His witch

Chapter 4

Arno’s POV

Here we go, I thought, as the car passed the castle’s gate. I could see the courtiers gathered on the stairs. I stepped out and went straight to Welma, my mother’s assistant, ignoring the rest. Some of them will be offended, but I can always claim that sadness and anxiety that I won’t be able to part with my father were stronger than etiquette. In a matter of fact, it wouldn’t be a lie, but I also simply didn’t want to speak with them. I knew that everyone worth speaking with in this castle is now at my father’s deathbed, not here.

“How are they?”

“His majesty is still waiting”. She emphasized “still” and I knew what she meant. I rushed, and she and Corbin followed me, cutting off the courtiers with their meaningless declarations. “Please hurry, we think it’s a matter of minutes,” Welma whispered. I ran to my father’s bedchamber. The guards stopped everyone who would like to speak to me.

It seemed like it took me hours to get there. I finally saw him, he was lying in his huge bed and he seemed so frail and vulnerable, with an emaciated face and breathing heavily. But his eyes shone as he spotted me.

Mother stood up from her chair.

“Sit and talk with father,” she said and left with all the stuff to give us some privacy.

“Father…” my voice failed me. I am a warrior, I have fought battles, slain enemies, I am strong, but at that moment I felt like a little boy, who already knows that he will be abandoned by his beloved ones. I was so helpless.

“You made it. I’m so glad.” His voice was so weak that I had to lean down to hear him. “I’m so proud of you. I managed it. I raised a true leader and commander. I can die peacefully.”

“Don’t say that you will die.” my voice trembled.

“But I will. It’s inevitable. I can feel the goddess approaching and I'm ready.”

“I’m not ready.”

“No child ever is. I should probably give you the last piece of advice. But there is nothing more I can teach you, at least as a king. You ruled along with me, you saw everything, there is nothing more to teach you. But as a father, I can tell you something. Stay true to yourself and wait for your mate. The one fated for you, the goddess is always right in her rulings. And try to help your mother. She will be in pain.” He raised his hand and touched my face. Something inside of me broke.

“I love you, father.” I never told him about my feelings and even now, speaking such easy words was so hard.

“I love you, son. Now call your mother, I want to part with her.”

I stepped aside and they talked for a while and my mother called me.

“It’s time,” she said with tears in her eyes. I have never seen her cry before. She held father’s hand, I put mine over her shoulder. Father's breathing slowed down. I could hear my blood running through my veins. He looked at us one final time and smiled and his gaze faded. We both remained still, mourning him.

“The king is dead,” declared the physician. Someone patted my shoulder and carried me to the door. I stepped to the throne chamber, where everyone was waiting. All the regular courtiers, fathers’ associates, and representatives from all packs. Not alphas themselves, no one should expect them to stay away from their grounds for who knows how long. It was a custom to send a representative for a coronation, so when my father became ill, they came.

The priest took over.

“The king is dead. I present to you the king!”

I felt a crown touching my temples and him saying:

“Do you, Arno Velf, vow to protect the realm with your life?”

“I do.”

“Will you stand in the first line when the time comes?”

“I will.”

“Do you give your blood to seal this vow?”

“I do.”

“Do you give your blood to strengthen the borders of the realm, to protect those who submit to you?”

“I do.”

I felt a knife slashing my palm, and drops of my blood fell down to the goblet containing a potion used to create a magical barrier on our borders. The liquids mixed and glowed gold. I felt something I couldn’t name. The presence of something significant. My bond with the realm was accepted by the Moon Goddess. If I die, the realm will be weak until there appears somebody, whom the Moon Goddess accepts.

The crowd cheered. I stood there greeting them. It was all prepared. I was prepared, I knew exactly what to do and say. I knew that now I had to go to the secret chamber and be presented to the Council and then I would show on the balcony, so my subjects, present at Woolfs’ Keep, my capitol, could see me. And that there will be no trial period, this job starts right now and mistakes are not allowed. I only didn’t know that it would hurt so badly to know that my father is gone forever.

***

The Master’s POV

“King Albert is dead.”

“Don’t call him a king. He was just a usurper.” I slapped my mignon in the face. He fell on the floor. I hated those weaklings, I would crush them with pleasure. ”We should progress now when the border is weak.”

“Arno made it and was crowned.”

“f**k!” I yelled. That brat. I hoped that my rogues' attack would be an efficient way to stop him from coming to his father's deathbed. The border was sealed again. But I had another plan. I just need to wait a little more.

***

Arno’s POV

I was tired and annoyed. I was crowned just yesterday and they have already shown their true colors. Not that they concealed them very deeply earlier. But still, my father died just a day ago.

“Your Majesty, you need to marry and produce an heir.”

This was Lord Athos. He used to be the alpha of the Northern Lights Pack. It is a custom that when the alpha decides to step down, he becomes a member of the Council of Elders, which no acting alpha can join. To ensure that none of the members will act in favor of their own pack. Of course, it is fully fictional, most of the alphas step down in favor of their offspring.

“I haven't found a mate yet.” I wanted to cut it short.

“Does it really have to be a mate?”

“What do you suggest, Lord Athos?”

“Many of us have entered into marriages of convenience instead of waiting for a mate, who may, but doesn’t have to show. I myself have done so.”

“Yes, and we all know how often you cheat on poor Lady Athos,” said Lord Niven. Some laughed loudly. So, the cotteries have formed already.

“Your marriage is too important to consider it a matter of feelings. Times are dangerous, we are at war with rogues and the situation with humans is tense. You need a legitimate offspring.” another Lord, Parsons from Silent trackers Pack, insisted.

I knew they wanted me to choose one of their daughters. Lord Niven may have acted as my ally, but he counted on my friendship with Oriana. He hoped that I would choose her while cornered. We talked about it when we were younger, we both wanted to wait for our mates.

“Dear Lords, this is out of the question for now. Now excuse me, I have some urgent matters to attend to.”

I stormed out of the chamber to the cabinet. Corbin closed the door. Evan, my father’s secretary, and Winston, his beta, waited there for me. Winston was also Corbins’ father.

“Your Highness, these are the most urgent matters”, Evan showed me a pile of documents on the desk. “You need to appoint a secretary. Soon someone will question my position in the court.” He is a delta from one of the smaller packs, he became the king’s secretary only due to his personal abilities and hard-working attitude. All those lazy aristocrats probably hated him.

“Actually, I thought that you would like to keep the position.” I regarded him highly.

“I will be honored, Your Majesty”. I could tell he was touched.

“This is set. What’s next?”

“ A diplomatic courier from Silver City came just an hour ago,” said Corbin. “They invited us to go there to discuss some matters. Actually, you personally, but not as an official visit.”

“They want to get around the Council. Interesting.”

“I heard that the climate there is mild, and the Queen Mother needs to get some rest. You, as a caring son, should take a day or two to escort her there.” Evan got it immediately.

“Indeed, I'm a very caring son.”

“I will discuss it with Welma and make the arrangements.”

We discussed some other matters until it was half past midnight. So, that was the luxurious and convenient life of a king. Less than 7 hours of sleep each day, including weekends.