"Where would you like to talk, Sirus?"

Everyone had left from breakfast. William had reluctantly went with Rowan. I rather I'm go with Rowan than Thorian. I knew Thorian did not care for him at all.

"Wherever you want."

I glanced at him. He had his hands behind his back. Watching me carefully. Age has definitely taken its toll on him. Not as much as a regular mortal, but he seemed older still. For a lycan.

Since he was letting me choose, I began to walk away from him. He followed, like I expected. I wandered the halls, some places not toggling my memory...some places did.

I paused at one door, my hand tracing it lightly. It seemed so familiar...yet not. With curiosity getting the best of me, I pushed it open. Books...a large desk. A wooden dresser, filled with books.

"Do you remember this room?"

Edwin...Edwin and Sarah. So young and full of life and mischief. This was the room where Sarah and I hid from Edwin. I glanced down at the tile. I specially remembered the intricate designs of the tiles. "No."

He sighed. I watched as he began to close the door. "Keep it open, Sirus." He pressed his lips firmly together, his hands letting go of the door. "What is it you want to talk to me about?"

Walking over to the large desk, he leant his weight on it. "I need you to speak to our son."

I was surprised. I thought it would be something different. Maybe more apologizing. Groveling. I had my speech of I hate him prepared...but apparently I would not be able to use that. "About what? What is wrong with him?"

"He does not wish to be King."

Thorian does not wish to be King? He would be a great King...the greatest. How could that have happened? "What did you do?" I accused him, glaring at him as he gave me a look of confusion. "Did you fill his thoughts with your perverse ideals of royalty?!"

"No. I did not, actually. I taught him everything he needs to know. Ask Rowan, ask your dear friend Chelsea, I would not stray my own son the wrong ways!" He growled, as I took a step back, suddenly feeling as if he might attack me. He could do it. It would be easy considering this was his kingdom. His home.

He must have notice how tense I was becoming and took a deep breath. "Esmerelda, he is my son...I have tried to make King something of importance to him. I do not know where I went wrong and I am going to kill him if he does not ascend to the throne...when I want him to."

I understood...to an extent. Not the killing part of course. When Edwin was around twelve or thirteen years of age he had no desire to be King. He even became rebellious and would prank the staff and be awful to some of the soldiers. I was furious with him. I told him that he should be honored to be the next King...and  I suppose I did threaten him, but not threaten to kill.

"Why does he not wish to be King, Sirus?"

"I do not know! He will not speak to me.  Every time I try to speak to him he tells me everything is fine. He is acting like Esa. Temperamental and angry. I do not understand and now that you are here you should speak with him." He did not look happy. At all. He resembled a grumpy father, one who did not know what to do with their young child. He slightly resembled my father when I told him I refused to marry. He almost had a heifer...it was quiet comical and it seemed so long ago.... Too long ago.

I had no time to reminisce of the old times... I had to look forward now. "What else has been happening with him? Have you been pushing him to do things he does not wish to do?" That had to be the explanation. Sirus was obviously pushing my son too hard, and a person can only take so much.

"No, Esmerelda," he glared at me as if I had gone crazy. He was the most insane out of the both of us! "All he wants to do is fight, and sneak around with that maid of his." Fighting was understandable. Sirus did it all of the time when I was here...it would make sense if Thorian did too. And did he mentioned a maid!

The maid..May...Mya. It was something with an M. "Is she a young maid who blushes at everything? Her name starts with an M, maybe?"

SIrus nodded. "Yes. That little maid. I was going to have her removed but Rowan thinks she should stay. She brings him joy. She fills his head of things not of royalty. She is not his mate. I understand he has urges and she helps with those, but-"

"-You do not mean that they...that they..." I could not even think of my son..oh god. With a woman. NO. It was not possible, I would not allow it. I was going to kill Sirus. "You let him take advantage of a poor maid?! What did you tell him? Everything in the palace is his and he just chooses poor maids for the taking! How dare you!"

He growled, his arms going to cross over his chest. "My son enjoys only one woman which is that little maid. He knows he owns anything under my kingdom but he does not take advantage of anyone. I suppose he gets that from you," he claimed his frown lightening a bit as he mentioned me.

