But They're Extinct

Zions' P.O.V.

After grabbing our breakfast, I walk into our bedroom and notice our bed is empty. So I walk to the bathroom and stand in the doorway, leaning on the doorframe, and watch as my beautiful mate admires her new mark in the mirror.

"You're officially marked and mated," I say while standing there as she blushes.

"Was last night okay for you?" She asks. I walk over to her, lifting her up, and placing her on the bathroom counter. Placing my hands on her hips, I lean down and nuzzle my face into the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent.

"Last night was amazing for me," I say as I kiss her mark. "Wanna go again?"

"Maybe later," She says with a moan as I kiss and suck on her mark. Goddess, I want her now! "I'm kinda sore, plus we have a lot of work to do, my King."

"Well, in that case, let's get you fed," I say as I pick her up, carrying her to our bed and returning our food.

After we finish eating our breakfast, Rain walks into her closet and comes out a few minutes later dressed in black leggings, a tight gray tank top, and a pair of black combat boots. She walks to the bathroom to brush her teeth and pull up her hair. When she walks out of the bathroom, she announces that she's ready, and I fight the urge to take her here and now. She's absolutely stunning, with her hair pulled up, and the thin straps of her tanktop show off her mark perfectly, making the royal blue pop against the gray tanktop and her pail skin tone. She's already become more confident in herself.

I then get dressed in black jeans, black combat boots, and a gray t-shirt to match my beautiful mate. I brush my teeth and pull my hair up into a man bun, and we make our way out of our suite and head to my office. I link Orian, Sam, and James to meet us in my office, and Rain calls her mother to join us as well. Orian asks if he should bring Jessica, and Rain says yes. When we get to my office, we sit down at my desk. I look at Rain, sitting in my lap. "See anything you would like to change yet?" I ask.

"I want my own office with a library." She says, and I smile because she doesn't know that it's already being designed for her as we speak. It was a surprise that would be ready after her crowning ceremony.

"Done. Anything else, my Queen?" I ask.

"Are there slaves working in the castle?" She asks, catching me off guard.

"No, we don't keep slaves in this kingdom. It's against the law." I respond. "Why do you ask?"

"The pack I was an Orphan in had planned to keep me as the packhouse slave before the Alpha got paranoid that I would turn on them." She says. "So he was going to have me executed when I turned seventeen and got my magic."

"I will handle the Alpha once we have handled the rogue army," I say, but she shakes her head.

"I want to handle the Alpha, his son, and the pack myself, please." She says, and I nod in understanding.

"Who does most of the hard labor around the kingdom if you don't have slaves?" She asks.

"That would be either the prisoners who have committed non-violent crimes as a way of paying off their debt or the paid workers," I answer. "Why?"

"I would like to send some workers to the coven to assist in the rebuild once all of this is over." She says with a smile.

"Sounds like a plan to me," I tell her.

"And I also want to check out the orphanage later today if we have time." She says.

"As you wish, my Queen," I respond, and she wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me into a kiss. I pull her closer and deepen the kiss but were interrupted by a knock on the door, making me growl lightly, and Rain laughs as she says come in. I place a quick kiss on her cheek as the door opens.

Oriand and Jessica are the first to arrive. Orian bows and greets us. Jessica on the other hand, freezes momentarily, and it takes Orian a few minutes to catch up to what's happened.

"OH, MY, GODDESS!" Jessica squeals, "Is that what I think it is?"

"Jess, calm down." Rain says as she stands up, embarrassed by her best friends' squealing.

"Don't tell me to calm down. This is a big deal. Holy hell, when did this happen?" She asks Rain. "Wait, I thought you were supposed to wait till the marking ceremony?"

"We didn't feel like waiting," I say with a laugh.

"What? We were supposed to wait?" Rain asks while looking at me.

"Technically, yes. But that tradition hasn't been upheld in over 200 years." Orian says.

"Are there any more rules or traditions I should know about?" She asks, and I laugh.

"My love, you can break any rules and traditions that you want," I say as I grab her hand, pulling her back onto my lap.

Sam, James, and Lady Ezmerelda walk into the office. Sam smiles when he notices Rains' mark, making me grin. Lady Ezmerelda and James both congratulate us. Rains' face turns a bright red, blushing at all the attention she's receiving.

"She needs to get used to the attention," Ryker says with a laugh, and I agree with him.

"Okay, let's get this going. My Queen and the ladies have important planning to do." I say, and everyone gives me a confused look.

"We will be holding our matting and crowning ceremonies in two days." Rain says. Everyone nods their head and smiles at us.

"Okay, let's get this out of the way then," Orian says.

"From what the survivors told us, yesterday's attack was made up of rogues, witches, and another species they couldn't identify," Sam says.

"They were dark fairies." Lady Ezmerelda says, and we all turn to look at her.

"I thought they were extinct. They all disappeared after the dark war almost 100 years ago." Orian says.