Chapter Twelve__Part:2

Her words, her calm acceptance, made me want to stay even more, but I knew I couldn't. Duty, as always, came first. But as I looked at her, I knew that when this was over, when the council and borders were dealt with, she would be my priority. I wouldn't let anything stand between us again.

"Stay safe," I said softly, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips, a silent promise that this was only a pause, not the end.

As I stood and headed toward the door, I could feel her gaze on me, the pull between us still as strong as ever. I didn't want to leave, but I had to.

As the door closed behind me, I couldn't help but feel that no matter what awaited me in the council chamber, it wouldn't compare to what I'd left behind in that room.

As I strode down the corridor, the irritation still simmering under my skin, another thought crossed my mind, a darker, more pressing one. Ronald. The memory of his actions sent a surge of anger coursing through me, sharper than anything I'd felt moments ago.

He had crossed a line. The way he had challenged the future queen of Rathguard, pushing her beyond reason, questioning her place, her importance. My queen. The thought of him even daring to look at her with such disrespect was enough to make my blood boil. He had underestimated her strength, and with him disrespecting my queen, he disrespected me. But that was his mistake. One I would make sure he never repeated.

I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing my breathing to steady. After all we'd been through, everything Astrid had endured. He had the nerve to test her patience, to provoke her like that. I had tolerated his arrogance for too long, always thinking he'd fall in line, that his loyalty to Rathguard would outweigh his ego. But his last stunt had been the final straw.

I reminded myself that Astrid had held her own, a swell of pride mixing with my anger. She was no helpless bystander. She had proven time and time again that she was more than capable of handling herself. Still, seeing her pushed to the limit like that had ignited something in me, a protective instinct so fierce it made me want to tear Ronald apart. I would deal with him, I decided. Once I finished with the council, he would answer to me.

Joran walked beside me, his footsteps silent but quick as he kept pace. I could feel his eyes flicking toward me, undoubtedly sensing the tension that radiated off me, but he wisely kept his mouth shut.

As we neared the council chamber, my mind raced with how I would handle Ronald. The punishment had to be severe enough to remind him who he served and, more importantly, who Astrid was. She was not just some outsider who had stumbled into Rathguard by accident. She was my mate, my queen, and she was chosen for a reason. Ronald would regret testing her. That much was certain.

We reached the double doors of the council chamber, and Joran stepped ahead to pull them open. The room was already buzzing with conversation, the air thick with tension. The council members were seated around the long table, their faces grave, but as I entered, all eyes turned to me, and the room fell silent.

I nodded to Joran, who moved to the side, taking his place by the wall as I approached the head of the table. I didn't sit, not yet. My mind was still focused on Ronald, and it took everything in me not to abandon the meeting and seek him out immediately.

One of the council members, a seasoned warrior named Varel, cleared his throat. "Your Majesty, we've received reports of strange activity near the southern border. Creatures we haven't seen before. Scouts have been sent, but we're awaiting their return."

I barely registered his words. My thoughts kept drifting back to Astrid and the look on her face when Ronald had tried to undermine her.

"The scouts will report back soon," Varel continued. "We need to determine our next course of action."

I nodded, giving them the bare minimum of attention while trying to keep my anger in check. "Fortify the border, Varel. Notify Torin on the way. Joran, come with me, let's get the Task Force," I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me.

Varel bows his head and quickly takes his leave. Joran follows me out of the room with concern on his face.

"Your majesty," Joran begins.

"Bro, you're good; we're not around stuck-up elders." I glanced at him.

"Ok then, Kaden, what's going on with you and Miss Valenwood?" My heart skipped a beat when he brought her up.

I sighed, "She's my mate, man."

He stopped his steps, and his eyes widened, "Woah, what? When did you find out?"

"When we first found her..."

"Bro, you kept that to yourself this whole time?"

"I wanted to make sure she wanted to be with me and pick up your pace. We have to get to the border."

As Joran hurried to match my pace, his eyes still wide with shock, I could feel the weight of everything pressing down harder. Ronald's blatant disrespect, the threat at the southern border, and, most of all, the pull between Astrid and me—it was a storm of emotions and responsibilities that collided at the worst possible time.

"You've been holding that secret in since we found her?" Joran asked his tone half incredulous and half admiring. "That's... that's a lot to handle, man. But I get it. You didn't want her bound to you just because of the mate bond."

"Exactly," I muttered, my jaw clenched. "She deserves to choose."

