With Everything I Am (19 page)

Callum guided Sonia away from her opened door and closed it. Then he took her hand and led her up the stairs.

His two soldiers bowed their heads briefly to their king and queen, their eyes inquisitive on Sonia, grins on their faces.

Sonia automatically smiled back and nodded, not regally, sociably. As if she was walking down the street, caught a passerby’s eye and gave them a warm, neighborly smile.

At her gesture, his warriors’ grins turned to wide smiles.

Callum’s hand tightened in hers.

Yes, Callum thought, his people were going to love her.

They entered the large entryway that led to a long, wide hall.

Ryon and Caleb were walking toward them. Caleb was carrying a thin, manila folder.

“All’s ready,” Caleb called.

“I’ll want to read the briefing report before I go in,” Callum replied.

Caleb nodded and he and Ryon turned and walked back a short distance toward a closed door. They opened it, stepped through and Callum and Sonia followed.

It was Mona’s office, complete with baronial desk, gleaming wood floors on which large, thick, expensive Persian rugs lay, priceless antique furniture and heavy, ornate curtains at the tall, wide windows.

He saw Sonia looking around, her eyes wide taking in the opulence. Seeing what his mate saw, Callum distractedly noted with some scorn that Mona’s penchant toward lavishness was evident in the government building she’d overseen creating. These were not the usual surroundings of a wolf, nothing like it.

He stopped them close to Mona’s desk, leaned a hip against it, brought Sonia in close, dropped her hand and held his own out for the file which Caleb gave him.

His mother had stood by his father’s side in everything. This was the queen’s purpose, a physical show of support to the king as well as the demonstration of the solidarity of all wolves.

Regan had been with Mac during strategy sessions and on campaigns. Though she didn’t fight, she also didn’t complain when her accommodation was just a tent or two beds pushed together in a barrack with blankets strung around them for privacy. Also she had been at his side during summits, diplomatic assemblies and war tribunals.

As queen, Regan performed her duties silently. Her presence was all that was required. Her understanding of events would be important during the private times she shared with Mac. She could hardly offer him what he needed if she didn’t know what was happening.

There were times of separation but they were brief and they were rare.

Sonia, Callum had decided, would do the same.

Without a word, he opened the file and began reading the report.

Then he felt Sonia move away and heard her say softly, “Hi Ryon.”

He glanced up and saw Sonia lift up on her toes and press her cheek to Ryon’s then she leaned back and tipped her head to smile up at him.

“Hey there, Sonia,” Ryon smiled down at her in turn. “How are you handling this? It’s all a bit weird, isn’t it?”

“Um…” she mumbled, the smile never leaving her face and the way she said her next words pointedly reflected they were an understatement, “A bit.”

Ryon chuckled.

Sonia’s smile brightened.

Callum’s jaw tightened.

Ryon had a way with female humans, Callum knew that.

He just didn’t appreciate, at all, Ryon using it with Callum’s very recently, and definitely spectacularly claimed bride.

But it was something his cousin didn’t hesitate doing, either yesterday or now. It was also something Sonia responded to and further, it was something Callum didn’t fucking like.

Before he could say anything, Sonia turned to Caleb and said, “Hi Caleb.”

She leaned into Callum’s brother and gave him a cheek touch and a smile as well but it was nowhere near as fond as the one she gave Ryon.

Still, Callum noted that even Caleb was grinning down at her with a rapt expression on his face, as if bewitched.

“Hey there, sis.” Caleb made a reply that caused Sonia’s body to twitch.

Then she whispered wistfully, “I’ve never really been a ‘sis’.”

“You are now.”

Then
Caleb
received a bright smile from Callum’s bride.

Callum felt his temper rising and because of this when he said, “Sonia,” her name lashed through the room sharp and annoyed.

She started and turned to him, her eyes confused, her face growing pale.

“Come here,” Callum ordered and she hesitated briefly but moved to his side.

Both Ryon and Caleb looked at him. Ryon with annoyance. Caleb, Callum was surprised to see, with barely concealed anger.

