Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell
Chapter 157 The Best Person to Ask
The air positively hummed as her aura rippled through the room and the people within dropped to their knees in front of her, including those that had done no wrong.
Ann felt a pang of guilt but did her best to brush it away.
It was less than ideal, but if it was spoken of outside of this room, then it would be widely known that Ann was no pushover, and would happily act before the Elders got a chance to do so.
Perhaps Maeve was right and more direct action was necessary. Her father had been a weak ruler in later years and perhaps he had allowed them a little too much freedom in dictating how things were run.
The Enclave was an ancient inst*itution that protected the Kingdom from tyrant rulers. They were never meant to make the decisions for the Kings and Queens, merely to ensure that justice was upheld and that the Royal line did not abuse its power to the detriment of the general population.
Ann calmed her raging fury and did her best to speak calmly. Though her tone was laced with a deadly undercurrent.
“I will see for myself just what exactly that b***h has cooked up this time, Bartholomew, and when we finally catch up with her, I promise you this; not a single thing will stand between Maeve and I when we come face to face with her. I fully intend to be the one ripping her throat out with our bare teeth when the time comes. Am I clear?”
Maeve let loose a low warning growl from deep within Ann’s chest as Bartholomew tried to sink lower to the ground.
“Abundantly so, your Highness! I apologize for my presumptuous comment. I did not intend to dictate your course of action!” Bartholomew answered hastily, desperate to appease her and remove this painful pressure that had settled over him.
He had never been successfully f*orc*ed to submit before in all of his long life, but his Queen’s power was something else entirely.
The strength in her aura was almost unbearable and it was all he could do to stop himself from prostrating himself on the floor in front of her fully, yet, she barely seemed to be exerting any effort with this.
It was as if a bird was extending its wings to test the air around them, no real effort or thought behind the process, just enough to get the information it needed about its environment.
To the best of his understanding, he could only a*s*sume that Ann was merely testing his loyalty as a Senior Elder.
After all, he had grown so used to having to prod and poke the former king into action, he had obviously made the mistake of a*s*suming that Ann would require the same prompting and encouragement, and dictating her next steps.
She was the Alpha Queen and it was abundantly clear that she was going to rule as a monarch should, without forcing the Senior Elders to do so in her stead, as her father had done before her, and for Bartholomew, he was more than ready to accept this new reality.
It was about time.
Ann allowed it to continue only a little longer, before withdrawing it completely, to a rumble of satisfaction from Maeve.
“Now, with our position a little clearer on things, please arrange an escort for Greyson and his men to bring the bodies safely inside, and following that, they will be a*s*signed the finest guest quarters that we have to offer within the Enclave, Bartholomew. Do you understand?”
“Yes, your Highness.” Bartholomew nodded quickly, thin beads of sweat trickling down his forehead as he returned to a standing position, noticeably shaken.
Ann turned to face Greyson once everyone had returned to their feet, and smiled warmly.
“Thank you for your efforts, Commander Greyson. If you would like to follow Bartholomew’s instructions and lead his men to the corpses, then you and your men may retire for the evening and rest up. You have more than earned a little rest and relaxation.”
Greyson’s eyes were wide with shock for a moment before he quickly readjusted his expression.
“My Queen, I don’t want you to think that I’m ungrateful, but…” He began hesitantly before he was unceremoniously cut off.
“Good. Then I’ll stop listening to your protests now Greyson. I insist, and if that is not enough, then I shall make it a direct order.” Ann stated simply, her adrenaline rushing through her as Maeve preened happily that their display of power and the message behind it had been received loud and clear.
Greyson simply nodded in defeat and saluted her with respect.
Ann and Adam watched in silence as Bartholomew hastily exited with Greyson and a few guards in tow, whilst the Royal guards moved to station themselves outside of the door, to guard against unwanted visitors.
Finally, as the door closed securely leaving them alone in the room, Ann sagged back against the chair heavily and leaned her head back to stare at the ceiling blankly.
Almost instantly, Adam’s face appeared above hers, bending forward to kiss her forehead as his hands landed on her shoulders. He ma*s*saged them gently as Ann’s eyes fluttered closed and she groaned appreciatively.
“Seriously… of all the things that could have gone wrong it had to be this…” Ann grumbled.
Adam sighed heavily.
“I don’t have many words of comfort because there’s nothing that can be said to erase the fact that Narcissa and Ada are out there somewhere.”
“Plotting their next move no doubt. Scheming bastards. I wish they would just let it go. They can never succeed in their ultimate goal, Adam, so why do they keep trying?”
“I don’t think any of us can ever truly understand the mind of one under the t****l of Dameon. Their sense of reason is completely lost, and no longer truly in control of their actions.” Adam grimaced and seeing Ann’s unhappy expression he quickly continued.
“I’m not saying that they should go unpunished, and I’m not an expert on the matter, but, isn’t Lexi the best person to ask about all of this?”
Ann sighed and nodded, smiling up at him slightly.
“You’re right, of course. I suppose I’ll have to call her and ask her advice far sooner than any of us had expected.”