“What is unusual about that Diane? You shouldn’t go on assuming things. I worry your mouth will get you into trouble,” I said, flicking her forehead playfully.
“Ow! That hurts, my lady,” she cried.
“It is meant to. I believe I expect Madam Margaret today?” I quipped. I had not seen her the other day when Nydia had said she would come.
“Yes, my lady, I am not sure why she was not here yesterday,” replied Diane.
“I shall soon die Diane,” I announced and she looked at me strangely.
“My lady! Why would you say such a thing?” she asked me.
“I mean of boredom. What shall I do today?” I complained but I did not get a reply from Diane when Ruth walked into the room. She gave a note to Diane and Diane said, “Madam Margaret expects you.”
I rolled my eyes at this and lay back on my bed. I had the sinking feeling that Madam Margaret was going to be someone that I would not like.
I was right. The moment I walked into the room where Madam Margaret was seated I hated her on sight. She was a heavy day woman with unnaturally large bosoms that had me looking twice. What was on her chest? Had she stuffed melons into her breasts to give it that look? To make it even worse was her rather slim figure. She was so thin I thought she could break if I attempted to bend her body. She looked so sickly too that I could not imagine how she was going to teach me how to birth a healthy heir.
“Regina, is it?” she quipped. Her voice was sharp and deep which was quite contrary to her frame.
“You shall address me as Lady Regina,” I said in a firm voice. She looked at me with disdain and I could spot irritation in her face. She hated me; that much was clear but the feeling was mutual.
“I was told you are no lady. Lady Nydia said that you…”
“You will address me as Lady Regina or we have nothing to discuss, understood?” The temerity of seriousness in my voice surprised even Diane but it was necessary to set clear boundaries with Madam Margaret. She seemed like a very nasty person.
“If you will have it your way, Lady Regina,” she said forcefully.
“So what are you here to do?” I asked her.
“I am to assist you in birthing the royal seed,” came her response.
“And how exactly shall you do this?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“First, we shall take meat out of your diet,” she said. I was not sure this was necessary as the sneer on her face showed that she had said so to punish me.
“Why?” I asked her.
“I need not explain my reasons. You shall simply do as I say,” she replied haughtily.
“I want to know why she is not to eat meat. Meat is important for the healthy development of werewolves,” it was Alpha Dagen’s voice and it startled me.
“Your Majesty,” we all chorused, standing up to bow to him. He waved our greetings off and had his eyes on Margaret expecting an answer to his question.
“Your Majesty, I am following a guide that has been left to me by our mothers of old taking into consideration that they helped birth werewolves of old times that in strength surpass us today,” I had not known that her voice was capable of being soft.
“My mother ate meat a lot while trying to give the pack an heir. She also had meat during her pregnancy. I credit my strength to the amount of meat she ate while I was dependent on her for nutrients. We feed even our servants meat because meat is important for the survival of werewolves. A werewolf that does not consume meat will only be weak, much the same as a vampire that does not consume blood. Lady Regina will die before she can even conceive my child if you adopt that method,” came Alpha Dagen’s response.
“Your Majesty with all due respect this is a proven method by…”
“And I have said no. Lady Regina return to your room this instant there is something I want to discuss with you in private,” ordered Alpha Dagen and my heart skipped a beat. Had he found Tyler after all? Was it about conceiving his heir? And more importantly, why was he addressing me as Lady Regina? It felt uncomfortable.
“Yes, your Majesty,” I said and did as he said.
When I entered my room I began to pace about my room wondering what Alpha Dagen could possibly want from me. Had Nydia reported me for something?
“You said last night that no one was in your room,” it was an accusation.
“Your Majesty, there was nobody in my room,” I was certain of one thing. Tyler was not going to out me to Alpha Dagen. If he did then we would both have our heads cut off. There was no doubt about that. The best I could do was lie convincingly.
“There was a prowler on the palace grounds in the night,” said Alpha Dagen staring directly at me.
“I know nothing about it. Was the prowler caught?” I asked, hoping that Tyler had somehow managed to escape.
“What do you think?” he asked me. I knew at once that he was testing me so I said nothing.
“You are quiet,” he remarked, keeping his gaze fixated on me.
“I hope that he is caught,” was my response.
“The tone of your voice betrays your true feelings,” Alpha Dagen commented.
“I hope that he is caught whoever it may be,” I responded in a firm voice. All my life I had never felt the need to protect anybody. It felt good and burdensome at the same time but what I knew was this: if the situation was reversed, Tyler would do the same for me.