Chapter Fifty-Seven

Celina

The next three weeks were a test of my patience. Chris made it his business to follow me everywhere I went. He moved back to the bedroom, despite his doctor’s orders. The only break I get from him is when he’s doing physical therapy. Ruben would watch him while I completed training sessions with Leroy. We learned the hard way that Chris doesn’t take it well when Leroy is actively trying to attack me; it was even worse when we tried it with Mia. He still doesn’t seem to trust her fully, but what she did to him was kind of a bitch move.

After practice, the day before the “coronation” I’m determined to take a shower before I go pick up Chris. Leroy ended the session early so he and Mia could go get their clothes ready for the big day. After all, it’s Leroy’s big day too. He’ll be inducted as the official Head Guard of the Beast Kingdom. Mia had enthusiastically declined any royal assignment, so she’s making sure Leroy looks his best.

I head back to my room to get out of my workout clothes and shower. I’m on my phone texting my mother about any final preparations. She’s currently having a meltdown over Xander’s tux. We’re also announcing Xander taking over as Alpha King at the party. It won’t be his coronation, but it’s still an important moment in his life. They were going to wait until he had found a mate, but with all that has happened, my father thinks it’s time for a positive change to take place. I’m not arguing since it’s diverting some of the attention off me.

“What are you doing here,” Ruben’s voice sounds from around the corner.

I stop in midstride and peer around the corner while I pull my aura in. Ruben is standing outside my room with a change of clothes for Chris in his hands. Councilman Aron is wearing a suit and is holding his phone in his hand.

Aron looks like a deer caught in some headlights. “I-uh-I was just coming to speak with Queen Celina.”

“Celina is in a meeting with the Head Guardsman Leroy,” Ruben informs him firmly. “They’re making final preparations for the Royal Coronation.

Aron keeps his face firm. “I was just there, and there is no one there.”

The back of Ruben’s neck tenses slightly while I’m just confused. Leroy is still there with Mia. He’s cleaning up before they leave for the fitting in a half hour. “Either way, she’s not here.”

Aron pauses before speaking. “You know, there are rumors that something is going on with you and Celina. It always seems that you’re with her.”

Ruben growls at the implication in his tone. “Celina is my sister-in-law and mated to my brother. She’s a sister to me, and that is all. I won’t stand for any disparaging rumors that are trying to assassinate her character.”

“So you’re telling me you have zero romantic feelings toward her?” Aron challenges.

“None,” Ruben growls again.

“Even if Chris had died that day, you’re telling me you would have zero interest in her?”

“There is zero interest I have in her,” Ruben growls before dropping Chris’s clothes and picking Aron up by the collar of his shirt. “Unlike you, I respect the sanctity of the matebond. Now haven’t I told you once already to stop sniffing around her.”

Aron chuckles softly, “Unlike you, I’m just letting her know her options. Especially with such a dangerous event coming up.”

“What are you saying,” Ruben growls, shoving him against the wall.

“Just that between the two of them, none of them can shift. If it came down to the two of them, I’m not breaking my neck trying to rescue Christopher.”

“He is your king,” Ruben growls.

“A weak one and I’m not the only one that thinks so.”

“Who else is saying that,” Ruben demands; slamming him against the wall again. “Tell me.”

“Other members on the council. We’re not exactly thrilled that one of Exzecial’s children is on the throne after what he did. Especially Chris.”

“That wasn’t Chris’s fault.”

Aron smirks. “No, it wasn’t but you’re both part of the problem. So if I were you, I’d watch your back.”

Is Aron trying to get himself killed? Honestly, he’s lucky he ran into Ruben and not Chris. Ruben is nearly unflappable. This is the angriest I’ve ever seen him. I might want to step in before Ruben kills Aron, even if Aron deserves it. Ruben doesn’t deserve those consequences though.

“Ruben,” I ask as I round the corner with a surprised expression placed on my face. I look between him and Aron. “What is going on?”

“Nothing,” Ruben answers in a perfectly controlled voice. “Councilman Aron and I were just having a bit of a discussion and he fell.”

“Do I want to ask more,” I ask while Ruben sets Aron on his feet. I never realized that Ruben is so much taller than Aron.

“Not really,” Ruben says in a bored tone while picking up Chris’s change of clothes. “What are you doing here? I thought you were with Leroy.”

He’s not taking his eyes off Aron. If anything, the current staredown going on between them has heated up. I let it slide and pretend I don’t notice the hostile air between them. “We ended early. He and Mia are getting their final fittings done today. They’ll be joining us later. I was just going to shower and change, then join you and Chris.”

Ruben nods, “I’ll wait for you then.”

“So will I,” Aron says quickly. “I have something I’d rather like to discuss with you.”

“Oh, okay…” I say while both men fold their arms. “Do you want to come in and wait?”

“Yes,” Aron says while Ruben growls a solid “No.”

