The Warrior’s Broken Mate novel Chapter 96

When Grayson woke up Elias was the one that got up and got him out of his cot. He started rocking him around the room and I sat on the floor watching them.

He took Grayson to the window and looked out at the view for a minute, even though Grayson couldn’t see it. He was just wanting to spend some time with Grayson. That was obvious.

But he needed to change his nappy and I sat in the chair in the corner of the room when Elias handed him to me and I started feeding him.

“I better get going. I have to start looking through the list of warriors that we have.” Elias said.

“Get Luke to help. And someone else. There are a lot of warriors around here.” I said.

“I know. They keep growing.” He said.

“I mean, we’ve got warriors from every pack at our disposal.” I said.

“I never thought of it like that.” He said.

“They’ll come if we ask them to. But right now, I think we should keep it in house. Try and keep it to the ones that are already here. Your warrior pack and the royal guard.” I said.

“Alright. I’ll start looking.” He said. So he kissed me gently before he left the room and I sat there feeding Grayson while staring into his sweet little face.

There was a knock at the door and Stephanie slowly opened it.

“Hey. Come on in.” I said.

“Are you sure? I didn’t know you were feeding.” She said.

“I’m sure. It’s fine.” I said.

“Alright. Elias said that there’s some crap going on. It’s not good.” She said walking inside and sitting on the other chair in the room.

“No. It’s not good. Stephanie, I need you to promise me something.” I said.

“Anything.” She said.

“Elias and I have to go away for a little while. I need you to take care of Grayson. Protect him with your life and if we don’t come back, make sure he knows about us.” I said.

“Yeah. I’m pretty scared too. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t think it was possible. But I am scared. Not for me or Elias. I’m scared for Grayson.” I said.

“You’re going back there, aren’t you?” She asked.

“We have to. But we’re taking an army and Morgana isn’t going to get away with what she’s doing.” I said.

“How long will you be gone?” She asked.

“I have no idea. But I am leaving Grayson with you. Please, promise me that you will protect him?” I asked.

“Of course I promise. He’s my little man too, don’t forget.” She said and I chuckled.

“He’s lucky to have you.” I said.

“Just make sure that you come back so I don’t have to tell him about you.” She said.

“I’m gonna do my best.” I said.

“He’s the prince. If you and Elias don’t come back, then that could cause problems here.” She said.

“I know. Which is why we are going to leave the most loyal of royal guards here. They will help protect him until he’s old enough to take over. No one is taking the throne from him. Not like they did from me and my mother.” I said.

“Will Rowan be here as well?” She asked.

“Yeah. I’ll talk to her later about this.” I said.

“Alright. I really don’t want you to go back there.” She said.

“Me either. But I have to finish what I started.” I said.

Stephanie stayed in the nursery with me until Grayson went back to sleep and I put him in the cot and grabbed the baby monitor.

I took it with me as we headed downstairs and Elias had Luke in the conference room with files scattered all over the table.

“I’ve already contacted my pack. They’re ready whenever we are.” Elias said.

“I knew we could count on them.” I said.

“These are the warriors from all the other packs that surround us and the royal guards.” Elias said.

“We’re leaving the strongest royal guards here.” I said.

“Why? Doesn’t it make sense to take them?” Luke asked.

“No. They’re staying here to protect Grayson. If we don’t come back, there could be trouble here. People trying to take the throne for themselves. That’s not happening to my son.” I demanded.

“Okay. Not a problem.” Elias said, grabbing another file.

“So, Lyra, what’s it like having two Kings totally in love with you?” Luke smirked, looking far too pleased with himself.

I shot him a glare, then glanced at Elias, who was suddenly fascinated with hiding behind a file.

“Arthur… your castle is gone. You don’t even have a home.” I said.

“I don’t care. We’re not leaving the realm. We’ll figure it out after she’s dead.” He snapped.

“That’s fine.” Elias said. “But if it looks like it’s too dangerous, I’ll be ordering our people back through the portal. You’ll be on your own.”

“You already said you’d help me.” Arthur said.

“I did.” Elias said, his voice hard. “But Lyra just suggested a solution and you completely shut it down. You wouldn’t even consider it. If you’re going to act like that, you don’t need our help -and you don’t deserve it. We’re not going there just to serve your ego because Morgana took over your kingdom.”

Arthur looked at me, then Elias, then the others. He lowered his head and shook it.

“I thought you were meant to be a Queen.” He said, causing Elias to growl at him.

“I am a Queen–a practical one.” I said. He turned and walked out.

“Why are we even helping that asshole?” Elias muttered.

“Because we have to.” I said.

“I mean what I said. If it looks like we’ll be wiped out, we leave.” Elias said.

“I know.” I said, sitting back at the table.

“Has he ever had a Queen or anything like that?” Stephanie asked.

“I don’t know. Why?”

“If he hasn’t, and he’s ruled alone, it might explain why he doesn’t get you two agreeing on things. He’s used to having the final say. That’s probably what he expected from you, Lyra.” Stephanie said.

I looked at Elias.

“That makes sense.” I admitted.

“Yeah, but it doesn’t change anything.” He said.

“I know.” I said.

I sat at the table in the dining room helping look through the files and we started organising them into different piles of potentials to come with us and ones that we wanted to stay at home.