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Healer Rhea's POV

Upon returning to the direction of the meeting room, she peeked inside to catch the King speaking with of her males and she instantly took the detour to return back to her rooms.

"My Lady, could I offer you a bath?"

"Oh please, Irene. A bath and whatever can be brought from breakfast, I'm not picky. I think I'm locking myself up here for the rest of the day."

"Of course, my Lady. I fully agree, you need your rest. I would be happy to deliver any message to the Infirmary, to Charles."

"Ah, bless you. I nearly forgot...Yes, I'll draft that now before I lose my two senses soaking in warm waters." And thus, it allowed Irene the chance to get things ready for a proper soak.

It was a rather quick message, and Rhea huffed in damnation when she truly did not want to sound heartless. So she scraped the first and went ahead to the second. "Everything is all set, ma'am."

"Thank you, Irene. Could you check this over for me? I don't want to come off as rude and unapproachable." That sparked excitement in the female as she hurried forward and scanned the parchment, smiling throughout and nodding.

"I think it's perfect, very kind and telling."

"I don't want this to slip by me, what happened in the Infirmary was awful." Irene agreed while escorting Rhea into the bathing chamber, attempting to hold her hands back as her Lady liked to manage tasks such as this on her own.

Unless of course, it proved to be difficult.

Though Rhea hadn't even dared to try and conquer getting into the tub on her own, and Irene had provided a steady arm for her to keep a handle on.

And goodness, had it been an utter blessing and a half, that the steaming water on tap was by far the best invention of the kingdom. Leaning back into the pillow as she began to close her eyes and find peace with the scents that Irene had chosen for this noon's soak.

But of course, the day had other plans as the door had been given a bundle of knocks before being opened without a word of entry. It startled Irene to the point of no return as she stomped her way into the main room.

"What is the meaning of this?! This is a Lady's room!" Her shouts had been a good defense, but all too soon it turned into muffles and Rhea tried her best to hear over the sound of the water. But it was hopeless as she heard the familiar rumble of a male she didn't really want to see.

And not so unexpectedly, she heard the wooden door creak open. "I'm not taking any meetings at the moment," Rhea whispered out, peeking through her closed eyes before shutting them, feeling ready and at ease in seeing the King.

"You have an unnatural habit of making a male want to rip his hair out."
"Funny, that's what my father said too."

"This isn't a joking matter."

"I never said it is. If you want me to help make things equal, here's where to start. Suppression of religion is unnatural." The male blinked and continued to do so as though the mere idea of humans having their own settled religion was unheard of.

And so Rhea settled further into her pillow and huffed. "I'm not taking any meetings."
"And you are not Queen to decide when I can and cannot speak with you, Amory. Let me make that clear."

"And you are not prepared for me to be your Queen. What do you think those favors will be in return for? I have three of those males by the scruff of their necks and I need a Fourth—Given that Kieran will agree with the union. You need to think bigger picture."

"I AM!"
"For yourself, not me. They cannot fault me if they all vote me in, whatever this union may become, we need to watch our backs carefully. Mariah and her father are not to be trusted, and the things I am seeing from my position are worsening every day. It should not take me half a day's travel to find a suitable doctor for such a simple sprain." Romulus' eyes closed shut, not because of his aggravation, but because his wolf cannot handle being spoken to in such a way.

He could sense that she was equal in every way, but it still damned him that fought tooth and nail while nude in the tub.

"Now ether leave me be or join me."
"What?!" He choked, and Rhea turned to lean against the side of the tub, her head tilted as she repeated her words, though Romulus could still not understand how it had come to this.

"You're mucking up the vibes, now either get in or leave and we'll discuss things tomorrow. Unless you're busy?" She tempted, taking the time to peek open another eye to see if the male moved.

And the poor King was still left stunned in his previous position.

"I thought you were angry with me."
"The heat of the water is starting to change my views. Perhaps it'll help you see reason. I will not invite you a third time, Romulus" She spoke, exhaling one final time and thus, the young King hurried out of his trousers and into the tempered water.

