Chapter 46
King Harvey runs his hand through my hair soothingly. “Do you feel better, Elena?”
King Harvey has returned from a brief phone call to buy this cottage we are in. It was nothing more than a two-minute talk, but he still took it outside, and I think that was to give me a moment to regain myself.
“I am sorry I cried, King Harvey. I have never had a home…”
King Harvey smiles. “The kingdom is yours as much as mine, Elena. Yet, I suppose this cottage is less daunting?”
“Yes, homier, King Harvey.”
King Harvey nods in deep thought. “Perhaps we can have a small home near the castle as well, if it brings you comfort. I care not where we live, as long as we live together.”
“That would be very kind, yet rather excessive?”
“Excessive? You are mate to a king, Elena.”
“Yes, but how many live without homes?”
King Harvey takes a seat beside me and looks me over. “Oh, Elena, you wish to open an orphanage?”
“Something to help people, King Harvey.”
“An orphanage…” King Harvey wonders out loud. “A shelter? Both?”
“Both. I do not need three homes, King Harvey. I would like to keep this cottage.”
“It is already yours, Elena. Everything I have to offer is yours.” King Harvey collects my hands and kisses them gently, then moves to kiss me sweetly. Kissing him back is addictive and opens up a floodgate of desire.
I find my hands my hands travel down his chest and lower than I expected. Instantly, I jump away and scramble to ask a question.
“What do our kids get?” I ask.
“Well, the same, Elena, everything.” King Harvey replies seriously. He steps back oddly, and I see that his phone is ringing in his hand.
“King Harvey?”
He is busy studying the phone.
“The number begins plus 28, Elena.”
“Oh! That is the hospital my sister is at; it must be Beta Tom.” I say to him.
I should have called my sister sooner, but so much has happened in almost no time.
“Very smart, Elena.” King Harvey praises with a gentle kiss on my lips. “I do not pay attention to much outside of you.”
“Liar, you are extremely attentive, King Harvey. You just are a bit distracted by me.”
“Always.” King Harvey replies, splaying his taloned hand over his heart.
King Harvey picks up the phone with a simple grunt.
“King Harvey,” Beta Tom’s voice booms from the phone. “How is your honeymoon?”
“Excellent. Mating was a success a-!”
“YAY ELENA!!” I hear my sister’s voice cut off King Harvey and I jump to my feet to snatch the phone out of his hands.
“Emily? Why didn’t you call me?”
“Had no idea what you two were doing… so… I asked Beta Tom to call. Besides, it is an official call about the kingdom.” Emily replies nonchalantly. “Are you walking funny?”
“Emily!” I hiss as she giggles. “How are you?”
“Unmarried!”
I exhale. “How are classes?”
“Oh, we are getting two months off thanks to you.”
“What do you mean two months?” I ask, too embarrassed to look King Harvey directly in the eyes. The smile on his face melts me. He truly is happy.
“To celebrate the wedding!” Emily happily says.
“Beta Tom,” King Harvey cuts back in. “The kingdom?”
“Forgive me, Emily interrupted me. All is well. But, King Harvey, your parents never want to set foot in the castle again. Your mother is trying to find a way to take credibility away from your marriage.” Beta Tom answers.
King Harvey laughs coldly. “Elena bares a mating mark I gave her. It is set in stone now, forever. She is mine until time runs out.”
“There are rumors your mother wishes to rebrand Elena’s mating mark. To X it out.”
“What?” King Harvey whispers, as his fangs grow. “You must be joking.”
“No, King Harvey.” Beta Tom replies somberly. “It is just a rumor now, King Harvey. I do not believe it.”
“There is absolutely no way to undo a mating mark, King Harvey.” Emily says. “You know that and so does every werewolf. It is permanent.”
“Yes, but would she try to hurt my wife?” King Harvey speaks again in smoldering whisper, his eyes flashing silver. King Harvey stares at me incredulously and takes a seat.
“I doubt your mother would, King Harvey…” I run my hand up and down his arm to comfort him, but he simply holds it tightly.
“I do love you, Elena. Truly. It breaks me to think of any harm coming to you.”
“You will protect me with your life, King Harvey. Besides, it is just a rumor. The world is overflowing with them. I recall one about you that you ate wolf pups.”
“Yuck!” King Harvey frowns and shakes his head.
“See what I mean?” I question. “Lies run faster than the truth.”
“Yes.” King Harvey raises my hand to his lips and kisses it. “Elena, we must pick wedding rings.”
“Yes! I can’t believe we forgot.”
I hear Emily on the phone with Beta Tom faintly in the background. Suddenly, it is Beta Tom’s voice that breaks through their words.
“King Harvey and Elena, would you mind…if I courted Emily?”
Tilting my head to the side, I stare at King Harvey who is just as confused as I am.
“Beta Tom, you are copying me. Elena, what do you think?” King Harvey asks politely.
Despite a flash of fear overcoming my body I sigh. “Emily, do you really want to?”
“I adore him, Elena.” Emily all but sighs, hell, she swoons at me. “Please?”
King Harvey stares me in the face and waits for my reply. Simply I nod.
“Very well, you may date her, my mate just nodded, Beta Tom. But be aware of this, my wife’s blood is now my blood as well, if you cross her and cause any woman pain, I will not be kind or forget this. I trust you, Beta Tom, do not misplace my trust.”
“Thank you, King Harvey.” Beta Tom replies firmly.
“Uhm… Elena,” Emily starts nervously. “How bad was the mating mark?”
“Well, Emily, it hurts bad, and it makes you feel weak and paralyzed, but King Harvey healed me and that fixed me and strengthened our bond.”
“Temporary pain.” Emily says. “A scale from one to ten?”
“Ten, Emily.”
Emily sighs. “That sounds scary. Can you te-!”
The sound of the door being kicked in cuts off Emily.
Automatically, King Harvey drops the phone call and stands in front of me.
“Mother sent you, did she not?” King Harvey asks as he steps forward and opens his stance. His left-hand twitches and suddenly the door glows a soft red. It must be some power to bolster the door, so it doesn’t break.
The sound of the door being continuously and aggressively kicked continues until it is nothing more than violent pounding.
King Harvey remains in front of me, pulling his sword from his sheath and twirls it.
“King Harvey.”
“Stay behind me, Elena. It will be over soon.”
The intruder breaks down the door and charges at King Harvey.
