Page 144 of Finding Love with the Fae King

“I need to tell you, though, as the Queen of the Golden Light Kingdom, that we are having trouble with Vermillion.” I sat up on my elbow while Clara continued to tickle Evelyn’s belly. “The Queen and the Crowned Prince are having trouble regulating rogue vampires and witches in their kingdom. You saw that yesterday while our wolves came to assist. For now, things are stable, but my mother sees another war brewing. With your association with your father, you may have to call upon his help, too.”

I frowned. A war? We just took care of the Blood Coven. How many other powerful entities could there be?

“Do not worry, Melina. We have some time before anything happens. You are a woman who likes to plan, so I thought I would give a heads up.” Clara laid on her back to close her eyes.

“And I will have to do the same,” she whispered so faintly I barely heard it.

The future Queen of the Werewolves spoke of the war of vampires with a warning, and all I could do was think about how I was going to help her. After the coronation, I would train with Osirus and become his fiercest warrior if I had to. To protect our home, new life, and whatever family we create together.

“Melina, sleep. I had to tell you now because we are both busy women.” She giggled as she rolled over. My eyes slipped a few times before I felt a strong feeling of drowsiness hover over my eyes.

Chapter Seventy-Three

Osirus

Themengatheredinthe smoking-room. It was filled with darker wood furniture and paintings of old warriors with nothing but pelts of animals and warrior regalia. Darker greens and reds kept the room ominous, which was why I stayed away from this room. My father and Cosmo used to use this place as a war room, or should I say Cosmo used to sway my father’s decisions about the kingdom. Using filthy words of deceit of how it would better the people.

Now it was being used for the first time in ages as a bachelor pad. There weren’t really any bachelors, but Luna Clara said the men should get together to “hang out” while the women did their thing.

Kane was sitting in the corner, sulking. The guy had some issues he needed to work on his own. His mate can’t be up his ass all the time. Every few minutes, you could hear a growl from his wolf in disapproval of being away from Clara.

Then again, who was I to judge? I wanted Melina all to myself, but hell, I had just found her, and I didn’t want to let her go. Didn’t that give me more reason to be possessive?

“So, what does one do at a bachelor party?” Alaneo took a sip of his wine as he sat gracefully on the couch. Kane threw back a shot of werewine, rolled his eyes, and planted both hands on the bar behind the sofa.

“Girls, man, there are usually girls.” Braxton had his head leaned back in his chair in boredom and tossed a grape in the air, catching it flawlessly. “Like strippers and shit, maybe some lap dances?” Everett scoffed in the corner, his arms crossed with a disappointed look toward his brother..

“Aye, we are the only unmated men in the room.” Everett smacked his brother. “Besides, you should prepare yourself for your mate. I’ve got a good feeling we will meet them soon.” Everett’s smile crept upon his lips as he chewed his cheek. “If my mate is as sweet as Opal, I would be a fortunate man.”

“Whatever, brother.” Braxton scoffed. Braxton had long given up on finding his mate. Thus, his dick had become the head of the operation in any fantasies he desired. If he wasn’t careful, his mate would catch him in the act with someone else.

My father walked into the room with a sizable golden-colored box. Setting it on the table, he fiddled with the lock, and the container squeaked open. Inside there were several pipes along with a few bags of herbs of various colors. Each pipe he set out on a felt pad with the utmost care as he fiddled with the herbs and stuffed each one.

“I do not know what a ‘bachelor party’ is, but I will tell you one thing. It is a tradition to smoke these pipes the day before the binding ceremony. Even though you are already mated, Osirus, I still feel like we just uphold this in honor of your grandfathers.” I nodded at him. I still wanted to keep up with certain traditions, which seemed very important for a binding ceremony. There were enough pipes for all of us. Braxton took the first and inhaled the substance. He tilted his head with his eyebrows raised, looking pleased as he sat back down.

Alaneo, Kane, and Everett followed suit, and Finley would have to take a rain check since he was still tending to Opal in the sick ward. My pipe was the largest, with a family crest embossed on the side. I took a puff as the room filled with smoke clouds.

“I feel funny.” Braxton leaned back on the couch. “I feel like I’m floating.” Braxton took his hands and waved them around his face and started giggling. Others had different reactions, such as Kane, who only seemed antsier. He was pacing the room as soon as he took three puffs of the stuff. There was growling and a bit of swearing.

Alaneo sat stoically, along with a faint grin on his face, while he looked out the window. Several sighs left him as he finished his pipe. I felt alert and more in tune with my body. My heart felt like it was being pulled out of my chest. I followed the pull, and it led me to the window where Alaneo was staring.

Juliet was in the garden sitting with several women. They were tending to her hair, and they were putting flowers in the braid. Juliet had opted to stay at the palace because she was freshly mated, and the thought of being too far away from Alaneo hurt her. My heart was beating out of my chest that I wanted to scratch off my tunic.

Kane joined me at the window. “Clara isn’t here,” he growled. “Where the fuck is my mate?” Kane grabbed my arm, but I quickly let the deep fae magic seep from me that scalded his hand. “The hell?” He wiped his hand on his shirt, leaving black smudges.

Concentrating, I could feel Melina was not here either. “Where are our mates? Where are the warriors?” I spat as I went to the door. My father stopped me and put his hand on my shoulder.

“Easy there, son, they are all right. They went to Atlantis to partake in her people’s traditions. Clara went willingly as well as your Melina.” The room shook as Kane growled in frustration.

“Bring them back,” he whispered. His claws were becoming exposed. Worrying about him shifting right here in front of a bunch of high-ranking warriors high as a kite, my father waved the smoke around the room with a large fan.

“The herb is called Caspis. It’s found in the Western Mountains. When you inhale, it lets your body take on your emotions and gets you drunk on your desires.”

“Damn it, Father, you can’t give that shit to Kane.” I took Kane’s pipe and shoved it back into the box. Those with mates had raging boners, and Braxton had fallen asleep.

“It’s unbearable.” Everett grabbed his knees. “I don’t have a mate, and I yearn for her. This was fucked up.” Everett stood up and left the room while I scowled at my father.

“Why would you give that to him?” I growled out at him, but he only laughed.

---