Spurned Queen

Chapter 4: Interrogated

Aevran

I sped through the hallways in an attempt to get to my chambers without being spotted.

No such luck.

"Your Majesty!"

I stopped and turned around slowly.

"Where have you been? Are you even okay?" Jacden frowned.

I glared down at him. "I was out," I bit. "Is there a problem?"

"Forgive me, your majesty, but one moment you were here, the next you weren't. You left no trail that could allow any of us to track you either. What was I supposed to think?"

I rubbed my temple, irritated. "I was handling a personal matter, Jacden. Is that all?"

"Your Majesty, all your personal matters are taken care of. They are allotted what we agreed to be enough time in your schedule. Your schedule, on which a council meeting was featured and which you missed."

I stared up at the ceiling, not saying anything.

"You cannot just go MIA like this, your majesty. Not before a council meeting, especially not with some vampires causing unrest. Not when you are the Lord. Such disappearances will only breed rumors, and not the kind we need."

I shut my eyes. "What did you tell them," I sighed in defeat.

"I told them you had developed a sudden craving at the last minute and needed to hunt. It passed because it has happened to most of them; but that doesn't happen to royals and those who know that are whispering."

I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, Jacden," I said. "Postpone that meeting to tomorrow. Send out my apologies to the vampires."

"My liege," Jacden interrupted, "tomorrow is full. You have to meet Sir Suntero's daughter, remember."

My eye twitched. "No," I growled. "And cut off all the dates. Tell my mother I'm not going to another one."

"Perfect, and why?"

"Why?!" I snarled.

Jacden met me with a blank stare. "Well yes, sire. Obviously the queen mother will ask questions. She is bent on you finding your mate, and has been since you assumed the throne. She will not let it go, believe me. What explanation shall I give her, your majesty?"

I groaned. "On second thoughts, don't cancel the date. I would rather not fight with her over this issue again. Fix the damn meeting whenever you can. Now is that all you had to say or must I stand and wait for it?"

"Almost, sire. Allow me to ask where you were and what happened?" Jacden asked straightforwardly and with a straight face.

I bared my fangs. "Did you not hear me say that was a personal matter?" I growled at him.

"Of course, sire. And since I am in charge of your personal and public affairs, I simply want to know the details about this excursion of yours so that I can have it neatly inserted in your schedule the next time it is to occur. You were gone for four solid hours. Unless you intend that this never happens again," he pinned me with a hard glare.

I had no answer to that. This "excursion" was something spontaneous that happened because the urge to see her had grown too great to ignore. After a whole month of knowing who and where she was, I just couldn't stay away any longer.

I didn't know when that might happen again.

I stared at my assistant for a long moment, his gaze watching me closely— probably picking up my body language, smelling my frustration. Maybe even listening to my heartbeat.