One that he instantly moaned upon stepping inside. Yet Rhea had kept her eyes dutifully closed as he lowered himself in. "I am your male, Amory. You are free to look at me as you please."
"A courtship has rules, Rom."
"Rules, bah! Appreciating how beautiful my female is falls into the courtship rules."
"I meant looking at your cock, Romulus. Now shh, it's time for peace and quiet." The water had sloshed a bit off the sides as the King found comfort at the side—Still relatively close to Rhea's position, not to mention his annoying stare was starting to irk her.

"You find comfort in this?"
"Yes."
"How?" She remained silent, taking a large breath of air and allowing the steam to fill her lungs with its warmth. Yet the male soon turned annoyed as his question not being answered. "Why?"

"The heat, moving water, the scents? Perhaps it's too overwhelming for your nose to appreciate it." Now that earned her a huff, one that was so readily annoyed that she couldn't help but smile.

"Yes, it's assaulting my nostrils—At least the company is nice."
"I'm glad you find my company nice, Romulus." She chuckled, leaning back into her situated pillow, but she could feel his never-ending stare creeping into her soul she huffed. "Yes, Romulus?"

"How are you going to get the rest of the favors?"
"Ah, see if I told you that, that means you're conspiring with me, my King. I don't want to get your hands dirty." The playfulness had spiked up once more, and Rhea could feel the ripples in the water long before she felt his touch. 

"I don't mind getting my hands dirty, my Queen...Only if the end result are...Satisfying."

The way his hand found its way from her knee to the inner workings of her thigh was captivating, and all Rhea could do was signify it with a gasp.

"Does it not interest you...How a simple touch could be so pleasing, Queen Amory?" It most certainly does, but did she want to suffer through another fortnight undergoing the same pain as the last time?

Yes, she wanted to.

The moment she had bitten her lip and connected her eyes up to Romulus' rising form, he knew instantly that she was considering that possibility. No, actually tempting herself with it.

The way her hands had slowly moved upwards to reach him had called upon him, and while they were warm from the water—Her touch enacted something more, something deeper, something primal.

She pulled him further and placed a simple kiss on his lips, moist from the condensation building up in the room as it was starting to get much too hot. "'Mory—"
"I'll tell you if it's too much." She breathed, and it had all been in an instant. His movements paired with the claiming growl that filled the room. It was enticing to say the least, and there wasn't much more Rhea could even think to happen that Romulus surprised her.

He ducked further to meet her, his wet lips had a small hint of whiskey and the rose oil from the tub. And she smiled against them the next time he interlocked, yet it was the way he was so calm about it all.

The way his movements were delicate and sweet, enlightened Rhea, making her feel warm and giddy—Hoping that this would be different, wouldn't it?

With the clear indication of her interest, Romulus took the courage in dipping his attention down to her neck, instigating a rumble that created another pattern of ripples through the water.

But more importantly, Rhea felt it deep in her core. As though it had been her calling, her directive—For her.

Her arms wrapped around his head to urge him to continue, yet his dedication to just feeling her tempting body, to trace and nurture the wounded skin and worship it as it had always been intended.

Over the coming days of little contact, Romulus had difficulty keeping himself occupied—How tempting this female was, and here she was, offering herself up.

He could not miss this opportunity, not when she was mere moments from melting into his touch with each passing beat.

How was it that her touch felt so warm, so pleasurable? And she seemed just as eager to get more of a reaction from himself that a curious hand had started to trail from his neck down to the center of his chest, feeling the upbeat in his heart.

One that sparked up another smile.

"You're beautiful, my Queen." He rushed, his voice gruff and sharper than she had ever heard it before. They had not come as close to this reality in previous nights, no, this was entirely different.

The water was pleasurable in its own right, but as Romulus had allowed his touch to trial up further the likes of her sex, fiddling with such a complicated and sensitive bud, Rhea gasped against his lips as she allowed herself to actually feel the build-up.

There was no method to the madness, no sense of direction or possible skills required, not when he trusted his instinct and beast to pleasure the female before him.

The inner wolf knew how important it was, to cultivate the weary female to embrace something new, to allow her to feel powerful all the same. Yet as temptations drew further, Rhea had let him know just how she felt when her nails dug deeper into his skin.

