Lorcan & Evette

Chapter Thirty-Three

"Please relax Evie," he whispered at her ear. Her tension was putting him on edge. "I promise nothing's going to happen to you."

"If you break this promise, I'll never be able to trust you again."

"I won't break this promise. No one's going to touch you." He kissed her cheek. "They're scared of you anyway."

"Why would they be scared of me?"

"Word gets around. You might not have, but word has it that you've slaughtered hundreds of my subjects. They're more afraid of you than you are them." He kissed her other cheek. "The difference between them and you is that if it comes down to a fight, you'll have me backing you."

When werewolves started flooding through, he snaked an arm around her body as a clear sign of possession, eyeing up the room in challenge.

They were all younger than him, ergo, less powerful. He spotted Fenrir at the back with cuffs for his mate at the ready. He squeezed her side, trying to be comforting, even though he sensed her panic.

How much more could she take?

In less than a week, she'd been taken from her life by werewolves, lied to repeatedly, dragged across the country to another realm. She'd been ambushed by an army of vampires and thrown about by a couple of hunters. Now, she was facing a court of people who hated her simply for what she was.

He realised she was strong. Stronger than he'd given her credit for.

People were looking at them in curiosity. To see the King with anyone like this was unusual, no less a witch. They all knew who she was. There'd been no secret about their mission to bring back Evette. To see her sat like this must have been baffling. But they trusted their King. No one tried to fight her. No one approached the dais.

When they quieted, Lorcan addressed them all as one.

"You've all heard of Evette," he said, voice booming. "The mission to obtain her was successful."

When they cheered, she flinched. It was too discreet for them to see, though he felt it.

Another squeeze to her side. Of course, it did nothing to ease her discomfort.

"However, plans for the outcome of the witch's life have changed drastically." The crowd quietened, confusion setting in. "Originally, you all know that Evette was a mechanism of baiting the witch Queen out to finish this war once and for all. But now—" He pulled her back into his chest, staking his claim for all of them to see. "I've recognised her as my mate."

The crowd broke out in whispers. Some faces paled, some jaws fell open in shock.

"I understand that some of you will be uncomfortable with what she is," he said, speaking over them. They silenced at once. "In light of this, you should all know that a threat to her is a threat to me. The same goes for disrespect. Any of you who seek to challenge Evette will be punished accordingly." He thought he saw some of the crowd gulp. "She will become your Queen and you will all treat her as you would me with the utmost level of respect." He wondered what his witch made of this. He knew she wouldn't tell him. "Over time, you'll come to realise that Evette can be an asset to this kingdom as I have. You will embrace her with open arms." Asset. He grimaced internally. Maybe it wasn't the best choice of words. Okay, definitely not a good choice of words.

You've fucked it again, Lorcan.

He remembered something she'd said before.

She'd only ever been an asset.

Her dream was to be something more.

Fuck's sake Lorcan. He felt her flinch again. Every word he spoke seemed to dig his grave a little deeper.