Boring Morning Briefing

~ Amira ~

Putting her utensils down, Amira stared at the Beta. No more-like was gawking at the Beta. He was scolding her, well, Rhys, for letting Eden, the woman the king slept with the night before, stay in his bed chambers.

“You know she will think there is more between you now. She is not your mate, and…” Beta Baltir continued his scolding whilst Amira remained quiet, assessing him. 

The Beta appeared mostly composed, yet being early in the morning, he had forgone a cravat, leaving three buttons of his shirt undone, revealing glimpses of ink on his skin. Amira swallowed hard as she gazed at the well-defined chest muscles adorned with tattoos, transforming this scolding Beta from a ‘good boy’ to someone she might very well get along with. 

It was too early to come to that conclusion, though. Besides, this was all in her head. The Beta probably was a goody two shoes in real life.

It didn't matter. Right now, Amira would enjoy this mighty fine view.

“Are you well, Rhys?”

Amira’s gaze flicked up to meet Baltir’s grey eyes. He looked concerned but mostly irritated. Amira rolled her eyes and slouched further into the dining chair, something Baltir did not miss. Sighing, she replied, “I was almost stabbed to death, poisoned, and my breakfast has been interrupted to be lectured about… What’s her name?”

Baltir stared at her dumbfounded, eyes scanning her through slightly slitted eyes. He didn’t know what to be suspicious of. “Eden,” Baltir finally muttered.

“You said this was important…” Amira added, exasperated.

Baltir was nice to look at, but this dream was a little boring now. If she was going to be king, she’d rather have some fun.

“Oh… Sorry, Alpha.” Baltir sat straighter. “It’s about the assassin… Amira…”

Upon hearing her name, Amira held her breath, and her heartbeat grew louder and louder.

"They couldn't locate her. They arrived too late, and her scent vanished with the wind. We could venture into the wastelands, but the guards would attract attention amidst the rogues."

Amira almost clicked her tongue in disapproval at the term 'wastes,' which was only used by the royalty and those residing in the more affluent parts of the kingdom. Where else would rogues be, if not on the outskirts of Verdania but in the Lupine Wilds? They were all disregarded by society, labelled as scum, ruffians, bloodthirsty individuals, rejects, and misfits.

Lupine Wilds was the real term, but to everyone besides the rogues, it was called the Lupine Wastes, or Wastes. It was a small area the rogues managed to claim back from the Quintrell monarchy. As the rogues grew stronger and worked together, they had a place to stay than wandering separately. Lone wolves were dangerous, and it wasn’t healthy for such sociable creatures to be cast out of packs and remain alone.

Sure, there were still those who preferred to remain solitary, the rogues who had no interest in joining the rebellion or socialising with other rogues. They maintained the true essence of the rogue reputation. 

Amira couldn't vouch for everyone, but those misfits, scoundrels, and bloodthirsty rogues took her in when society abandoned her. They may have been rebels against the monarchy, but they took care of each other and weren’t backstabbing snakes like those at court. 

Besides, the wild was so much more fun than the suffocating capital.

“It would be a waste to search for her in the wilds. There are traps, and we’d scent a royal guard from a mile away. The fools cut their hair, and if they do, cover their heads… Well… We just know,” Amira scoffed, waving her hand nonchalantly.

The smile on her lips drew short after feeling Baltir’s intense stare on her face. “The Wilds? How do you know there are traps?” He leaned forwards slightly, then sighed, raking his fingers through his brown hair. “You’re right, that’s why I haven’t suggested us go there. We are too much at a disadvantage.”

Amira relaxed her tense body. For a moment there, she really felt panicked. It was only a dream, but she felt anxious that Baltir might figure out she was an imposter! From the way the Beta acted, though, it didn’t even enter his mind. It would be a strange thing to believe anyway. 

“Was that all?” Amira asked, wanting the limelight off her. 

Baltir smirked, “When is it ever?”

Her eyebrows raised at that before sipping on the coffee the butler gave her. She almost spat it back out. Where was the sugar? She might accept the rations in the wilds, but she was currently the king and living in a palace. 

Amira popped two teaspoons of sugar in the coffee, almost pouting when she saw there was no cream or milk. Rhys really did have black coffee. She smirked. It went with his black, bitter heart.

“Are you listening?" Baltir asked, irritation grinding in his voice. "And since when did you put sugar in your coffee?” 