"Unlike you," I smiled back, watching his eyes darken. It was true, why would I sugar coat anything for him? He knows it was true. Did I want to argue with him? No, I did not. I would focus on Thorian and that was that. "Well I will talk with him. He is probably just going through a phase...all of us do." I glanced at the door, wondering if that was all. I wanted to leave maybe find Chelsea, then speak to Thorian. Then of course find William, make sure Rowan did not do anything to him. Looking to Sirus I realized that he was rubbing his temples and growling. He seemed...conflicted.

"Well, I will see you at dinner." Instead of waiting for him to say anything more, I turned away and made my way towards the exit. Before I could really get close enough to it, I felt a warm and familiar hand wrap around my wrist.

I took a deep breath. "Sirus, let go of me," I said evenly as I yanked at my arm. When he would not let go, I twisted around to glare at him. "What do you want, Sirus?"

"I..." he trailed off, his hold on my wrist coming incredibly uncomfortable. Bordering on pain. "Esmerelda," he breathed out. The way he said my name as if it were his last breath. As if it pained him to say my name. It made my chest constrict. Why?

"What?!" I snapped, pulling to get away from him. I hated for him to be so close to me. The way his eyes were looking at me, the look that was in his eyes. It couldn't be. Things that I felt were in his eyes. Hurt, sorrow. I did not understand. "Sirus I swear to you-"

"-I am sorry, Esmerelda..for all I have done," he said to me, his eyes not able to hold my own for those few seconds. His hand was tightening around my wrist. "I should have never let you go. If I could change the past-"

"No, no!" I yanked my hand from his. He was going to make me lose what little sanity I had left! Who did he think he was? "I do not want your apologies, Sirus. I have no need for it...I cannot accept them. Why tell me this now?! I have William, Sirus. Where you lacked in everything, he-he picked up. He treats me well, he loves me! Do you think your apologies will make a difference?!" I shrieked. Not caring who heard. I wanted to hit him. Badly. My chest ached. It hasn't ached like this since he broke the bond...but for some reason it was getting incredibly difficult to breathe. I noticed his hand went to his chest also...

His shoulders sagged. What was this? Who was this man? What did he do with the demon that I have lived with? I would not pity him. "Sirus, I love Thorian as do you. He is the topic of our conversations. Always and nothing more. I am cordial with you for him. That is all...I have to go."

I could not listen to him. I just could not. It would upset me even more. His apologies would do more damage than good. I rushed out of his study, and wandered down some halls. I just needed to clear my mind. I needed to get fresh air.

I made my way down a long staircase and soon enough with a few twists and turns, I was outside. I vaguely remembered the courtyard...it was full of flowers instead of shrubbery instead.

My shoulders were shaking and I didn't know why. Was I this upset because he touched me again? Or was I upset that he said he wished to change the events of the past? He could not and it infuriated me that he thought it was okay to say now. What false hope gave him the idea to utter those words which he could not change?

"Curse you! Curse you!"

As I wandered around the courtyard in deep thought, I could hear someone who sounded very upset. A vaguely familiar voice. I followed the feminine voice closely, and found the origin with ease.

It was Esa. She was sitting on the ground. Surrounded by flowers whose petals were picked off. She was crying...and seemed rather upset. It was not my place to ask if she was alright...I did not really know her, but she did call me 'Aunt Esmerelda.'

"Esa...is everything alright?"

She sniffled, her head turning a bit to lock eyes with me. Her eyes widened once she realized who I was. Esa scrambled up to her feet, brushing her skirt off of all of the many petals stuck to the fabric. "Aunt Esmerelda...I am fine," she claimed wiping her cheeks with the back of her hands.

She was not doing a good job at convincing me...but I did not want to pry. "Well...if you have a problem I am not that well at advice but I am here for you...for the time being." Did that sound right? I do not really know how to console people. Edwin rather fight out his problems or ignore me when he was her age... I never really dealt with young women before.

"Alright, alright fine!  I will tell you," she gasped as I blinked in confusion. I did not beg her for an explanation. "Peter is an awful mate, I wish to have nothing to do with him."