"And... does she know?" he asked cautiously as we made our way down the corridor toward the war room.

"About what? She knows what we are and the bond."

"Not that... you know about what."

"Not yet," I said, my voice tight with frustration. "But she will soon enough."

Joran whistled low under his breath. "Man, you really don't make anything easy for yourself, do you?"

I shot him a glare. "You think I had any choice in this? Between Ronald's power plays and these damn creatures showing up at the border, I don't have time to breathe, let alone worry about 'easy.'"

He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it. But about Ronald... What are you going to do? He's going to push back hard if you come down on him. You know how he is."

"He challenged your future Queen." Anger immediately rises, and I see Joran tensed up.

He furrowed his eyebrows with anger, "What did he do?"

My grip tightened on the hilt of my sword. "He pushed his way into her head with that dumb shit he played when we were kids that scared us. He forced her past her limit and angered not only Astrid and me but also the power of the amulet. Astrid passed out from exhaustion."

Joran stopped in his tracks, his entire demeanor shifting. The easygoing air between us vanished in an instant, replaced by a fierce protectiveness that mirrored my own. His jaw clenched as he absorbed my words, his hands balled into fists at his sides.

"He did what?" Joran growled, his voice low but laced with a dangerous edge.

I nodded grimly. "You heard me. He pushed her past her limit and forced her to lose control. The power of the amulet surged, and it was too much for her. She passed out. I've had enough of his games."

Joran's eyes darkened, and I could see the protective instinct flare up in him. Though he had always been a brother to me, his respect and loyalty for Astrid had grown in the short time she had been in Rathguard. He had seen her strength, and now, hearing that Ronald had not only disrespected me but had put his future Queen in danger? That was enough to bring out the warrior in him.

"We need to deal with him," Joran said, his voice a low rumble. "He's crossed a line. And he knows better than to mess with the queen."

"Soon," I promised, my grip on my sword hilt tightening. "But first, the border. When we get back, I'll personally make sure Ronald knows his place. No one treats Astrid like that. No one. She's my queen, and he's going to learn respect."

I felt a surge of gratitude toward Joran. He wasn't just following orders—he cared. For Astrid, for me, for the future of Rathguard. It was rare to have someone so fiercely protective, not just of the kingdom, but of those who ruled it. He wasn't just my second in command; he was my brother in arms, and he would stand by me through anything.

We continued toward the war room, the tension between us palpable but controlled. There would be time to deal with Ronald after we handled the threat at the southern border. But knowing Joran had my back, and more importantly, Astrid's back, gave me some semblance of peace amidst the chaos.

We get outside, where Torin is already gathered with the other warriors, discussing the reports from the southern border. The tension in the room was palpable, their faces mirroring the weight of the news they were receiving.

"Your Majesty," Torin greeted, bowing slightly. "The scouts are on their way back, but we need to prepare for a possible incursion. These creatures are unlike anything we've faced before. Its rabid werewolves from the North."

I nodded, pulling myself back to the present. "We'll need the Task Force mobilized immediately. Fortify the southern outposts, ensure the villages are protected, and keep scouts at every key point along the border."

Torin's brow furrowed. "And if the creatures attack?"

"We defend what's ours," I said, my voice cold. "But we don't act rashly. I want more information first. Let the scouts report back in full before we make any aggressive moves."

He nodded and began barking orders to the soldiers stationed nearby, who scattered to fulfill their tasks.

I look to Torin, "How close are they to the villages?"

"Not close yet," Torin replied. "But they're moving steadily. We estimate a few days before they reach any populated areas."

Joran leaned in. "We need to intercept them before that happens."

"Agreed," I said. "Mobilize the Task Force. Joran, you'll lead them. I want the northern border reinforced. Set up a line of defense and send word to the villages to remain on high alert. No one moves in or out without our say. Varel, send word and have the warriors reinforce the western, eastern, and southern border. The last thing I want is for any rabid filth coming into my kingdom."

Varel nodded, already moving to relay the orders.

"And when the scouts return," I continued, "I want a detailed report. If these creatures are organized, we need to know why and who's behind it."

Joran met my gaze, our unspoken understanding solidifying our plan. The border would be secured, and the creatures dealt with. But once that was done, Ronald would face the consequences of his actions.

"We'll handle this," Joran said, his voice firm. "And when it's over, we'll make sure no one ever questions the queen's place again."