“Perhaps we should consider other options,” Petran said, his tone suggesting he thought we were being foolish. “Negotiations with Igryside, for instance.”
I fixed him with a cold stare. “Consider what, exactly?”
“Alternative solutions. Practical approaches. Negotiations with Igryside about their concerns.”
Wen’s voice was ice. “You mean give them what they want.”
“For the good of the peace, Your Majesty, perhaps certain concessions could be made. Perhaps if the queen herself offered to meet with them, maybe willingly surrender herself, they might be willing to call off their hunt and leave the heir alone.”
The room went very still.
The guards positioned around the room stepped forward in perfect synchronization, hands moving to their weapon hilts. The scrape of metal against leather was loud in the sudden silence. Several councilors turned to stare at Petran with open disapproval, shaking their heads.
Then Lady Sienna stood up, her chair scraping back.
“The queen has been ruling for years,” she said, her voice ringing through the chamber. “She is not incompetent. She has proven herself time and again. To suggest she should offer herself up to an enemy kingdom is not only foolish, it’s insulting.”
“Agreed,” another councilor said. “Queen Gwendolyn has our full support.”
Others murmured agreement around the table.
I stood slowly, letting my alpha power fill the room. The air itself seemed to thicken with it. Every wolf in the chamber felt it, their instincts screaming at them to submit. To back down.
Petran’s face went pale.
“Lord Petran,” I said, my voice dangerously soft. “Let me be clear. Wen is my wife. My equal in all things. We are a fucking team.”
“Your Majesty, I merely suggested that we consider all available options - and perhaps the queen’s unique perspective could be valuable in negotiations that might avoid conflict and preserve the peace we’ve worked so hard to maintain over the years - and I simply thought that maybe we should explore every possible avenue before committing to what could potentiallybecome a very dangerous course of action that might put the entire kingdom at risk - and I certainly meant no disrespect to Her Majesty’s capabilities or judgment in these matters or any suggestion that she should bear this burden alone without the full support of the crown and the council behind her - and I apologize if my words came across as anything other than a genuine concern for the safety and well-being of our beloved queen and the realm as a whole and...”
He was babbling and terrified. I could not remember a single thing that came out of his mouth, except for the threat tomywoman.
“I am not finished,” I cut him off. “If you ever speak about my wife with such disrespect again, I will have your balls mounted on the castle walls. Are we clear?”
Petran was shaking now. “Crystal clear, Your Majesty. My apologies.”
“Apologize toher.”
He turned to Wen, bowing so low his forehead nearly touched the table. “My deepest apologies, Your Majesty. I spoke out of turn. It will not happen again.”
Wen’s expression was cool, controlled. Regal. “See that it doesn’t.”
I remained standing, making sure every person in that room understood exactly where I stood. “We will find Tyreen. We will learn what she knows about fighting Igryside. And if they come for my family, we will be ready. Does anyone else have concerns they’d like to voice?”
Silence.
“Good. Meeting adjourned.”
The councilors filed out quickly, most of them avoiding eye contact with Petran, who looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole. Maybe he’d think twice before questioning Wen’s judgment or suggesting she surrender herself to the enemy.
Once we were alone in the hallway, Wen squeezed my hand.
“Thanks for the backup,” she said.
“You did not need it. Sienna and the guards made that clear. The council respects you.”
“Still. I appreciate it.”
I allowed myself a small smile. “I enjoyed it. Petran needed the reminder of his place.”
