Chapter 448


    Reception E Cora and Roger’s reception goeste into the night, which is just fine by me because for


    the first time this week? Sinir and I haven’t been the focus of the attention, and we just get to party.


    I mean, that’s notpletely true. We’re still the King and the Queen of our nation and we can’t ignore


    our duties entirely. But it’s much, much easier when Cora and Roger are the ones who work their way


    around the room, greeting all of their guests and thanking them for their attendance.


    I smile as I sip at my soda during a break in the dancing, watching as Roger holds Cora close to his


    side as they chat to some people I don’t know old friends of Cora’s from med school, I think.


    “He hasn’t kept his hands off her all night,” Sinir says,ughing a little. I grin up at him. “Look who’s


    talking,” I say, ncing down at his own arm wrapped firmly around me.


    “What can I say,” he murmurs, grinning down at me. “You’re very touchable.” Rafe, resting sleepily


    against my chest, gives a little squeak that makes usugh.


    “Don’t worry, baby,” Sinir says, lowering his head to kiss Rafe’s soft hair.


    “You’re very cute too, I haven’t forgotten.” Rafe grumbles a little but rxes, his eyes drifting closed


    against me.


    “I don’t think he’s going to make it much longer,” I say with a sigh, considering my little baby. “Do you


    think the party will miss me too much if I bow out early?” “The party will miss its most beautiful guest,


    surely,” Sinir says, and I roll my eyes a little at his ttery, “but I’m sure everyone will forgive. And


    Cora will be jealous.” “Nah,” I say, eyeing my sister across the room. She hasn’t stopped smiling since


    we walked down the aisle. “She’s having a good time – like I knew she would.


    Cora always thinks she doesn’t want a fuss until she gets it, and then she’s pleased.” “She’s lucky to


    have you,” Sinir says. We rx for a moment, me considering my escape, but then I feel Sinir go


    stiff beside me.


    “What is it?” I ask, peering up at him.


    “Nothing new,” he murmurs, his eyes on the far side of the room. “Just… Atxians.” “Oh,” I say, my


    heart falling a bit. I saw Calvin for a moment earlier in the day when he came to say hello and to


    congratte Cora, but he’s the only Atxian that I can even begin to say I like. The others?


    Well, they’re here, as all of the delegations from foreign nations were invited to the ceremony and the


    reception in full. But earlier, when I saw that my uncle actually had the gall to show up? I was


    completely shocked.


    “Is he still there?” I ask, trying to stand on my tiptoes to see, but I’m too short.


    “He is indeed,” Sinir murmurs, clearly as unhappy about it as I am. Xander hasn’t tried to talk to us


    tonight hasn’t even attempted to give his congrattions – which is fine by me. Still, I think both of us


    will be much happier when he’s gone.


    Sinir frowns a little, keeping his eyes focused on the group of foreigners across the room, and I feel


    a little worry twisting inside me. I nce at my mate, wondering if it’sing from him, or if I’m intuiting


    it myself.


    But suddenly, a great deal of shouting breaks out from that corner of the room and my stomach drops.


    Sinir is instantly in motion, grabbing my hand and striding across the room. I hurry my pace to keep


    up with his long strides, almost running, and Rafe wakes up against me with an upset little squeal. I


    send calm thoughts down the bond to him to let him know that all is well, and he quiets, but I think he


    can still sense my agitation because he’s awake now and fussing against me.


    “What is this,” Sinir demands, his voice loud as he steps into the middle of arge group of people.


    My mate keeps his hand around mine though I stand a little back from him, letting him take charge.


    But I immediately see the problem, and I am not at all surprised that my uncle is at the center of it.


    My eyes dart around at the people several Atxian men, looking chic if rigid in their tuxedos, bristle as


    they frown at a human woman with her twin daughters pressed tight against her side. The woman looks


    worriedly around at all of the foreign men.


    “I – I’m sorry,” she says, her voice clearly upset and confused. “We – the girls were hoping to have


    more of the candy,” she says, looking up at Sinir and trying to exin, clearly thinking herself in


    trouble. She gestures towards the little individually wrapped bars of peppermint bark – Cora’s favorite -


    that we left at each guest’s seat as part of their party favors.


    “I noticed that…this table hadn’t eaten theirs,” she continues, her voice tight, “and the girls, they just


    asked…” “How dare you,” my uncle growls, looking down at the woman and her children with clear


    disdain, “even speak to me, let alone beg of me a favor My mouth drops openpletely in my shock


    at this horrible man. Seriously?


    Belongs to (N)?vel/Drama.Org.


    He views human women as so far below him that he flips out when they speak to him?


    “Enough,” Sinir cuts in, his voice a hot knife through the tension. The Atxians, who originally lined


    themselves behind Xander, note that my mate is clearly supporting our guest and then fall back a step,


    hesitating in the face of the opposition.


    “I made it clear,” Sinir says, focusing his eyes now on my uncle, ” that your ridiculous politics have


    no ce in my court. I have no control over how you treat people in your new home in Atxia, but


    here? You will respect my guests, no matter their gender or their shifter status.” He takes a step


    forward, squeezing my hand once before dropping it to truly loom over my uncle. “Now.


    Is there any final confusion on that point?” I quickly step to the woman, who I unfortunately don’t know,


    and slip an arm around her shoulder. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper, shaking my head, hopefully letting her


    know with the earnestness on my face that this was aplete mistake.


    “Please,” I say, turning her away and smiling down at her daughters. “You did nothing wronge with


    me, we’ll get you as much chocte as you can carry -” But before we can fully turn away, a snarl rips


    from my uncle, making us all turn and freeze as he hunches before Sinir, clearly on the edge of


    transforming into his wolf.


    “I will not be cowed,” Xander growls, ” by some over-eager pup who lets women and humans run his


    house my line is the true power in this nation “Be careful, Xander,” Sinir says, allowing his own


    ferocity rise to the surface as he steps closer to this smaller, older man this wolf he could end in a


    second, were it his choice. ” I’ve taken out stronger men than you. And I won’t let you again question


    my choices, or my mate.” Xander snarls up at Sinir, clearly wanting a fight, but the wolf in him knows


    that he’s already been beat. Despite himself, the old man takes a step back, his shoulders hunching


    instinctually under the force of Sinir’s stare.


    “This is my kingdom now,” Sinir says, his voice soft and deadly. “And you and your kind? By which I


    mean prejudiced old bigots? You are the ones who are not wee.” He takes a moment, then to


    stare hatefully into Xander’s eyes before lifting his gaze to the rest of the Atxian delegation, letting


    them know that the message counts for them as well if they take Xander’s side.


    Only Calvin has the grace to hang his head in shame. The rest, I can tell, are still making up their


    minds as to their next move.