crowned. They believe,” he glances at me in the mirror before continuing. “They believe a human Queen is unlawful.”
“Take her crown!”
“No Lycan! No Queen!”
I sink further into Ethan’s side, my chest tightening with anxiety as an egg splatters against the window.
“Dethrone the human!”
Ethan snarls lowly, “Drive through them.”
Then, he sets the tablet aside, pulls me fully into his lap, and covers my ears, whispering, “Close your eyes. We’ll be home soon.”
Trusting him to take care of things later, I do as he says and bury my face in his neck, breathing in his calming scent and thinking about better times.
