Thanks to M&M for all their comments and thoughts!
"What about the Council?" I ask after my mother departs.
"I'll send them whatever they request in the hope that we can delay a formal inquiry." My king doesn't look like he expects success.
"That alone should be enough." The words taste like acid, and they burn as they leave my lips. "Which only proves your point."
"Are you sure you want to put the entire kingdom in danger for a human who isn't your mate?" He swallows back any regret he might feel over posing the question and stands to his full height. "Sometimes sacrifice is needed."
"This isn't one of those times." I hurt for what this decision might mean for my subjects. "Losing Rose could cost us our future."
"She means that much to Princess Isabella." He states it with a solid nod, accepting the truth. "Then she means that much to all of us."
"Thank you, Father," I say, my ire cooling. "Realistically, how much time do we have?"
"Lucky for us, the Supreme Council doesn't rush anything. My reply, which I'll put off until the last minute, will be presented at the rebuttal hearing with the Kingdom of Forks." He grips my shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze as he holds me captive in his honey gaze. "Forks will deny the evidence and ask for an escalation, which will put a formal inquiry on the docket. Even with a request for a speedy decision, we have at least three months before our summons arrives."
"And if the Supreme Council decides in their favor?" I brace myself so that I can withhold the coming emotional storm from affecting Bella.
"Then we will return Rose Hale to Forks or be seen as an outlaw settlement and an enemy of the Council," he says, not needing to expand much for me to get the idea. "We'll be left to our own devices should Forks decide to retrieve her themselves."
Anger courses through me in the form of thundering veins and tense muscles, and bright red pulses in the direction of my mate. She responds with orange uncertainty, turning the vibrant red into a field of saffron.
I sigh, the weight on my shoulders heavier than before. "Can we prevent it from getting to that point?"
"I hope so," my father says, his usually sunny aura tempered by burden. "Rumors of the return of mates have spread to the other colonies, so everyone is already curious. We'll use it to our advantage."
"Bella will not be traveling to that meeting," I say just shy of a snarl as fierce protectiveness for my mate overwhelms me. "She's not leaving Kingdom Cullen, nor will she be anywhere near the Denalis."
"I agree, son." He gets animated as he talks, motioning out the open-air window, his focus on the dust beyond the wall in the distance. "But they're going to need some kind of proof. Hearing that something they've only heard about throughout their lives has suddenly happened won't be enough. They need to see it for themselves. They'll need to hear it from you."
"There are two other mated couples," I return, not liking the direction of his thoughts.
"Those couples are not the Prince of Kingdom Cullen, nor have they successfully bred," he bites back, his keen eyes conveying what his words have not yet.
He expects me to do this.
After a deep, calming breath, I offer the only reply that's conceivable to me. "I will not leave her alone while she carries my cubs."
"I thought you might say that," he returns, his intense gaze on me. "Which is why I'm going to let it ruminate. Give you time to think it over and come to the only reasonable conclusion."
"Nothing about going to a neighboring kingdom and leaving my pregnant bride can be considered reasonable," I reply, careful to present a cool façade.
Unleashing the rage I feel at this moment would be the stupidest move of my existence. My father is the alpha pride male in this room, and our planet will spin many times before I consider any attempt to dethrone him. I may not like his ideas, but I know better than to challenge him head-on.
"I understand your stance, son," he says softly, but with authority. "But as I said earlier, sometimes sacrifice is required."
I feel like I've been punched in the gut. Refusing to give up Rose Hale will cost me, and this will be the price. "I understand, my king."
I bound from the room, my thighs pushing me through the hallways of the palace and down the stairs. I feel like I can't take in a breath deep enough to sustain me, yet I'm also panting like an insipid dog. Fear pushes me forward, and I need to be away from this place so I can work through the myriad of emotions that plague me.
I can feel my mate's question through the bond as the distance between us grows further apart, and I respond with a plea for patience. Of course, being with Bella, pulling her into my arms, would soothe me, but it would produce a false sense of security.
Because Father is right.
If the surrounding species are to stand with us against an invasion from humankind, they'll need proof that the cause is just. And there is no better proof than a creature who's so in tune with his mate that he can feel her emotions from many miles away.
Once I've left the castle, I dart for the woodline in the distance. The scent of fresh greenery assaults me, and it brings comfort. As cubs, we spend a lot of time in this forest honing our predatory skills, and right now, I need somewhere to unleash my fury.
With a roar, my claws extend and I pounce, ripping everything in my path to shreds. Towering pines receive deep claw marks and small bushes are obliterated.
I don't think, I just do.
And when every last speck of anger and fear has been expelled from me, I return to my mate at our new quarters on palace grounds.
"Edward," she breathes as she rushes across the room and into my arms. "Is everything okay?"
I rest my hand on the swell of her stomach. "It will be."
Please do not nominate me for any Golden Onion Awards. If you want deets, there's a post on Fyrebyrd Fics (and I'll copy/paste it to Fyregirl Fics shortly). Thanks.
Things are heating up here!
And guess what? You only have to wait 2 days!
See you Thursday :)