"Whenever you know what is right, you must also know the courage that it demands."

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Tiara

Strength. Assertive. Decisive. Discipline. Accomplished. Adaptable. Vigilant. Patient. Clever. Brave. And Loyal. These are the traits I was looking for in the warriors, to be my bodyguards. Also I was making sure, I choose one shifter from each species, who carry all these traits. It wasn't an easy task, when you had to choose only a few from hundreds of warriors. Still, I was determined to do so, no matter how long it takes.

I was getting intimation to attend the Royal court meetings, currently handled by Drake. I also heard a rumor that 'the new Queen might be scared to face the people'. Like what? Although, Drake never bought it up but, I know he's struggling to keep the court members from lashing out on me. I'm not using him as a shield but, I'm looking for the right moment to face them. Like today. Kenneth and Kaiden were helping me with some paper work. Drake and Simon were in the court meeting, doing my job. But not any more.

I walked with purpose towards the court room, with only one thing in mind. Make the trouble makers shut it and keep it. 15 minutes into the meeting, I entered the court room with a grand entrance, making everyone's eyes go wide and the sudden commotion to go quite. My mate was up from his seat, as surprised as them. "My queen" They all bowed, like they were not just tarnishing my images few minutes back. "Good to see you back, my love" Said Drake, looking happy. I smiled at him and then my poker face was back.

"GoodMorning everyone. So good to finally meet you all." I said, giving them all a genuine smile. "It's good to finally see you, my queen." Said someone, in a taunting voice, turning my attention at him. So he's the one, among few others to spread the rumors. "Indeed it is, Lord Joel." I smiled, making his smirk fall. Was he expacting me to forget his name? "Lord Joel? How are the widows and orphan programs going on in your states?" I asked, making him gulp. "Quite well, my queen. We have taken sole responsibility to provide for them. The kids studies and bring ups are all being planned by our local authorities." He said, proudly.

"Good. And what about the warriors, on duty, who are now for some reason, incapable to fight? What plans you have for them in mind?" I asked, making him sweat. "How many are they again?" I asked. "Aa..Approximately hundred, my queen." He said, making me smirk. "And your plans for them?" I asked, making him frown. "We..don't have any plans for them yet..but, I'll be personally taking care of how to compensate them, my queen." He said, blinking. "Lord Jeol? There are total 784, such warriors, who almost lost their lives, fighting for the motherland and you're still thinking, how to compensate them!?" I raised my voice, making him gulp.

"You're not leaving your chair untill you  impress me with a mind blowing idea, of how to honor them for their services, towards the country." I ordered, making his eyes go wide. "Today? My Queen?" He asked, "Yes, Lord Joel. Today. Chop chop" I said, turning around, giving my back to him. Drake and Simon had amused faces. "My Queen, with your permission." Said someone else. Aah the second Riot. I'm so enjoying it. This was the clever one. "Yes. Lord Miles. Please." I made sure, I remember all their names and the work they do for the court.

"I heard that, the Royal bodyguards are yet to be choosen? If I'm not wrong, nobody accompanied you today to the court room, you're supposed to be accompanied by them, my queen." He asked, like he was so worried about my wellbeing. The actual reason is, he thinks, I'm incapable of choosing a proper bodyguard or make any sane decisions, for that matters. I smiled at him. "Lord Miles? What is the number of participants do we have in total?" I asked him. "About 600, is my guess." He said, unsure. "The total number of participants were 870. Among them, do you know, how many are females?" I asked again.

By now he understood, I'm not to be questioned? "No..my queen." He said, looking uncertain. "200. Lord Miles. And, I have to choose the best of them. Do you think, it's an easy task?" I asked, placing my hands in front of his table. "N...No my queen." He said, gulping. I pushed back from his desk and walked around. "There are few other problems, that we're currently facing. The Human Hunters." That made the court members sit up straight. "Mr. Brown." I called for the Human Ambassador. Proud man but, Loyal to the court. "My Queen" he said, standing up. "Can you arrange a meeting with this Riot leader, Pierce?"

The court members started to chattered and mummered among themselves. "Quiet!" I said loudly, making them all go still. "Can you do that or not?" He looked, conflicted. "My Queen, nobody knows, how he looks or where he lives. We have tried everything to find out his identity. He's hiding in plane sight. How are we supposed to find him?" He asked. "Good question. Send lord Miles, Lord Joel and few of his clise friends in this court, across the areas, where we have the news of looters. Once they are captured, let them convey my message to them." I said, making all the trouble maker to protest in agony.

"My Queen. It's a suicide mission, you're sending us to." Said one. "He would shoot us at sight!" Said another. "I have 3 kids, my queen. Don't do this to me." He begged. I acted like, I was thinking. "Umm...how about we send your elder son, what's his name again? Yeah Jace. I heard He's ready to join the Royal army. It would call for a good learning experience, what do you say?" I asked, making him pant. "My Queen? I apologize, I questioned your abilities. I take my words back. There is no one more suitable, to sit on the throne. Please bring me out of this misery. I promise, I'll never doubt your capability here after." He blabbered.

"Stop your act! You're not sorry for anything, untill it became personal to you. We're currently fighting an unseen enemy. Do you think, it's the right time to point fingers at each other, instead of finding the Riot?!" He bowed down his head, not speaking a word. "You doubt me. It's not your fault. It's mine. I made you doubt my ability to rule and lead you people. So, this is me, taking charges from going forward, for all of you to believe in me." I said, looking at each one of them. "Simon?" I called. "Yes my queen." He came forward. "Escott my bodyguards to the court room please. Its time to introduced them to the court members.

