Page 21 of Ruined by His Alpha King (Reluctant Fae Princes #3)

Seidrik

How Stamel could remain so infuriatingly calm after the whole ordeal escaped him completely. The nymph queen knew all things life and death.

He’d disposed of the flowers at the forest’s edge and taken the box with himself as a gift. He hoped they’d understand him being unable to carry them to the castle.

Stamel and Seidrik flew to the edge of the forest, walked toward the roadside, and sent a signal via a little butterfly up the lane to their driver. Stamel did the spell so well, a beautiful little jewel fly.

They rode in silence, and Stamel’s expression stayed hard, even as the driver asked how their excursion went.

“Fine. The nymphs have agreed to stop fucking with the crops if our guards will stop hunting her prized sun pheasants and stealing their fornication fruits.” Stamel leaned back in his chair and brooded.

The driver, potentially aware of said fornication fruits and stolen birds, blushed vividly and kept silent the entire drive, too.

At the castle, they went their separate ways, Stamel to go speak with the guard and Seidrik to go clean up and dress for dinner. Stamel never dressed up for dinner unless explicitly told to by Alluin, so it was no surprise.

Everything Seidrik did felt like it was automatic. Numbness held his heart and mind. His tongue tasted dry as he tried to reckon when he’d last imbibed wine, when he’d done things that could have harmed their child. And if he’d want to.

He didn’t .

It seemed almost like a blessing and a curse. Freedom. He could walk away from it all! He could fly off into the sunset with Stamel, live the life of a vagabond, return to Croatens to hide away. Perhaps Lumic and Askara wouldn’t mind their staying in Summer’s Keep.

When he styled his braid and stared at himself in the mirror of his dressing room, he eyed the lighter color of his hair.

The darkwash never lasted all that long, letting his golden fleecy pale shine through in a matter of weeks.

His roots already were sinfully pale, faded out as if he’d been in more sun.

When he arrived at the dining hall, Stamel and Alluin sat there already, chatting cordially about the situation in the forest. Alluin shook his head dismissively.

“I will have at least one of them dismissed for this. One cannot fathom the pain this causes when my own guards misbehave. How it reflects upon me, as their king.”

Seidrik took a seat quietly and earned a flick of a glance from Alluin. “Stamel has informed me that you were instrumental in appeasing Queen Aster.”

Seidrik froze in place and nodded once, making no move to brag or dismiss.

“I am…appreciative.” Alluin said the word like it tasted bitter, glancing at Stamel for approval. “I do tend to overlook your accomplishments. I should be more thankful.”

Seidrik dared to glance at his father, taking in his stiff posture and moue of distaste.

“I need no gratitude, Father. What I do is for our people. There was a problem, and I solved it. Your acknowledgment means much to me.” Seidrik bowed his head and waved a servant down as they passed by, requesting a glass of water.

The cook always prepared their water with ice magic, dried citronelia peel, and a drop of vitalis. It raised the spirits .

When he picked up the glass and drank, that familiar cool, invigorating bliss enveloped him.

“Good. Good. I’ll handle all that. So, you were saying about the trade in Croatens. I do wish to unite better, but my link with Askara is weak at best, I do admit.” Alluin stared at Stamel with genuine investment.

“Well. I had an idea. I am no longer in line for the throne, but I have redeemed myself somewhat. I was never dishonored, but I do not feel like I could contribute much to another family line—considering Croatens’ history.” Stamel traced a finger around the rim of a glass of wine, expression cold.

“Pity. You’re a very talented alpha.” Alluin did the same, sighing in pleasure as he sat the glass down.

“And Seidrik—we both know that he will not sire any heirs for the progress of Liaberos. After all, our goddess the sun has mandated Virion’s line would have that unique privilege.” Stamel tilted the glass and stared into it as if the bottom of his cup were of greater interest than his words.

“Mmm, yes,” Alluin said. His expression hardened at the reminder of Seidrik’s inadequacy, but his gaze did not turn his son’s way.

“Why not engage in a union? Since children are not necessary…” Stamel grinned and caught Alluin’s confused gaze.

“Excuse me?” He flustered, opening and closing his mouth a few times before waiting for explanation.

“I humbly ask for Seidrik’s hand in union before the goddess—if she wills, of course.” Stamel stood and bowed before Alluin, who stared at him with confusion.

Seidrik choked on his water, pounding at his chest with desperation to clear his airways.

“But he’s a beta ! Beta males do not— ”

“Engage in maritals? I’m sure you’re aware there are men of that persuasion. I could hardly deny your son is an attractive male. It would be no hardship.” Stamel tilted his head up toward Alluin. “If the goddess wills, of course.”

