Sovereign

Foul Play

Hades Pov

"She's made no attempt to come to the main palace?" Ian, one of my aides stared at me with a blank expression, probably thinking to himself why I'm so interested in the same bride I sent away not too long ago. "No, your majesty. The queen and her people have kept to the Larimar palace; save for a few trips outside the royal grounds."

"Hold it," I said, stopping them in their tracks.

The three of them had almost made it out the door when I heard something along the lines of 'do you think he knows'. Ian visibly gulped and that made me sit up straight. "What do I supposedly know?" The three of them looked at each other, then at me and then at the ground. "I'm not going to ask you again so I suggest you start talking Ian."

He looked like he was going to soil his pants and I had it been any other day I would've been suppressing a smile but not today. "Well your majesty, it's just that rumors about the queen have been spreading around the palace," I raised a brow urging him to go on. "The servants that work around the Larimar palace say that they've seen the queen acting in a way no married woman should with your nephew and the lamia king." My stomach dropped.

"What?" I asked because surely he didn't say that my wife, my mate was getting a little too close for comfort with not one but two other men. Ian shrank back and with good reason. "You're telling me that Rossiya is having an affair?" The words tasted like bitter poison in my mouth.

"Get out."

**

It took me a good long while to calm myself down enough to go to the palace. I've been standing outside the door for longer than intended, my hands felt clammy and the sick feeling of her in the arms of someone else wouldn't let up. Eventually I settled for entering through the garden and while walking, I couldn't help but admire how beautiful the palace that was once a glorified tomb was.

A chorus of laughter filled my ears and one of them wrapped around my heart, squeezing. I don't think I've ever heard her laugh...

My steps faltered for a second before I regained control of myself; rounding the corner, the sight that greeted me stained my eyes crimson.

She was straddling Ares with her arms wrapped around his neck, recovering from her fits of laughter. When it had died down he stole a kiss from her, making her cheeks take on the color of bright cherries. I could feel my body trembling as I fought to keep myself in control but when Lucellion grabbed the back of her neck and did the same thing, the last sliver of logical thinking vanished.

I almost went up to them and ripped her out of my nephew's filthy grip but decided against it. Every voice in my head was screaming while I went back the way I came, a smile plastered across my face.

Hours later, the council members and I were gathered in the dining hall. The only person missing was Rossiya. Part of me hated that I was really doing this despite wanting to put it off for as long as I could, but another more dominant and primal part wanted to go through with it and all for my own selfish desires.

Three sets of footsteps stopped the chatter in the hall, with the sound of heels clacking against the marble floor standing out the most. I turned from Ian and the mere sight of her made a trail of unwanted heat rush down to my groin. Even noticing the two men flanking her didn't derail the wild thoughts raving through my head. Her dress, gods that dress made me want to pick her up and sprint out of the room.

It had a plunging V-neck and slits that ran up until her mid thighs. Needless to say it left little to the imagination, just the way the fae liked. Her gaze swept over the attendees then landed on me, making my pants suddenly a size too small.

Rossiya held my gaze, never once breaking eye contact as she strutted further into the room like a proud peacock. It was...entranced by her, unable to look away even if I wanted. Her gaze moved a little to my right and a flicker of annoyance flashed through her eyes.

Reaching the table, she took a seat between Ares and Luc, stunning the entire table. I felt the muscle in my jaw tick but now was not the time to make a scene. "Rossiya, as my queen you're supposed to sit at the head of the table right by my side."

She let out a sigh and turned to me, "apologies your majesty but I was under the impression that the woman you actually treat like your queen will sit by you and even if that isn't the case, I like my seat just where it is."

I was going to argue but seeing some of the council members smile at her, I bit my tongue. Fine. Be that way. Moments later the food was served and although food was supposed to make an atmosphere livelier the tension in this room was thick enough to cut through. It was now or never.

"I invited you all here to make an official statement; it has been six weeks since my wedding and I think the queen has settled down enough for us to move forward with the next part of the wedding ceremony."

She choked. Good.

Rossiya wiped her mouth while both Ares and Luc tended to her like she was about to die. My anger sparked anew.

"As I was saying, the next part of the wedding ceremony is a sort of reception after which according to tradition we will consulate our marriage and the next day Rossiya will eat the pomegranate and be officially bound to the underworld and myself."

A/N
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