May Death Do Us Part

271 Chapter 271 : Law of mates

Eira’s ears perked up when she heard the door of her room open. With her back still facing whoever had come in, she spoke in a dismissive tone.

“Please go away, a closed door means I wish to be left alone.”

“Eira,” a calm voice that she recognized instantly called to her. “It’s us, may we come in?”

“Zhel I don’t think I’m in the best mood to have company right now,” she responded without turning to look at her friends.

“Well what kind of friends would we be if we left you in such a mood on your birthday?” Isabella spoke as she walked to Eira’s bed and sat down next to her.

“Besides,” Leonard added on as he awkwardly took a seat on the chair near the window. “We haven’t given you your birthday gifts.”

Eira turned to look at her three friends and gave them a small smile. “Thank you, but you could have left the gifts in the library like everyone else.”

Zhelimir walked to Eira’s front and shoved a parcel that was wrapped in cloth and some twine in her face. “And where would be the fun in that?” He responded with a sly smile. “Besides, I didn’t want my special gift to get mixed up with those from a bunch of nobodies.”

For the first time that night Eira actually smiled. She accepted Zhelimir’s gift and slowly unwrapped it. When all the twine was out, she unfolded the cloth and gasped a little at the item within.

.....

Isabella leaned forward with curious eyes. “What is it?! Is is jewelry? Is it an expensive bottle of scented oils?!”

Eira removed the item from the cloth and held it in front of her.

“A dagger?” Isabella asked. Was a dagger an appropriate gift to give a woman?

“Not just any dagger,” Eira spoke in awe, “it’s a rare elven dagger made from iron-wood and steel.” The princess looked up and Zhelimir in shock, “where did you get this?”

“I had it forged in Lenora,” Zhelimir declared proudly. “I mean if you are planning to win a fight with every man who tries to get in your pants, a durable weapon like that may serve you well.”

Eira chuckled, “you know me so well Zhel, thank you.”

“It’s our turn now!” Isabella announced excitedly before turning to Leonard.

The shy elf got up and walked towards Eira, handing her a small box. The princess accepted it and wasted no time in opening it, within the box was a beautiful golden hair comb covered in jewels.

“You keep talking about how your hair is always getting in your face,” Leonard explained. “So we hope our gift will make a difference.”

Eira beamed at both Leonard and Isabella. “It’s so beautiful, thank you both.”

“Before you get out of the gift receiving mood,” Isabella spoke out. “I have one more gift for you. This one isn’t wrapped in any fancy silk or encrusted in jewels, but I’m sure you will appreciate it.”

Eira arched an eyebrow at her friend, what gift could Isabella be talking about?

“My gift is a piece of information that you may find interesting and maybe even a little valuable.” Isabella continued.

“Will you stop beating around the bush Bella,” Eira responded with a chuckle. “You’re making me nervous.”

“Do you know anything about this Leonard?” Zhelimir asked the elf standing next to him.

“No, I’m as curious to hear this information as you are.”

“Well, earlier this evening when I went home to change into a clean gown thanks to someone who spilled wine on me...”

Leonard smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. “Her gown exposed her breast a little, I got distracted.”

“Anyway,” Isabella continued to speak. “While I was home I heard my fathers talking about about a certain silver haired lycan.”

Eira’s eyes widened a little. “About Elric?”

“Precisely,” Isabella responded.

Zhelimir took a step forward and gave Isabella a serious look. “Isn’t Elric an enemy to the throne? He tried to hurt you Eira, he tried to enact revenge on your father by using-”

“He did no such thing!” Eira interrupted Zhelimir. “If Elric wanted to hurt me he would have done so already, but instead he has been nothing but kind to me. Mother and father have their own perceptions of him, but I’ve actually spent time with this man! He has no plans of revenge, all he wants is to live in peace and you aren’t giving him that!”

The passion in Eira’s voice when she spoke about Elric made Zhelimir quiet down. She was right, from the time she started meeting with him he had never actually paused any threat. He had even taken care of her when her drink had been tampered with and returned her home safely. Maybe he was different from the man he was in past, people did change after all.

