The First King

Konrad stood in the corridor, waiting by Prew's door. He leaned his shoulder against the wall as he thought to himself. There was an air of calm about him, which was a surprise. He had rested peacefully for the first time since he traveled to Guilford. As the door clicked open, he perked up. Prew exited her room and looked at him curiously.

"What are you doing here?" She questioned.

"I figured it would make for a good show to walk to the meeting together," he answered as he looked down at her. She was wearing a dark green tunic and black pants. A smile crept across his face, pleased with seeing her like this.

"Good idea," she noted as she began to walk down the corridor, oblivious to his gaze.

"I'm full of good ideas," he boasted, puffing out his chest as he followed her.

"Don't get too cocky now," she warned. "I wouldn't want to draw another weapon on you because you're annoying me."

"It was convenient how that dagger of yours was within your reach last night," Konrad remarked as he glanced over at Prew.

"There is a silver knife under every corner of my bed, as well as in a few other places in my room," she replied with a shrug. "I wanted to be prepared in case you got violent or mouthy."

"I don't know if you are clever or just downright mad," he muttered as Prew flashed him a devilish smile.

They turned a corner and strolled into the room where they were holding the council meeting. They were the last to enter as the five kings and four Alphas were waiting on them. Konrad placed a hand on Prew's back and led her to two chairs at the end of the table. Once they sat down, everyone else did as well.

"How was the bedding ceremony?" One of the kings inquired.

"It went well," Prew answered as she stared blankly at the man. "Would you like to see the sheets of our consummation?"

"No need," the man replied, looking away from her gaze. Konrad could not hold back a grin as he watched the king squirm, uncomfortable with her words.

"Enough of that," Jenson scolded as he sat forward, looking straight at Prew. "There is a lot to discuss today. Now, are you going to behave? Because there is nothing stating that you have to be here."

"If my wife leaves, then I leave," Konrad growled as he slammed his hands on the table. "If this is how you will talk to her, then we might as well stop talking now."

"Alright, alright, let's just take a deep breath," Julius interjected as he stood. "We are all here to accomplish the same thing. No need to threaten or attack one another now."

"Let's just get started with the first order of business," Porter added as he looked around the table. Once all nodded in agreement, Julius sat back down, giving the floor to Porter. "Now, King Jenson brought up a great point after our first meeting ended. Naming Konrad as only a king would put him on equal footing with the rest of us. The problem is that he needs to be able to make decisions on behalf of all of us when he is out there fighting. Therefore, he needs a title that stands above the rest."

"What did you have in mind?" Konrad inquired curiously.

"I suggested we create a new title," Jenson explained. "Something that has never existed before. Yesterday, before the wedding ceremony, we discussed it, and we felt that you should be named the King of Kings."

"King of Kings? Seems a little redundant, don't you think?" Prew scoffed.

"It sets him above everyone else," Julius commented. "And, just as he gets a new title, so do you. You shall be known as our Queen of Queens."

"Okay, so this title, is it only temporary for when we need to rule over the combined army?" Konrad questioned.

"No," Porter answered with a smile. "Unless if you eradicate all of the witches and vampires, there is always going to be a need for someone to take charge, to lead us against the darkness. So, the title of King of Kings shall remain after the war is over. But, there are some conditions to the title."

"It is all laid out here in the charter," Jenson stated as he slid a piece of parchment over to Konrad. Konrad looked at the paper and immediately pushed it to Prew. It was rare for wolves to be educated; in this case, he could neither read nor write. She instantly picked it up and began to read it. "It states that the King of Kings title is hereditary, but after you, the recipient must be of a mixed race. In this case, half human, half wolf."

"What?" Konrad growled. "Why?"

"How can you rule over humans and wolves when you are of one pure race?" Julius countered. "There is an exception listed for you and Prew, but after you pass, that is when the law goes into effect."

Konrad looked over to Prew. She nodded as she glanced at him.

"That is what the charter says," she murmured.

"Is that going to be a problem?" Julius inquired as he looked at Konrad's face. As he stared, a doubt crossed his mind. Doubt on whether or not Konrad had rejected Lorelei.

"No," Prew answered for both of them. "It won't be a problem."

"Good," Julius replied as he leaned back in his chair. "We will need both of you to sign the charter."

Prew nodded her head as she picked up a nearby quill. She dipped it in the ink well, gently scraping the excess. In a quick motion, she scribbled her name. She held the quill out to Konrad, who grumbled as he took it. He placed an X across the line indicated by Prew before tossing it on the table.

"What's next?" Prew inquired as she slid the paper back to Jenson.

"The main issue now is that we need more bodies, resources, manpower," Porter began. "We have two hundred, maybe two hundred and fifty men between all nine of us. But that won't be enough to fight off both the witches and vampires."

"We have made a list of kingdoms and packs that we would like you and the King of Kings to visit," another Alpha continued. "We need you two to persuade these leaders to join with us."

"What are we offering in return? I assume that we cannot go in there empty-handed."

"Seats on the Leader Council is our primary offer," someone answered.

"You named me King of Kings; what good is the Leader Council anymore?" Konrad blurted as he rested his head on his fist.

