The Mateless Dragon King

Unwanted Propositions

Valen's POV

We approached the royal table and Edric pulled out my chair. I took my seat before he left to join his mate, Mira, who was already sitting at one of the tables immediately below ours. I pulled my eyes away from them to prevent jealousy from taking hold of my heart, seeing the adoration in their eyes as they greeted one another with a chaste kiss.

Once I sat down, servers began bringing food out to the tables. The aromas of roasted meats, freshly baked bread, and spiced wines filled the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter and music. I engaged in small talk with Cassian, Lucian, and Isolde, putting on a facade of cheerfulness.

“Careful King Valen, a snake approaches,” Isolde leaned around Lucian to whisper to me.

Lucian snickered and made a soft hissing sound, causing all three of them to giggle loudly.

I looked up and saw Livia walking straight towards the royal table, straight towards me. I sighed deeply, not in the mood to deal with her today.

“Your Majesties, Your Highnesses.” She greeted everyone at our table with a gentle curtsy. When she stood back up straight, she pressed her chest forward slightly, drawing attention to her exposed cleavage. It must have been for my sake, because every other male at the royal table was mated.

'Gross' Vehiron pushed forward to express his disgust with, not just Livia, but any woman other than our future mate.

Honestly, Livia was a lovely woman, tall and slender with long straight black hair and dark green eyes. She always had her face done with dark red lips that curled into a smirk. Most men would be proud to have her affections aimed toward them.

But mateless shifters were not most men. Most shifters were celibate from the time they exited the Trials successfully until they met their mate. It was hard to maintain romantic relationships with anyone else when the second voice in your mind only pined for its mate.

There were exceptions, such as my twin brothers, who were promiscuous from the time they came of age until the day they met Isolde. My father also had a mistress before he met my mother, although I suspect he stopped sleeping with her when he exited the Trials and just kept supporting her financially. Whatever he did, it was enough to cause rifts between him and my mother at the beginning of their marriage.

I am positive it is Livia's mother, Vivienne, who is filling this girl's mind with the idea that she even has a chance with me. Around one hundred years ago, I spent one night with Vivienne after the end of a Bonding where I did not find my mate.

Around one hundred years ago, I slept with her mother Vivienne, who shares a lot of her appearance. I am positive it is Vivienne filling this girl's mind with ideas that I could possibly take her as a chosen mate.

'A horrible decision. She thought she could be a chosen mate. Now her daughter throws herself at you,’ he scoffed.

‘I have apologized for the last century, Vehir.'

‘I didn’t agree to it.’ Vehiron liked to remind me often that it was my fault she wouldn’t leave us alone.

‘I know Vehir, it isn’t ideal. But her father is our treasurer. I put up with her out of respect for him and that is all.’

'If she upsets Mate, no amount of respect for her father will save her from my wrath.’ I felt Vehiron retreat in my mind, hiding from the woman now standing in front of our table.

“Your Majesty, I wished to ask if you would like to accompany me on a stroll in the gardens this evening?” She fluttered her eyelashes innocently, but her body language suggested anything but.

I heard Rowena scoff. Neither of my sisters-in-law liked Livia.

“I feel that I will excuse myself early tonight, Miss Livia. It was a long day today.” I maintained my stoic, kingly expression with her as I attempted to politely turn her down.

“If you would like, I could join you for a nightcap,” she said suggestively. I immediately lost my appetite, and before I could respond, my mother barged into the conversation.

“You will stay far away from the king’s chambers. Only his future mate would attend to him there.” I could tell she was enraged at the idea of a shifter sleeping with anyone other than their true mate.

‘Your mother must not know about your escapades after our fourth Bonding?’ Vehiron teased me.

‘I don't think so. But mother is right, my chambers is off limits to any woman but our mate.’ I hated the idea of any woman in my bed except my mate. Even when I went through the phase where I was unfaithful to my mate, I would take women to guest rooms in the castle instead of my own chambers. No woman, except my mother, has entered my chambers since I took the throne.

Livia frowned at my mother, “I am sure King Valen can answer for himself, whether he desires my companionship this evening, Your Majesty.”

‘Turn her down plainly or I will! And you know I will make a big scene.’ Vehiron reappeared in my mind. If he pushed forward too far while in my human body, it caused a partial shift where my human body took on characteristics of his dragon body.

“I don’t require your companionship tonight and will not require it any other night, Miss Livia. And I am not sure what I have done to give you any impression that I may be interested in your company, but I am waiting for my true mate.”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Oh Gods, here comes the waterworks.” I heard Isolde mutter.

“Oh Your Majesty, you just must be so lonely. The ladies of the court worry so much about you, and I only wish to help.” She took out a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes dramatically.

'Lying, conniving snake...' I could feel Vehiron pressing forward, so I knew this conversation needed to come to an end.

“I am grateful for your concern, Miss Livia. But that isn’t for anyone to worry about except me. You are dismissed."

“Of course, Your Majesty." She said through gritted teeth before she gathered herself together and said sweetly, "If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

She turned around and returned to the table where her mother was sitting, both of them casting glances in our direction as they spoke in hushed tones. I gave Vivienne a warning glare, and she looked back down at her plate immediately. Hopefully, that got the message across that I knew she was trying to w***e her daughter out to me in a far-fetched reach for power.

“Finally! The witch is gone, and we can all breathe again!” Cassian exclaimed, keeping his voice low enough that no one but those at our table would hear him.

“Be careful son,” my mother’s lips were turned downwards as she spoke to me, “I had to deal with jealous ex-lovers after I mated your father. It was not pleasant. Don't put your future mate through that."

“Livia is not a lover,” I retorted sharply. Other than that one time when I made mistakes while distraught about not finding my mate, I have been faithful to my future mate for almost two hundred years.

“No, she isn't,” my mother met my eyes, “but her mother was at one point.”

My brow furrowed.

“Oh yes, son, I know a lot more about you than you think. Servants like to talk. And I like to listen.” She smirked and took a drink of her wine.

All three of my brothers were softly laughed at my expense when Mother turned on them, as well.

“Don’t make me tell your mates all your embarrassing stories. Servants talk about all of you too.” She scolded them and I had my turn to chuckle at their expense.

I excused myself early, citing fatigue from a long day of work.

As I stood to leave, everyone in the hall also stood until I had exited the room. I always hated the formalities of being king. The respect I liked, but the needless and inconvenient formalities just frustrated me to no end.

Once I entered my antechamber, I collapsed onto my armchair by the fireplace, running a hand through my golden locks in frustration.

I let out a heavy sigh, feeling the exhaustion of the day wash over me, as my mind wandered back to when this all started: when my father disappeared.