Marriage Alliance With The Lycan Monarch
Chapter 24: Unacceptable Marriage [Part 2]

Chapter 24: Unacceptable Marriage [Part 2]

Tarn broke a sweat and fell to his knees, and the others did too. The lights in the room dimmed, and a heavy pressure shrouded the air.

I had unintentionally released my alpha command. Half of the court was probably dead already.

I sighed, rubbing my eyes with two fingers. Look at what they made me do. Idiots.

"Compensate the families of the deceased, they have served the crown well." My hand fell to my side, and I peered at Tarn suspended to the ground. "Are you dead?"

He tried speaking, but his words came off as muffled and strained, his entire body shaking tremendously.

He’s still alive, then.

"Stand," I ordered.

He did, just as my command expelled and allowed life to wind back in, and the lights that had dimmed flickered back up.

"Be careful of the next words that come out of your mouth. I do not wish to eliminate my entire court on my first day as monarch, spare me that trouble."

He hesitated, and I wasn’t opposed to throwing all reasoning out the door and reducing the number of this court.

"Y-Yes, my liege," he replied, conquered.

However, I had a feeling this wasn’t over yet. But that was for another day. Eloise awaits me.

"This meeting is adjourned."

I walked past him to the door, and it slammed shut behind me. With the company of my knights, I walked the corridors in urgency to get to my wing.

But a sudden fresh scent seized my nose like a hurricane, so hard that for a moment I was under a hex.

Blood?

I throw a look over my shoulder, but my knights remain paused, waiting for me to move. They didn’t smell it, only I did.

Strange. Such a smell of blood, especially as heavy, should have alerted anyone.

The sudden sound of footsteps grasped my attention, and I looked, finding the Dowager coming and her handmaids behind. It’s been years since I last saw her, and much hasn’t changed either.

With the same relentless countenance, she always held up the perfect image to the point no flaw could be seen.

"My son," she cooed, embracing me.

"Mother..." I said stiffly, unsure of how to return her gesture. She wasn’t usually open to such affection; maybe she did this out of necessity.

She leaned away, assessing me from head to toe. "What’s this? You did not change out of your wet clothes before attending court?"

"They didn’t give me much of a choice."

But she knew that, didn’t she? After all, the court was under her orders, so their earlier welcome was all hers.

A smile touched her lips, innocent and persuasive. "I’m sure it was of great importance. Then you should be in there for the session, did I not come in time?"

I see. She wanted to be there to execute their opposition, and knowing Mother, she would have made her timing perfect. I wondered what caused her delay.

"Your timing was impeccable, Mother."

"I haven’t seen you for years, my son. Imagine my surprise when such foul news was brought. Don’t blame the court for acting so rashly. They have your best interest at heart."

"It was no foul news. Lucan’s presence should have proven that," I said with a sharpened gaze.

"Your Gamma? I had him confined in his quarters because I thought he had gone mad when he came announcing your marriage and your return in a few weeks."

Confined? That was the reason I had yet to see Lucan.

A disapproving look morphed on my face. "He’s perfectly sane. Your actions were unwise."

"I want to believe that too. I truly wanted to. But how else can I when such news was not mere madness, but your actions were instead? My son had gone mad when he chose a human for a bride."

"This is neither the place nor the time to chastise me, mother."

"Would you have preferred I did it in court?" she countered, and her obvious anger could be seen now. Oddly, she looked riled up for more than one reason.

I smirked. "Certainly not, after all, it would have been the perfect interrogation room to bring me to my knees."

Even if she tried, she wouldn’t; it took more than that to get me to surrender. No one, and I mean no one, will be changing my mind.

As if discerning my defiance, rage screamed on her face like a storm. "Your people are disappointed."

"They won’t for long. Excuse me, Mother, I must retire to my quarters. It has been a long journey." I walked past her, but her words stopped me.

"You’re promised to another!"

I had no intention of turning or giving her the leisure she needed from me.

"An oath was made. How would your people feel when you break it?"

"An oath made by you, not me," I corrected.

"You’re blood of my blood!" She pitched. "It matters to you more than you know, and you must honor it. The Altherin House has been our greatest supporter before you came to this world. Marriage to their Lady is not only beneficial but essential; she is a worthy mate."

"I’m sure she is," I said, amused. "She was chosen by you." I shot a look over my shoulder. "Such efforts you have made to ensure that happens."

"Watch your tone with me, Drevon!"

"How would my people feel if I did not honor my vows to my wife?"

"A human bride matters not!" she voiced with restraint. "And vows of lowlife have no meaning to us."

"Doesn’t matter, I shall honor my vows. Did you not raise me to be honorable?"

"This is not acceptable! I do not accept this!"

"This is not only a matrimony but a brighter future for Valkanor. When humans harvest their lands, we’ll have access to them all. I’ve flourished the empire with resources for several generations with this alliance. Do you still deem this unacceptable?"

"Fine then, you’ve proven the benefit of your ridiculous marriage. I’ll accept it...let you keep that lowlife as much as you want, under the condition that you’ll not impregnate her. And you must marry Lady Sloane, and make her your Queen Consort."