Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate By A E Randell Chapter 189


    Alpha Nocturne’s Contracted Mate by A E Randell


    Chapter 189 Elder Cornelius


    Adam had returned to the room shortly after Eva and Coral left and found himself


    confronted with his beautiful wife focusing intently on the phone in front of her.


    He pushed his hands further into his pocket and readjusted himself as he leaned


    against the doorframe. She was stunning in every way, even focused so intently on


    whatever she was doing, he just wanted to pepper her neck with kisses and hear her


    moan underneath him again. It had taken an incredible amount of self-control not to


    ravage herst night.


    His instincts told him that they both needed the release that being together would


    bring, but he was also acutely aware that when it came to their intimacy, they were


    both anything but quiet.


    There would be nothing holding them back tonight though.


    He allowed himself to indulge a little longer, drinking in the sight of her and storing it


    away in his mind to recall at his convenience before he cleared his throat and she


    looked up at him with a sultry smile on her face.


    “Are you ready for dealing with the Elders, my Queen?” he asked with a smirk, “I’ve


    already spoken with Allen and as soon as he has any information, he’ll let me know.”


    Ann nodded.


    “I’m ready.”


    When they swept into the Enve’s assembly chambers a hush fell over the Elders as


    they stood and inclined their heads in her direction.


    She took her seat in the central high-backed chair and Adam took his seat next to her.


    She suppressed a grimace at the feel of the unforgiving hardwood against her skin,


    knowing full well that the longer she sat in this chair, the more ufortable she


    N?velDrama.Org (C) content.


    would be.


    She adjusted her position slightly and smiled tightly at the Elders in front of her, finding


    Bartholomew almost instantly as he sat amongst the first row as one of the Senior


    Elders.


    The speaker at the side of the room began to list off the issues set to be discussed


    and at the end of the list, asked a generalized question that no one ever really


    expected anyone to answer.


    But as soon as he asked if there was any more business for the day, Ann raised her


    voice imperiously. “Yes, actually. I believe that the issue of Elder Linus should be


    discussed today.” A low murmur rippled around the room before a voice rose from the


    row. “I’m sure that can wait until tomorrow, my Queen. He is safely held in the holding


    cells and there’s little chance of any repeat offenses urring while he’s down there.


    It should be added to the schedule for tomorrow.”


    “With all due respect, I disagree Elder,” Ann answered cooly as the Elder’s face


    hardened almost imperceptibly.


    “Then let us settle this in the traditional way, my Queen.” the elder bit out, his


    impatience clear in his voice. Ann smiled and nodded, indicating her approval.


    She knew that this would be pushed back, but it didn’t matter. Another day of dys


    meant another 24 hours to gather evidence and dig up information about Elder Linus.


    The majority of female Elders in the room sided with Ann and felt that the issue


    needed discussing immediately, but the vote fell in favor of the irritated Elder who


    couldn’t help the smug smile that settled on his face when it was written onto the


    agenda for the following day.


    As he moved to take his seat, Ann spoke again.


    “I wouldn’t sit just yet, Elder…?” Ann asked, leaving the question open so that he


    understood he was to introduce himself.


    “Elder Cornelius, your Grace.” He answered curtly.


    “Ah, Elder Cornelius. Very good.” Ann answered with a smile that didn’t quite meet her


    eyes, “Well, seeing as how you seem to have appointed yourself as the spokesperson


    for the Elders in attendance here today, I have another issue that I wish to bring up.”


    Cornelius sighed quite audibly which led to an exchange of uneasy nces between


    some of the Elders that surrounded him.


    “Can your issues not wait, your highness? I understand that you are new at your


    posting and vastly inexperienced, yet there are proper channels that everything


    should go through.”


    “Is that so?” Ann asked in mild amusement as she allowed Cornelius to continue. “It


    might have escaped your notice, but we have a very meticulous way of doing things


    around here so that urgent issues are discussed quickly and are not lost in the


    system.” He replied pompously. “Ah, so there are never any missives that are


    missed?” Ann asked lightly. “Absolutely not!” Cornelius answered in a horrified tone.


    “To even suggest…” “Every incident that urs within the kingdom is discussed fairly


    and resolutions and actions approved or dismissed by the council and ruling body?”


    Cornelius openly scoffed at Ann as she smiled benignly and the faintest growl


    emanated from where Adam sat beside her.


    “My Queen, the fact you are asking these very basic questions concerns me greatly.


    Perhaps we acted too soon in installing you to the position…”


    “Ah, so yourck of action on issues that urred before I was installed, is somehow


    my fault?” Ann asked smoothly as she examined her fingernails closely before fixing


    him with a steely re.


    “I beg your pardon?” He asked as an expression of confusion fell over his face.


    “Well, you see, I’m just trying to understand something here Cornelius. You’re telling


    me that everything is discussed in this very room. Every issue that arises is put


    through the proper channels and heard, and discussed by the ruling party, and the


    Elders assembled here today.”


    “It’s very simple your highness…” He scoffed, the irritation creeping back into his


    voice, but Ann cut him off before he got any further.


    “I would be very careful in how you speak to me, Cornelius. Whether you approve of


    me in this position or not, I AM the current ruling Alpha Queen and you will show the


    proper respect and decorum in my presence, do I make myself clear?” Ann warned


    lowly.


    Cornelius swallowed audibly and with great difficulty managed to school his face into


    an expression of neutrality.


    “My apologies, my Queen.”


    “Apology epted. Now, if you’ll be so good as to exin to me why then, with all of


    these time-honored traditions and ways of doing things, that the viges along our


    borders have been deserted and rogues allowed to run rampant and overtake these


    border towns?”


    Cornelius visibly paled as he realized that he had allowed himself to talk himself into a


    hole that was going to be exceedingly difficult to dig his way out of.


    “I… I’m not sure what you mean, your grace.” He answered tremulously.


    “Well, I believe I was perfectly clear in my delivery of the information actually, so I


    won’t repeat it. Time being so precious to you all as it is. However, it should interest


    you to know that your neglect in this matter has led to the murder of several of our


    subjects. Who now hang from the defensive walls of their former towns.” Ann hissed,


    her voice getting louder the longer she spoke, until finally, she exploded.


    “There are children, mere pups hanging by the neck, bodies mutted beyond


    identification, along those walls! I want to understand how all of you have allowed this


    to happen while in the positions that you hold with these perfect, time-honored


    methods that you have so dutifully just exined to me!” She roared, allowing Maeve


    to push forward and release her terrifying aura amongst the elders.