you serve me

you serve me
I took in a deep breath, trying to not let the irritation get to me “did i stutter?” i said, looking at him as i barely kept my eye from twitching.
“i am sorry my lord, but you do not get…. you would have just a few days to live and…”
“Elias” i said, calling him by his name for the first time in what felt like forever. He looked at me, too stuned to even say a word.
“it does not matter. It’s my life against hers and honestly, her life matters more than mine” that silenced him. He looked at me long and hard before he let out a sigh.
“v-very well my lord” he said, looking at me like he wanted to say something more but then keeping quiet and walking away.
I went back to the ward she was in. For some reason, i thought she was going to be sitting, looking around trying to figure out what was wrong and where she was. But i was wrong.
My shoulders fell as i looked at her still figure on the bed. “Mika” i called softly, walking closer to her as i looked at the almost lifeless body. “I am getting scared” my voice coming out in a whisper as fear gripped me. “I am meant to be the strongest shifter and here i am terrified that i might never see you open your eyes again. And i never got to tell you how i feel” again i felt the tears fall down my eyes and at this point, it was barely impossible to keep them at bay anymore. They were falling faster than any water fall.
“my lord, the council summons you” i felt my shoulders freeze. I could have sworn that even my tears had stopped midway as i heard that.
I felt my shoulders drop as i wiped my tears. Luckily for me, i was backing him when he entered the room.
“i would be there in a minute” he stood there for a few minutes, looking at the two of us before he left.
I looked at her barely breathing body. “please wake up, i promise i would be good. I promise i would do whatever you want” i stood up from the chair i had been sitting in for a while, “you are not going to wake up, are you?” i sighed.
I left the room, matching straight to the room that no doubt would dampen my mood further.
“My lord” they called, standing up from the the chair.
“what is this meeting for?” i said, standing at the door, resting on the door, when my eyes met with this girl that stood in the center of the room.
“my lord” the council woman, said, standing up as she cleared her throat. “we have suggested to take matters into our hands since you have decided not to take our plight for an heir seriously.” she stood, looking at me with her head in the air, looking at me from beheath her nose.
I blinked at first, trying to understand what the hell was going on. “what is your name?” i said, looking at her for a minute.
“Linda, i am replacing my mother in the-”
“right” I said, cutting her off from whatever it was that she was willing to say. “my mate, is in critical condition and…”
“yes i was briefed on it but i am aware that she is just human” it was quiet for a while, everyone taking in a deep breath as she dared to cut me off. Everyone seemed to have stopped moving, waitng for my next reaction
I closed the distance between us before Linda could finish her sentence.
I could feel every pair of eyes on me as my hand came up, snapping her from her spot as my fingers closed around her throat with deliberate restraint. Not crushing. Not yet. Just enough to remind her how fragile authority was when it forgot who granted it.
Linda’s gasp was sharp, undignified. Her hands flew to my wrist, nails scraping uselessly against my skin, trying to pry my hands off but it was of no use
“Look at me,” I said quietly.
She didn’t at first. Fear widened her eyes, but pride kept her chin tilted away. I smiled as i looked at her ‘That pride was a mistake.’ i thought to myself
I tightened my grip just enough to force her attention. Her gaze snapped to mine, and I let her see the crazed look that reflected how i was feeling
“You stand in my hall,” I said, my voice steady, controlled. “You speak because I allow it. You breathe because I have not decided otherwise.”
The room felt impossibly small. I was aware of the council members shifting, of guards tensing, but no one moved. The girl that had been brought looked like she was going to pass out from just looking at the interaction, if you could even call it that.
Linda’s pulse fluttered wildly beneath my thumb.
“You are not my equal,” I continued. “You are not my judge. You are not here to question my rule or my decisions.”
I leaned closer, lowering my voice so only she could hear me.
“You serve me.”
Her eyes filled with tears, but also with fear. The kind that settles deep and never quite leaves.
“Never,” I said, each word deliberate, “forget that.”
I released her abruptly. She stumbled back, coughing, clutching her throat as she struggled to steady herself. I didn’t spare her another glance.
Instead, I turned to the rest of the council.
“Let this be the only reminder you need,” I said calmly. “The council advises. I decide.”
No one argued. No one dared.
“now” i said, straightening my clothes so that i could look presentable. “I would ask again, why was i called?”
No one said anything, others looking away purposefully when my gaze met with theirs. “if this has been a waste of my time, i would much rather go back to my mate”