AUNTY THARN'S MOVE

We spent two days in the Coven Royal Library for answers and came out empty.

" I doubt that any member of the Coven would assist given the magnitude of the matter" Silas rubbed his temples and closed his eyes as we sat at the round table at the center of the Coven Royal Library.

" You do know that they are always waiting for us to be at fault and push their agenda " I retorted.

"Of course, " Talon nodded. " We were caught off guard this time. Us and Guardian Lenora. I suspect that our royal family is regrouping and I guess that Aunty Tharn should be making a move soon."

I gritted my teeth while Silas seethed as we racked our brains on why our mate was a human slave. The books in the coven library came up empty and we were forced to leave the library and retire to our royal chambers.

An hour later, we had already showered, and settled on the dining table in our chambers and the human slaves who served our quarters arrived. We could not help but wonder when Cedric would be ready to serve us as the ones standing before us made us pin for him. Talon raised a hand to dismiss them and once the door closed he tapped his fingers on the chair and said " Is this normal? How can I already want to have him serve us?"

" I hate this " Silas complained and grabbed the glass on the table, chunking the blood down his throat.

I remained quiet throughout the whole interaction and fed slowly wondering how to get answers for our current predicament.

The door of the chambers was knocked half an hour later and I heard Silas grunt and mutter " She came sooner than expected.

" Come in, " Talon yelled and then pushed his glass further from him. " I just lost my appetite, " He added.

The guard opened the door and announced " Your majesties, her Royal Highness Tharn Sith is here to see you"

" No need for such formalities. I am their Aunt after all" She snapped at the guards as she waltzed into our chambers, her chin and nose high up in the air. Aunty Tharn bore the striking image of her son Ciaran, with blonde hair and brown eyes. She had aged finely and was no one's match when it came to treachery.

" To what do we owe this honor Aunty Tharn " Silas piped.

" You don't need to be sarcastic, Silas. I am here to discuss an urgent matter " She walked to the extra seat at the dining table and sat down majestically.

" Please make yourself at home," Talon responded.

" Niko, the coven council has brought to my attention the matter about the new slaves you selected in the inner court. They are displeased and concerned with the fact that you are not following their advice. The dangers of having a human slave that you can't control or read their minds in an atrocity." She piped.

" Who the hell gave you such garbage information ?" I spoke up.

Aunty Tharn's eyes widened and then she recovered quickly from my crude words and responded " Have I been fooled?"

" You have! " Silas chuckled

" You mean that you can read their minds ?" Her eyes widened.

" What do you think?" I demanded impatiently.

" Forgive me dears. I was hasty and came without investigating" Aunty Tharn sounded defeated.

" You always do Aunty Tharn. You never take the time to investigate. It's prudent that you see the members of the court always have an agenda and you are being used to cause a ruckus" Talon stated firmly.

" I am not. I just overlooked the small fact that you would test the slaves and took the words Guardian Lenora reported " Aunty than spoke in defense.

" Is that so ?" Silas raised one eyebrow.

" I don't want anyone to fool you. It is my duty as your Aunt to protect you" She stood her ground.

" Grown men do not need protection. I think you need to guide your son. He teamed up with Gisela to cause trouble" Talon snapped

" Watch your tone Talon. I will not have you disrespecting me" She seethed.

" Did he?" I spoke up. " The minute you walked into our chambers late at night and with an accusatory tone were already disrespectful to the three of us. Just because you are our blood Aunty does not mean we can tolerate it. This matter you should have waited for tomorrow to raise it. "

Her eyes widened as to how assertive my tone was and the way my demeanor changed to a cold one.

" Oh you are being too uptight Niko" She stood up and plastered a fake smile on her face but we all noticed how angry she was at my words. "I bid your fare. Goodnight nephews"

She waltzed out of the chambers the same way she walked in. Once the door closed, Talon was about to speak but Silas raised his hand to stop him. We were silent in waiting as we noted that Aunty Tharn did not leave immediately and stood outside the chambers to listen in to our conversation. After a while, she huffed and left and we all heard the guard huff in relief.

" I am losing my patient with her" Silas snapped.

" We all are," Talon added.

" We have allowed her to put her nose in our business. That is why we are irritated. I suggest from now henceforth, we push her aside regardless of her displeasure and tantrums. I worry what she will do to the human slave if she discovers that he is our mate. We need to be careful and be ready for the backlash" I spoke up.

" I hate it, " Talon seethed.

" I have been thinking about our predicament. Why don't we ask the old man Maxwell Dold" Silas suggested.

" That crazy old man ?" Talon asked.

I sat up straight and grinned " Why did I not think of it? He pretends to be crazy so that he is not asked about the coven court matters" 

" Are you for real ?" Silas raised his eyebrows in question.

" One of us has to go or else the spies in the inner court will suspect we are up to something. " Talon nodded.

" I will go. Keep guard and alert me if anything comes up. I pray to the Sith blood that we find something concrete before the inner court attacks again" I added.

"There is a route from the coven library that leads to the gardens where the old man goes to spend his nights. That would be the best way to have a conversation with him without raising eyebrows." Talon stated.

" Mmh" I nodded as we all stood up from the table and walked to the balcony of the chambers to breathe in fresh air and drink wine. Talon served each one of us a glass of wine and handed it to us.

" The winds of change are here" Silas whispered " But the danger that lurks with them is covered in bloodshed. I have a feeling we shall not avoid not be able to avoid it"

" Imprinting on our mate is the destiny of our lives. What can we do ?" I shrugged.

" You seem to be taking this well, Niko" Talon noted.

" I need to be as calm as I can be. Your safety comes first before anyone in the coven" I nodded to Silas and Talon. " Hence I cannot act rashly or show any weakness. That is the weight that I have to bear" I responded as we sipped our wine and stared at the clear night sky.

" Niko, I am scared that destiny must be punishing us and has given us a human slave as a mate as punishment for enslaving them for centuries " Silan whispered.

" Or maybe someone is playing a dirty trick, " Talon added.