A Fairy Tale

CHAPTER SIX: How do I reject thee?

"So, are we going to reject our mates?"

Deacon's question swirled around the room.  Adina and Malory had recently returned from scouting and joined Rose and Deacon at the conference room.  King Cadmus and Queen Elaine were speaking with some border patrols and fortifying defenses while Rose opens up her powers and sought other packs who are being terrorized by Vivian.  All four were thinking of the implications of rejecting their mates.

Adina and Malory had agreed that to protect their mates, they would eventually reject them.  That was until they actually saw them last night.  Adina was gushing at how handsome her human mate was and distinguished while Malory was comparing her mate with Deacon although they were cousins.  Deacon was amused that his cousin got the dwarf queen as a mate but was also glad that his cousin got to have a reliable mate in the princess' protector.  It seems a moment when true love can triumph against prejudice but then he worried at how his cousin would fare in the dwarf kingdom.

As for himself, he had not been fortunate enough to find his mate here. He had been looking for his leannan sidhe for a decade now but he fervently hoped he could find her before this threat with Vivian goes out of hand.

But he is most concerned for his princess.  Rose has dreaded the day she met her mate ten years which was quite unusual for a werewolf since they could sense their mates when they turned 18.  She found her mate when she was only ten and had remained faithful towards him for years now.  Even rejecting Deacon's marriage proposal.  Now that she happened to meet her mate, as he is the alpha's son, Deacon was reminded that her resolve would also be tested.  Werewolves may be given a second chance to love if rejected or their mate died but the princess was a lycan.  They only get to have one mate and they don't let them get away.

Which circles back to their dilemma.  Should they reject their mates to keep them protected?

Seven lights will come to be
Smite the darkness for realms be free
A circle once made of sixteen lights
Must not lose one, or lose their might
Good will triumph against dark
Until Cyrae has made its mark

Rose muttered almost to herself but they all heard.  Lydia had warned them that once all seven kingdoms are joined with their destined ones then the darkness that Vivian brought will end.  But not all will survive the battle to come.  The four knew that they would have to start looking for the last five links to connect the chain as the mates were already coming down on them faster than they could blink and frankly, things got a lot more complicated.

"I would like to try with the human." Adina burst out.  When all eyes fell on her, she shrugged sheepishly.  "Yeah it would be nice to try the mate thing but knowing he is human might not be a good thing."

"Same here."  Malory chimed in.  She immediately plunked her feet on the table and crossed her arms.  "I mean, I am a Dwarf Queen.  My people had skirmishes with the elven race and no offense, Dee, we don't really see eye to eye and I don't know if our people can mingle well."

"None taken."  Deacon smiled warmly.  He knew of the battles between elves and dwarves but ever since he and Malory came to power, their people had been experiencing true peace.

They turned to Rose who was smiling ruefully.  She was aware of their stares.
"And no one would love a blind woman."

Such a depressing thought.  She closed her lids and looked upward with a sigh.  She was not looking forward to talking with her mate.

"Let's put a raincheck on this discussion.  I need to run." Rose finally said.  She released her spirit drones to check the perimeters for unusual activites.

"Well I could use one too.  Then we can spar after." Adina agreed.  She picked up her favorite weapon of choice, the bow and arrow.

"That leaves us, my queen.  Shall we see what you have learned during your trip to the mountains?"  Deacon quipped while sheathing his broadsword.  Malory smirked as she gracefully stood up and hefted her huge mace onto her shoulder.

"You might regret that pretty boy."

********

Adam just finished reviewing the paperwork for the treaty with the fae folk when there was a commotion outside.  Thinking it was an attack, he sprinted out of his room.  He ran straight towards his friends who were all as worried as he was.

"What the heck was that?"  Connor screeched in alarm.  Adam was about to answer when the door towards the study opened and out came their kings and queen.  A loud thump echoed throughout the castle causing its inhabitants to wince.

"Oh dear, looks like they are it again."  Queen Elaine sniggered.  King Cadmus laughed out loud as everyone looked at them aghast.

Curious, Adam pushed through the balcony doors.  Another loud thunk jolted the ground and he feared that an earthquake will come.  Soon his friends clamored with him for a look.  Their jaws hung open as they saw what happened.

A shirtless elven king brandished a wicked looking broadsword as he sparred with an irate dwarf queen swinging her gigantic mace like it weighs like a feather.  Adam noticed that most of the females were in awe of the muscles the elf king was showing off, his blond hair tied in a ponytail.  He was breathing steadily as he assessed his opponent.  He looked so serious like he was contemplating how to kill the dwarf queen.

The dwarf queen wasn't any different.  Her glorious red locks were locked in a long braid and she wore simple training gear of fitted shirt and shorts.  Not only were the males captivated by her striking pose but they were also in awe of the strength she posses.  She was not even breaking a sweat.

"Had enough, my queen?"  The elf king smirked as he changed stance and pointed his sword down.  He had a few scratches but none bled.  The dwarf queen laughed.  She was also sporting some slashes but she shrugged like it was of no consequence.

"Not in this lifetime, pretty boy.  I aim to get that pretty head of yours knocked off." She replied.

Shiela gasped but the others barely heard her.  Adam turned as he noticed a pair of dust swirls coming from their right.  They stopped at the clearing and he barely breathed when his mate and the one called Adina emerged from the bushes.

A battle cry echoed throughout the field catching everyone's attention.  The dwarf queen swung her battle mace downward and it almost landed onto the elf king's head but was parried back by his broadsword.  He retaliated by using his strength to push it upward and agilely jumped upward, his sword aimed straight at the dwarf queen's heart