Fie Wright's P. O. V

It's rather embarrassing to admit how I was the one to suggest the arriving party to get some rest, recuperate before we have our next meeting and discussion based on what to do next or even if there is a next step to take.

Amongst all my worries for my mate being exhausted, I can barely keep my eyes open as he goes for a quick shower and by the time he's coming out with a towel wrapped around his waist, the kitten and I are already wrapped up in one another's grasp, wistfully dreaming away.

You could say I hadn't slept properly while my mate was gone. Although it was barely one night, I hadn't slept a wink and kept tossing and turning continuously with worry at what could potentially be happening even though I knew he was simply trekking through the forest. Now that I know Malleus is back and in the comfort of our home, sleep attacks me ferociously and considering my constant movement had disturbed the growing cat, even she didn't sleep properly which is why she's curled up so peacefully next to me.

I'm assuming Malleus doesn't take too kindly to me snoring away since a few minutes later, my body is half aware of something heavy sitting on my lower half. I groan in discomfort, unaware of what it is and wanting to move but unable to because the object is too heavy. I moan out loud, swatting away at the object before furrowing my brow.

Is it Malleus? It's probably Malleus.

"Fie. Wake up." The whine coming from above me is more than enough for me to realise that it is indeed Malleus who is hovering over me, practically smothering me with his heat and muscles but I don't complain one bit. Instead I send a quick grateful prayer above and peek open one eye, smiling at the man who returns my smile with a toothy grin of his own. Opening up my arms, Malleus doesn't hesitate another second as he lowers himself onto me and allowing me to wrap my spread arms around him. I practically coo at him as a deep sound escapes his chest, a mix between a satisfied growl and a throaty purr.

"Sorry about that. I didn't sleep when you were away." I murmur softly into the top of his head as his dark hair tickles my cheek.

Malleus hums in agreement, one hand outstretched as he runs his finger through the jet black hair of our shared kitten.

"How is she doing?" He asks although he doesn't sound all too interested, his attention getting diverted as he turns towards me and smothers his face in my chest, the action getting him a deadpan look which he returns with a satisfied smirk.

Running my fingers through his hair, I let him know how the feisty kitten has already made herself at home and is as playful as ever. We lapse into silence for a few seconds, simply enjoying each other's company before a certain person pops up in my mind with a loud blaring alarm going off with it.

"Kier. That witch, Althea. They're mates." I whisper in an incredibly low voice, almost afraid the two unsuspecting people will hear me and tear each other's throats out then and there.

"Hmm," is all I get out of a now sleepy Malleus. My poking and prodding proves to do wonders as he grunts out, opening up one eyelid to stare at me in disgruntlement. "Yes. I noticed when she first appeared. Kier doesn't know though and I have a feeling the witch doesn't either. I don't know how that's going to play out considering Kier is well, Kier." He continues before making himself more comfortable in his so called favourite place.

"It would be interesting to see how this will play out. Not that I'm being nosy or anything-," I cut myself off at the deadpan expression on my mate's face. Him being the last one to fall for my innocent act since he knows every bone in my body vibrates with 'curiosity' for a lack of a better word.

Slowly Malleus props himself onto his elbows, all the weight of his body precariously resting on his arms as he gazes down at me with a certain look that has tingles ensuing automatically. I try to play it off as much as possible, acting nonchalant but it getting incredibly difficult as his smoulder deepens.

"Something the matter?" I ask with feigned innocence, gulping at the end of my sentence as Malleus raises a hand to face, deftly flicking a stray hair behind my ear before he starts trailing that same hand down the side of my face. My breathing begins to harshen as his fingers reach the crook of my neck, brushing faintly against my mark to which I exhale with a shaky breath, half of the air getting trapped in my throat.

"I want to make you mine as soon as possible." If those previous actions of his didn't get me flustered and a disoriented mess, his words definitely have by now.

"W-what?" I splutter out, eyes practically rolling to the back of my head as he scatters kissing to the oh so sensitive place. I can practically see starts behind the back drop of my eyelids.

"I want to get all this witch shit over and done with so that I can announce you officially as both my mate and queen. My wolf and I have had a hard time since day one and I know for a fact your wolf has too with the way she keeps sending us signals. I want to have your coronation done by the end of next week. Max. You'll be claimed as mine for all to see." His last words come out gruffly and I feel my body tingling in anticipation.

Slotting our lips together, our tongues delve against one another as my hands tug at the hair on his neck, enjoying the sounds of satisfaction that leaves the both of us in a harmonious melody.

I was never one for possessive talks that mates made to one another but now I get the entire appeal behind it. His words igniting up a flame within me which wants me to get him to claim me here and now.

