Guardian Of The Betas Heir

17 - Nervous meeting

Elenor

I take a deep breath and knock on the door. I hear someone yell for me to enter, so I do. The King and Queen are sitting behind his imposing desk, waiting for me. The King’s powerful frame is barely contained by the chair that groans under his weight. His eyes, a piercing blue, stare into mine as he speaks in a tone that brokers no argument.

“You must be Elenor,” The Lycan King says, his eyes piercing through mine as I step closer.

The room is spacious, adorned with the grandeur of his status, but it’s his presence that dominates the space. I know Michael said the King could be intimidating, but this is almost stifling!

I nod. “Yes, that’s me, Your Majesty.”

“Please, take a seat.” He gestures to the chair opposite his desk.

The wood is carved with intricate patterns, reminiscent of a time before the modern world had crept into our lives. Everything here is so grand! I know it’s the same back in Dragon Country, but things are more modern here. I wouldn’t have expected furniture like this.

I sit down, my heart racing. I’m nervous in the presence of these people.

Who the hell wouldn’t be?

“I am King Thane Knight, and this is my mate and wife, Queen Lyric.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Sir. Madam.” I tip my head.

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Elenor.” Queen Lyric smiles at me, and I find myself smiling in return.

“I understand you’re here to continue as Sylva’s Nanny,” The King says, his voice firm and unyielding.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” I reply, my voice quivering slightly. I’ve heard the whispers about the Lycan King’s fierce reputation. His gaze is as unsettling as the rumours that surround him.

This man and even his mate could tear me apart in seconds if they so wished. I don’t have my Dragon, and I’m not sure I could fight two beings that literally cannot die.

He leans forward, his elbows on the desk. “Elenor, I trust you are aware of the gravity of your role here. You are to be Sylva’s Nanny, but you must understand that our ways are not to be questioned, nor our secrets to be shared.”

“I understand, Your Majesty. I’m here to care for Sylva and only that. I do not wish to involve myself in Royal business or any other business that doesn’t concern Sylva.” I hope my sincerity is palpable.

“We have heard wonderful things from Sylva’s grandparents about how you care for her.” The Queen smiles. “King Xale has also spoken highly of you before now. Sylva must mean a great deal to you for you to have sworn a Blood Oath with the Dragon King.”

“She means everything to me, Queen Lyric. I would do anything for that little girl, including moving to Lykos and swearing an Oath to you also if it’s required of me. All I want is to continue helping to raise the little girl I love as my own.”

The Queen smiles at me while the Lycan King studies me for a moment longer before nodding curtly. I can’t tell what he’s thinking. The King isn’t easily readable. I’m usually a good judge of character, but it’s impossible to know what this man is thinking.

“You must know that we maintain strict laws in Lykos to ensure our people’s safety. You are not to go against us in any way, Elenor. If we allow you to stay here, you will swear allegiance to the crown of Lykos as you did with the crown of Blue Fire.”

I nod because that won’t be a problem.

“If you bring trouble to my door, I will not hesitate to execute you. There will be no arrest or trial. I will kill you where you stand, no questions asked, no matter your relationship with Sylva. Do you understand?” His eyes search mine, looking for any sign of deception.

Gods!

What the hell?

Okay, I figured he would threaten me, but hearing it out loud is a different story. This man scares the shi.t out of me!

The words hang in the air like a dark cloud, casting a chill over the warm room. I swallow hard, my heart racing. I never imagined my life would lead me to such a precarious situation. Yet, I know I have no choice. This is my path now, and I will tread it with care.

I take a deep breath. My voice trembles slightly as I reply, “Your Majesty, I assure you, I am here to serve and care for Sylva. I shall uphold the trust you place in me, and I swear that I will not knowingly bring trouble to your door. I am a peaceful person, and I keep myself to myself.”

The King’s gaze softens momentarily, and he nods, satisfied with my response. “Good,” He says. “Before we accept you into our pack, you will meet with our resident Demon. He will perform a ritual that will conclude if you are lying. Even for a man like me, one who can tell if someone is lying, a Demon, Vampire hybrid could fool me.”

Queen Lyric chuckles as if King Thane just said something ridiculous. I take that to mean he can already tell I’m not lying but wants to prove a point.

“Luke has been with us for many years, Elenor.” Queen Lyric tells me. “What he will do won’t cause you any pain. It’s simple and quick. You don’t have any objections. Do you?”