"The charter stated that you need to get majority approval for when you want to do things that use our resources or people."

"Then what is the point of giving me a high and mighty title?" He grumbled.

"So you have a say once the armies are assembled!" Julius snapped. "You are the final say in some situations, but you will never be the only say. Now, how do you two want to handle the visits? We have five human kingdoms and five packs."

"I'll take the human kingdoms, and Konrad can take the packs," Prew suggested as she looked around the table.

"That means that you will go alone," Jenson commented. "Three of the kingdoms are several days away. I don't think your new husband would want his bride to travel that far without him."

"Prew can go wherever she sees fit," Konrad scowled as he shook his head. "You just named her Queen of Queens, but yet you still see the need to treat her as if she were property."

"Don't mind him," Prew interjected as she put her hand on his. "Some human men are narrow-minded when it comes to women. But it is nothing new to me."

"Well, narrow-minded men won't have a long tenure on the Leader Council," Konrad warned as he looked at Jenson. "Now, what are the names of the packs and kingdoms that you think we need to visit."

"The kingdom of Rovia, the Empire of Etiba, Yogan Kingdom, the Paderus Kingdom, and the kingdom of Qeodo," Porter replied.

Konrad nodded as he listened. He knew of two of these kingdoms, but the other three were unknown to him. As Porter continued to talk, he decided to mind link to Rowan to come up to Sella Castle. Though he did not care that Prew traveled, he could not help but worry slightly.

“Worry?” Nero sneered with an eye roll. “You’re jealous because you think she will go out and find herself a secret lover.”

Konrad’s hands tightened into a fist as he shook his head. He glanced over to Prew who was glancing over a map. She was pointed out a few places, marking them with a quill. Konrad leaned over, his face getting close to hers as he tried to follow what she was doing.

"Then there is the Wildfang pack, the Ambersky pack, the Giant Howlers, the Winterhide warriors, and lastly, the Frostpaws pack," Julius added.

"Alder? You want me to try and persuade Alder to do anything?!" Konrad shouted as he looked at Julius.

"Yes, we need the warriors from the Frostpaws," Julius insisted.

"Do you know him?" Porter inquired.

"I've had the misfortune of meeting him before, yes," Konrad answered.

"Well, that Alpha was the runner-up for the seat that you sit in," Jenson mused as he smiled. "Best consider yourself lucky that we chose you over him."

"Me, lucky?" Konrad laughed. "No, no, no. Consider yourselves lucky. That man is an arrogant bastard who somehow got blessed with an Alpha wolf."

"Your distaste for him is noted, but we still need you to try and persuade him to join forces with us," one of the kings stated.

"Fine," Konrad grumbled. "We shall give it our best effort. Now, can we take a break? My wife and I need a minute to discuss things."

"Sure," Porter nodded. The men stood and left the council room, leaving only Prew and Konrad behind.

"Well, there goes our annulment," she scoffed after the doors closed. Her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned back against her chair with a thud.

"They had me and Alder as the final two," Konrad mumbled, not really listening to what Prew had said.

"Really? That's what has you worried?" She questioned with a frown.

"You don't understand. You don't know him," Konrad insisted as he looked at her.

"And I won't because I married you, and now we are stuck together!" She hissed. "And they expect us to have a child. Does that not worry you in the least bit?"

"It does ruin my intended plans, yes," he admitted with a sigh. "But, we can make this work. It's just one kid."

"One kid?!" She shouted angrily. "No, you don't understand that you and I shall need to have a male child, not just a child. This charter goes by the laws of man, not the laws of wolf! Plus, this isn't what I want, and you know it!"

"We will figure this out," Konrad growled.

"Why do I get the feeling that there is no we in this?" She scowled as she stood. Prew stormed from the room, nearly bumping into Rowan as he entered.

"Did I interrupt something?" Rowan inquired as he approached his Alpha.

"No," Konrad whispered. "It's... complicated. But, look, I need a favor from you."

"Anything," Rowan smiled. "You are my flesh and blood, my Alpha. I shall do anything for you."

"It seems as though Prew and I shall be required to travel for some time. Apparently, we need more men, and the Leader Council is too lazy to do it themselves." Konrad explained as he stood to his feet. "But, Prew and I shall be traveling separately. I will be visiting with packs while she visits human kingdoms. I need you to accompany her along with three of our best warriors."

"Of course! I shall protect the Luna!" Rowan crowed as he hit his fist against his chest.

"Careful," Konrad warned. "She is not my mate, nor is she your Luna. Do not call her as such."

"I don't understand."

"I am only married to her. She shall never be marked; I shall never call her my chosen mate. Therefore, by wolf tradition, she is not a Luna."

"Yeah, okay, and what about the pack? Everyone is calling her Luna. Are you going to go set them straight, too?" Rowan countered.

"Careful, cousin. I am in no mood for your arguing. It is 'yes Alpha' or 'no Alpha' from you."

"Oh, I see," Rowan huffed as he did an exaggerated bow. "Yes, Alpha. As you wish, Alpha. I am at your disposal, Alpha."

"Go!" Konrad snapped as he pushed Rowan's shoulder roughly. "And tell that Leader Council that I am ready to proceed."