“We’ll wait right here Cel,” Ruben tells me firmly while keeping his eyes locked with Aron.

“I’ll be right out,” I tell them carefully. This is going to be interesting.

After a quick shower, I let my hair down and run a quick brush through it with some curling cream. I walk to my closet and put on an emerald green evening gown. It’s made of silk and leaves little to the imagination with its backless cut. I put on a pair of silver pumps and put on some natural-styled make-up.

After grabbing my phone, I step out into the hallway. Both men haven’t moved, and I’m pretty sure they haven’t breathed either. “Ready?” I ask them, touching Ruben’s arm.

“Here, you go ahead,” he tells me; handing me Chris’s suit.

“Are you two going to fight?” I ask hesitantly.

“Celina, please go,” Ruben tells me firmly; his tone reminding me of Chris’s when he’s on the verge of shifting.

“No claws please,” I sigh. “We’ve got dinner with the defense council tonight. I don’t want them to think we’re being attacked.” After rolling my eyes, I walk off to go find Chris.

I find Chris working out on the rowing machine. He’s covered in sweat and it’s glistening on his bare chest. “Now that’s sexy,” I tell Chris and give him a wink.

He grins and gets up to kiss me; carefully so not to ruin my dress with his sweat. “You’re early.”

“And you’re still sexy,” I tell him and hold up the suit. “Especially when you’re in this.”

He gives me a confused look. “I sent Ruben to get this for me.”

“Yeah, about that,” I tell him when he takes the suit. “Ruben ran into Aron, and I’m pretty sure they’re going to try to kill each other.”

He raises his eyebrow and goes sit on the machine. “Alright, spill.”

I sigh. “Since you need to shower before dinner, I’m going to give you the short version. Ruben can give you more later.” I go and sit on a machine across from him. “Leroy ended our session early because he and Mia had a fitting. When I was on my way back to our room to shower and get ready for tonight, I found Aron and Ruben outside our bedroom door. Some words were said, accusations were made, threats were given, and Ruben also picked Aron up and slammed him against a wall. I jumped in before they could try to kill each other. Ruben told me he’d stay behind to wait for me, Aron did too, and that’s where I left them when Ruben told me to come here when I was ready. They still might be there.”

“What did they say?” Chris asks; pinching his nose.

I roll my eyes. “Can we discuss it when you’re in a suit and more likely to be on your best behavior?”

He gives me a dirty look, but complies with my wishes. While he’s in the gym’s shower I stand up and text Xander to go by my room and check up on angry things one and two. Now I need to figure out how to tell Chris without him blowing a gasket. I wish I could just dismiss Aron from the Council, but I can’t do anything for simply having a crush on me, and for being a pompous ass. He hasn’t taken any actions against Chris’s ruling, or Ruben’s. Technically he hasn’t done anything wrong. Besides, I’d have to present my case to the Council and have a vote called. I have almost no power over the council members. I swear most of my role is just sitting there and looking pretty when it comes to inside matters.

“How do I look?” Chris asks when he comes back into the exercise room in his suit. I give him an appraising smile and look him over. His hair is slicked back and the color of his emerald tie is bringing out more color on his skin.

I walk around him and touch his ass. “You and your ass both look good.” I go grab his cane for him and then take his arm. “Shall we go to dinner?”

“So do you want to tell me what was said, or would you prefer to keep dodging the question?” Chris asks me and then starts walking.

“I’d prefer to keep dodging it, but I know you’re not going to let it go,” I answer him honestly. “You can speak with Ruben for the exact words, but basically Aron told Ruben that rumors are going around that he and I are having an affair. Ruben told him how exactly preposterous that is. Then Aron flat out admitted to Ruben that he does have interest in me, and he was there to let me know that he is an option should tomorrow end badly for you.”

Chris’s grip tightens on his cane. “Is that all?”

“No, but I’d rather not start a war with the council when we already have one lined up for tomorrow.”

“Can’t I just kill the little fuck, and we can be done with it?” Chris demands.

“You could, but I don’t know what kind of defense I could present at your trial,” I tell him before standing up on my tip toes to kiss him. “Besides, I much rather prefer that you stay with me, so I can give you something else to think about tonight.” I touch his thigh and give him a wink when I brush my hand against his crotch before pulling him along.

“Are we going to talk about what would happen if tomorrow ends badly?”

I shake my head and banish the thought. “No. We’re going over the final plans tonight, and then I don’t want to talk about it anymore”

“Celina,” Chris starts.

“No Chris,” I tell him while my heart starts to tremble, “we’re not discussing it.”

“Can I just say one thing,” he sighs; watching the tears I’m trying to keep buried. I know that this might be the last dinner I have with him. I know that tonight might very well be our last night together. If I stop to think about it, I’m not going to be able to go through with tomorrow.

“What?” I ask him while I fidget with his tie.

“I love you too.” He pulls me in for a kiss; leaving me breathless for the few moments I need to control myself.