Tanya had just finished running a brush through her hair when a knock sounded. She was still dressed in her flannels, only she’d taken the time to put on a bra. It wouldn’t be right to address the elven king without underwear.

“Come in.”

Stephany entered followed by the king. Behind him, trailed a large robe toting, pointy shoes wearing guard. It reminded her of the night the elves had breached the castle in order to kidnap her so that the alpha could mate her. She mostly remembered how she had been forced to kill two of them in order to survive. She shivered, feeling that this may not have been such a good idea after all. Tanya took a deep breath. The fact of the matter was, she’d promised to help Esral and she would damn well do everything in her power to do just that. Tanya swallowed down her fear.

“Ah, you must be Tanya,” he locked eyes with her and smiled warmly. “This delightful young lady mentioned that you were unwell.” He looked concerned.

“I’m on the mend. Thank you for agreeing to see me. Please”—she gestured to a seat next to the bed—“take a seat.”

The king smiled and did as she asked. “Stephany told me that you are to be mated to one of the kings, but won’t divulge which one. It’s all very cryptic.”

“Both.” Not that she was going to mate either male. They weren’t even together but she wasn’t about to go down that long winding road with the old king. It wasn’t why she’d called him here.

He raised his eyebrows for a second before chuckling. “Excuse my reaction, elves are a little more…conservative. You must be some female to have tamed the likes of those two.”

Tanya smiled, but chose not to respond since she would also have to set him straight on that count.

“Stephany said that you were concerned for Esral.” His face turned stormy. “I share your concern.”

“I understand that a decision was made that Esral is to mate with Xavier come the new moon.”

Katar shrugged. “I had hoped that she would become queen. In many ways she reminds me of my late wife. So soft and timid. Fair to behold, yet strong and resourceful. Clever like Esme. I will come to terms with the new arrangement. Princess Esral”—he shrugged his shoulders—“she is a princess already, I had hoped for more.”

“I can see that you love your daughter.”

His whole demeanor softened. “She is my little girl and in many ways all I have left of my Esme. I want the best for her.”

“Do you want your daughter to be happy?” Best she proceed carefully.

His eyes narrowed in thought, “Why would you ask me such a question? It is clear that I do.”

“With all due respect, King Katar, wanting the best for your daughter and her being happy will not necessarily go hand in hand.”

His eyes narrowed. “I am her father, I know what is best for Esral, she will be happy in the long run.”

Tanya paused for a few seconds, using the time to gather her thoughts. She had one shot to convince the king. “Being forced to mate with someone she doesn’t even know will not make her happy. I have talked at length with Esral, she does not want this union.”

Katar clenched his teeth. “Is there something I should know about this Xavier?”

“Xavier is a good male.”

“Well then?” he seemed to relax somewhat.

“Esral would like to date, she wants to choose her own male.” She shrugged. “Who knows, she might end up choosing Xavier in the end. It needs to be her decision though.” 

He scowled. “Unacceptable. It is the way of our people. No highborn gets to choose. Esme and I found happiness, she will do the same.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Katar nodded his head, his eyes solemn.

“Are all the highborn matings at your court successful?”

Katar squared his shoulders, he raised his hand. His whole demeanor shouted yes, then, he sank back into the chair, a bewildered expression on his face. “Not all, but Esral will find success. Xavier will have to love her, how could he not?”

“Let’s say for argument’s sake that he does grow to love Esral, what if she doesn’t feel the same for him? They would be miserable.”

The king worked his jaw for a few seconds, his eyes took on a faraway lo

ok. “You said he was a good male.”

“He is a good male, but love is a strange thing. We don’t always love the right person or the good person. Heck, sometimes, even against our best judgement, we even end up falling in love with two people.” She blew out a puff of air. “We don’t have an on and off switch inside of us, as much as we may want one sometimes…the point is, just because he is good doesn’t mean Esral will love him. Just because your daughter holds all of those amazing attributes doesn’t mean Xavier will love her.”