He ignored their expressions, looked down at Sonia and instructed, “The queen belongs at the king’s side.”

“I was three feet away,” she replied quietly, her face growing even paler.

“The queen belongs at the king’s side,” he repeated, watched her swallow and felt the air around them growing thick, this coming from his family.

His gaze sliced through his brethren, nonverbally making his displeasure known, and he looked back down at the papers.

He read the three page report and the words erased Sonia, Ryon and Caleb from his mind.

He flipped the folder shut and looked at Ryon.

“Bloody hell, Mona’s an idiot,” he remarked.

“Always was,” Ryon returned.

“Mac fucked up, installing her as Governor of this Territory,” Callum noted with frustration, handing the file back to Caleb.

Mac had left him with a rebellion which, in a year with studied brutality, he’d quashed, forcing their signature on a treaty they vowed never to sign and, four short years later, they broke.

Other than that, and the occasional insurrection which was normal amongst intense, temperamental and often quarrelling wolves, Mac’s realm was peaceful and ordered.

There was no mess.

Except Mona.

“He thought it was a diplomatic move,” Ryon replied, his eyes sliding to Sonia. “Titium was displeased with what went on.” Ryon looked back at Callum. “And he’d make a formidable enemy.”

Callum knew this.

During their brief fling ages ago, something which Callum engaged in regularly, a fact he thought Mona understood as every she-wolf did, she’d become infatuated with him. Because of her obsession, scraping her off had been unpleasant and eventually diplomatically sensitive.

Titium, Governor of Europe and a highly respected warrior, had spoiled his daughter. What she wanted, Titium gave her. Unfortunately, Mona was ambitious as well as obsessive. In order for her to leave his son alone, Mac had installed her as Governor of the then sparsely populated Western Territories of America.

They’d all been surprised when she’d been passably skilled at handling her province over the years, even as it was emerged and populated.

They’d also all been surprised when the years passed and she never found her lifemate, something which his father knew would turn her attention away from Callum.

However, apparently, since Mac’s death, she’d lost focus on her responsibilities.

This, too, Callum understood and it irritated him.

Callum was now king and the spoiled, ambitious Mona would want his attention even more than before. And she’d want it so desperately, it wouldn’t matter what form that attention would take.

She’d want it enough to fuck up and draw him to her territories. Something which, unless there was an insurrection, Callum, and Mac before him, rarely had to do as his other Governors ruled their provinces efficiently. In fact, it was something the Governors took pains in
not
doing because Callum’s attention, unless it was for an official ceremony or a social visit, wasn’t something they’d seek.

It was likely the she-wolf probably didn’t even know she was doing it.

Callum took Sonia’s hand and moved toward the door, muttering, “Let’s do this.”

“Hang on,” Ryon called and Callum stopped, pulling Sonia to his side.

“Have you briefed her on protocol?” Ryon asked, getting close.

“Sorry?” Callum replied, his thoughts anywhere but on protocol which was something, as king, he didn’t have to concern himself with. Only those around him did.

Ryon gave him an aggravated scowl but turned gentled eyes to Sonia.

“Sonia, you’re about to walk into a Throne Room in the official capacity as our Queen,” he explained softly. “Everyone in that room will bow to you and Callum. If you were alone, you’d walk to the throne, seat yourself and tell them to rise. As you’re with Callum, you don’t say anything. Don’t speak at all until Callum tells you that you can. He’ll lead you to the throne and give the order. In a minute, as this happens, people will talk but you won’t. Your duty is to observe in silence, don’t say a word. But pay attention, love, to everything that’s going on. You’ll understand why later. Okay?”

Callum found he was annoyed with himself that he hadn’t thought to instruct her on the way down the mountain.

He found himself further annoyed that Sonia was gazing up at Ryon with open gratitude.

She nodded to Ryon. Callum gave her hand a tug and, without looking at her, he led a silent Sonia through the mansion and up the wide staircase to The Throne Room.

The doors were opened as they approached and he heard Sonia take in a surprised breath before he guided her through.

