That slightest touch made it nearly impossible to think clearly, sending me into a frenzy that humoured Michael enough to snort and kick me under the table.
My witch had me behaving like a desperate fool. It was unbecoming. To add insult to injury, Alec watched from across us, undoubtedly sensing how badly I wanted his sister. He hadn’t been my friend for a long time, and she was my mate, but the situation was so awkward it was almost funny. I fought hard not to cackle, especially since the moment the councillor realised what was happening, he downed his whisky in one go and muttered a quick prayer for divine intervention.
Oh, well. I guessed he never felt the restless need to fuck his mate senseless and sate needs she didn’t even know she had.
‘Can we continue?’ he asked.
Pouring myself a glass of water, hoping it would cool me down enough to pay attention, I listened as Ava encouraged the Elder to explain why he had gathered us.
She was so polite and formal when she needed to. Seeing how much she had grown in power, confidence, and the way she carried herself made me certain that she would make a great queen. We would serve Fogoya together, leading it into prosperity and peace.
‘I’m sure you realise the leader of our Council had stepped in as an interim monarch of Ortensia, which cannot continue. The kingdom has two living, attainable royal familymembers and as such, it is between the two of you to decide which one of you will take over.’
‘Aren’t you looking for our mother?’ Willow asked, speaking for the first time since they arrived. The girl looked surprisingly normal for the bitch Ava shared she was.
Ramonds placed his hands on the table. It was a tactic I knew, meant to make him look honest and understanding. Qualities I believed he lacked. ‘We are actively searching for the former Queen Harper and your older sister Princess Lilian; however, since the state she left her court in was troublesome at best and bordering on annihilation at worst, we are against reinstating her. We would rather the reign be passed to the next legitimate option.’
‘They aren’t options, they’re heiresses,’ Alec seethed, slamming his fist hard enough to rattle the glasses.
The councillor paled. ‘Of course. I apologise for my choice of words; I didn’t mean disrespect.’
Alec didn’t seem convinced. ‘Regarding them as objects wasn’t meant to be disrespectful?’
‘Let it go, Alec. We all know what he meant,’ Ava said, crossing her legs and hiding her hands in between her knees. Stressful situations tended to make her hands go cold lately; the raging blaze within my veins rushed to warm them for her, but it wasn’t the place nor the time to test her boundaries with me.
‘Since you have been staying away, wisely so, you may not know how dire the situation had been growing in your kingdom. Unfortunately, the Ortensian court had chosen not to cooperate with the interim monarchy, organising… distressing protests to urge the Council into bringing back a legitimate ruler,’ he informed us with arms crossed as if he disapproved of what had been happening.
As much as I hated Ortensians, I understood why they rejected the Elder involvement. Their generic approach wasinsufficient. Though I would be lying if I claimed it didn’t make my life easier.
Ever since the Council ruled over the halfling kingdom, they had stopped attacking my armies and the villages near the Gem Fields. My people were hopeful the disappearance of Queen Harper could lead to peace.
I wouldn’t allow myself to dream, but I needed to make it happen. Whether it was by politics or bloodshed, I would make sure my people stopped suffering.
‘Why are you speaking to both of us then?’ Willow raised her voice and smirked as if the Elder had spewed nonsense.
‘The two of you are the only heiresses—’
‘Ava doesn’t even command water!' The blonde demoness shot back with resentment.
‘You have a week to decide which one will take the throne,’ he said, ignoring her jabs. ‘If you cannot reach a unanimous decision by then, the Council will organise a tournament for volunteers.’
‘Volunteers? Are you insane?’ My mate’s sister screeched like a woman possessed. ‘The kingdom is ours.’
Ramonds stood and started putting his coat back on. ‘Then you better start acting like it.’
My little witch looked stuck in deep contemplation, staring at her older sister who was now raising her voice at the councillor and accusing the Council of being useless and serving no purpose. Alec nodded, agreeing with her points as she berated Ramonds until the second he walked out of the room.
The girl was intense and possibly insane. I just hoped she would rule better than her mother because looking at my mate, I already knew what she had decided.
Ava wanted nothing to do with that court.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Avari
The Elder’s words echoed in my mind as I made my way toward Alec to take us home. Ortensia needed a ruler, of course it did. It was silly of Willow and me not to realise it sooner, or perhaps just me. She kept wanting to go back.
Maybe she knew she had to take care of our people. That we left them alone. But knowing how she was, how she carried herself, prioritising only her comfort and desires, I worried about the prospect of her rule.