He shook his head. “My daughter is not defective. She must mate with this Xavier come the new moon. There is no other way.”

“You are right, your daughter is not defective. Even if she were to stay unmated for the time being, it would not make her defective. Please allow her to choose her own mate.”

His eyes widened in horror. “To mate with a commoner?”

“If that is who she ends up loving, then yes a commoner. You said it yourself, she is a princess and would remain a princess regardless of who she decides on.”

“What if she ends up rutting with a male before she is even mated? What if she takes several to her bed?” He looked like he might have a heart attack, Katar’s breath came out in pants and his face turned red.

“Do you really believe that of your daughter? Esral does not strike me as a female that would fall into bed with male after male. She has more sense than that.”

“You make a good point, but it doesn’t change the fact that my daughter will be seen as defective.”

Tanya took a deep breath, feeling a little frustrated. “Do you believe that your daughter is defective?”

Katar’s fists clenched and his face grew red. “Certainly not and it is for that reason that I insist that she mate with the prince.”

“Let’s say for argument’s sake that the mating doesn’t happen…” His face reddened up a whole lot more and she became a bit worried that he might die from that heart attack at any second. Was that even possible with older non humans? Tanya hoped not. “Would your daughter be defective?”

His jaw worked and he looked at a point somewhere behind her on the headboard not saying anything for the longest time. If there was one thing that she’d learned in a home where arguments and disagreements were a regular occurrence, it was how to get the upper hand in moments like this. Silence could be used as a tool to draw an answer from an opponent. Especially when the answer wasn’t something they wanted to admit.

“Yes.” His eyes shone and he blinked several times before catching her gaze.

Not what she’d hoped to hear. “Will you believe that your daughter is defective if she isn’t mated come the new moon?”

He shook his head slowly, looking utterly defeated. “Yes,” he whispered.

“It’s just you and I between these four walls, Katar. I’m not asking if your daughter will be perceived as defective by the elven people, I’m asking if you will truly feel that your beautiful, intelligent, resourceful daughter will suddenly wake up defective if she herself chooses not to mate with someone she doesn’t love?”

His shoulders sagged. “It doesn’t matter what I think.”

“You are the king. You make the rules. Moreover, you are Esral’s father. Your opinion matters the most. Don’t force this on her, please.”

He remained silent.

“Go and talk with her. She told me that you have dragged your feet in choosing a mate for her because you knew she disliked all the highborn elven males. The path you chose for her, offered the best success rate for her happiness even though it was the most unorthodox.” The old male’s face was set in thought.

Her hopes plummeted as he shook his head. “This would change everything. If Esral is not made to stick to her arranged mating. If I ensure that she is not labelled as defective, what of all the other highborn females? All the other arranged matings? This would change everything.”

“Would that be so bad, King Katar? Why can’t they also be allowed to choose? To have a real shot at happiness?” Tanya reached out to the old king, placing a hand on his. “Change can be a good thing.”

“We can’t have the commoners and the highborn mixing. It wouldn’t be right.”

“Why not? From the sounds of things, they mix plenty behind closed doors anyway.”

The old man chuckled. “You are right on that count.” He sighed. “I will think on it. I wish it were less complicated. What you are asking would change age old traditions.”

“Will you talk with Esral?”

Katar nodded and smiled. “I will talk with her, but I can’t promise any more than that. I can’t just do whatever I would like. I need to keep my people in mind with each and every decision.”

It would’ve been nice to hear him agree to everything she had said, but at the same time this type of major decision would affect a whole species. Katar would not be doing his duty as king if he didn’t put his own emotions aside and think about the repercussions it would have on his people. Tanya respected that.

“Thank you for agreeing to see me and for hearing me out.”

“No…thank you for caring for my daughter. This took courage.” He patted her hand.

 

****

 

Zane had not slept well. If he and Brant didn’t manage to convince Tanya that they could make this work, she would leave them. He sighed. This was not the time for such thoughts. Zane watched as the elven king made his way over to them.

