I return about forty-five minutes later to get her for supper. When I walk in, she is curled up in a chair on the bottom level with a book.

"Lady Kenna, supper will be ready here shortly. May I escort you to the dining hall?"

She closes the book looking up at me with those eyes that I am starting to really love about her. Sparkling under the natural light that flows into the openness of the room.

Nodding "Yes, you may. I am getting hungry." She stands up as I offer her my arm. She takes it better this time; we walk down the halls towards our destination.

Side glancing at her, I try to make simple conversation "May I ask besides riding horses, what other interests you have or like to do?"

Smiling, she turns to look at me. "I have trained my brothers to shoot a bow and arrow, fight with wooden swords, or just running through the fields enjoying the sunlight and grass under my feet." I come to a halt; looking at her, she stumbles as I help her regain her footing. "Did I say something wrong?"

Pulling myself together after that comment, "It just caught me off guard that a lady has practiced these things. Most women would not touch any of those."

"I wanted to know how to protect myself if needed. I may not be able to fight like you can with my fist, but I can hit a target dead center beating my brothers at times" her face lights up as she tells me this.

Rubbing the back of my neck with my hand for a second, "Your father did not disapprove of this?"

"I never told him. I went with my brothers to their sparring place and just joined in. They showed me moves to help me if needed; I had already been shooting the bow with friends. I had no girls where I grew up, so hanging around boys, I learned their ways where my talents excelled in them very quickly."

I smile at her then start back walking slowly; she is just full of surprises. My wolf jumps around a little, so I have to settle him down. "The games will include archery; anyone is allowed to join in, so I hope to see you go up against some of the others here."

My body goes rigid as a voice rings through the halls. "Bash! So good to see you. How have you been, you old stud?" I glare at the woman as she comes over; this awful person has tried to make me marry her for years to become queen. She is cocky, rude, and nowhere fit to rule my kingdom with me. My wolf growls at her making her bow her head.

"Yvette, it has been a long time since I saw you last. How have you been?" trying to keep my calm around her right now.

She slaps me on the arm playfully. "It was only a year ago that we saw each other. Then when we spent time in the gardens together, I remember that like it was yesterday. Don't you?"

I clear my throat, giving her a look where she finally closes that mouth of hers. "Lady Kenna, please meet Lady Yvette. She is attending the ball hoping to find her suitor this year." God, I hope she finds her mate, so she will leave me the hell alone. I hate her with everything I am but was forced to spend time with her to seduce me into her bed. She thought if we mated, then I would have to marry her. That plan did not succeed.

Kenna nods her head slowly. "Nice to meet you. When did you arrive at court?"

Yvette waved her hand around in a quick fashion. "Just a few hours ago. I have been looking for my Bash since. I am waiting for his official proposal to me. He still has not asked."

Giving her a hard look, my voice comes through as a whisper, "And I never will. You have someone else waiting to marry you; that person is NOT me."

She growls lowly, spinning on her heels. I sigh, trying to walk again but held back by the arm and then eyes glaring at me harshly. "She is not my type Kenna. We were friends once until she betrayed that trust. I don't like pushy girls that throw themselves at me."

Kenna tilts her head, looking at me with soft eyes. "Then what type is your kind exactly?"

Chuckling softly, "Someone who surprises me at every corner challenges me to do better than I am. A person who is not going to throw themselves at me every time they want something from me. Being king, women are always trying to get me to like them, if not marry them. That empty chair beside me has a lot of women dying to become my wife."

Furrowing her brows a little, "What empty chair?"

I chuckle at her because I forget she is not from here. "The one in the throne room—the one that comes with a ton of power, money, jewelry, and a crown. Most of the ladies who will be here are reaching that goal, but it will not happen. I am looking for that one person to trust, love, and have the same understanding to share my power. Most here are not suitable for that title at all."

"Do you have your eyes on a certain woman for that title?"

I try not to smile but glance sideways at her, then flick my eyes back forward, hoping she did not catch what I did. "Yes, I do. I will have to see if she feels like she would be up to the task of working with me on that level."

She blushes hard where I see it out of the corner of my eye. I wonder what Clair told her? We stop to look out a window seeing the sun starting to dip down below the horizon.