The room was filled with his warriors and the mansion’s detail. Every one of them, including Mona, who was standing at the foot of the dais, dropped into the deep, heads lowered, ceremonial bow.

He strode through the room, hand in hand with Sonia whose step had faltered. Looking down at her, he saw her staring in fearful awe at the fifty large wolves who were bowed low.

He lifted her hand and tucked it under his arm, drawing her closer to him in an effort to offer her comfort.

She looked up at him, her eyes still startled, and he nodded down at her but didn’t wait for her response and led her up the stairs to the throne sitting there.

Without delay, as his father had done before him and every king, prince, duke, governor or noble in history did with their mate, he sat on the throne and pulled her into his lap.

Instantly, she made a surprised noise and tried to jerk away.

His arms tightened around her, he gave her a warning shake and her alarmed gaze flashed to his. Whatever she saw there made her stare then her eyes went blank and her body settled into his.

“Rise,” he commanded, the assemblage took their feet and all eyes turned to the throne.

He knew what they saw.

If he’d not claimed her, she’d be standing at the right side of his throne.

But, claimed and bound, now their queen, she was in his lap.

He felt another thrill of elation, understanding the overwhelming importance of the occasion as did everyone in the room. Everyone except, he didn’t think to note, Sonia.

Watching their eyes scan Sonia, he allowed himself a moment to glory in it, knowing what they saw. Even if it had nothing to do with him and everything to do with fate, he was still exceedingly proud of it.

Then he commenced business.

Not looking at Mona, his eyes searched the room and focused on Mona’s Lieutenant Governor.

“Saint,” he called and the tall warrior walked toward the dais.

Callum knew Saint well. Saint had fought alongside Callum. He was a strong, crafty warrior and a good friend. Thirty-one years ago, Mac had installed Saint at Mona’s side to make certain she didn’t discover Sonia’s existence and to keep an eye on Mona.

He’d done both.

As was standard practice, Saint had also been interrogated but, not surprisingly, he had no connection to the plot nor, until recently, any idea the rebellion had chosen the Western Territories to assemble.

He had no idea because Mona didn’t.

However, it had been Saint who’d cottoned on something was happening. He’d uncovered the plot against Sonia and revealed it to Callum.

Over the years, Saint had been reporting with growing frequency that working with Mona was becoming more and more of a chore.

Callum, unfortunately, knew everything about Mona was a chore and hadn’t thought much of it.

This was his mistake.

He was about to rectify it.

When Saint stopped at the foot of the dais, Callum spoke. “By the end of the day, I’ll want a shortlist of names of those you feel would best replace Desdemona as Governor of this Territory.” Callum heard Mona’s angry gasp and felt Sonia go still in his arms but he continued, “If you’re interested, put your name at the top of that list.”

“Yes, your grace,” Saint replied, relief in his eyes and a small smile tugging at his lips.

Callum’s gaze went to Mona. “Desdemona, I’m removing you as Governor, effective immediately.”

She leaned forward and started, “But, your grace –”

“Under your nose, a rebellion amassed in your Territory,” he announced, cutting her off. “You’re well aware that one of the most important parts of your duty is to be my eyes and ears in this region and to inform me if there’s news of an insurrection. Nevertheless, you’ve flagrantly ignored missives from Scotland as to how to oversee your people to make certain that didn’t happen. This meant they knew your region was weak and targeted it. There were even two amongst your personal guard who were involved. Further, because of your personal failings, for thirty-one years you put my father
and
me in a disadvantageous position because we couldn’t trust you and your guard to protect my queen. Now we have a situation where, if you were doing your job,
you
would have sorted it and it would not have required my attention or I would have been aware of it long before now. But it’s far worse. It’s a situation where known rebels have accumulated in your region, they’ve conspired to break the treaty and all of this has placed my queen at risk.”

“King Callum –” Mona began.

Callum interrupted her tersely, “Mona, you best not speak. We both know your rule of this province has been a joke since it started.”

Her beautiful face twisted and, unwisely, she ignored his command and stated, “Your father never complained.”

“That wasn’t my father’s way,” Callum returned.

“
My
father –” she began, her tone turning threatening.