Page 7 of Finding Love with the Fae King

Chapter Four

Osirus

I’dbeensittingherefor the past hour watching the unmated fae maidens dance with barely any clothes on. Their thin material was catching the small breeze coming from the large balcony window. It was a tradition that they sent in dancers from across the fae country every few months to woo me into picking one of them for a queen. The parliament was a pain in my wings. Little did they know I had no desire to pick any of them. Never.

For the past eight hundred years, I had built up a reputation for myself, only to protect the throne and appease my parents. I’ve been told I was heartless, conniving, a womanizer, and a trickster with some things I had supposedly done. Some of them were true. I was a trickster with Parliament. That was in a fae’s nature, to trick and play games. I was just only enhancing it a bit more than others.

I smiled at the center of the room where the women danced, remembering one of my tricks. We had gathered for a large banquet in honor of the sun. We were the Golden Light Kingdom, so celebrating the Second Sun Season was expected. The food was laid for all to see, many delicacies from around our nation.

Lotus flower candies, chocolate sponge cakes, strawberry soufflé, and ginger tea, among others, sat around the tables. Everyone had seated and was waiting for me to raise my hand to begin the feast. Before I could begin, a loud scream came from across the garden as several fauns chased a woodland fairy sprite, who was completely naked and in an enlarged form. She was laughing and playing as she jumped and fluttered over the table; the fauns, going through their rutting season, stepped on all the food and cutlery, causing the entire feast to be ruined.

Once the trampled food lay in a giant heap of trash, everyone looked up at me in shock, waiting for me to be angered.

What was funny was that everyone thought if I lost my temper, I would end them. Being the largest fae and King could give you that assumption, but it was quite the opposite. I hated these ceremonies as much as the sleazy concubines I had to keep stored away in a harem on the other side of the castle. Pointless.

I waved my hand, stood up, put my hands behind my back, and trailed off with Alaneo, my adviser and best friend, by my side. He was the one I put in charge of making them think of me how they do. That way, no one dared to stand up to me and the throne. To be heartless. That was what my father wanted of me, not just to protect the throne, but our family as well.

The one thing they never pushed for me was finding a queen. Fae are more lenient with mating with non-mates or chosen mates. Fae crave companions and power. Many nobles mated with those that would give them more power or status in the Court, but it never worked. I stopped accepting chosen mates’ unions into the Court for that reason. It helped with corruption greatly. The Moon Goddess chose our mates for a reason; why not honor it?

The girls were still dancing a good hour later, and I was growing bored. I haphazardly leaned on my elbow on the throne and threw my leg over the armrest, my signature sitting style, for when I was getting impatient. The music stopped after the chorus, and I waved my hand for Alaneo to make the announcement. He knew the drill.

“Thank you all for coming this year. His highness must regretfully inform you he will not be taking a chosen mate this year. If you will, please exit the throne room, we will see everyone at the Winter Ball.” There were groans of protest, but I ignored them, putting my arm over my forehead, and staring at the ceiling.

The ceiling was made of marble tile and painted by the most skilled painter over twelve hundred years ago. The painting was called “Meeting of Mates.” Several women were dancing in scantily clad clothing, and male fae were reaching for their mates. Their eyes locked on one another, and they smiled. A fae could find one’s mate by staring into their eyes and looking into their soul.

Taking a gigantic sigh, I heard Alaneo clear his throat.

“Yes, Alaneo?” I rolled my eyes.

“Still pouting?” Alaneo sat beside my throne in his appointed chair and leaned on the armrest nearest to me.

“I’m just tired of waiting. Eight hundred rotations of the light sources, and I still haven’t found her. Maybe my reputation for scaring off enemies has also scared her too.”

“That is not the case. You said so yourself that Clara claimed the Moon Goddess was giving you one soon.” Alaneo was always the voice of reason. Only he could lift my spirits.

Clara, also known as Princess Clarabelle, became my second closest confidant besides Alaneo. She could see right through the facade I put on for my kingdom. To appear strong, but on the inside, I was a weak man waiting for his beloved soulmate to grace his life. She brought a message of hope that my love would be graced to me soon but would be like a little wisp that tried to defy anyone that tried to take control of her.

For the last few hundred years, I had become depressed, and my usual entertainment had bored me. There was a time I had a few favorite concubines, but I hadn’t laid a finger on them for the past three hundred or so years. The Goddess must have been punishing me.

Before I could reply with a response, Daphne walked into the throne room without knocking. Alaneo and I both groaned in annoyance.You sleep with a woman one time, and she thinks she owns the place. Hell, it was well over three hundred and fifty years ago, but who’s counting?

“Yes, Daphne? How can we help you?” Alaneo said in a groaning tone, not acting professionally. I gave him a smirk and a light chuckle so she couldn’t hear.

Overall, Daphne was decent in her looks. She was naturally slender, with medium-sized breasts that were always on display. Her red lips were a bit overdrawn, and her eyes were an alabaster gray that matched her dull personality. We grew up as friends long ago, but as she grew older, she realized what influence her family had over the Parliament. She wanted to get into the laws and tax some people more heavily to get a bit more money in her and her family’s pockets. I saw through her greediness right after I slept with her. She started bossing my servants and trying to dock their pay all within one night of sleeping with her. Daphne was quickly thrown out and put back in her spot as Duchess. I never planned on keeping her around, anyway; it was a one-time deal, just like all the others.

“Your Majesty, I come bringing news of the Fae Council regarding the Peace Treaty of the Cerulean Moon Kingdom,” she said sweetly.

Upon hearing the news, I sat up. This peace treaty and alliance with the Cerulean Moon Kingdom would benefit both of our nations. Protection for both of us and seeking justice for those who cannot do so alone. That was Princess Clara’s ultimate plea, and it immediately drew me to her. To help those that couldn’t help themselves.

“I see,” I spoke with no emotion. Standing up from my throne, my robes danced across the marble as I started down the stairs. “When does she want the treaty signed?” I stopped in front of her, glaring.

“There is a mating ceremony tomorrow at the Crimson Shadows Pack. She said she would have time afterward. You are welcome to come to the ceremony and enjoy the festivities,” Daphne said, fluttering her eyelashes.

“Tell her I’ll be there.” I turned and waved her off.

“Would you like an escort, Your Majesty? I am free tomorrow.” I stopped in my tracks and turned my head so I could lay one eye on her.

“No.” I walked out of the room, and I heard a large huff come from her lips as she stomped to the door.

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