Page 73 of His Impossible Elf Mate
Happy to agree, I landed on my wolf.
Are you alright, dear one?
Nervous as fuck and grateful only you can hear me right now.
Nope. Heard you too. Both of you, but since I’m also nervous as fuck, I think it’s okay to be using the pack link.
Chase never failed to make me smile.
I am grateful you are here, brother mine.
The doors of the throne room ahead of us were open, the entire cabinet of parliament assembled before us. My mother was looking particularly regal in a dress of cream with flashes of the green she favored.
“What is the meaning of this?” Ellgar yelled.
“Ellgar, you will hold your tongue until our guests are ready to speak to you.”
I flew into the room, stopping in front of my mother, flapping my wings to stay afloat until I remembered my magic. I used it to hover and speak to her.
Hello, Mother.
“Teárlach, it brings me joy to see you so. I had a dream about you.”
Returning to the others, I shifted. Teagan threw me a robe so I could cover myself. It was a deep green, embroidered with an owl. Axel wore the same color with his wolf. Chase another shade of green, also with his alter.
“Apologies for the manner in which we greet you. I felt it best to provide proof of my change to prevent any doubt of my truthfulness.”
“An effective tactic.” Mother smiled, a truly genuine one which reached her eyes.
“We, my mate and I, consulted a Seer today. She confirmed, with the voice of The Luna, the shifter goddess, that I am to be the first of many elves with an animal soul.”
“Preposterous!” Ellgar yelled. Many others agreed with him. Many glares and accusations of trickery were aimed our way.
“Silence.” Mother’s body spoke, yet it was not her voice. “My elves have fallen so far from what they used to be. There was a time before Abrocaelum, when many could shift into animals, and you lived with the other species, loved them.”
The crowd could only stare as our goddess continued.
“Only love will save you now. You are too interbred. Disease would have flourished had I allowed you to continue as you were. Your prince is the first. He put love, true love, before his duty and earned his fated mate and animal soul. He is your example. Follow or perish.”
With her final words, Mother collapsed. I rushed to her side and pushed some healing magic into her.
“I am well, my son. The goddess was displeased and I felt her ire. She apologized for the headache.” Mother smiled as she touched her head.
Ívarr and Teagan came forward, Michaella between them. “May I do anything to help? I’m a witch but also a nurse.”
“Thank you for the kind offer. Perhaps we can do that over tea. I would like to know everything.”
“My queen, I would like to introduce Michaella, my partner. Is that the correct term?” Ívarr asked his witch.
“It’ll do until I get an upgrade to wife,” she teased, earning another blush from Ívarr.
“Oh, I approve of this match already,” Mother said, standing. “Those who truly want to listen are welcome in the dining hall for tea. Those who are going to wait to see what else our goddess is going to say, will have to wait. She has had enough of you today.”
Teagan giggled, prompting the rest of us to laugh. We tried to keep it quiet as we followed my mother, but I fear we were not successful.
By the time we departed Abrocaelum in much the same fashion as we arrived, we had caused quite the uproar. However, my mating to Axel had been approved by my mother. I apologized for not gaining permission first, which she waved off. She was very understanding about the circumstances.
When I had wished to be the father of Axel’s future child, I could not have predicted I would gain my owl form, or that I would be an alpha. I thanked The Luna for giving me more than I could have dreamed to ask for.