So her issues stemmed from her mate. The seemingly kind boy who Thorian did not seem to enjoy. Rowan seemed to have no problem with him though, and he was her father.. "How is he awful? He seems rather nice to me."

She scoffed, her puffed eyes turning to slits as she glared at me. "That is what he wants everyone to think! He is anything but! You know what he did to me?!" She screeched.

"What did he do?"

She sighed, putting a hand over her forehead. "He lives on the outskirts of our kingdom and he built us a house. A house big enough for twelve...he wants us to live there and have children!"

I am missing something. I do not understand how that is possible a bad thing. "Do you like him, Esa? Are you not attracted to him?"

"Of course, he is the most gorgeous man I have laid eyes on!" I am obviously not to good at these things because I am entirely too confused. What is the problem?!

I sighed, "Esa he built you a house, you are attracted to him. Help me understand the problem?"

She seemed to be incredibly annoyed with me, and I wished to know why. I was just asking a question, because I really did not know the answer! "He is the son of a merchant...he does not know anything about why I need to stay here. I have to stay here and help Thorian ascend to the throne. You know he is idiotic and very stubborn...Peter does not understand that. He wants to take after his father and travel the world selling items! Now you tell me which one is more important, staying here and helping our future King or selling trinkets!"

Oh. So at least it is not a major problem like him abusing her or something... I was about to give her my advice before I rethought it. She was not my child...I had to see where Chelsea and Rowan stand on this issue. "What do your parents think?"

She folded her hands across her chest. "Those traitors...they are awful. Father thinks whatever Peter has chosen for us is fine and mother wishes for me to be away from royalty. She thinks power does things to me! Do you believe that?!"

Yes, I do believe it...but I could not let her know that. "Well...I believe you should maybe give Peter a chance. You might find that you like traveling the world more than staying here in one place...and I am sure Peter will let you visit here often. He does not seem like a cruel man." Unlike her Uncle, I wanted to add in, but I held my tongue.

She sighed, "But I will miss my family. Mama has never had family so she does not understand. She acts as if she will not even miss me. And Thorian is like my brother...we have grown up together and I fear that if I leave no one will be here to make sure he is doing what he is supposed to be doing!"

Chelsea can be a bit distant...but I never thought she would be distant with her own daughter... "Well...have you told Peter your concerns?"

"Yes! He just dismisses them." I watched her sigh in defeat before she looked at me with wide eyes. Did I have something on my face? I was about to reach for it, making sure I did not have anything on it...but before I could do that she grabbed my hands tightly. "Aunt Esmerelda you can teach me your ways!" She squealed.

My ways? What ways? "I do not know what you are referring to, Esa," I admitted to her as I wished to pull my hand away. She had a rather tight grip and from Sirus already grabbing me earlier my hands hurt.

She sighed in exasperation, "You know how you changed my Uncle! How did you do it? Did you use your feminine ways?! Or maybe you manipulated him with your wit or-"

"-Esa, please slow down. What exactly had everyone been saying that I did to your Uncle?" I would kill Sirus if he had been spreading lies about me. He had an insane amount of pride to tell lies and in the same breath try to apologize to me!

She rolled her eyes, "You know how you changed my Uncle. I know he is rash brute now but supposedly he was even worse before he met you. Well...took you so my mother says," she frowned. Yes, he took me! "Anyway...everyone says that you were like a saving grace for the kingdom. After you left Uncle Sirus was not so crazy. Sure he had his times but my father said if it were not for you and Thorian, Uncle Sirus might have driven himself mad. I think he is mad enough...so tell me how did you do it? I need to know...should I maybe bed Peter and use some type of-"

"-Esa, please stop," I told her trying to process all of this information. Sirus became somewhat sane after I left? And people blamed me for that? What kind of nonsense...he obviously changed a mere fraction but it could not be as much as Esa was making it seem. Guaranteed the old Sirus would not apologize...

This was not about Sirus. This was about me helping Esa. My old friends daughter wreck her relationship with a nice young man. "Esa...do you love Peter?" She frowned, murmuring her answer. "Esa, I am sorry I could not hear you."

"Yes, I do!" She admitted. It seemed to upset her. What was wrong with her? She had a perfectly good young man in her midst and she just could not see it. Or understand...

