“I never thought you would,” she replied.
“You could leave, you know? I could take you and Jason to the border, and you can cross back over. Back to the world that makes sense for you. If we lose…” Aelnoth didn’t want to think of what the consequences would be for her and Jason if the king didn’t see reason.
“Is that what you want?” she asked.
He could sense the fear in her, and he knew he was the cause. It cut him to his core.
“No,” he whispered. “That’s not what I want, but if it keeps you both safe, I’ll do it. If we lose, I’ll do it. I won’t give you a choice. If we lose I can’t think of what the consequences would be. You’ll have to leave.”
Her back straightened, she crossed the office and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, resting her head on his chest. “We aren’t leaving you. Whatever it takes, we do it together.”
Aelnoth tightened the embrace. Not wanting to let her go. Ever.
Chapter 21
Tradonga was so different than Toronto, or any other city Susie had ever visited. When she had been on the auction block, the rare moments her eyes hadn’t been covered by a blindfold, she had been too frightened to get an idea of the size and scope of the shifter capital.
Now traveling with Aelnoth to see the king and have their fates decided, she was taking the time to look. She wanted to memorize everything about Undervale including the capital city. There were indications of the Harvest Festival everywhere. The roads were lined with stalls that Susie imagined would soon be filled with street vendors. There were also signs of the Symes clan everywhere. Aelnoth had explained that the royal clan used blue bands across their wolves.
The color blue was prevalent in each corner of the city. Colored ribbons decorated every post on the main road leading up to a tall castle that was situated in the center of the city. It looked like something out of old Europe. With large turrets, and blue banners strewn over the sides of the stone walls. Susie wondered if all of this pomp and circumstance was by design, to help keep the other clans and packs in line. There was no doubt with how Tradonga was laid out that King Symes and the Symes clan ruled Undervale. All roads led to the castle.
The three of them travelled alone, while Matthew and Alaina stayed behind to protect the den. They were also preparing in case the meeting with the king and the elder council did not go as they had hoped. Susie knew Aelnoth would stay in Undervale and defend his title and his people, but he would never allow her and Jason to stay by his side. He had said as much the night before. They would secretly be shipped off, back to the human world. Susie had been preparing herself to say goodbye.
Matthew was so resourceful, he had prepared a steady supply of the supplements and nutrition that Jason would need to continue to stay healthy as his body began to form into what he would become. Aelnoth assured her that he would get word to Dr. Merkel with what would be needed in the future. If nothing else, her original goal for coming to Undervale had been accomplished.
It didn’t put Susie’s mind at ease. She had grown to love the Ashlu den. She would miss its wide, wandering hallways, and the secret nooks and crannies. She would miss Aelnoth’s office, and the quiet afternoons reading while he worked. She would miss Aelnoth. She knew she loved him. She also knew that she couldn’t allow herself to speak those words out loud. To open herself up to that kind of vulnerability, now, while so much was held precariously in the balance. It would destroy her if he didn’t feel the same. She knew he cared for her, and she knew he desired her. But love? That was something different. He had never once given her the impression that what he felt for her was love. Honor, yes. Dedication to her as the mother of his child, absolutely. He had said they were family. She knew he meant it, but love was something different. “I would kill for you Susie, I would kill for the boy”, his words ran through her memory. She hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
“You’ve been quiet,” he said to her grabbing her hand and placing it into his own.
“The drive has been bumpy. I didn’t want to get sick,” she replied.
“I think it’s been cool,” Jason said. “Are we almost at the castle? I’ve never seen a castle in real life before.”
He is so sweet, she thought, watching the excitement on his face.
“We are almost there buddy, remember what I told you?” she asked.
“Yes, no matter what stay with either you or Noth. Don’t talk to strangers, no matter how nice. And do what you say!” he repeated back to her, annoyed at what Susie knew he thought were silly instructions. They had decided not to tell him too much of what was happening. Susie didn’t want him to worry. He was adjusting so well.
Abigail had gone ahead at her insistence, she was completely welcomed at court, and said she would send word back if she had any inkling of what the king was thinking. So far she had been silent, and Susie knew that was a bad sign.
“When we arrive, we will have to leave the car at the bottom of the hill, and walk into the castle grounds,” Aelnoth explained. “There may be some staring, even a vile word or two. Most of the population is agreeable to humans, but the Alards and a couple of other clans are not. There is no telling how their pack members will react.”
“Will they try and hurt Jason?” she asked. She could take any kind of abuse, but she absolutely would not expose Jason to that. He was taking well to being half shifter, and she didn’t want to jeopardize his well-being.
“No, I doubt it. Many of their own children are half-human. Just the same, let’s have him walk beside me. I know that will be difficult for you, but I think my name and protection will be better.”
She hated that he was right, but he wanted to be a full father to Jason, and this was his first opportunity she would allow it.
“Also,” he said handing her a small red box. “I would like you to wear this while we are in the castle. It will identify you as Ashlu. Should we be separated, the servants will leave you be.” She tentatively took the box from him and opening it. Her breath caught in her throat as she lifted a gold bracelet with a single, rather large, red ruby placed in the center. Aelnoth helped her put it on.
