Page 64 of Chasing Tail
Chapter 34
Going down the stairs was much easier than getting up them, even if we had to rush when we got halfway down because we could hear angry shouting outside. We ran outside, and Tristan and Adamo were barely controlling the crowd. All the guards outside had joined the mob at this point.
The guards calmed when they saw Jorah and everyone else was looking to Forrest and Callum.
“It’s over!” Callum yelled. “The wolf pup is safe with her father. The king and queen did terrible things to her, but nothing that couldn’t be healed once she had access to her wolf again. With a bit of information from Jorah and the fact that they knew she was in there, we found out his personal bodyguards were the ones who kidnapped her.
“They were wicked men plucked from the gallows under the guise of redemption. They were the kind of men who would plant evidence, kidnap a child, and protect murderers for the right price. They are dead, as are the king and queen.”
Everyone started talking at once, but no one got violent. The shifters were howling and roaring. Some people started grabbing someone nearest them and passionately kissing them. Some were biting. I was guessing those were the vampires I’d heard about. People in the crowd were shooting pretty magic in the air.
Everyone seemed happy except the palace guards. They seemed to be the warriors on land, and I could hear mutterings from some of them they never liked those guards we killed. They disliked them enough that they were a bit upset they didn’t get to fight them with us. I rather liked that about them. It reminded me of home.
Something was missing.
Forrest threw some sparkling magic in the air.
“It’s going to be a new era in this kingdom. Most of you know us. You know we aren’t like our father. We didn’t agree with some of his rules any more than you did,” Forrest yelled, elbowing Callum in the side.
“I haven’t been crowned yet, but I’m next in line. My first acts as king will be to revoke all of his laws policing who you can be with. This kingdom hasn’t had aproperparty in a long time. Not one where everyone was invited, and you could bring whomever you wanted. It’s time we brought that back. Party at my place in two moons. I expect you all on your worst behavior!” Callum yelled.
I really liked this side of Callum. I hoped he let his hair down a lot now that he wasn’t being the responsible one so his brothers could have their freedom. He was going to make a great king, and he knew what his people needed. Sometimes, people needed a firm hand and a fight.
But other times, a big celebration was warranted, and this was that. Even the guards were in a better mood now, even if we had left them out of the fight. Salem and Harland were upstairs staging a scene in the bedroom, but Callum and Forrest had given everyone what they needed without needing to see what was up there.
“Get some sleep!” Forrest said. “It’s late, and it’s been a trying night. Harland and his pup are reunited and getting cleaned up inside. They’ll return to their pack soon. Come to the party at the palace to celebrate a new, prosperous era in this kingdom.”
The crowd started to break up and go home, but the guards all fell to their knees, even Jorah. I wasn’t sure what they were doing. I’d tripped and ended up on my knees a few times while I was trying to figure out my legs, and it was wholly unpleasant. I’d gotten on my knees to pleasure Taron, and it hurt without a pillow. I couldn’t imagine why they would all do that out here with no cushion if mating weren’t involved.
They all raised their weapons and bowed their heads.
“We swear to protect the true king and everyone he loves,” Jorah said.
Callum touched Jorah’s shoulder.
“I don’t want blind loyalty from anyone, not even my guards. I want you to question me if I start getting power hungry and passing laws that don’t benefit anyone in this kingdom. That said, I have a proposition for you, Jorah. You’ve served under two kings. You taught my brothers and me everything we know about fighting. I know your shoulder still bothers you, and you probably know more about being a righteous king than my father ever did. I can’t think of anyone I’d want as our advisor more than you.”
Jorah flushed purple, but all the guards who answered to him started beating their hands together and telling him he deserved it.
“I suppose I could, but who would manage the guard?”
Forrest laughed and helped him to his feet.
“Stop being modest, Jorah. You’ve got someone in mind, and you’ve been preparing them for the day you eventually put your sword away.”
“Take some time to think about it, Jorah. We all need to get to bed. It’s been a long night.”
We went back inside, and Harland had gone back to his pack with his pup. I had chores to do back home in addition to hunting. If me or someone else in my family didn’t do something, it wasn’t getting done. Beck just had to give the word, and all the dead bodies were gone. There was a team of people cleaning blood out of everything.
I usually would have said that was a sign of being extremely spoiled, but killing people was a lot messier on land than it was in the water, and I certainly didn’t want to clean that. Things were also much heavier on land, and I certainly didn’t want to dispose of a corpse.
Callum wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Can I steal you for myself tonight?”
I wanted to, but I didn’t want to hurt Taron by doing this without him. I knew he was okay with all of us together, but I didn’t know if he wanted me doing things like that without him. I knew if I asked, he tell me it was okay, even if it wasn’t, and he’d be devastated. So, where would he sleep tonight? I wanted to be with Callum, but even if he was okay with it, I didn’t like the idea of Taron being alone in this vast place.
Beck wrapped his arm around Taron and shot us this knowing look.