“I don’t—I cannot flaw your logic, but would Seidrik approve? I don’t know if it would stand, either.” For once in his long life, Alluin had thought to ask for Seidrik’s permission, and it was for this?

Seidrik coughed and held up his napkin, avoiding the answer.

“Oh, come now, Alluin. It’s the modern era. The time of the thalmway. If I’m not mistaken, it’s not against any laws for a beta male and alpha to wed.”

“Irregular, perhaps, but… I suppose if there’s no attraction, you’re free to have your dalliances…” Alluin’s suggestion made Seidrik want to fling his glass. No other male need lay a hand on my mate, you vicious middenweasel!

“And it would just complicate family lines if either of us had children beyond a few bastards.” Stamel snorted, and Alluin cheered his glass with a smirk of amusement. “Surely you have a few?”

“I do.” Alluin snorted.

“Oh, scandalous! Anyone I know?” Stamel leered and Alluin waved his hand dismissively.

“A few odd daughters. All given as conscripts to the conservatory, as has been tradition in Liaberos for many generations of royalty. I thought you knew that when we had Kimbel sent there for his ongoing education.” Alluin snorted, and rage boiled in Seidrik.

His father had committed adultery against his mother.

Had fathered bastards. He even had a step-by-step plan on where to send them.

“I’m sure Tyran, is that the boy’s name?

Yes. I’m sure he’ll do well there, too.”

Stamel nodded gently. “Tyran is a political pawn, not a bastard of mine. I harbor him as one. As long as he’s under my care, his true sire does his due diligence. That said, I am quite fond of the boy, between you and I, of course.”

Alluin’s gaze lit with delight at the deviousness of it, a familiar conniving expression that Seidrik had grown accustomed to.

“So, what say you, Seidrik?”

“I don’t have to be fucked in front of an audience like you made Virion, do I?” Seidrik’s snap did not go unnoticed as his father glared.

“Of course not.” Alluin waved a hand.

“Good, because I’m certain that Seidrik is no virgin.” Stamel laughed heartily.

“Really? I was worried. With how many females I’ve sent around you and not an indecent moment, I was disappointed. Had me worried you weren’t your father’s son.” Alluin took another swig of wine, and it hit Seidrik in a flash of a too-blue glassine eye.

Father is drunk…

“I’ll do as I am instructed, as per the goddess and king’s will.” Seidrik cleared his throat.

“I do wonder, though, will you be consummating?” Alluin chuffed a half laugh.

We already have. Many times. Seidrik buried the short comment in his own prudence and glanced away.

“If the goddess wills it,” Stamel said, nodding sagely.

He flagged down an attendant and took from them a writing board with a piece of parchment pinned down.

On it was official letterhead from Liaberos and a transcribed blessing from Croatens.

Seidrik craned his head to read it, but his position at the table limited his vantage point.

“Seems you’ve thought this out.” Alluin stared at the paper and squinted hard, head swaying. Very drunk.

“I have an admission to make, Alluin.” Stamel, on a first-name basis with his father, sighed. “I fear that the two of us are fated. I know the goddess will approve. His inability to sire a child may be on the goddess’s behalf, ensuring him to me. To unite our kingdoms.”

The piety was too much for Seidrik to believe, but Alluin bought the holy and imperious speech with a nod. “Honestly, it makes sense. We ask the goddess at dawn!”

Seidrik pushed the paper toward Alluin, and he sighed with a flourish and demanded his dessert be brought to him first.

And if the king had his sweets first, so did they. And fittingly, it was cake, a fluffy, white birch-syrup cake with creamed flickercane and flaxsheep butter frosting topped with a shaving of finely ground tallroot powder.

“Here’s to my beta son finally becoming useful to the crown.” He toasted his glass to Stamel and frowned before gesturing to an attendant to top him off once more.

Seidrik sipped his water and took a bite of cake as the sweetness of it turned to ash in his mouth.

Moments stretched into minutes before Alluin shook his fork at Stamel, his face a contorted twist of confusion. “Okay, so I have to ask.”

Stamel raised a single brow.

“Which one of you is the woman so to speak?” Alluin gave Seidrik a glassy-eyed stare.

Dinner seemed far less important than it had five minutes ago. Seidrik stood, almost knocking his chair over, face a heated mask. “Father!”

“I suppose that answers my question.” Alluin took another bite of cake while humming with delight.

“I’m going to bed. Goodnight, Father. And goodnight, fiancé, I suppose.” Seidrik turned in place and stormed off .