The crisp morning air caused the old elf’s grey hair to blow about his face. Katar removed a leather tie from a silk sack at his back and used it to secure the strand at the nape of his neck. “When is the next new moon?”

By the look on Brant’s face, Zane could tell that the question had also caught him off guard. “That wouldn’t be for about another four weeks,” Brant answered.

“That long?” Katar adjusted the tie on his robe.

Brant raised his eyebrows at Zane making a questioning look. Zane shrugged.

The old man sighed loudly. “If nothing else, it will give me the time I need to convince my people…” he said, clearly talking to himself. Snapping out of it, he lifted his eyes up to face Brant and Zane. “Please put a temporary hold on the mating between Esral and the prince. I do not want her dating until I have made a final decision on her future though.”

Brant nodded and smiled at Katar. “Your daughter must be very persuasive for you to have changed your mind like that.”

“Let’s be clear, I may have changed my mind but it will need to be taken up with my council and the elven folk in general. Although I could force my people to bend to my will, I prefer not to operate in that fashion. Understand also that your brother and my daughter may still end up mating. There is much to be discussed and major decisions to be made that will affect the entire elven species. Though I do not approve or understand the need, I still hope that she will have her opportunity to date.” The old male made a face like the thought was distasteful to him.

“I will convey your wishes to Xavier. I take it that Esral knows of your decision?”

Katar nodded. “She looked happier than I have seen her in a long while. I just hope I can convince my people to alter certain age old traditions or that radiant smile will be wiped from her face.”

“I have to say, Katar, you surprise me. I have always seen you as being highly traditional. This is pleasing, but still unexpected,” Brant said.

“I’m glad that I’m not too old to still surprise others. I was very lucky to have been given Esme. There are many of my people who have only found misery in their arranged matings. It is something I hope to change. I have to say that your female reminds me in many ways of my Esme.”

What the fuck?

“She is a good judge of character. Has a way of putting things that encourages pause for thought. I am glad that I spoke with her. She helped me to see things differently. You are lucky to have her.” Katar nodded his head, his eyes moving from Brant back to Zane.

“Extremely lucky.” Brant smiled at Katar for a beat before turning narrowed eyes on Zane. Giving a quick shake of the head, Zane narrowed his eyes back.

“Since our female came into our life, everything has changed.” Zane said shaking his head again at the truth in his words. A smile formed at the thought of his feisty human.

“Make sure that you work together with her in a solid partnership. Your relationship would work better and will be much more rewarding in the long run.” He looked at them each in turn. “Without Esme, I am convinced that my kingdom would’ve failed a long time ago. In such a short time without her, I have almost ruined everything. I have taken to asking myself what my late mate would have advised. Things are going better as a result.” He smiled. “Take the advice of an old man, do not make the mistake of pushing Tanya to the side, she could be a great asset.”

They shook hands with Katar as was customary. Zane could see that Brant was lost in thought, not really paying attention as the old king got into the waiting vehicle. They watched in silence as the string of luxury cars pulled away and disappeared down the drive in a cloud of dust.

“What the fuck just happened?” Brant’s eyebrows were knit in confusion.

“I think our female just defied us and spoke to Katar behind our back.”

Brant grinned. “The little minx.”

Zane grinned back. “I think we need to have a little talk with her.”

Brant snorted and shook his head. “We need to have a long talk with her. Since she is fully healthy, I will put her over my knee and spank her.”

“Now that is something I would like to see. The good news is that the doctor will be here this afternoon as a precaution even though we already know that the news should be good.”

Brant growled low. “Thank God our female is better. I hated seeing her bed ridden like that.”

“You and I need to come to an understanding of sorts.” Zane locked eyes with the other male.

Brant raised his eyebrows. “I’m not conceding.”

“I don’t expect you to.”

Brant’s eyes narrowed. “Are you conceding?”

“No, I’m not fucking conceding.” He took a deep breath. “I have a better idea.”

Brant eyed him wearily. “Let’s go somewhere more private to discuss this further.”

Zane nodded once, suddenly feeling nervous in the pit of his stomach.