A nibbling on my lower lip followed by the squeeze of my waist from Malleus' hand is all the warning I get, the man pulling himself away from me with a lot of self control and the flickering of his eyes from him to his wolf indicating it clearly.

Malleus opens his mouth and then closes it, a look or defeat erupting on his face and that's all I need to know. Leaning up, I place a soft lasting kiss on his lips before I pull away.

"Don't worry. I know how hard it is for you." I say softly, not liking how he beats himself up over the fact he can't go much further than simply kissing. The last time we tested the waters- quite literally as well as metaphorically- in the shower, Malleus just about pulled through but then got scared as soon as he was done, worried he wouldn't be able to control himself the next time.

"You know what?" I blurt out, a sudden mission in mind that I'm going to pull through with at this very moment. I ignore Malleus' hesitant stare, knowing he won't like my next mode of attack either way but I'll already trying to manoeuvre my way from under hidden, side stepping the fact it's nearly impossible for a wolf like me to do so.

"First tell me what and only then will I even think of letting you go." Malleus announces, backing up his words by dropping his head onto my chest once more, abruptly apologising once I wince in pain at the wrong angle.

Sighing, I puff myself out as much as possible whiling humming in relaxation as Malleus massages my side while I run my fingers through his hair, "I was thinking about how I should give the witch a quick visit, get the story out of her first hand. It'll take a while before all of us can arrange a meeting considering they're probably all snoring away. The sooner we get down to the bottom of this, the better. If all goes well, I can just about make your wish come true and I'll be swatting away nerves for the coronation that'll be happening at the end of next week."

I can tell my announcement intrigues my mate, a yearning for me to become his queen in front of everyone as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I can already tell Malleus is going to say no right away from the look on his face, his worry for me staying safe taking far greater precedence over everything else.

"I'll be safe. I promise. I'll have a guard hold the little munchkin right outside Althea's door. As soon as I scream, he'll be in there brandishing Catalie Portman and striking fear into the witches heart." I can tell my flare for theatrics isn't doing much for my mate, especially not when the matter considers the potential for my safety being put at risk.

"Look witch or not, she's not going to do anything to me when she's in the heart of the castle surrounded by raging hormonal wolves and mages who are ready to decapitate someone that even looks at their King's mate in a wrong manner." I say pointedly, rubbing my mate's hair with even more vigour to the point it would hurt him if he didn't have such a big tough head.

"You can lurk outside in the hall and monitor my feelings if that'll give you any consolation." I say finally, knowing he would have said no if he hadn't been given a choice. Although it's not like I'm going to let the man choose, he'd want to be glued to my side door if I had given him the option.

After a brief moment of consideration, my mate is in agreement. Quick to let me know that he wants a short nap before I pull any sort of stunt. I'd say my mate was rather clingy but considering the fact I cozy up to him just as much, the two of us falling asleep as we lay entangled in one another's embrace, each and every inch of our bodies buzzing with intensity at the close contact we have since we're glued together. I barely notice the kitten scooting closer to us, seeking our body heat for comfort as she too delves into a deep sleep right beside us, tho both of us careful so that we don't squish her in our sleep.

"Malleus." I groan in a deep voice, the depth coming from the huskiness which goes away once I clear my throat. "Wake up. It's been an hour and I need to speak to Althea." My last few words come out in a mewl as I stretch my body out like the cat besides me, forearms stretched out and back arching up as Malleus groans while rolling off of me.

"Just give me a second." He says in a voice that rivals my own in terms of its deepened state after sleep.

Down girl. I think to my wolf, not wanting her to stir up at the sight of my mate's naked chest rippling with the strain of his muscles as he flexes them right in front of me.

Deep breaths and control yourself. You'll get your time soon, I hum to myself as I repeat it over and over again like some sort of mental chant to keep my nerves from frying.

We both get up and after quickly freshening ourselves up, Malleus grabs the kitten for good measure and soon enough I'm standing in front of the witches door with my hand raised to the wood, ready to knock at a moments notice. I shoo Malleus away further down the hall since I don't want him in plain sight. It might come off as if we're untrustworthy of her which is partially true, I admit.

"Excuse me. Althea?" I ask aloud after knocking gently on the door. I wait as a few beats pass, the lack of reply putting me on edge as I then knock some more, hoping that she's in the adjoining bathroom and is just taking time to reach the door. After another few moments of lack of reply, I glance down the hall and lock eyes with Malleus who urges me with his eyes to step into the room.

'Walk in. I'm right here if she pulls some shady shit." His tone becomes serious at the end so I make sure to shoot him a look of my own. Not wanting the man to barge in unless it's absolutely necessary and not because his mind is going haywire with multiple scenarios that are far from true and happening.

