Page 22 of Her Elemental Mates

“I love you too, Belladonna.” I kiss her again and finally slide free from her welcoming depths. I know she must be sore from my knot. Kissing her once more, I slip away to the bathroom and warm the water and wet the washcloth. Returning to the room, I carefully move Bella around, cleaning her up from our mating. The towel I brought with me is made from the softest material we have in the castle. Gently I blot her intimate parts dry and by the time I’m done, Bella is in a deep sleep. Gripping the edge of the blankets, I pull them up and over her and tuck her in.

I walk over to the table next to the bed and quickly scroll a note to her, letting her know I’ve gone to see my father. I make sure I tell her I love her again and that I will return with food for her. Once I’m done with the note, I leave my t-shirt from earlier on the pillow next to her with the note on top of it. Creeping across the room, I sneak into my closet and get dressed. I look over at Bella one last time after exiting the closet and then the room.

The halls in my wing of the castle are quiet, like a ghost town giving the newly mated couple privacy per protocol. Several turns later, I run into Derrick, and he walks with me down the hallway. I’m tired and my legs feel like jelly and I’m wobbly like a newborn foal. “Damn dude Bella wrecked you.” Derrick is enjoying my exhaustion entirely too much.

“I’d like to think I gave as well as I received.” A sly smile crosses my lips, and Derrick nods.

He reaches out and touches the shoulder Bella bit and comes away with blood on his fingertip. “A second mark? Wow, she’s really making sure everyone knows who you belong to.” I can’t help but beam with pride at the fact my mate marked me twice.

We arrive at Father’s office sooner than I expected. Just as I raise my hand to knock, Dad opens the door, then pulls me inside. “Did you two feel the power shift last night?” Derrick and I look at each other, then back at my father.

“I was a little detained till just a short while ago.” I try to be as respectful as I can about what I don’t want to say to my father.

“Is that your son!” We hear screaming from the computer on dad’s desk. It’s Flint, and he sounds pissed.

“You need to sit in on this meeting, Kaedyn, especially since you will be crowned as one of the Kings of the Shadow Court once Bella collects all of her mates.” I follow Dad back to his desk and sit in the second chair he has there. On the screen before me, the other three kings and their heirs sit.

“What have you done boy?” Flint screams and I can see the vein bulging in his temple.

Shaking my head, I stare right into the camera. “What do you think I did? I claimed my mate thoroughly and once again this morning.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I wait for him to react to my statement.

“Coro, you know I wanted Bella to meet all the sons and choose who would reign by her side as the First mate.” Flint’s tone is venomous, as you can see the amber hue of his eyes flicker to life as he stares at the screen.

“We all agreed that Bella should take the air prince as her first mate to rule with a level head,” King Idris says as he shakes his head. “Flint, you have tried to stack the deck in the Fire Packs’ favor for far too long. First the trials, now who’s the first mate… You’ve lost your mind.” No sooner does Idris finish his line, father’s door opens, and Bella stands there, regal as ever with the Queens crown she received from Mother upon her head.

Bella seems to glide effortlessly over the wood floor to come stand behind me. She leans down and stares into the camera. “King Flint, keep up this narcistic bullshit and I will not take a mate from your kingdom no matter how much you beg me.” Bella directs the force of her alpha tone at Flint, and we watch him tremble on camera.

“You can’t do that! Tell her she can’t do that, Kaedyn. You’re her mate, you can command her to obey you!” Flint says, pointing at me.

The shadows in the room increase exponentially and the oppressive feel of Bella’s anger is growing by the second. “I obey no one,” Bella says as the shadows in her long tresses come alive.

Reaching up, I move my arm around Bella’s hip, rubbing circles over her hipbone. She calms down slightly and draws in a deep breath. “Father tried to get me to obey. He’s nothing but ash in the wind now.” Bella looks from king to king, then settles on Idris. “We leave for your kingdom this afternoon. We should arrive to you by nightfall, as long as nothing unforeseen happens in the meantime.” Her tone is even and calm, unlike the harsh, almost feral tone she had with Flint.

“Queen Belladonna, I have taken the liberty to send my envoy to collect you and Kaedyn. Within the limo are books on our customs, if you wish to prepare for our trials and events.” Idris’s kind and thoughtful tone brings a smile to Bella’s lips, and she simply bows her head slightly.

“Thank you for your forethought and kindness. If I have any questions, I will make sure to seek either yourself or your mate out.” Bella conducts herself with a grace far beyond her years. “Highnesses,” she says before bowing slightly before leaving the room to prepare for our journey.

The rest of the call goes off without a hitch. Flint behaves himself and issues an apology to me for his conduct. It would better serve him if he apologized to Bella directly. I excuse myself toward the end of the meeting. There’s packing to be done and time waits for no man.

Chapter14

Hollis

I keep staringat the photo Kaedyn sent me of Belladonna holding my shirt. Out of all the boxes, mine is the one that prompted her to change course to come here next. Anxiously, I pace between my room and the east wing where I set up the guest room for Kaedyn and Belladonna. I’ve changed the flower arrangements several times already, not sure what Bella would prefer. “Son, you need to calm down.” My father’s voice startles me, and I spin to face him.

“I get that honestly, I do. I just want everything perfect for her arrival.” Adjusting the black lily mixed with peach-colored roses a third time, I’m becoming frustrated.

Dad walks over and rests a hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “I’m sure they will appreciate all of your efforts. Besides, as long as you act nothing like Flint, I’m sure you’ll do just fine.” Dad laughs.

“I may be an ass, but I’m not that big of an ass.” Laughing to myself, I adjust the bed spread again, debating on changing it again.

“Come now Hollis, we need to get you out of Bella’s space.” My mother smiles at me from the doorway. “The room looks beautiful; she will love it.” I approach mom and kiss both of her cheeks.

“Everything will be fine, you big softy.” Mom pinches my side and pulls me out of Bella’s room. “We’ll have everyone at dinner tonight, then tomorrow we will do the hunt and let everyone’s wolves loose.” Mom’s eyes flash with the power of her wolf and it settles my nerves some.

Leaving Bella’s hallway is difficult. My base instincts are driving me to provide and protect her since I found out my scent had called to her. My brothers and I felt the power shift last night when we can only assume that they sealed their bond. It felt like a shock wave went out across the lands. It rolled over me and made my wolf awaken and take notice. From what our scholars told us this morning, it’s because there’s a Spirit Wolf in existence again. The scholar also said the order Bella has chosen leans toward the path of the benevolent ruler.

Hollis: How are you guys making out?

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