Shields of Saftey

POV: Garrett

He directed me to sit in the seating area of his office, a subtle but clear signal that this was not official Vellum business. My heart thudded with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. The red upholstered chairs, bathed in the soft, golden glow of the morning sun streaming through the tall windows, seemed more inviting yet foreboding than usual. This was going to be a casual conversation, likely about Alexandra.

As I settled into one of the plush chairs on the south end of the room, I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. The anticipation was a tangled web of possibilities—what did he want to discuss about her? My mind raced through scenarios, each one leaving me more uncertain about how I should respond.

If it was about her, I knew I had to tread carefully. Alexandra had made it abundantly clear that she despised being the subject of conversations without having her say. I respected her boundaries and felt a pang of guilt at the thought of breaching them. Would he understand and respect her wishes in this regard?

He took the chair on the north side, nearest to his desk, and leaned back slightly, studying me with a thoughtful expression. The silence stretched between us, charged with unspoken questions.

He said, “I can see on your face that you have apprehension for what I brought you here for. I had a few reasons to talk to you and just figured an official summons was better than showing up at your doorstep to make things awkward. I haven’t really spoken to Alexandra about everything yet and I feel like until I do, it would be very awkward.”

I nodded, “Yeah, I understand. So why did you bring me here?”

He leaned back in his seat, the wood creaking softly under his weight, and said, “Well the first topic of conversation is actually Alexandra.”

I held up a hand and shook my head, “Listen, I got her thoughts yesterday about how she feels about me talking to you about her. She thinks you should address her directly.”

He shook his head, his eyes clouded with a mix of frustration and concern. “I understand that, but I wanted to talk about her security after what I heard yesterday. I believe you would be best to talk to about that, being a soldier.”

He opened his mouth to add to that, but a pained expression flashed across his face, his eyes briefly closing as if trying to hold back a wave of emotions. I could see it was painful for him to mention it—he was in love with her. The unspoken words hung heavy in the air between us, an invisible burden we both felt.

He sighed deeply, the sound echoing in the quiet room, “So, Rayla attacked her, and we are in the process of determining if she was inflicted. Teddy was sent out this morning to conduct a test that he came up with. Speaking of Teddy, he also wanted to take a look at Alexandra’s health to see if she’s okay.”

His voice trembled slightly as he spoke, betraying the depth of his concern. I felt a surge of protectiveness towards Alexandra, mingled with an uneasy empathy for him. This was not just a matter of security; it was about the tangled web of emotions and relationships that bound us all.

I pondered if this was really Teddy wanting to take a look at her, or was it some sort of control that Lucien was trying to wrest back for himself in regards to her. The question gnawed at the edges of my thoughts, creating an undercurrent of mistrust. I sighed and leaned forward, locking eyes with him. “If you’re asking me, I won’t give you an answer. That is totally up to her. I’ll tell you what, though—send Teddy over tonight and she can tell him whether she wants to be examined. I won’t want to step on her toes there.”

He nodded, the lines of worry on his face easing slightly, knowing any more of this discussion would go nowhere. He shifted in his chair, the soft light from the window casting shadows across his face, and moved on to the next subject. “So, the security. I know the General has sent three guards this time, but I understand one is an understudy and not certified. She’s down one because I understand that Jynx is out of commission.”

I nodded, leaning back and folding my arms. “I think she’s far more injured than she’s letting on. Alexandra was summoned abruptly to House Dark this morning. I assume Modred knows this and has her covered. I wouldn’t be shocked if he sent a replacement.”

Lucien sighed, a weary sound that seemed to echo the depth of his frustration. “I don’t know if you get any more competent than Jynx, though.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle, the tension breaking for a moment. “If we could have one hundred Jynxes at the Citadel, then no one would mess with Vellum.”

A small, rueful smile touched his lips. “I think for now the four she has will suffice, but when the Gathering happens, I want at least two additional guards for her. The Citadel will provide one, but I know the Lycans have their own military.”

I held up a hand to interrupt, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on my mind. “We have it covered, but if you would be so kind as to give us Ashton during that time, I think that would be the best move.”

He looked taken aback, surprise flickering in his eyes. “I would have thought you would prefer Derek on her.”

I shook my head, the decision already firm in my mind. “My brother is very capable, but I’ve heard that he would be away on a special mission. Not only that, who is more fiercely protective of someone than their own twin? Her brother would be best.”

Lucien’s eyes softened, understanding dawning on his face. He leaned back, the tension easing from his posture as he considered my words. The bond between siblings, especially twins, was something even he could not argue with. The conversation drifted into a comfortable silence, both of us contemplating the myriad of challenges that lay ahead. The soft ticking of the clock on the wall was the only sound in the room, marking the passing moments.

Lucien broke the silence in the room, his voice heavy with weariness. “I have to talk to you about the Gathering now.” He raked a hand across his face, and it was the first time I noticed just how exhausted he looked. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his usually sharp features seemed softer, dulled by the weight of his responsibilities.

“Are you okay?” I asked, concern evident in my tone.

He shook his head slowly, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “The Gathering is always a stressful time for the leaders, but especially so for the host nation. With my incapacitation, Blake pushed aside any decisions regarding that, so I had a lot on my plate.”

I had wondered something for a while in regards to that, so I decided to speak up. “Can’t the other Kings in the realm help you out?”

