Waking up beside Kendrick was both wonderful and painful. After my busy day I had fallen asleep instantly with my clothes on and embraced in his arms. But waking up I couldn't help but fear that he would reject me, knowing we could never be an official couple. Even if I changed the laws, would he stand proud beside me or would he be ashamed of this new side of himself?

I shook my head and sighed at myself. I was moving too fast, following my heart and not my head. I had desired him much longer than he had been interested in me. I needed to give him the time he asked for, I reminded myself as I peeked at his profile. He looked very peaceful in his sleep and I couldn't help myself from touching his chin with my fingertips.

"Good morning beautiful," he chuckled but kept his eyes shut.

"Good morning handsome," I countered and was instantly pulled in closer to his chest.

I felt his lips against my temple, "I could get used to this," he mumbled with a raspy morning voice, and I was just about to get more comfortable against him when he suddenly moved out of the bed. "Joseph will be here soon, and I need to go and get changed for the meeting," he said and gave me a smile.

"You'll be there?" I asked and got an eye roll.

"I go where you go, remember? And besides, I don't trust that woman."

"What about Rillon?" I asked curiously as I rose from the bed with a yawn and started to undress, feeling his eyes on my body.

"He's a good guy," he said with a shrug.

I met his eyes as I passed him in only my underpants to go to my bathroom. "You know him then?"

"I know of him, and he kept his reputation clean yesterday," he answered calmly standing in the doorway, but my interest peaked.

"You fought his people, but you respect him?" I asked as I turned the tap to fill the bath with steaming hot water.

"It wasn't a choice, I was ordered to fight them. I killed innocent people and I'm not proud of that," he muttered.

"I need more details, Rand," I sighed and let my pants fall to the floor before I slipped into the bath. "Why do you call them innocent?"

I felt his eyes on my naked body and I enjoyed the look on his face, but he eventually snapped out of it and turned serious. "They never did anything wrong, it was your fathers decision and he did it out of hate of their religion and their culture."

I fell into deep thoughts and reached for the soap as we both heard a knock on the door. "Are you two decent?" Joseph called out as he stepped into my room.

"I am," Kendrick snickered and winked at me before he turned to leave, "I'll see you after breakfast then, My King."

Joseph rolled his eyes at Roland and snickered, "no need to be formal around me. Just promise me you'll treat him well."

I could see the hint of surprise on Kendricks face but Joseph's caring attitude made him nod eventually, "I'll do my best," he mumbled low before he left us with quick steps.

"So you two are a thing now?" my friend asked curiously.

"I sighed and shrugged my shoulders, "not sure yet, he says he needs time."

Joseph looked thoughtful as he walked around the room to prepare the things I needed for my meeting. "It can't be easy falling for a king," he said eventually. "Give him all the time he needs, he seems to like you a lot, so don't rush it."

"Since when did you become an expert in love?" I chuckled and stepped out of the bath to grab the towel he was handing me.

"I have a lot of admirers," he snickered, and I knew all too well about his nightly escapades with the maids.

"You do, and you use them for pleasure, that's not the same," I teased.

He shrugged and waited for me to get dressed before he handed me the plate of breakfast. We shared the meal, chatting about yesterday's events, my coronation and the party. I mentioned Rillon and his people and what Kendrick had told me about them but Joseph's eyes widened.

"They are brutes Adrian, they live in the woods and they turn into monsters at night."

"That's just stories mothers tell their children to keep them home," I chuckled and sipped on my coffee.

"No, it's the truth," he said with a hint of panic in his eyes. "They can turn into beasts, and you say you invited one of them into the castle!"

I sighed at him, "I never took you for a fool Jo, Rillon is a kind man, and he's here to discuss the future. Even Kendrick trusts him."

I could see the doubt in Joseph's eyes but he kept quiet, placing the cups back on the tray and got ready to leave. "Just be careful Adrian, some changes might not be in your favor."

With my friends warning circling my mind I walked towards my meeting room where the ambassadors were waiting for me. I wore my royal clothes but wished I'd dressed more casually, though I knew I had to make a good impression.

Kendrick was already waiting outside the room and gave me a small smile as I approached and opened the heavy wooden door for me. Inside I was greeted with four pairs of eyes and a strained atmosphere. It was crystal clear that the four ambassadors disliked each other.

"Good morning," I greeted and walked towards the head of the table while the others waited for me to take a seat. "I hope you all enjoyed yesterday's festivities."

"The Court of Uthil thanks you for your invitation, King Adrian," a slender elf greeted with a graceful bow before he sat himself down by the table. "It was a delightful celebration."

"Thank you Ylyndar," I responded and peered at the pale man with ice blue eyes, "I will send your King my thanks for the beautiful gift."

He gave me a polite smile before I turned to look at the other three. Rillon was dressed in casual clothes with the shirt folded to his elbows, showing off his muscles. His thick hair was put up in a braid and he carried the symbol of his gods around his neck and I couldn't help but to smile at his carefree attitude when he sat down at my right side.

The woman, Fienna, was his opposite. Her gown was of expensive silks, her hair put up in an elaborate hairstyle and around her neck she wore a huge necklace paired with earrings that looked too heavy for her small head. She took a seat at my left side, much closer than the rest of them and her attitude instantly annoyed me. The flattering and the praise wasn't helping her case, but she didn't seem to notice that. Instead she kept going about the food, the beautiful castle and my wonderful speech.

