Page 49

Noviana's heels clicked as she walked beside me, the sound on the marble floors of the palace uniquely hers and oddly soothing to my wolf.

Her confident gait was told in the simple sound.

Click, click, click. A quick but steady echo from her added six inches of height.

How she steadily walked in forests with those things was beyond me.

So was how she could possibly keep her footsteps soft.

As if sensing my strange thought process the thin blonde woman looked over at me, "Sebastian. We should accomplish our goal within the next few days, otherwise your health may permanently suffer."

I smiled patiently at the woman, ignoring the way her gown exposed tempting glimpses of skin.

They always did.

"I informed the necessary officials via pack link when we arrived in the city. They know to expect me in the throne room for a royal decree."

Humor glittered in her eyes, "are you supposed to wear some hideous crown for such things?"

Yes, "I am terrible at following that rule."

"Pity, I was hoping to be amused."

"Perhaps another time." I replied blandly.

He pace slowed slightly as we reached the doors of the thrown room.

Then, with a snap or her fingers they flew open before I could even reach to push them open.

So much for holding open doors for a lady like my mother taught me.

Mine likes to make her entrances grand.

Every. Fucking. Time.

She followed me inside, chin held high and gaze stony.

I greeted the gathered crowd with a nod as I sank into my gilded throne upon its dais.

The snowy haired blonde leaned against its side, one creamy leg exposed to nearly her hip through the slit in her dress.

I gazed over everyone in attendance, those who would be responsible for broadcasting my message, the representatives for the future king candidates, the candidates themselves, my beta, and several other necessary people.

I was sure the candidates wouldn't be pleased, they had expected a decision from me on who would take my place.

They were about to be told none.

I noticed Mase eyeing Noviana cautiously.

The woman certainly knew how to put a room on edge.

I sighed slowly, "I gathered you all here because I have come to an important decided that effects our people as a whole."

The room waited in utter silence.

I resisted the urge to glance at Nova for her reaction. But I assumed she was watching them all like a hawk while appearing utterly at ease.

"Noviana Nivara is my mate and I have chosen to accept her as such..."

It wasn't silent anymore.

I waited a moment patiently before growling lowly, "Silence. Noviana will be my mate but she will not be my queen. She will have no say in the state of affairs with our people."

"Shes a witch!" One of the alpha candidates protested. If I recalled correctly he was alpha to a large back, enough to make a slight problem if he were to rebel.

"She is." I stated calmly.

"A demons blooded creature cannot be trusted!" He continued.

I could feel the feral grin beneath Novas cold facade as she stepped forward into my line of sight.

She was a predator of the worst sort. One so still and calm, you doubted the danger to begin with. "I hold no demon blood."

"Lies." He spat back, "a witch is always-"

"Basic witches." She replied as if bored, summoning one of her cigarette sticks and lighting up a majismoke, its teal smoke shimmering through the air, "I am a spirit class witch, not one of those weak peasants you hunt."

"Noviana has no demon blood nor has she.. consorted with one to gain her powers. She was born as she is."

"How are we sure she isn't using a spell to control you?" He asked indignantly.

The fucking nerve of this wolf. "You assume your king is so weak as to allow that?" I growled out.

"The audacity." Nova murmured through her smoke. "That would be too boring. I would simply kill him put several of you under a spell and then begin a war of spell fodder."

"Nova." I snapped softly.

She smiled coyly at me over her shoulder.

I ignored her obvious game, "we are to draw up a contract, a blood contract restricting her power over the wolves, and the liberties she takes with her magic.

"She will still practice?" Another wolf asked, eyeing my mate with more than a little caution.

"She will... but rest assured, pack wolves will be safe... as will humans."

A tiny scoff from the blonde, "I agreed only to not killing pack wolves, humans are up for discussion."

"Nova."

"Sebastian."

"Criminal humans."

"What if I need a virgin?"

"Find one sentenced to death." I replied cooly.

She was quiet, "that can be arranged."

I growled at her, "must you be difficult now?"

"Not necessarily, but I do love to rile you."she replied, drifting over to me, "and this room is hideous."

I took her small hand not holding the cigarette stick, "too bad."

She smiled softly, shooting me a wink.

Everything in the room changed.

My throne was black and silver, the curtains a mix of midnight blue and black, the windows iron and stained glass. Even the carpet leading to the throne was a deep midnight blue.

The once gold and red room was now a heady nighttime scheme laced with iron and silver.

Even the marble was webbed with black.

"Better." She purred, practically draping herself at me feet.

What an image she was as she lounged like a cat, head leaned against my thigh, her creamy legs exposed once more.

The change in the room was enough to quiet the nervous wolves.

"Nova, was that necessary?" I asked blandly.

"Yes." She replied, equally deadpanned, "this suits your power more."

"My power or your taste?"

"Your eyes may burn an amber gold but they do so with midnight fire." Was her less than simple reply.

I shook my head a bit, unconsciously running a hand through her silken blonde hair a moment, forgetting what it would look like.

A powerful woman at my feet, being stroked like a cat.

I may be in a weakened state but the image we presented was anything but.

"Sly little thing." I murmured so only she could hear.

I felt her slight smile as she nipped on of my fingers.

"Now if we are done with questioning my ability to hold my throne, I am going to outline the contract. It should serve to put the people's worries at ease."

Not a single person protested.

They were either too aware of future consequences when I was back to full strength, or too weary of the predatory woman I seemed to have some sort of control of.

After all, if the banished witch will lay at my feet, what sort of control must I have over everything?

It was an excellent choice on her part to speed up this process.

Unfortunately for her though...

I find I really like her there.