“It’s absolutely stunning,” she said, admiring the simple, yet elegant piece. “It’s too much. Too valuable. Noth, I can’t accept…” Her voice trailing as she was overcome with emotion. No man had ever given her a gift before. Let alone a gift so valuable.
“I only wish I was giving it to you under better circumstances. It belonged to my grandmother, and then my mother. She would have given it to Alaina, but she wanted me to have it to give to whomever I chose,” he said, his tone heavy with the weight of what they were about to face. “Now, no matter what happens you will have a piece of me with you.”
***
They parked the car in a vacant lot at the foot of the castle gates. They only brought an overnight bag for each of them. As if we knew, Susie thought, we wouldn’t be here long. A sense of helplessness fell over her.
She thought about everything that had happened within the last few weeks. How unfair it was that old men would decide their fate and the fate of the entire Ashlu clan. He was most likely going to lose everything and it was because of her. Yet he showed no animosity toward her for it. He seemed calm and collected. He knew what he was doing was the proper path. Susie wished she had just a sliver of his confidence.
Walking through the gates and up a winding path to the entrance of the castle, Susie was impressed by the number of guards and enforcers. She knew Tylan was lurking among their ranks, she hoped they didn’t encounter him at all. Aelnoth had told her about his anger when he accompanied Symes to the fields. He still felt entitled to her, and if he was close by she didn’t trust him to keep his paws to himself. She wasn’t afraid of him, exactly, but their position was precarious, and she couldn’t count on Aelnoth not doing something stupid.
In the grand foyer of the castle, Abigail met them, pulling Aelnoth into a corner to whisper to him. Abigail had grown warm towards Susie on
ce Alaina brought Jason back to the den. She knew it was difficult for the older woman to overcome prejudices, but was honored that she made such a valiant attempt. Aelnoth had told her that after his father’s death, his mother had been grieving the loss of her mate in her own way, sometimes taking to her wolf form for weeks at a time. He saw a new spark in her eye since Jason had come around. That made him happy, and that made Susie happy. She looked down and tussled her son's hair.
“Come on, Mom, I’m not a baby,’ he whispered, pulling away from her. Aelnoth came walking over. Abigail left, walking in the other direction, she spared Susie a small glance of apology. The look in Aelnoth’s eyes, made her throat dry up. He was intent and focused, but in a way that unnerved Susie.
“What did your mother say?” she asked.
“Well, it seems that the elder council wants you and Jason to sit in the room as our fate is discussed,” he said, brushing his hands through his hair. “It is unheard of, I don’t know if this is bad or not.”
“I actually think that is better, I want to be able to be as close to you as possible,” she said. Her nerves were raw. “When is the council meeting?”
“First thing tomorrow morning. We are expected in the judgement hall after breakfast,” he replied.
“Did your mother say if we are able to stay together tonight?” she asked. The thought of spending the night anywhere but with Aelnoth did terrify her. There were enemies in the castle. She wanted any advantage she could get.
“Yes, we will be granted the Ashlu rooms,” he said. “The king is good with protocol, and so far he has not seen a need to break it.”
“I don’t know if that is good or not,” she replied.
“Neither do I,” he said, not mincing his words at all.
Chapter 22
“Where are you going?” Susie asked him, looking up from the book she was reading to Jason, who looked as if he were ready to fall asleep.
The busy day of traveling, new sights and new smells were too much for him to keep awake. Aelnoth leaned down and brushed a kiss on the top of the boy’s head. Not even a full month, and he loved the boy as if he had been a part of his life since birth. The connection between them was strong.
He hated leaving them on the eve of the council meeting, but he needed to find Symes. He needed any information about what the king and the elder council was thinking. Most of all he needed to be doing something.
“I am going to find Engnar. Hopefully, his anger will have calmed and he will let me know where his father lands on our case.”
“Is that wise?” she asked. He didn’t know if it was wise, but he couldn’t leave it to pure chance.
“I hope so.”
***
“You have a lot of nerve coming to me and asking for help,” Symes said. Scowling at Aelnoth over his newspaper. He sat casually in his rooms, completely unconcerned by Aelnoth’s life being turned upside down.
“I don’t see how I’ve any nerve left at all. None of this is a betrayal of you, friend. Your anger is unwarranted,” he said.
“My anger?” Engnar replied, setting his paper down and placing both hands on the desk. Aelnoth noticed for the first time the bags under his friend’s eyes and the exhaustion in his tone. He wasn’t as harsh as he was when they met in the Ashlu fields. Instead, Aelnoth was surprised to hear resignation. “What do you know of my anger? Have you ever been a subject in one of their labs? Subjected to their tests? Ever since we were pups, your fascination with the humans has gotten the best of you. They are heathens, and now you are shacking up with one, playing house. Don’t tell me about my anger.”
“And if I’d bought her to use as a slave, and we’d had a child as a result? You wouldn’t even bat an eye.”
“You’re right. You would have followed our rules, our laws,” he said. “Instead you mock them, you mock me, and you mock Undervale.”
“I do no such thing,” he replied.
“Bullshit, then what would you call it?” Symes snapped back.
