Page 29 of Faeling (Monstrous World #4)

Even with his hand between her legs and his spend on her hand, she didn’t feel exposed like she had before. Not with how he surrounded her, sharing her breath. When he sought another kiss, she eagerly gave it, nipping his lower lip with her fangs.

She was rewarded with another small spurt into her hand.

“I’m amending the deal again,” he panted. “ This is how I wish to start every day.”

Normally, Vallek would relish a meeting such as this.

Rather than his Balmirran ministers sitting round the small council chamber’s table, today it was Hrothgar and Kennum’s representatives sitting across from each other.

A handful of Vallek’s own people, such as Eydis and Ulrich, also sat round, mostly to ensure he had enough bodies to intervene if any fights broke out.

A tense negotiation, bending politics to his will, was its own kind of delicious thrill. He aimed to solve this matter today, or at least find some kind of agreement for the time being.

Really, anything that got him back to his mate, he might just agree to.

He had to put real effort into paying attention to the proceedings, his mind happily running off to think about Ravenna and her luscious little body and the noises she made and the way her claws scraped his head—if given the chance.

Vallek looked up in time to see Eydis widening her eyes at him significantly. Ah, his input was needed.

“I understand your frustrations,” Vallek said, “that is why this meeting was arranged—” by Eydis “—to hear and address your concerns. You have all been exceedingly patient as I deal with other matters, and I extend my thanks.”

Kennum’s representative Rulf nodded, if not pleased then at least understanding, but Hrothgar maintained his squinting scowl.

“You haven’t even met with any of my girls,” the old rascal complained.

“Nor have you met the ladies of Kaldebrak,” Rulf was quick to add. “I would be more than happy to ask Chieftain Kennum to send them. So you may make an informed decision.”

Hrothgar’s scowl turned to Rulf, who chose not to even look the chieftain’s way. He no doubt still felt the menace radiating off the old orc.

“That hardly seems necessary,” Hrothgar grumbled. “Just pick one.”

Vallek held up his hands. “Both of your offers are more than generous. I’m sure any of your daughters would make a fine wife and queen.”

“Yphella especially,” Hrothgar insisted.

“Kennum’s daughters are all fine orcesses,” Rulf countered. “Any orc would be lucky to have any of them for a wife.”

“But they’re not here and my girls are. So how committed is Kennum really?”

“Strange that you should come and make this offer only after my lord Kennum did?”

Vallek cleared his throat. “There’s no need to argue, my lords. I don’t intend to leave you in suspense.”

If Eydis’s report was anything to go by, Hrothgar and his daughters and niece had found every opportunity to try pinning her down in his absence. She’d taken to actively trying to avoid them, spending long hours in his quarters with Hilde and Ravenna.

“Deal with him,” Eydis had warned on their way to the meeting, “or I’ll tell your new mate all your dislikes rather than letting her find out herself.”

For fear of what his mischievous mate would do with that information, as well as what Eydis and Ravenna might accomplish together, Vallek agreed.

He also wanted unification and peace and his citadel back, et cetera et cetera, of course, but he knew very well to heed a threat from Eydis. They weren’t made lightly.

His mind had been many places over the last fortnight, it was true, but it was made at least in this: Ravenna was his mate, and he would have only her.

What that meant, how that looked, he didn’t know. For now, he had to buy himself time—and unification, if he could.

Leaning forward, he laid his palms on the table before him. Those gathered hushed, rocking forward themselves to better hear his decision.

Affecting a grave tone, Vallek said, “I wouldn’t want to sully the bonds between Kaldebrak and Innrinhom. While Balmirra has long been the seat of our kin, that doesn’t make your strongholds and people any less important. To give my favor to one or the other may cause…bad feelings.”

Several gasps met his statement, and more than a few fists banged on the table. Two of them were Hrothgar’s. The orc leapt to his feet, far more spry than his age implied, his scarred face animated with outrage.

Arguments erupted around the table, several others standing with and against Hrothgar. Ulrich jumped to his feet to join the fray, trying to shout everyone down, while Eydis slumped back in her seat and rubbed her temple as she shot him a dark look.

Annoyed, Vallek lifted Hormhím beside him and smacked the blunt head onto the floor. “Enough!”

Hrothgar scowled at him. “What are you getting at, boy? My girls aren’t good enough for you?”

Vallek fixed the old chieftain with a cold stare. “Watch your words, old man. Remember to whom you speak.”

Hrothgar snorted, his lips pursed sourly, but he retook his seat.

Rulf remained quiet, although his look was no less mutinous. It seemed neither side was pleased with this news.

Vallek had hoped that neither losing to the other would perhaps soften neither winning, but alas, it seemed that wasn’t so.

