The Alpha King’s Virgin by Charmeleon (Raine & Amari)

Chapter 72 

AMARIS 

“I’m not sure I heard you correctly.” I walked right up to Pendragon. “You’re coming here into my castle and making demands, telling me that Athan Dracul is claiming MY mate to be his?!” He was a head taller than me. Not that it mattered. I wanted to chase them out, run them out of my kingdom back to where they came from. The council be damned! 

“Calm down, King Amaris. I am just the messenger.” Pendragon had the audacity to condescend to me. Calm down indeed! Who the  did he think he was? 

“Well, I have a message for Athan Dracul and the council. You can tell them to go  themselves! Do I make myself clear?” I let my wolf peer through my eyes at the dragon shifter. He flinched. Good. 

“There is no need to get violent.” The tiny elven emissary stepped in between us. “King Athan has staked a claim and the council will decide whether or not his claim is valid.” 

“You forget Tahlia Yinfir that I am one of the members of that same council. Queen Raine is my mate. Mine! Chosen for me by the Moon Goddess herself!” I felt Raine’s light touch on my back and I reached for her to pull her close to my side. I needed to have her there by my side, letting her scent wash 

over me. 

“Ah, but you forget Your Majesty, according to your laws, a mating between a werewolf and a witch is forbidden. Therefore she cannot be your queen.” The silver haired slip of an elf lifted her slightly pointy chin and met my stare with boldness. I could easily crush her like an insect. Who the hell was she to lecture me on our laws? 

“So now all of a sudden you take an interest in our internal affairs and traditions?” I glared at Pendragon before I switched back to the elf. “Well, let me make it clear for you; I aim to draw up a decree which would put an end to that same antiquated tradition! I fact, I am going to change everything about it. It is within my rights as ruler of this kingdom to do that!” and by the Gods I would. 

Chapter 72 

Elder Jonas scraped his chair back as he stood in protest at what I had just said. “Sire, you cannot change the traditions to suit your needs! You’ve already broken an unspoken law by choosing an Omega as your mate.” 

“Need I remind you that I did not choose her, she is my soulmate.” Why the  do i need to justify my actions to my subordinates? 

“Yes, yes, ordained by the Moon Goddess. We know that, but Your Majesty, you know there are certain conditions…” 

Raine interrupted the older elder, turning to him, her face flushed with barely contained fury. She was breathtaking in that moment, amber eyes ablaze with an internal flame. “I am not a witch! There might be magic in my bloodline, but I am not a witch.” 

I held my breath waiting for her emotions to spiral out of control and what would happen if it did, because it seemed to be connected to how she felt. Her actions would contest her words. I had to caution her, calm her down. 

‘Careful, my love. I link her and she frowned at me. Not the reaction I expected. 

Joyce Rowe held up her hand. She was a large woman, intimidating almost, with broad shoulders and a masculine face. Her red hair was cut short and stood up like porcupine quills. “That may well be, but whenever there is a new surge of power like we’ve experienced these past few days, we take interest. And that power came from this place.” 

Raine was quick to respond. “Joanna opened a portal, not once but twice. If that’s the power you’re talking about.” 

“Oh, we know about the portal Queen Raine. We helped her keep it open, but there was something else, someone else. You. We felt you draw on the power of nature, and on us as well. You can try and deny it all you want, but we all felt it.” 

“So she is a witch?” Elder Mattias jumped up. “This is a disaster. A complete disaster.” He threw his hands up in the air. A murmur of agreement went up from the rest of them. 

Chapter 72 

Raine looked at me with those large amber eyes full of despair. This wasn’t going well. The throne room suddenly felt too small, suffocating. I linked the servants to open some windows. The brisk autumn air rushed in and filled the space with the fresh scent of pine and mountain air. 

“If we could all just calm down.” Pendragon strutted around in my throne room, trying to look important so typical of his race. “There is one more problem. Where is the prince?” 

“Secured in the dungeon. Where he belongs.” I smirked at him. “Before you ask why it’s an internal problem.” 

“The thing is, we’ve received a formal complaint from him, and I think it is imperative that he attend this meeting.” The dragon shifter narrowed his eyes. at me and for the briefest moment I saw his dragon persona reflected in them. I was getting under his scaly skin. 

“Oh? YOU think it is imperative?” I didn’t take orders in my own castle. “Let me think about that. You can visit him in the dungeon. Feel free.” I might even let him share a cell with him. 

“Sire, reconsider. I beg you. You’re only making matters worse.” Elder Mattias. approached me with outstretched hands. “If the prince had lain a complaint you need to hear what it is in order to explain yourself.” 

“You should listen to your elder’s advice, Your Majesty. Do you feel threatened at all by your brother?” Tahlia grinned, flashing sharp teeth at me. 

“He insulted me. Repeatedly. His Majesty locked him up for my protection.” Raine told the elf. Her heart rate had intensified, and her scent was tinged with fear. I was worried. 

“Just tell me what my brother brought to the council’s attention.” Of course, it was obvious what Sorin wanted. But you don’t always get what you want. I’d make damn sure of it. My kingdom, my rules.