The fourth person introduced himself as Aerich of Ostus, he was an older gentleman and he couldn't stop staring at Rillon while he spoke, clearly flabbergasted by his presence.

These were the ambassadors of the countries next to our borders. The elven land of Uthil was a mystery to me, my father had kept his peace with them by leaving them be even though they were just as different as the Farian people. But he had always spoken about them with the greatest respect.

The human countries of Ostus and Echar were trading partners to us and we had been collaborating with them for hundreds of years. Maybe this alliance was the reason why the elves and the people of Faria kept to themselves, because the three human societies were strong and powerful together. Little did they know that I was about to change that now.

"Thank you all for coming," I greeted again. "I felt the need to have this meeting in private, without my counselors because I want to speak freely with you all." My words peaked their interest and I decided to start by acknowledging the elephant in the room. "Because Gera is located as it is, surrounded by your four countries I see it necessary to form new strong alliances. And I want to start by reaching out a hand to Ambassador Rillon. I feel ashamed of the way my father treated your people in the past," I said, directing my focus on the young man, "and I would like to open the border between our countries again and rebuild the trust and the trade."

He looked thoughtful at me for a while, but nodded once. "I will take that news with me and discuss it with my clan," he said calmly.

The room was cold and quiet until lady Fienna started speaking, "your father closed that border for a reason Lord King," she hissed. "I believe you are making a mistake."

"He might have had his reasons," I added sternly, "but those reasons were his own and I do not agree with them. As neighbors we should be working together, helping each other and not fighting over things that happened before we were even born."

"Despite the consequences?" Aerich asked low and I raised my eyes to look at him.

"And what consequences might that be? All of us would gain favor from the meat and the pelt trade with Faria,"I asked but was met with silence.

"But that is not all," the elf said, adding his voice to the conversation. "There is a threat coming, and that must be the real reason for this alliance, is it not?"

I leaned back in my chair and placed my hands in my lap, I honestly had no idea what he was talking about. I peered up at Kendrick for a moment and he gave me a quick nod before he moved towards the table.

"We hadn't discussed the possibility of war yet, we had our internal affairs to deal with first," he said calmly.

"And you are?" Lady Fienna hissed.

"Sir Roland is the Colonel of Geras army," I snapped at her with a growing irritation but couldn't help but to notice Kendrick's eyes studying me.

"There have been reports from the east," Roland continued, "The land of Ashor has taken an interest in the death of the late king and the rumors say they believe Gera is weakened." I was surprised to hear this, I really had no idea of these rumors and I had a hard time playing it cool while hearing about it.

"So you need alliances to keep you safe?" the older man snickered and I narrowed my eyes at his disrespectful tone.

"Do not forget who you are talking to," Kendrick reminded him sternly as he moved to stand at my side.

"You fail to see the facts that are placed right in front of you," the older man continued. "Instead of our rulers, the Kings and the Emperors of our lands, they all declined your invitations and sent us instead," he snickered and rose from his seat. "We all stand with Ashor and we will gladly see the Ashorian king on Geras throne. Especially now as you've reached out your hand to Faria," he spat.

I could see my knight tense and I watched Rillon stand and take a step closer to me. "Your rulers may have sent insignificant idiots in their stead," he chuckled, "but I am here as the leader of my country," he continued and got a surprised look from all of us. "We do not have kings where I am from, but I have fought my way to the top and I speak for all of my people when I say that we will gladly stand with Gera to protect their lands against Ashor and anyone who wishes to disturb the peace King Adrian is working for."

"Is that a threat?" Fienna snickered and started to fidget with her necklace, "because it sounds like one."

I paid no attention to the woman and turned to the elf instead, "I need to know where Uthil stands in this matter."

The ice blue eyes locked with mine and he looked as calm as ever. "I am neither a mere ambassador, I am the son of the elven king," he said and looked with disgust at the ambassador seated next to him. "This news was given to us months ago by one Ashorian messenger and I have my fathers trust to give you his response." He paused and peered at Rillon, "Elves tend to ourselves, much like the Lycans," he said and turned back to face me, "and we have no interest in dealing with your human quarrels." His answer was not surprising, but the next sentence was, "but we won't tolerate any forces from either side to walk through our lands to reach the other. We will stay neutral but we will protect our people if necessary."

A sense of relief filled me, at least they wouldn't be our enemy. "So be it, I said calmly and rose from my seat. It seems that Echar and Ostus have made up their minds, and your presence here was just a formal invitation for me to surrender." I watched the two ambassadors move uncomfortably in their seats, "leave Gera and tell your leaders that I won't step down without a fight. This is my heritage and I have plans for my rule, and I won't let power hungry men stop me."

I watched Sir Roland call for his guards and told them to escort Lady Fienna and Lord Aerich out of the castle and out of the country. I stood firm at the end of the table as I watched them leave but I felt dizzy inside. Was this the start of a war?

"Power hungry indeed," Ylyndar muttered and turned to me, "this was planned long ago, Young King, our spies have been keeping their eyes on all of you and I will leave you with this final advice." He rounded the table and walked to stand in front of me and lowered his voice, "Your own mother is Ashorian, is she not?" I nodded and wondered where he was going with this. "Know that neither your fathers illness or your brothers death was an accident, you have enemies inside these walls and even though I despise the Lycans of Faria you would be smart to take any offer of aid they would give you." And with that he left me, Kendrick and Rillon alone.