Solution

Soren POV

The meeting with the Heads of House was extremely boring, one of the few things I hate about being Emperor, as these meetings can often go on for days, as each one wants to be better than the other and have the upper hand.

Although each House had its function within the Kingdom, the Heads always wanted to have a greater influence. Even more so with Skyler's problem, I need to put someone else in charge of the House of Poppies, but the person I choose will be my third-in-command.

For a while now, I've been thinking about putting Ghost as my third-in-command and choosing another leader for the House of Poppies, but the problem is that this is going to cause some strife among my subjects, whether they're Heads of House or not.

I know the Lycan race will love it if that happens. Besides, it makes sense for Ghost to become my third-in-command, since he's the King of the Lycans, and this way we close the circle of the Kingdom and strengthen all the bases.

I breathed a sigh of relief when the meeting ended, but my peace was short-lived as I heard Victor in my mind, his voice not the best and his urgency sure.

'Come to our room, I have some news about Ayla that it's important you know before we tell her.' Victor spoke.

I feel Strïth stir, I think he already knows it's not good news. I sighed and got up from my chair. I'm in no hurry to get to my room because I don't want to argue, the meeting has already given me a headache.

After a few minutes, I finally enter our room, and the smell of Ayla and Victor, which should calm me down, doesn't, my head is still aching, and I take a deep breath, before making my way to our bed.

I see Victor standing in front of the window, the sunlight falling on his silhouette, making him look ethereal, something I haven't paid attention to in a while, his black hair has a slight golden sheen, and the fabric of his clothes seems to be made of liquid metal and I feel the urge to go up to him and kiss him, but I hold back.

"Victor," I called out to my mate.

He turns around, and his expression is solemn, his aura is low, but I know something is very wrong.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Ghost and I noticed a fluctuation in Ayla's aura while she was taking the potion with Selene's Tears. Her body is refusing the potion." Victor began to explain.

I sighed, Strïth starting to pace back and forth in my mind.

"I see, it means she can't take the whole wedding day," I said and rolled my eyes. "We've come to expect something like this."

"Ghost thinks Ayla won't even make it out of the imperial bedroom..." Victor looked out of the window again. His aura increased slightly.

"What's your suggestion for making sure that doesn't happen?" I asked, afraid of the answer, because I knew he didn't like her.

"That Ayla spends her last nights with him," Victor replied, clasping his hands tightly.

"Never!" Strïth shouted.

"Not in that sense... They're not going to have sex, but Ghost said it would be more effective if Ayla slept in the same room and perhaps in the same bed." Victor spoke between his teeth.

"How can you stay calm with a suggestion like that?" I shouted, using my self-control not to attack my mate.

Victor shuddered, and I saw him force his aura to calm down.

"I'm not, but I'm forcing myself to stay because of the repercussions it could have on our mate!" Victor turned to me, staring at me. "I won't be responsible for causing her any more harm!"

I start to see the shadows move as Strïth's power spreads.

"You'll never forget that, will you?" I asked angrily. "You'll always throw it in my face."

"I'm telling you the truth! Imagine Ayla nearby! What would become of her? Her body, her soul?" Victor responded by opening his arms, while several items began to be consumed by the shadows.

I closed my eyes.

"Strïth, try to control your powers. I spoke to my spiritual part, and it took a few minutes for that to happen.

'Soren! I've spoken about this several times, Ghost is a necessary situation for the progress of our mate's healing! We have nothing to do but accept that fact." Victor explained, his voice lowered, even hurt.

"I understand that! I even wanted to put him as the third-in-command, precisely because these last few days, Ghost is proving to be reliable." I spoke and sighed, this time Strïth had retreated into the depths of my mind.

"Exactly, and that's the only reason I'm considering accepting it." Victor approached me, taking my hand and squeezing it lightly. "He's not going to betray us and if that's what it takes to get Ayla healthy in our marriage, then I'll accept the situation. It will be a worthwhile sacrifice."

I swallowed and shook my head lightly to focus my mind.

"How many days?" I asked in a string of voices.

"Ghost said about three days," Victor replied. "But we have to assess the situation every time Ayla takes the potion. Today she was in a lot of pain, I could feel it in me, weren't you affected?"

I nodded, and for a brief moment, I really did feel as if needles were inside me.

"Yes, but it was very quick," I replied.

"So, it was at that moment that she had taken the potion, and that's when Ghost discovered this variation in her energy," Victor explained.

"The stronger she becomes, the more her Lycan side will fight," I said and sighed. "Besides, with Ayla's natural magical resistance, it was obvious that something like this would happen. I should have prepared better for this situation."

Victor gave a sad smile.

"That's why I called you here, so we could talk before we broke the news to Ayla. Our auras can't increase, because that would hurt her." Victor explained tiredly and closed his eyes.

I took advantage of the moment and moved closer to him, wrapping my arms around his waist. This whole situation makes our emotions run wild, and it's hard to control ourselves. My mate returned the hug and leaned his head on my chest.

I know it's hard for him to always be the mediator in complex and arduous circumstances. Sometimes I think how blessed I am to have him by my side. Surely Ayla couldn't have chosen a better person to share the bond of destiny with.

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