Chapter 83

Nicholas

I wanted to talk to my father about the state of the people that I had seen when I had taken Piper shopping, but the King was too busy to see me for several days. When I was finally allowed audience inside of his chambers, he had his war map stretched out over the dining table.

My mother was seated in one of the cushioned chairs, with Terry in the one beside hers. My father was standing, peering down at the map with his chin in his hand.

Nathan allowed me into the room, then followed me back to the table, where he stood quietly behind the King.

“Nicholas,” my father said. My mother nodded. Terry stared at me blankly.

“Father, I’ve come to talk to you about a most pressing issue,” I said.

My father sighed. “Everything is a pressing issue, it seemed. What is it that is troubling you?”

“The welfare of our people. Father, they are starving and living in destitute conditions. They need more assistance than we are…”

I trailed off as my father raised his hand.

“We have enough to worry about as it is. While I admit the conditions for our people are not as… generous as they have been in the past, our people are strong. They can overcome any hardships on their own.”

Did he not truly understand how dire things were? That people were homeless and hungry, and needed help.

“If I could just explain –”

“That’s enough, Nicholas,” the King said. “I have given you my answer.”

“You are too young, little prince,” Terry called. “You’re naïve, concerning yourself with… how did you phrase it? ‘The welfare of our people.’ Don’t you understand that our borders are at risk?”

I frowned and looked back to my father for explanation. He waved me closer to the map, and then pointed at the crude black line meant to replicate our border with the Bear People in the North.

“Tensions are high on our northern borders,” the King said. “There have been reports of their soldiers crossing into our territory in large numbers. They are likely planning something.”

“We should call on our alliances,” I said, alarmed.

“Who, exactly?” Terry said with a harsh laugh. “The Merfolk are basically useless unless the Bears attack by water. But they are too smart for that. At least for now.”

I gave Terry a sharp look. He seemed keen on tearing down others’ ideas without producing any of his own.

“The Dragons, then,” I offered.

My father shook his head. “The Bear People and the Dragon Clan have a very old agreement. They have both sworn not to raise arms against the other, in the name of peace.”

It made sense. The Dragons and the Bears were two of the fiercest types of shifters. They lived for war and combat. If they invaded each other, neither would stop until the other was totally wiped out. This would lead to mutually assured destruction.

“There must be something we can do,” I said.

“Pray,” Terry said.

The Luna nodded, agreeing with the sentiment.

“We must find a way to negotiate with the Bear People,” the King said. “If only we knew what they were really after.”

“They know what they are after, dear brother-in-law,” Terry chimed in once more. “They see the weakness of the royal family and wish to claim our land for our own.”

“We have shown weakness,” the Queen agreed.

“What would you suggest, then?” the King said, frowning.

“A show of force,” Terry said. “Send our own troops north.”

“And risk full conflict?” I said.

Terry clucked his tongue at me. “Little boy, don’t you have other things to do? Like worry whether people can afford new sweaters, or whatever you were worried about.”

I grit my teeth. The welfare of the people was not something to be mocked. Feeding our people and protecting the people were two problems, sure, but we didn’t need to sacrifice one for the sake of the other. We could care about both.

Yet I bit my tongue. For whatever the reason, my mother and father too-often deferred to my uncle’s judgement. If I voiced my opinions here, I would only be subject to more mockery.

If I wanted to help the people, I would have to do it on my own. As for the border, I could only hope Terry’s arrogance didn’t lead us into full-scale war.

“I’m not sure it’s wise to send that many troops north,” the King said. “If this is an innocent endeavor on their part, we might then look the part of the aggressor.”

“Rather an aggressor than a coward,” Terry said.

“We should listen to my brother,” the Queen said.

The King frowned deeper.

“Why don’t you run along, Nicholas?” Terry called to me again. “If you truly care so much for the welfare of the people, perhaps you should start with that pretty little commoner and her daughter. They’ve been very… vulnerable lately.” He smiled. “We wouldn’t want anything to happen to them.”

Red hot anger burst in my mind and my wolf snarled under my skin.

Was he just threatening Piper and Elva?

But if he was, what could I do about it? He had my parents’ favor. A seat at the right hand of the King.

I raged in my mind, desiring to jump over the table and throttle him.

As it was, I turned on my heel and stormed to the exit of the room.

I burst into the hallway, then startled to find Julian jumping away from the door. He had clearly been eavesdropping.

I was so angry at Terry, that I didn’t even mind Julian’s presence. In fact, I welcomed it.

I closed the door behind me, then grabbed Julian by the shoulder and roughly dragged him down the hall into my chambers. I threw him inside, then closed the door behind us.

“Don’t take your rage out on me, brother,” Julian said. His smile took on an edge. “But if you want to sabotage our dear uncle Terry, I’m all for it.”

The thought was tempting, but I was never good at subterfuge. Julian knew that. I preferred a more direct route. Like a challenge perhaps.

But that was neither here nor there, and had nothing to do with what I wished to speak to Julian about.

“You need to take Piper on another date,” I said.

Julian’s smile slipped. His brows went high on his forehead. I’d surprised him. Good. That was a nice change.

“That is not something I thought I’d hear you say,” Julian admitted.

It wasn’t something I’d thought I’d say. But for Piper’s safety, I was desperate.

“If you can further establish her as your favorite, it will help protect her against whatever Terry and the rest of our family has planned for her.”

“You think the King and Queen are in on his plans?” Julian asked.

“I don’t know, but they seem fully submissive to the rest of his ideas. I’m not willing to take the chance with Piper’s life. Elva’s either.”

Julian crossed his arms. “Yes, I see what you mean.”

“I can’t give her my protection. Not publically, anyway. Mark has told me that Terry has already approached her in her rooms.”

“He was leering at her during the banquet as well,” Julian added, a detail that made my stomach drop.

Terry was already moving his pieces on the chessboard then. I felt too many turns behind.

“I can continue to date her. Something more public this time,” Julian said.

“That would be best.”

Julian watched me in that unsettling way of his, like he could see through my skin to the heart and soul underneath. Sometimes I felt like I was standing under a microscope.

“If I date her like this, won’t it make you jealous?” Julian asked.

Yes, it would. Not that I would admit that to him. Especially now, when it mattered so little.

“I just want her safe. I can deal with anything else.”