“Please continue Isabella,” Eira encouraged her friend. “What did they say about Elric?”

“I heard papa Jeffery say this with my own two ears,” Isabella continued. “He said that you are Elric’s mate.”

“What?!” Everyone in the room responded in unison, all in a different tone of surprise.

“Yes!” Isabella responded. “Papa said the oxytocin when he was dancing with you was almost chocking. Us lycans have a keen sense for this kind of thing, especially when it involves family.”

“What do you mean family?” Eira responded in a jittery tone. Her brain was still shot after the news of being Elric’s mate, could that be true?

“Remeber that papa Jeffrey is the son of the late king Bradley Aldos right?”

Eira got up from her bed and stared at Isabella in shock. “So is Elric,” she mumbled. “Which means-”

“They’re brothers yes!” Isabella finished the princess’ statement. “Eira, you’re going to be my aunt!”

*

“Father...”

Edron took a step forward and eyed his son from head to toe, “you look thin,” he spoke with a sad smile. “But you’re alive, and that is all that matters.” He pulled his son into his arms and hugged him tightly. In all his years, the only person he had shown affection of any sort was his wife. As an alpha, emotions reflected weakness, but this was his son, his only child who he thought he has lost forever.

Elric slowly wrapped an arm around his father as well, it had been years since he has hugged someone, it felt, comforting. He leaned his face into his father’s shoulder and sighed.

“Father...”

“You will be alright now son, you are with your own kind.” The man pulled away from his son and squeezed his shoulders. “Your mother will be overjoyed. Even when everyone else, me inclusive I’m afraid, thought you had died. Your mother never lost hope. She still believed you were out there somewhere, and if it wasn’t for her, I would have never journied to look for you.”

“My mother sent you here?” Elric asked in surprise. “But how did she know I was still here in Gavaria? I could have been anywhere.”

“When you made a connection with your mate,” Edron explained. “Your mother was able to pick up on that. I suppose I have her to thank for finding you as well, where is the lovely lady anyway?”

Elric paused and glanced at his brother Clovis who gave him a sly smile before looking away. If what his father was saying was true, then there could only

be one woman he was talking about, the only woman Elric had interacted with this entire time.

Now everything made sense, the dreams, the visions... oh gods, even the feeling of comfort he felt when he made contact with Melissa’s baby bump all those years ago. It was never Melissa who elicited those feelings of love or possessiveness, it was the child she carried. What in the bloody hell was this?!

“Well is she here?” Edron asked his son a second time while looking behind him. “Is she this Eira who Clovis and Jeffrey keep speaking about?”

Elric almost laughed at himself, good gods. If only he had known, if only he had heeded to the signs, he would have happily waited for Eira instead of forcing a love that never even existed. Gods this was so embarrassing and complicated.

“Yes father,” Elric replied with a teary smile. “Her name is indeed Eira.”

“Well then where is she?”

Elric looked up at his father with sad eyes. “She is probably preparing to find a husband.”

Edron looked at his son and narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean she is preparing to find a husband? She is your mate Elric! The only woman in existence who can bare you children! And you stand here smiling while she marries another?”

“Its a little more complicated than that father,” Elric responded and cupped his now throbbing head in his hands. “Even if I were to claim her as my mate and by some miracle she agrees to be with me. Her parents would have me executed if I ever asked for her hand.”

“That’s absurd, the law of mates is respected by all!” Edron declared. “It is the basis of the continuity of our species! No one can deny you your mate Elric, no one!”

“Gareth and Melissa can..”

“What?” Edron shook his head slowly. “What do those two have to do with any of this? They are the ones who did this to you, disregarded everything and everyone for their own selfish desires. I want to hear nothing of them and their bastard child.”

Elric shook his head and let out a somewhat deranged chuckle. “You don’t understand father, that bastard child you speak of, that is Eira, that is my mate.”