He leveled a thoughtful gaze at me, the wheels in his head visibly turning as he considered the suggestion. He pressed his lips into a thin line, his brow furrowing. “I never thought of that before, but then again, Mordred was banished from the realm, so my father couldn’t ask him the last time it was here. The Lycans, of course, didn’t have a king at that point, and the psyche king doesn’t really care to be a part of this. Talk about the recluses of all the people here. They have a prince and princess, but no one has ever seen them. I wonder if they will even show up this time. They never do when it is out of realm and rare when it is in Vellum. I guess we’ll find out.”

He sighed deeply, the sound filled with a mix of frustration and resignation. “Anyhow, did you even want to help out? I think my mother could use an extra set of hands if you would send someone from the Lycan kingdom.”

I thought about what the Queen Mother would be doing that required help and realized it was likely things that needed a woman’s touch. My mother came to mind—she and the Queen Mother were essentially cut from the same cloth. I would need to think on it some more and maybe talk to the Queen Mother about her requirements.

“I think I can arrange that,” I said, nodding thoughtfully, “but I want to talk to her before I can tell who is best to send.”

Lucien smiled, a genuine warmth in his eyes. “It’s probably better than her roping Blake into it. She wasn’t pleased at the fact that I remain unmarried so that my wife could help her out.”

The mention of marriage made me think of Alexandra and how, if things had gone differently, she might have been the one planning the softer touches of the Gathering. The thought brought a pang of bittersweet emotion, the image of her working alongside the Queen Mother almost tangible in my mind. I could see her graceful movements, hear her laughter ringing through the halls—an image of what could have been.

I smiled at him, feeling the weight of the moment. “Well, life happens no matter how carefully others plan for us. As for volunteering to help, as King, let me speak to Jack first. I want to make sure my schedule isn’t tied up with everything going on there.”

Lucien returned my smile, his eyes brightening slightly, the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit. “No rush, we have a few weeks.” Then a sudden realization dawned on his face, and his brows knitted together in concern. “Wait, isn’t Ash getting married between now and then?”

I nodded, “I think so. Why?”

He gave me a look that said I should know the answer, his gaze sharp and probing. “Would you want to spend your newly wedded life guarding your sibling?”

I chuckled, the sound breaking through the tension like a ray of sunlight. “Probably not. You have a point there. I guess the Citadel might be out of elite soldiers to guard Alexandra then. I’ll bring it up with him just in case, though.”

Lucien blurted out, “Why not Alita?”

I had recently thought about Alita, but with all the Royals being here and Alexandra mentioning her romance with Ny, it complicated things. I shrugged, feeling a mix of frustration and understanding. “Do you know she’s kind of seeing Nystasia?”

He shook his head, then realization flickered across his face. “She’d be too distracted to pay attention likely. It makes sense.”

His brow furrowed as he pondered who could possibly guard Alexandra. I could see the gears turning in his mind, his worry etched into every line of his face. I was deep in thought myself, searching for a solution, when suddenly it came to me. The name of the most capable soldier in all of Vellum, someone every soldier at the Citadel idolized, someone they all aspired to be like. I spoke softly, almost reverently, “Talon.”

Lucien's eyes widened in surprise, his breath catching. “Talon? Do you think he would? I mean with everything going on at House Dark and he’s getting married too. They haven’t told us when though.”

I nodded slowly, the conviction growing stronger with each passing second. “If anyone can ensure her safety, it’s him. He’s her uncle after all and he’s unmatched in skill and dedication. I’ll reach out to him and see if he’s available. Vanessa may be okay with taking a break from House Dark and staying with her goddaughter for that week.”

He sighed with relief, his shoulders visibly relaxing. “I think you came up with the best possible solution. Now that all of that is settled, I wanted to discuss your role in the Gathering. It has been some time since the Lycan King has graced us with his presence. We found some of the ancient texts that pertain to your role.”

He got up and walked over to his desk, pulling out an old, soft leather-bound book. The rich scent of aged leather filled the room as he strode back and held it out to me, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “More for you to study. This is an official Vellum royal record, though, so I will need it back.”

I took the book from him, feeling the weight of history in my hands. As I flipped it open, the yellowed pages crackled softly. I read a small passage to myself: “The Lycan King will host an event in his part of the Kingdom called the hunt.”

I closed the book, a smile forming as the responsibility settled into my mind. “Right, got it.”

Just then, Malinus poked his head into the room, his expression apologetic. “Pardon me, Your Majesty, but the Queen Mother is here, insisting she would like to speak to Lord Garrett.”

It took me by surprise, but I nodded at Lucien, who leveled a questioning gaze at me. He said, “Okay, send her in.”

The Queen Mother walked in, her presence commanding yet serene. She wore a flowing long dress in cream that seemed to glow in the soft light of the room. Her green eyes, vibrant and wise, gazed at me without a hint of threat. Her blonde hair was styled in an elegant braided updo, and she wore only her large ruby wedding ring on her right hand as jewelry.

“I’m so glad I caught you both here,” she said, her voice warm and melodious. “With the Gathering, I needed to speak to you both. There is something I would like to get your help on.”

Lucien glanced at me, signaling that he would take the lead in the conversation. “What is it, Mother?”

She smiled at me, a gesture that was both kind and calculating. “I want to request that Alexandra take the role of Queen in the preparations, with me assisting her.”