Chapter 112 Zephyra

Chapter 112 Zephyra
He falls to his knees and the guards hold him down. Weapons still drawn.

"YOUR Majesty" Someone echo. I look to my left.
"Alpha Fineasta. Alpha and Lord of northern and Southern regions. A man whose books on wolf governance have sold more copies than any political text in recorded pack history." Cat supplies this before I can reason.

He steps forward, and Kade moves in front of him, standing as a wall between us to intercept, four guards flanking forward too.
"Alpha Fineasta," I call.
"Please." He begins but doesn't step closer.
"We did not come for war, Your Highness. Please show mercy." He concludes and bow his head slightly

"I don't know," I say. And then I let it out.
The rage and truth, clear and cold.
"It has been less than twelve hours since my coronation. In that time I have heard the words 'She's Just A Girl And She Was A Slave' no fewer than five times. I have now received a thought planning my murder.

And six members of my council arrived at my private quarters at four in the morning without formal notice." I look at him steadily, and lean forward, our eyes in a silent stare lock.

"What would you have me think, Alpha? Because I cannot find the interpretation in which I should trust any of you."
Silence stretches and they all look around.

I've hit a nerve. Then gasps.
People gasp as Alpha Fin goes on both knees. I stand immediately.
According to Cat, he's a smart and respected man of the people. People pay to buy his wisdom. I'm sure it'll look bad on me if I let him kneel on an unofficial case.

And the sight of him on his knees in the four AM dark, head bowed, is not something I was prepared for or should be heard.

"Please stand," I say weakly.
"This is not a formal hearing."
"A murder threat against Her Majesty is punishable by death," he says aloud, head still bowed. I stand and walk towards him.

"Please calm your King's rage."
The remaining three elders follow him to the ground. Voices now louder it rattles against my seat.
"PLEASE CALM YOUR ANGER, YOUR MAJESTY."
They roar together. I stumble back. This is...

"I'm not angry please stand." I say at his front
"Please calm..." I drown out their pleas as it continues aloud in the dawning sky. None listening to me.

"These people" Naville screech
"Maybe kill Raz so they can all find something to choke on," Cat suggests angrily and I look around.
It's just my family, the guards and these people kneeling.
I go back to my seat. My cloak a heavy weight that sweeps the floor. Ronah turns with me then stands by me as I sit.

My back leaned firmly, I look at all six of them, stretch my fingers, my gaze hard on them, and I snap my thumb and little finger together.
Immediately, blue glow circles all of them instantly.
Alpha Fin looks up, our eyes meet and just for a second... almost dismissible I hear

"HOW DARE.." Then it dies down. I look at him willing to see if he's the one that own that thought or someone else. Nothing.

"Anyone that remains here in the next eight seconds will remain here for the next three days. Him and his wolf bounded."

From the back, they scramble up. Before the eight seconds is up, they're all out of the circle, to their seats

"Next time, I'll prefer to not repeat myself more than twice" They gulp at my words.
I stretch my hand and the blue light goes dim.

Finally, slowly, it dies down.
"Now that we have that settled, can I hear why all six of you came to my private chamber without formal report?"

No one speaks. In fact, three are visibly sweating.
"Your private chamber," Alpha Fin breaks the silence.
"What about it?"

"A king's private chamber is the palace not her husband's house," Another Alpha concludes gently but heard. I quirk my brows at him.

"He's Alpha Lean. Popular for job giving amongst the youth in the past two years" Cat supplies.
"Or his private resident," Alpha Fin adds calmly.
"And this couldn't wait till morning?"

"It'd be shameful to have eyes watch her majesty walk out from a place that's not her palace in the early mornings." Fin adds, almost harshly.
This is hard. I don't want to sleep in the palace.

"Your palace, your rules little wolf." I look at Van and he smiles softly.
I gulp and settle into my seat.

"It's no secret the former King sinned gravely against me and my family." Seats shift, heads turn then silence.
"I refuse to sleep in a room he slept."
"But..".
"I want a separate room in the palace prepared," I say.
"One that has not previously served as the king's chamber. Redesigned entirely. That room becomes 'My king's chamber."

"Your Majesty, that isn't how.."
"It will be done within the day, Your Majesty." Alpha Fineasta's voice cuts cleanly across the Alpha's objection.
I like him, Cat says.
Me too, I think back

"Since that's settled," I stand up.
"I'll retreat to my 'husband's mansion'" I say walking out and they all bow as I walk toward the door.
But, I stop beside Raz, who is still on his knees where Evander released him.

"As for the matter of treasonous thoughts against your king," I say, looking not at Raz, but at the room, letting my gaze move across each face in turn
"I trust this council to determine and proffer the proper punishment for him" Their heads whip to me, eyes ready to say a lot but held back with surprise. I pause.

"That is, after all, what a council is for."
I hold the silence for one beat.
Then I smile.
Small, deliberate then I walk out when no one say anything.
My husband comes right beside me.
My family moving behind.

"Yo, Zephyra is fully back"
Naville say and I smile.