I sighed, the next words I was getting ready to say pertained to me more than I thought it would. "Esa...sometimes we have to compromise for the people we love."

William compromised...a lot for me. And he was still compromising till his very moment. Guilt and confusion washed over me as Esa continued to speak to me. "....I think I will just have to talk to Peter. Thanks Aunt Esmerelda."

"You're welcome," I smiled at he half heartedly as she gave me a small hug and then instead of asking a guard to locate him, she just started yelling for him. Bless poor Peter. She seems like more than a handful.

After parting ways with Esa, I wandered the halls of the castle, thinking about my life thus far. I was thirty four years old and I still was not married. The council had a fit. Saying how could one woman rule for so long without a husband. William always tried to hide what they had to say to me but I decided to listen to their concerns and then ultimately ignore them. Who were they to say that I needed a husband?

AT the time I just thought they were being unreasonable men, and well to this day I still think they are...but would it be so awful to marry William? I Knew I loved him dearly...but what was hindering me from giving myself to him fully? He was sterile and maybe other woman saw that as a definite no to marriage in their book, but I did not care. I did not wish to have another child, Thorian was enough...plus I was not so sure I would be a good mother.  He was wealthy...he was the son of a Duke, and he was left with a large estate. Even if he was not the son of a Duke, he still was my adviser and that gave him rank over everyone.

We already acted as if we were a couple anyway...we did things that married people did. Although, I've never given myself to him fully intimately, we have certainly pushed the boundaries since I was a Queen...

I sighed, my hand going to my head as I thought about this problem...that seemed as if it was not a problem at all. The logical thing to do was marry William. He cared for me, even loved me like I loved him...but why could I just not bring myself to do so? It disturbed me...and I knew it could not possible be because of him. I felt nothing for him...

"Oh Princess Chelsea your husband was looking for you!"

My head that was so clouded up in my thoughts, was quickly pulled back into reality as I heard my old friend's name. My eyes quickly scanned the area and they caught the very ends of a violet skirt turning the corner.

"Chelsea?" I questioned, as my legs began to carry to the unknown woman who had to be my friend. I admit I was not obese, but I did eat well time and time again and I certainly did not run for sport...so it was complicated for me to keep up with the running woman.

"Chelsea!" I huffed out, pulling up at my skirts a bit to make running a bit easier. I rounded the corner of a long hallway and heard a noise similar to a crashing sound. What I saw next had me laughing in a very out of breath manner. I certainliy would not want WIlliam to hear me laughing like this...it resembled a dog coughing.

There in front of me was an overturned cart. Silver trays of food were overturned on the ground. Spilling out its delicious contents onto the floor. A maid was desperately trying to help the blonde haired woman up who was trying her best not to look at me. The maid also happene dto be the young woman Margaret who was...with my son.

"Chelsea...why are you avoiding me?" I questioned slowly, as she finally managed to stand on her feet. Still faced away from me. The maid Margaret curtsied towards me, her eyes glued safely to the floor.

I waited for her reply to me, but she did not give me one. "Margarie leave us....now."

The girl looked between us and then at her mess. "Lady Chelsea I have to clean up-"

"-Go!" Chelsea barked out. I was surprised at the harshness of her tone and wondered what on earth had gotten into her. She did not greet me yesterday and then this morning at breakfast...what was happening with my old friend.

I sighed, "Chelsea I honestly do not know what I have done to cause this but-"

"-Stop," she pleaded. Her shoulders seemed to shake and not caring about my ounce of anger towards her, I quickly met her face to see what was wrong. She had tears in her eyes. "I...I cannot bare to look at you, Esmerelda."

****
Hi guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Just to clear up something, you don't have to read this, it isn't essential to read the second book in the series 'Queen of the Dragons.' This story has to deal with Esmerelda and Sirus and if you still haven't gotten enough of them.

No spoilers in here for the next few books.
I plan on doing Queen of the Mundanes, Queen of the Vampyr and that's about it right now. Queen of the Vampyr would deal with Sarah and Queen of the Mundanes well I think you can guys can guess:)

Will I have more stories in this series, possibly. I just haven't started writing them yet.