"Yes my lady." He said, walking away. I then turned to the stunned court members. "I had chosen my personal guards, 2 weeks back but, to ensure that I didn't make any mistakes, I put them through tests. Tests that would either bring them back as the survivors or die a warrior. They choosed to fight and Survive." I said, meeting everyone's gazes. Drake came and put a strong hand on my shoulder for support. I heard the sound of multiple boots and weapons clinging to their armours and smirked. The entire courtroom watches the door in anticipation.

As the door to the court room opened, in walked, my 6 warriors. 3 males and 3 females.

"I present to you all, my Royal guards also, they have a surprise for you all." I said, helding my head high. "They have been chosen from different species. Some are hybrid. A mixer of lepord and tiger. Wolf and fox. Eagle and phoenix. A dragon, An elf and a human." They dragged in 5 men, one of them is non other then the Great hunter...Pierce. "Good job." I said, to my guards and all of them bowed to me, with helding their fists to their chests. A way to honor me.

"Those who still doubt my capabilities and think that they have every right to protest and believe, they are more suitable to take that chair." I pointed the throne. "Please, be my guest." I said, walking towards the hunter leader and asked my guards to let him free. The court room went silent. "Pierce? You are not just a hunter, you are a criminal too. The crimes are uncountable. Loot, murder, conspiracy towards the royals. Kidnapping and killing your own kind. You all have started the rebellion 100 years ago. How many people, did you lose? Did you even gain anything out of this war?" I asked him furious.

Just then I found my other mates joining us too. They must have heard the news that the Leader has been captured. "I do not answer to you, woman." He said, making my mates and the warriors growl. I raised my hands at them to wait. "You're right. You don't have to." He looked confused. "Who do you answer to then?" I asked, folding my arms. "I answer to no one." He said, on his knees. "Alright. Why do you make them follow you then?" I then turned to the other 4 riots. "They should be free men. Why manipulate them to follow your path?" I asked, looking back at Pierce.

I scoffed. "I'll tell you why. Because you can't fight alone. You can't survive alone. Tell me Pierce. When you think, your doings are for your people's well-being then why protest someone who did the same thing, to just make sure his race survived?" I asked, making him meet my eyes. "Have you seen birds making nest in your backyard. They don't bother you, right." He was looking here and there in though. "Because they don't do any harm to you. Correct? But you felt threatened by the supernatural races. You started harming them, even though they were innocent, in result, starting a never ending war."

"Explain it to me Pierce. What kind of satisfaction you got, when you killed a father, right infront of her 7 years old daughter?" His snapped his head, meeting mine. Guilt. "Do you have kids Pierce? Should I kill you, right infront of your son!? How old is he again? 5?" I asked, making him lose his calm. "Stop! Stop please. Stop!" He cried, learning his lesson. "I did not kill him. It was an accident. He died protesting to get captured. I..I'm sorry. I tried, saving him, but it was too late." He said, banging his forehead on the floor. "Forgive me. I didn't want anything to do with this war. My father in law started it." He said, making me frown.

"My wife was a very kind lady. She was too innocent for this world. She never believed or followed her father's footsteps. We had a happy life, a son untill, she died protecting one of you and that made me furious and turned me into a different person. I couldn't deal with her loss with my 1 year old and choosed a wrong path. Please...Just let me go. I'm the only thing my son has. He's alone at home. He'll be scared, if I don't get back." He begged, with teary eyes. I sighed. "Although, I believe you, I'm not the one you need forgiveness from." I said, gesturing to one of my guards, who brought the woman and the child forward, for them to decide his fate.

Pierce's gaze locked with the little girl and widened. I can say that the guilt was eating him alive. He clutched his chest and tried very hard not to cry infront of her. "I...I'm Sorry. " He said, not meeting their eyes. "If punishing me will give you some kind of closer or it would bring your heart some peace....I'll except any punishment you had planned for me." Then he turned to me. "Just a request..don't tell my son, how I...died." he said, closing his eyes. I looked at the little girl who looked up at her mother and she looked determined to punish him, but only to shock us all by her words.

"Although, my daughter tells me...it was an accident, you are still responsible for my mate's death. I can never forgive you." That made Pierce look at both of them with remorse. "I want you to live. I want you to live with that guilt Pierce, and die with that guilt that you destroyed a family, in your blind rage. That's your punishment." She said, holding her daughter close to her chest. Pierce didn't say anything. Just lowered his head and excepted his punishment. "Take him away! Keep him locked untill he repents about his wrong doings. He's not allowed to see his son untill then. The court is dismissed!" I said, walking out.

Half of my guards followed me. Half of them followed my orders. My mates were not far behind. "Tiara?" Called Kenneth, making me halt. "You guys can take rest for now. Have lunch. Report to me after it." I said, dismissing my guards but, they looked back and forth between me and my mates. I chuckled. "They are my mates. I'm safe with them." I said, making them bow down their heads and walk away. "Wow! You did it." Said Kenneth, pulling me towards him. I smiled.

"I had help" I said, pointing at my new appointed guards retreating backs. "They sound cool." Said Kaiden, kissing me. "I missed you." He said, making all his brothers sigh. "Stand in line brother."  Said Blaze, pushing a protesting Kaiden away. "We all missed you. Now that all the threats are under control, we demand your attention little mate. Don't you all agree?" He asked his brothers. Absolutely. They said in unison. "It's been almost 3 week, you're working your ass off. You need a break. Comeon little one." Said Drake, lifting me in his arms.

"And I need a good fuck" Said Brenton, making me giggle and the others curse. Let's just say, I'm not getting out of their cage anytime soon.

Next is a spicy chapter...stay tuned.