Amira arched an eyebrow, hoping her expression was enough for the Beta to quieten. It did. Damn. Rhys was one hell of a scary man if his closest friend quietened from a look alone. 

“I thought I’d try something different,” Amira replied. “Go on…”

Baltir watched her a moment more before cracking a smile. “Maybe all you’ve been missing all this time is some sugar.” He cleared his throat before changing the subject. “Jasmine also escaped.”

Amira sipped her coffee, sighing from the sweetness mixed with the bitterness. 

Now that was good coffee.

“Alpha?” Baltir probed.

Oh. Amira already knew Jasmine escaped. She was the one who helped her.

“And? Have you at least found her?” Amira asked, sounding more like something Rhys would say. 

Baltir shook his head. “Do you think Amira had a hand in it? She did replace Jasmine in your chambers. I don’t know how either escaped without going through the front.”

Amira scoffed, “You really aren’t very creative.”

Baltir threw his hands up. “I don’t see you coming up with any ideas! You just bedded Eden instead of letting us search the premises!”

“Well, either woman would have been long gone by then,” Amira replied, exasperated by how low they thought of her. She started looking at her nails, unable to withhold the frown tugging at her eyebrows. 

Rhys’ nails were prettier than hers. How infuriating. She turned her large hand over. At least he had some callouses. He must train with a sword daily.

“You are acting quite strange today, Rhys. How are you feeling? Is the poison…” Baltir trailed off, eyes scanning the king from head to toe like the poison might be the reason for such strangeness.

Amira didn’t think she was acting that differently. Though, she wouldn’t really know how Rhys acted. She shrugged in response, making Baltir frown further with suspicion in his beautiful grey eyes. Alright, she knew a king wouldn’t shrug! But who cares!

“You seem calmer without Demon, though. I don’t know what havoc he will wreck when he returns. I remember last time you were poisoned…” Baltir trailed off with a sigh as though he recalled some gruesome memory whilst glancing out of the patio doors. 

He probably was. Amira wouldn’t put it past the king. She presumed Demon was Rhys’ wolf, and if the king was psychotic, then so was his wolf. 

“Maybe you should go into the dungeons until Demon calms down,” suggested Baltir.

Amira frowned, slightly astounded by his suggestion. “You think locking up a wolf who has been locked away for a few days will be fine once we’re out of the dungeon?” She huffed and stood up, suddenly feeling restless.

“And here I thought you were hot.. You just had to come out with the shittest suggestion.” She turned away.

“Huh? Hot… shit suggestion… Rhys, do you need some more sleep? The poison was a high dose… Amira really did a number on you.”

Yep. She put four times the dose of the usual poison for a normal werewolf. Blasted Alpha King was powerful.

“Why don’t you set Demon free in the woods?” She turned away, gesturing towards the balcony like the forest was in the scenery. 

If Demon was as cruel as Rhys, wouldn’t allowing the wolf to run wild in its natural habitat make sense? Locking it up would only make it more frustrated and ferocious.

“You said it was too risky… Anyone could be hunting…” Baltir followed her to the wardrobe where the king's armour was displayed, along with a variety of weapons adorning the wall—swords, a bow and arrows, and even headgear for when he shifted into this wolf form.

“I don't believe it's necessary for you to equip yourself when meeting the elders. They already fear you without the weapons,” Baltir mused as she grabbed the sword and swung it.

The sheer size of it would be troublesome if she was in her correct body. But it was quite lightweight. Maybe it wasn’t realistic; this was a dream, after all. 

Wait… Elders?

Amira stopped and stared at the Beta. Baltir was a few inches shorter than Rhys, but they were both so tall. “Elders? What are you talking about?” Amira asked before strapping her weapons to this huge body.

“The meeting with the elders that you agreed to attend last night? You could excuse yourself, too unfit to meet them after the assassination attempt. I didn’t think you’d want to show… weakness, Rhys,” Baltir answered, the final statement expressed with a hint of hesitation.

Ah. It would be interesting to see what they spoke about, but this was a dream! She didn’t want to be bored with meetings and scheming! She did that in the real world! When she was awake!

Turning from the Beta, Amira purposefully walked out of the wardrobe and towards the double doors. 

“How about we skip today?” She suggested with a smirk over her shoulder.

“Skip?”

“Let’s have a little fun instead. I’m the king, after all!”

Besides, this poor handsome chap looked like he needed it just as much as she did!