Chapter 33
“Elena, you are very brave…welcome.” King Harvey’s father speaks with quiet respect.
“What the hell do you mean?!” King Harvey’s mother turns to her husband and grabs face with one taloned hand. She squeezes his face in one hand and growls. “What the hell?!”
“He has defended her and her honor. He states the truth. He is king. He has exercised his rights and power as king. We must trust his decision. We have retired from our roles and duties. If his heart is there, and hers is w-!”
“How?!” She howls. “How do you know?! No, no, no!! I will not stand this!”
“Did you not hear her heart, my wife?” King Harvey’s father asks smoothly. “That is why the question was asked.”
King Harvey takes my hand. “Please, we must be alone.”
He guides me away as the two continue to argue, and I don’t even know what to say.
King Harvey looks down at me then smiles.
“What, King Harvey?”
“Do you really need me to defend you, Elena?”
I sigh. He is correct. I held my own against them today. Maybe I don’t even need him in the sense of verbal arguments. Does he feel useless? Or proud?
“I did my best…” Muttering, I look away from him.
Nerves explode through my body as I see the gentleness of his brown eyes. Attentively, he runs his hand through my hair lovingly.
“Did you see that I defended you?” King Harvey asks.
“Yes, and fast. That doesn’t cover last night, however.” I reply, hiding my smile.
“…fine, Elena.”
I want to switch topics for a moment and this question is burning a hole through my heart.
“King Harvey, do you love me?”
King Harvey simply looks down at me with a prideful smile. “Yes.”
“Why did you not say that?”
King Harvey tilts his head to the side. “I wanted the first time you heard it to be from me, alone. Not in a room overflowing with parents.”
“I understand. Too bad I didn’t get that privacy.”
King Harvey laughs lightly. “You love me?”
“I love you, King Harvey.”
“I love you too, Elena.” King Harvey whispers as he bends down to kiss me on the lips.
Our kiss has no time to deepen, I hear someone open the door. It is Doris.
“Your parents have left in a storm, King Harvey.” Doris explains quietly. “I have not seen her in such a rage since sending you off to war.”
“…damn it.” King Harvey breathes.
King Harvey suddenly stands and opens my window, and we wait a moment. The wind howls, but it carries his parents’ voices.
“How dare Harvey marry a human! He will bring shame to our family and pure bloodline!” King Harvey’s mother roars. “We will be left with nothing! All our sacrifices, for what?!”
“Calm down, a human is very easy to get rid of.” Her husband replies soothingly.
Automatically, I turn to look at King Harvey, who shoves his head out the window and howls so fiercely that everything is silenced.
“King Harvey,” Doris starts patiently. “I was told to ask Elena some questions.”
“…fine, Doris.” King Harvey replies icily.
Doris nervously smiles at me as King Harvey remains at the window. Offering an open palm to me, I tenderly place my hand on top of her palm and see the difference in our hands. Mine is small, and hers is twice the size of mine.
“Do you love King Harvey?”
“Yes.” I reply with no hesitation.
She closes her hand over mine then moves down to my wrist and holds tight. “She was telling the truth. I felt her pulse. Listened to her heart.”
“Well… what do you think of me now?”
“What about Jane, she attacked you?”
“Yes.” I reply to her question and the same thing happens, again she nods. She looks up at King Harvey.
“I am sorry to you both, I believe you, I promise.” Doris’s voice is nothing but a smothered whisper of guilt.
“I understand.” I nod at her and hope she lets go.
“Will you carry King Harvey’s children?”
“Yes! Who else is supposed to?!”
Doris smiles politely. “I was instructed to ask, Elena. I am aware this is foolish.”
King Harvey turns to us with a smirk. “Ask more. I’d mind as well know the color of her underwear.”
“King Harvey!” I huff, blushing and looking away as he smiles happily.
“Is your mother dead?” Doris whispers as she looks down.
Bile fills my throat and I look away coughing.
I drag Doris to the window, and she still grips my forearm.
“What do you want me to do, dig up my mother?!?” I scream out the window as loudly as I can, as tears stream down my face.
King Harvey’s hand finds the small of my back behind me and he soothingly rubs circles into it. Openly, I weep. I had dirt under my fingernails after my mom’s passing for two weeks.
Doris turns away from me and wipes tears from her eyes. “K-King Harvey, I do not wish to ask this, please forgive me…”
“What is it?” I ask as she grips my arm a bit tighter.
“Are you a virgin?”
“Yes, yes, of course, why wouldn’t I be?”
King Harvey whips his head out the window and howls so loudly it sounds like a collection of werewolves. This howl is long and multi-toned. After he finishes, he slams the window shut and pulls me into bed with him.
“Your duties are done, Doris. No more questions, thank you and goodnight.” King Harvey says gently.
Doris simply bows respectfully and walks away.
I hear her weeping outside my door and want to cry with her.
“Why is she crying?” I whisper.
King Harvey heavily sighs. “To ask a mate about her sexual…she will get her punishment. It is an extremely high form of disrespect.”
“Don’t punish her! She was forced!”
“Doris is the kindest maid we have, and she feels very upset about it too, it is grand disrespect.” King Harvey explains, but his mind is turning, I can see it in his eyes.
Suddenly, he lets go of me and goes to the door. He steps out and I hear him gently speaking to Doris, and she stops crying.
“Doris,” I say from my bed knowing her werewolf ears would pick up on it. “You have done nothing wrong; we understand you were forced, please don’t cry.”
“Thank you, both.” Doris whispers as she sniffles. King Harvey wishes her goodnight again and returns to my side, holding me close.
“I may send my parents away, Elena, if they continue this.” King Harvey whispers to me. “I must keep you safe.” King Harvey’s eyes are now silver.
“King Harvey, are you sure?” I am shocked at his words, but I do understand his point. We need to be safe and alive to be married.
“…yes.” King Harvey presses a kiss on my cheek. “I am sorry for those invasive questions. Please, rest now, Elena. I promise you are safe.”