She sighs very quietly. "Hopefully, you will find her this weekend."

Patting her hand slowly with mine, "I hope so."

Kenna looks down the hall where she went. "Why was her body so thick-looking? I have seen many women while walking, and their bodies are not thin like mine. They are built, thick and solid."

Yeah, this will have to be explained very quickly before the games go too far. There is one event where people challenge each other for fun but shift into their wolf forms. She will have to be told by tomorrow evening about this. "I guess they are just built bigger than some? I have seen women of all different sizes here." We start back walking, turning the corner into the dining hall. My seat is empty, but Yvette has a seat that is reserved for Kenna. Walking up to her, my body is hot with rage right now. "Yvette, your name is not in that place card on the plate. Please find your proper seat."

Yvette frowns at my demanding voice, then whines a little, "I was here first, and this is my proper seat." I growl low to where a human can not hear it making her bow her head. "Sorry, Your Majesty, I will move." She slowly stands, walking down to the other end that I had her put at. Plopping down into the seat, she sulks in it. Kenna touches my hand with a gentle touch as she looks at me, damn her touch makes me shiver.

"I don't want to be a burden here. I can sit down there if needed," nodding to where Yvette went.

Shaking my head slowly, "No, you will sit here beside me. I invited you, plus you are my guest, so that person sits on the right side of the King."

Kenna scans the table looking at all the women and men lined up down it. "Did all these others get invited too?"

Henry looks up with a smile on his face. "Not personally by Bash. They are here on invitations or knowledge of the ball. You were a personal invite, so you are different in that aspect."

Leith nods in agreement. "That person stays with him the whole time if she wants while being treated as an honored guest here too."

Just then, a new lady who has become of age walks in, taking her seat. Leith watches her as she walks down the other side of the table to take her seat. His mouth is watering while he is shifting around in his seat. I think he just found his mate.

Trying to pull him out of his thoughts, "Leith, are you feeling better now that we are back?" His eyes are glued on the lady where he does not hear me. I chuckle at him then rise to give my speech. "Ladies and gentlemen of the court, I hope that everyone's travel here was a good one; hopefully, you are settled in your chambers well. Tomorrow afternoon, our games will begin, as I encourage all of you to join in them as you feel obligated to. Please enjoy this feast that has been prepared for everyone this evening, then enjoy your stay at my home for the weekend. I, myself, will be competing for some this year in a few of the games. May everyone enjoy the festivities along with the ball to close these events out for the year. I hope you can find a suitor who will fulfill your dreams, but those who do not find them may return next year with another chance to find hope and love for their future. Let the fun begin!" raising my arms towards the ceiling, the table roars with hooray, and long live the king cheers. I sit down, letting the servants know it is time for the food to be served.

Tapping Leith on the arm, smiling with an evil smirk, "See someone who interested you?"

His eyes drop down to the table for a second. "You saw that, huh?"

"It was hard not to. After dinner, talk to her while getting to know her. Take the night to do what you want. No one is required to work during these games."

A grin spreads over this face slowly. "Thank you. I think I will."

Kenna puts her hand on my arm, making shivers run down my spine. "That was a lovely speech."

"Thank you. I have to ask one favor of you for tonight, though. When I escort you back to your chambers for the night, please don't come out until I come to get you in the morning. Some things can happen to a lady that is not escorted here within these walls. Lock your door; I will tap while announcing myself in the morning."

"Are you trying to protect me from ghosts?" she says in a teasing voice.

My face is serious when I answer her, "In a way, yes. Some people roam these halls (like real wolves) that may hurt you by mistake. I don't want you to get hurt accidentally."

Her eyes are wide when she speaks, "I promise then. I will stay there for the night until you come to get me."

That was way too easy. I am going to post a guard outside her door to make sure. I don't want her frightened by stumbling upon a wolf.

"Good. Thank you for understanding me on that part." We finish eating then I take her to her room for the night. Running my finger along her jawline, I kiss her forehead, making sure her door is locked. The guard appears as I tell him that she is not allowed out until I return. He nods, so I go to take care of some business for the night.