Just to be on the safe side, I knock once the door and only then do I let myself in. My wolf and I immediately go on alert, the pitch black of the room and the pin drop silence not boding a welcoming aura in the slightest. A slight movement from my right has me spinning in that direction, only to slightly relax when I see two glowing eyes trained on me in a defensive position. The cat like eyes of a possessive familiar ready to attack anyone that even glances at their owner in the wrong way.

Turning away but still keeping my guard up, I step foot further into the room and make sure to enhance all of my senses, not ready to get caught off guard and then attacked by som deranged witch. Not to jump to conclusions about her mind set of course.

"Althea?" I ask hesitantly while my hand reaches for the switch of the light, the room lighting up in the next second and what I see causing my mouth to drop. The woman who I've been calling out to for the passed few minutes currently perched on the floor smack dab in the middle of a drawn symbol which I can't exactly make out. Different containers strewn all around her with various wisps of smoke blowing out from them. Peering further, I notice they're the containers that usually hold essential bathroom items that are in every bathroom in the castle. I have no idea where the rest of the items have come from since she didn't seem to be carrying any of them on her person.

Refocusing my attention on the witch, my eyes flicker from the door to the woman who's eyes are closed as her lips move from the incantations she's muttering under breath, so low even my enhanced wolf hearing can't hear anything except for the air moving in and out of her mouth.

Getting even more on alert, I eye the fox who seems calm and content but with a trained gaze settled on me. I know if I even take one step forward, that critter will be on me like a raccoon to a piece of garbage.

"Althea. I'm going to give you a fair warning and the benefit of the doubt." I say loudly, my hearing picking up a worried Malleus standing at the edge of the door, Catrick mewing softly since she's confused as to why she's being lugged around like a potential weapon.

An odd sound from the fox has me glancing at it momentarily but that seems to be enough to snap the witch out of her chanting. I expect a look of her being caught off guard which soon turns to one of pure nastiness before she mutters some words and turns me into a rat but I guess I'm being stereotypical considering the same pleasant smile on her face that she's been sporting from the moment I laid eyes on her.

"Good evening, my Queen. I apologise for the mess." Althea chirps as if I hadn't caught her doing something suspicious. I keep my gaze trained on her, my face trying to rely to her what my mouth cannot since I'm rather tongue tied at her behaviour. Moments lapse by as she gazes back at me, blinking owlishly and not catching on.

"Um. What are you doing?" I finally voice out but don't get the reaction I expect. Man I must really be off my game.

Althea frowns at my words, not quite sure what I'm on about so I try to clarify.

"The smoke? The symbol on the floor? All the incantations?" My nonstop hints have realisation dawning on her face as she giggles and swats a hand through the air.

"Oh silly Althea. I'm so used to being around witches, I forget that others don't catch on as quick and this isn't normal. Don't worry. The symbol will wash out. It's chalk." She says in a polite manner, brandishing the stick of chalk from somewhere behind her.

"Why were you doing witchy things?" I ask, unsure what else to call it and definitely not being taken off guard this time as she bursts out into laughter. I guess I could have worded it better.

"Oh, I guess it might have looked rather odd. Hmm. Yes. Very odd. I must say," she prattled on half to herself, "I was doing a simple spell since you see, witches tend to take energy out of living organisms and I didn't want all the flowers in the castle dying. I hate when any living thing dies. It's so sad." If I'm not mistaken, I can practically see tears welling up in her eyes, the sensitive witch causing me to turn awkward in seconds.

Good luck to Kier.

One of them is overly sensitive.

The other has emotions less than what a rock would have.

"Oh. Not to worry then. It's all good." I'm not going to go into this blindly so I'm going to ask one of the mages to check up on whether what she's saying is true or not. I'm sure they'll be able to deduce if what she's saying is the truth or not.

"Listen Althea, I know I said we'll wait for the rest and have a meeting but I'd like to have a talk right now instead. If you don't mind I'd like to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible and resolve this matter even faster." My tone is completely serious and the once somewhat relaxed atmosphere in the air changes to a much more serious one as she gets up from the floor and moves to the chairs in the corner of the room while motioning for me to take a seat.

I do so and watch as the familiar curl up into the woman's lap as soon as she sits on the chair, her eyes focused on me as I take a deep breath.

I just hope what Malleus and I want is able to come into fruition.

—————

AN: Hi everyone! I'm sorry for such a dull chapter especially when I said I'll be wrapping the book up quicker. I wanted to add so much more but my allergies are so bad right now I can't barely type anything let alone think of anything else. Hence this might get extended a tad bit.

Question: Do you have any seasonal allergies? Allergic to anything in particular? I have such a long list it's not even funny I stg.

Please remember to:

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