Chapter 28: Chapter 27

’Marc, can I speak to you?’ Chris linked with his mother in front of him, holding his hand.

’I’ll be free in an hour or so. Office?’ Chris broke the link for a moment, worrying on his lip. He wasn’t sure he could admit what he needed to in such a formal setting.

“What’s he said?” Elsbeth whispered.

“He’s not free for another hour and wants to meet-”

“Nothing he can be doing is less important than seeing you. What’s he doing?” she asked fiercely.

“I don’t know.”

Her eyes glazed, clearly opening a link with someone. Chris waited, he still wasn’t sure about this. Admitting it to his mother was one thing, his brother, the King… something else entirely. He didn’t even feel confident admitting it to his sister and he was closer with her!

He wanted to pull his clammy hand from his mother’s grasp, but it was a comforting touch. He knew it was a hold he needed… sometimes your needs outweighed your wants.

“Ah, perfect,” Elsbeth announced, “Marc’s busy in court, with Jaxson.”

“How is that perfect?”

“You’ll see,” she sang brightly, gripping his hand tightly before leading him back towards the palace.

“Mother, what are we doing?” he asked, his voice a little harder. He didn’t like the unknown, and his mother’s schemes weren’t always the best. She meant well, of course… just the execution was often… well, she interfered.

Although… maybe part of him wanted that. He had no hope of sorting this mess out himself, and with the support of his mother, maybe, it would work out.

OK… he was kidding himself it was going to go terribly.

“Mother?” he prompted when she didn’t respond.

“Oh, you’ll see, darling.”

“You know I don’t like surprises.”

“This isn’t a surprise, come.” She dragged him through the palace, into the maze of corridors before stopping at a door. Chris didn’t really know this part of the palace, it wasn’t somewhere he ever needed to be.

Elsbeth rapped her knuckles against the solid wood once before opening the door uninvited. “The court is in… oh, Your Majesty, is everything alright?”

“Up to your old tricks, Paul, how are you?”

“Well, Your Majesty, but as I was saying the-”

“What is it, mother?” Marc interrupted the advisor.

“Where is the guard?” Elsbeth asked, looking around the room.

“He’s having a word with Jesse. He’ll be back any moment, I’ll be free soon.”

“Nonsense, you’re free now. Christopher.” Elsbeth dragged Chris in front of her.

“Mother!” he complained.

“What’s the problem, Chris?” Marc asked.

“Nothing! It can wait.”

“No, darling, it can’t,” his mother replied gently.

“We have time,” Trey encouraged.

“Marc? In private?” he pleaded.

“I’ll be right back,” Marc addressed the males of the council as he rose from his chair.

“My King we-”

“It can wait, Advisor Paul, just take a short break,” Marc stated sternly, gesturing for Chris and Elsbeth to leave the room.

Chris followed his brother in apprehension, still unsure how he was going to say it. How he was going to admit it. “What’s happening with Jaxson?” he murmured as he followed his older brother.

“So far, the verdict will be the same.”

“It can’t!”

“Then you need to tell me why.”

“I…”

“In here.” Marc directed into a small sitting room with two sofas, side tables next to the seating and nothing else, it was bare. Chris promptly took a seat, flitting his gaze around the small room. He had no idea who the sitting room was for. Maybe he should have explored more as a pup like Adelaide did.

“Alright, why?”

“Just… just take my word for it. Please?”

“You think someone should go unpunished for near murder of his colleague?”

“He… he had… He was defending me, I… it’s fine!”

“Not buying it.”

“You can overturn it, please, Marc.”

“I wouldn’t be doing my duty if I do it without a reason. There has to be one.”

Chris threw his head into his hands. “You know the fucking reason,” he muttered.

“Language, Christopher,” his mother admonished.

Chris instantly shrank with the scold, he hadn’t really meant to swear. It had just come out. His confidence began shrinking. He couldn’t tell his brother, not like this… he just couldn’t.

“Maybe you should go check on Klara, mother, she was sick this morning,” Marc suggested gently.

“I…” she began her protest but Marc cut her off.

“I would go myself but this is tying me up. Please?” Marc asked mildly.

“I’ll go make that tea.”

“Wonderful idea, thank you.”

Elsbeth left the room, leaving the two brothers alone.

“I may have an idea what’s going on, but I need it verbally. I can’t work on hearsay.”

“So you do know?” Chris whispered.

“I’ve heard the rumours, I think everyone has. Are they true?”

“Which ones?” Chris replied glumly.

Marc slid into the sofa next to Chris, resting himself back as if he weren’t interested. “I can only judge by the actions of those around. You know you’ve always been able to tell me anything.”

“What if you don’t like what I’m going to say?”

“We’ll deal with it as a family. Like we always do.”

“With every wolf clamouring to get into our business.”

“Prefer me to say I’m going to kick you from the Kingdom?”

Heat trickled over Chris’ back, “I don’t know!” he expressed.

“Do you want Jaxson to lose his career and spend months in the cells?”

“Course not!” Chris snapped.

“Why? He’s just a guard,” Marc stated nonchalantly.

“He’s my guard.”

“You want him to personally guard you?”

“NO!” Chris whipped his head around to look at Marc who still wasn’t looking at him, but he knew he had his full attention.

“I’d agree he’s good at what he does, best tracker anyone has ever known. Unfortunately, that can’t save him. There has to be a good excuse for his behaviour, otherwise, it’s an out of control guard that we can’t risk around our family.” Marc stood, smoothing his dress trousers. “I should get back.”

“He’s my mate! He has a reason, he was defending me! He was defending what the Goddess wants! I need him!” Chris panicked.

“I see. Stay here.” Marc’s expression was blank, he couldn’t discern anything.

“But I…” Before he could finish his sentence, Marc was gone.