“I don’t expect you to leave with nothing,” Vallek continued, unsurprised when several ears perked.

“Instead of one of your daughters, I invite both Kaldebrak and Innrinhom to send emissaries to join my council. Your opinions and concerns will be heard without having to part with your kin. I am also proposing stronger trade agreements between our great cities to bring our people together. Let orc-kin grow rich and fat with their good fortune and our alliance.”

That garnered murmurs—hopefully a better outcome than shouting.

“My hope is that these emissaries will come together to form a council, one that, amongst other things, will ensure mutual aid across the territories.”

His final carrot raised a few thick eyebrows.

He wasn’t the first Balmirran chieftain to unite the territories into a kingdom.

He also wasn’t the first to promise mutual aid.

For all their shared language and culture, orcs could be a tribal lot.

Taking orders from another clan rankled—several had left the territories the last time a Balmirran chieftain tried to rule, creating independent, isolated tribes along the far eastern reaches of orcish lands.

“If we are to survive in this world, orc must protect orc. I pledge now that Balmirra will come to the aid of any who need her. But this isn’t enough. The threats beyond our borders are to us all, and therefore we must all meet them. United.”

Hrothgar huffed. “You expect me to go to war for Kennum?”

“If war cannot be avoided, then yes. Just as I expect Kennum and Kaldebrak to go to war for the Innrini.”

The old chieftain didn’t give up his scowl, but Vallek didn’t think he imagined that Hrothgar’s expression softened infinitesimally with thought.

Rising from his seat, the others scrambled to stand, too.

“Think on it, my lords.”

Vallek would have left, anxious to rejoin his mate, had Rulf not asked, “Do you mean to never take a queen, then?”

Ignoring Ulrich’s withering glare, Vallek replied, “For now, the throne will remain mine alone.” That was all he could promise.

Today, let them chew over the benefits of unification and mutual aid. Tomorrow, get them to swallow a half-fae mate.

That was all well and good to plan; however, Vallek had his doubts by the time he returned to his quarters. If he’d thought unification was difficult, it would likely pale in comparison to then getting his new allies to accept Ravenna as his mate, a half- fae he rejected noble-blooded orcesses for.

Fuck, what a headache.

But when he caught sight of Ravenna hurrying toward him, eager to hear what had happened, he couldn’t be too frustrated.

She might not know it, none might understand it, but Vallek had an itching suspicion that his faeling would make a mighty ally and protector of the realm.

More than just his mate, she would make a formidable queen.

When she was near, he caught her hand and raised it to his lips for a kiss.

“Hello, skala .”

“How did it go?” she asked, forgoing greetings.

Huffing a laugh, Vallek tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow and led her into the den. As they settled down, Vallek in his usual seat before pulling Ravenna down to tuck into his side, he described the meeting and his proposals.

Her dark brows lifted higher and higher the longer he spoke.

“Do you mean it?” she murmured.

“I give you my word. As a king and as your mate.”

“But it would be so much simpler to just…” Give her up.

Yes, it would. However, “I’ve never feared a challenge.” Gently, he pushed a lock of her long hair behind the delicate point of her ear. “You are worth it and more, sprite.”

She rewarded him with another of those lavender blushes he was coming to love.

“How do you think we should proceed?” Although he would fight the Ever-Father himself for his mate, he realized he didn’t have to go at this alone. He wasn’t alone in this mating and indeed shouldn’t be in their effort to be accepted.

Ravenna seemed surprised by the question. “I haven’t had any visions of it,” she admitted. “I don’t know what the other chieftains will do.”

“I meant your opinion, love.” While a vision would indeed be handy right about now—he’d need a contingency if Hrothgar refused all offers and terms—it wasn’t what he was after from her.

Her blush deepened, as if she hadn’t expected him to ask for her input.

The realization shamed him. He couldn’t have her thinking he only wanted her for his bed.

That wouldn’t do at all.

It might take time and some clever politicking, but Vallek intended to have her in all ways, all throughout his life. That was the way of the mate-bond, and he’d not be denied it just because he sat upon a throne.

After a moment’s consideration, Ravenna said, “If either chieftain refuses you, escort them back home. Say it’s for their safety and bring a sizeable force.

Charm them along the way. When you arrive at Kaldebrak or Innrinhom, stay a while.

And when you leave, go to the tribes in the east. Having their loyalty will surely bring Kennum and Hrothgar back to your table. ”

The breath rushed out of Vallek in awe. She said it so confidently, with a certainty as though it were a vision.

Perhaps it was. A vision of another sort.

Vallek smiled. Pulling her close, he nuzzled her temple. “My clever girl. You’ll win me my kingdom yet.”