"Is this how your Alpha made you feel...Amory?" The question had more demand and bite than concern for his tactic, and the breathless groan that released from her lips had nothing to do with her reply. Yet the moment he had stopped, her morals had suddenly started to sink back in—Goddess, why would he stop?!

Her waist had buckled underneath the water as he firmly kept her thighs in place and kneed further into the tub. "Tell me, did he pleasure you the same way as I?"
"Rom—"
"Tell me? Did he have a taste of this divine cunt?" Disbelief had rushed through her cheeks at such a name for something so...intimate. Yet her mind couldn't fathom to respond, not when he soon suffocated himself for another kiss to her lips, her neck, and the lovely dip in the center of her chest.

Yet this is where he had taken his time to explore, the scars had been a vocal highlight whenever he had caught a glimpse of them. But here and now, it only spoke about just how brave his little human Queen had faired, to live and be here now testified to that and more.

Not to mention that she was willing to meet his beast—He was at the cusp of being released, but even then, Romulus did not worry about any harm that could come of Rhea.

His instincts were to be directive to a point, to provide, care and protect. Not to harm, not after the instance in the carriage just the other day.

The growl that rumbled from his chest sparked Rhea's curiosity as she stroked the better half of his chest and smiled up at him, feeling the vibrations that his wolf had sparked through him.

"I hear you." She whispered, her eyes filled with understanding that Romulus felt encouraged.

Her voice enacted a piece of him to respark, one that he hadn't felt since his father was alive. And with little to no effort, he allowed it to act. At first, it was the tickle of his nose against her—Lining the pathway from her temple down to her neck.

And Rhea wasn't foolish enough not to know what a neck meant to a wolf. Especially, to a wolf like him.

"My neck is for another time, my King." She whispered softly, making his intentions come to a stop, almost as if he was contemplating her words. Understanding them to a degree that continued for Rhea to push him down from his risen placement. While his hand was well between her thighs, she pulled him close to rest against the risen seating beside as she felt the need to do the same.

By no means, did Rhea find it in herself to act a certain way, but the idea of this action speaking directly to his wolf had made her heart soar—And thus, she followed a similar trail to what he had just accomplished. Once she found the crook of his neck, she laid a small kiss, and nothing more.

The intimacy had been reached, and nothing could have prepared her for the quick movements of the Alpha in front of her. However he had managed to have her arms and legs wrapped around him as he was the one against her pillow, stumped her.

"Romulus!" She shouted, a bit of laughter following in suit as she couldn't fathom what else his abilities could lead to.
"Hmm?" He cooed, his voice an honest reminder that he was so very close. That the water was doing little to nothing to keep themselves covered.
"A human waits until their honeymoon before mating, Rom..."
"I know. I read up on this honeymoon you have in mind. I must say, I am still just as intrigued as I was before." Interest rose in her widened eyes as a smile started to play on her very swollen lips. "What else did you read about?"
"I best prepare my vows now, given that you have now placed a timeline on such a proposal." "Ah, their acceptance is one, but the actual day will come in time...A King and a former Queen demand a spectacle, don't you agree?" His arms resecured themselves around her gracious curves, ones he hadn't gotten the time to properly appreciate.

"Whatever my mate and wife want, she shall have."
"Whatever I want? Oh, Romulus, don't make that mistake so early on." Her voice had lost its fire, and it felt like a whisper directly in his ear that couldn't escape.

Oh how easy it would be to turn the tables and escape all morals to rut her, but he refrained. He needed to. This wasn't a female he would leave the next morning and cared very little about.

This female is his salvation, his purpose—And it became so monumentally clear in that very moment that when it had become a thought, his wolf howled in pure demand to the realization.

Queen Amory Vrovaria is and will forever be, his mate.
His true and fated mate—Or so help him Goddess, has it all been for nothing?

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Date: 07/06/23

Time: 3:07

Words: 2679

Author's Note: 

Romulus had refused to believe the truth, how his reaction to Amory's presence has done to him for so long. 

They are truly fated mates.