“I love her. Dammit, I love her, the boy too. It wasn’t intentional, but I think I’ve loved her from the moment I laid eyes on her six years ago, at least the wolf in me did, it just took a long time for the man in me to realize,” he confessed. It was the first time he had said it aloud, and he was unsure how his oldest friend would react, but it needed to be said. The one thing he could not afford was dishonesty.
“You love her?” Symes said, his voice softening. “I… I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it, your highness. It’s killing me, but I need her. I don’t want her as just a slave or a plaything. I want her as a mate. My partner. I want her for Ashlu. I want Jason as my heir, as he has every right to be. I came to you looking for help, will you help me?” His desperation flowed out of every pore. He knew Engnar could scent it. He didn’t care. This was it, all of his cards had to be on the table.
“She is human,” was the only response from his friend.
“You know it’s your fault any of this is happening,” Aelnoth said, defeated and falling into the leather armchair across from his friend’s desk.
“Ha! My fault?”
“Yeah. You were constantly giving me shit for crossing over, going to their plays and movies. You hated that I wanted to learn more about them. You pretended to have found a new club, you thought I would like it. You found the address, and sent me on my way.”
“Ahhh yeah, the sex club, I remember. You were wound so tight, I thought for sure you would be disgusted by what you saw, and possibly never want to go back,” Symes said, smiling at the memory. “Wait, she was a sex worker?”
“No, no, no… you were right, I was disgusted by the club. It was vulgar. I’m pretty sure I cursed you up and down Toronto. I had a few drinks and was hungry. I literally ran right into her. I don’t remember much, we were both pretty wrecked, but I remembered her eyes. And the wolf, well the wolf remembered everything else,” Aelnoth said, nostalgic for that night. He wouldn’t change any of it if given the chance now. His only regret was not knowing about his son, and the years lost with Jason’s incredible mother.
“I thought it was strange, that you mentioned nothing about it.”
“I guess I didn’t want you to know, or have the satisfaction. Who knows what I was thinking, it was so long ago,” he said. He thought of how much he had changed over the past six years, but how much he had stayed the same. “I wanted to sway your opinion on humans. I had hoped when it was our time to lead, we could end some of the barbaric practices of our packs. Maybe even start talks with the humans, come to a mutually beneficial agreement. I still hold out hope.”
“Don’t waste your hope, Noth. Maybe we can shut down the auctions and put an end to the slavery and the breeding. I am not fond of these practices either,” he said surprising Aelnoth. It was the first he’d ever heard his friend express disdain for the way they treated the humans. “But we will never have normal political relations with them. It’s not possible. They don’t see us as equals. They see us as animals.”
“Maybe someday, you and I can take the first steps in changing that reality,” Aelnoth replied.
“Maybe,” Symes agreed.
“What do you know about the elder council?” he asked. It would help if he could go into the meeting prepared for what they were expecting or what way they were leaning.
“There are some on the council who think you broke the law, they want to see you stripped of your title, and your pack absorbed into one of the other clans,” Symes said. “I think it’s important you know, they are in the minority. Most, including my father, are leaning towards granting you leniency. After all like you said, were you to produce an heir from the breeder now, there would be no problem.”
“Will they install Jason as my rightful heir?” he asked.
“They will. I’m even inclined to say if you confess your disgusting love for the human to my father and the council like you did to me tonight, they will most likely allow you to take her as a mate.
They’re getting soft in their old age.”
Relief swelled in Aelnoth. His friend telling him exactly what he needed to hear. He couldn’t contain his joy. “This is great! Excellent!” he said. Despite himself, Symes also smiled. The two men clasped hands. All anger between them dissolved.
“I need to get back, and tell Susie not to worry,” Aelnoth said, suddenly desperate to confess the love for her he had been holding back. “Come with me friend, I would like you to meet her.”
Symes scoffed, “No, I’d rather stay here if it’s all the same.”
“It’s not all the same. I’m not asking you to forgive all humans. By all means, keep your hatred, just come and meet this one. Meet my mate, and meet my son.”
“Alright, but don’t expect me to be congenial,” the prince said.
“I wouldn’t think it,” Aelnoth replied, relieved at their good fortune and relieved at having his friend back.
Chapter 23
Susie laid a soundly sleeping Jason down on the bed. Abigail sat in a corner reading silently. She had to get out of the rooms for a moment. At the Ashlu den she could stay in one room for hours and never feel trapped or confined, but since they had been at court the confinement was stifling.
“Lady Ashlu?” she asked the older woman tentatively. “I am going to look for something to eat, would you mind terribly keeping an eye on Jason?”
“I don’t mind at all dear, but it’s not wise for you to wander around the castle without Aelnoth,” she said. Susie noting that she was eyeing the bracelet Aelnoth gave her.
“I hope you don’t mind, Noth, asked me to wear it in the castle,” she said, timid, all too aware that a family heirloom on a human might be enough to turn the older woman’s goodwill. She had been so kind to her, even knowing she was technically a slave, Abigail never made her feel like property. Susie would regret having to leave Undervale, and not having the chance to get to know the woman better. Maybe they would even have become friends.
One Night One Secret Page 11
