Page 36 of Owned By Four Alphas

Selena withdrew further into Ronan’s warmth, and Malek shifted closer to her, his hand rising to guard her stomach. Kaelen’s eyes flickered to their mate’s movement, and his jaw tightened.

“I think, perhaps, we’re getting a little distracted,” said Elian. “After all, the point of this meeting is to decide whether or not to launch an offensive attack on the Silverthorn Kingdom. The queen believes, and I agree, that we should not resort to violence. Let old Dorian wither and die in his castle a hundred miles away. He’s human. In the blink of an eye he will be nothing but dust.”

“Until another rises to take his place,” Egais said, his eyes flashing with fire. These dragons and their fire. “Damien may be dead, but Dorian has other sons. Sons that are eager to prove themselves. The humans have forgotten precisely what it is they’re dealing with. We should launch an attack and remind them. Reestablish the old territory lines of the First Realm. Restore it to its proper glory before the Breaking.”

“The humans are not defenseless,” said Iveir, his wrinkled brow furrowing. “There are even reports that some magical beings of the Fourth Realm to the south are allying with them. Would we risk war with another Realm?”

“Cowards and traitors,” Ordovic spat. “We can gut any fucking lion or centaur that is weak enough to bend the knee to a filthy bunch of human swine.”

“Need I remind you,” Kaelen hissed, his muscles bunching, “that your queen is human. Show some respect before I rip your tongue out.”

“Better you than one of Dorian’s soldiers,” snarled Ordovic, his skin rippling, his scent spiking. He was losing control.

Malek shifted beside Selena, his eyes darkening.

“Is that a threat, wolf?” Kaelen replied, his voice dropping dangerously low.

“Perhaps it is. What are you going to do about it?”

Elian placed a hand on Kaelen’s arm before he did something stupid like shift into a dragon in Elian’s ancestral home. That would not end well for anyone. Even though Elian had to admit, it would be mightily satisfying to see Kaelen bite Ordovic’s head clean from his shoulders.

“You can’t fight the Silverthorn Empire.”

Selena’s voice cut through the air, clear as glass.

Elian’s gaze jumped to her, and she gave him a small smile before rising to her feet. Kaelen looked torn between attacking Ordovic and rushing to her side, whereas Ronan and Malek remained calmly sitting on either side of her, their eyes narrowed and watchful.

“My lords. Welcome. I have some things to say, if you would hear me.”

Chapter 15 - Selena

Her heart was racing, near beating out her chest as she took in the alphas seated around the table. There were fifteen of them in total; Fae, dragon and wolf. All powerful, some decidedly unfriendly. She glanced to Iveir, Kaelen’s kind yet firm General, and he gave her a reassuring smile.

She sucked in a breath.

“You can’t attack the Silverthorn Kingdom. Not with our Realm as it currently is. Besides, it would take years to break through the human lands to the heart of the Empire where Dorian sits. And it would be innocent blood we would be spilling.”

The alphas exchanged glances, some with sneers on their faces. She swallowed.

You can do this. You have to do this. You can’t let them win.

“My queen,” Ordovic’s gaze was nearly lecherous as he slowly dragged it up and down her form. She fought the urge to shudder. “The humans seemed to have no restraint at all when they invaded. They killed many innocent beings with their little toy Crown, omegas and children included. Why should we grant them the mercy they failed to grant us?”

There were a few murmured agreements, and Selena swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. “That’s not the point. If we focus on strengthening our own lands, on building ties between our clans, then perhaps the humans will think twice before invading again. King Dorian has shown no signs of aggression. We have already proven to him what will happen if he attacks us.”

“Have you spoken with him, my queen?” Theodas’s voice was deceptively lazy, but she knew better. He was, after all, Fae.

Ronan and Malek’s scents spiked with aggression, their gazes trained on him, and she fought the urge to reprimand them. She could do this. She could play this game.

“Not since he sent his son to try and kill me,” Selena said, her voice cool. “But instead, I killed him.”

She let the words ring loud through the hall, let the weight of them settle on their heads.

She was the daughter of a god, not some weak thing to be spoken down to. Her magic crackled down her fingers in delight and she clenched her hands, forcing it down. Now was not the time to lose control of herself.

“If you care so much about uniting the Realm, myqueen, why did you not become a goddess?” Egais’s voice was pure challenge, “The magic was there, given to you by your father, and yet you rejected his position. And now, the magic languishes within a weak human host.”

Kaelen and Ronan growled at the same time, and Egais held his hands up, “That is merely a commentary on her species, not on her in particular. Humans aren’t made to host magic.”

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