I shake my head. Even if I did object, that would make them think I had something to hide. As I don’t, I’ll do what they want.

“Good.” She smiles again.

“Michael has filled us in on who you really are.” I look at the King as he speaks. “I won’t ask you to go into detail about what you’ve been through. However, I know very soon things will get very tough for you. I must impress how important it is to speak to one of us if you are feeling ill. Sylva is the most important thing here, and if you can no longer carry on your duties as her Nanny, we need to know.”

He’s right, Sylva is the most important thing. If I am to die, I know I’ll become weak before it happens, too weak to take care of her. I would never put that baby in danger, and she would be if I became too ill to do what I promised.

I smile slightly. “Of course,”

“Good. Now that’s settled, let us get back to the family. Sylva’s great-grandparents, uncles, aunts, and a few others would like to meet you.”

Great.

I’m no good with people. Sure, I’m good at my job, but I tend to get flustered when too many people are around. I make myself look like a fool!

Oh, well. Best get it over with.

Leaving the office, the King and Queen lead me down a long hallway. I follow them into the lounge where Michael and his family awaited me. The room is a buzz of conversation and laughter that abruptly ceases as I enter, and all eyes turn to me. It makes my skin prickle with discomfort.

But then, a tiny voice calls out, “Mommy!” and a beacon of joy pierces the tension.

My heart melts at the sound of Sylva’s voice. The little girl runs towards me, and I drop to my knees, catching her in my arms. “Baby girl,”

“Why is your daughter calling the help Mommy?” I hear someone whisper, to which Michael tells them to shut up.

What did he expect them to say?

I thought he would have explained this to his family, but clearly, he didn’t. The idio.t! Of course, they would wonder what was going on. Though I’m not a fan of being called the help!

The tension in the room dissipates as Sylva’s laughter fills the air. She turns to her newfound family. “This is not my real mommy. Her name is Elenor, but she loves me, so she is my mommy.” She tells them matter-of-factly, making me smile.

I get to my feet with Sylva in my arms. All eyes are on me, and I’m beginning to sweat. I feel like I’m in the middle of an interrogation room with a thousand guns pointed at me!

“Everyone, this is Elenor,” Michael announces, placing a hand on my shoulder. “She’s been taking care of Sylva all her life. She will continue to do so now that we’re home. This is what Sylva needs, and I want you all to treat Elenor with respect.”

The room erupts into greetings and introductions, and I feel a wave of relief wash over me. The kindness in their eyes is genuine. I breathe a sigh of relief.

As we get to know one another, I find myself forming a bond with these people. I think I’m going to like it here after all. Michael’s sixteen-year-old sister, Emma, is a lovely girl. She has such a kind nature about her, and I like her already.

But then, from the doorway, a familiar voice calls out, “So, this is where you’ve been,” and the world seems to spin around me. I know that voice, that smug tone, and the sight of the man it belongs to is the last thing I wanted to see in this place of refuge.

My heart hammers in my chest as I turn to face him. He’s as tall as I remember, with a swagger that seems to fill the room, his handsome features marred by the cruel glint in his eyes. The sight of him brings back a flood of memories, none of them pleasant.

“Marcus,” I manage to say, my voice tight. “What are you doing here?”

He strides in, a smug smile playing on his lips. “Looking for you, my dear. I heard a rumour that you had found yourself in quite the... exotic situation.” His eyes rake over the room, taking in the Lycan faces with a sneer. “And it seems the rumours were true.”

“Who let this asshole into my home?” Queen Lyric sneers as her eyes cloud over. Hopefully, she’s mind linking her guards to arrest this bastard!

What the hell is wrong with this fool?

Who does he think he is walking into the Lycan King and Queen’s home like he won’t be torn apart?

Gods, I wish they would tear him apart!

The room has gone still again, the atmosphere thick with tension. Michael steps forward, his gaze locked on Marcus. “Who is this?” He asks, his tone a low growl.

“Nobody,” I say quickly, hoping to diffuse the situation. But I know it’s too late. Marcus has a way of turning the world upside down, and I can already feel the ground shifting beneath me.

“Oh, but I assure you, I am very much a ‘somebody,’” Marcus says, his voice oily. “I am Elenor’s... former betrothed. And I’ve come to bring her back to her rightful place.”

Fuc.k!