Warrior King New Worlds (Crystal Kingdom #6) - Milly Taiden Page 0,45

females also.” Smit bowed his head and continued up the tunnel.

Entering the throne room, Ferrus heard more yelling and dishes breaking. The king stood outside his private area, throwing yesterday’s breakfast items to the floor.

“Father?” he asked.

“Flame focker,” the king cursed, “get those females back here at once, Ferrus. I have not eaten since yesterday. And I cannot wear my robes until a stain is washed out.”

Ferrus smiled. “Seems you need the females as well, Father.” The coldness in the king’s eyes sent a chill down him. He was the king for a reason.

“I expected you back last night, son. Good to see the females have not persuaded you to their side.”

There really was not much persuading needed. He saw what was fair and how they all had to work together as a large team to make a successful clan survive like the Gnoleon. He wondered how he should approach this. Demon’s hell, Ferra knew how to do this kind of thing better than he did.

He was a fighter. He did not have a smooth tongue. Good thing for his mate since she enjoyed his tongue quite a bit. The image of her writhing under his assault on her pussy flashed in his mind. Dragon balls, he was getting hard. That was the last thing he wanted his father to see.

Calming himself, he continued into the room. “Father,” he said, “do you understand why the females are on strike.”

The king slammed a lid on the cart, shattering the dish. “I do not even know what the damnation word means.” His father stomped away from the cart to sit hard on his throne.

“It means they are trying to show you how important they are to this clan.”

“Important?” his father questioned. Ferrus watched as the king’s expression turned darker than ever before. His fist beat on the seat’s arm. “Is that what they want? To be important?”

“No, Father. They know they are needed. You just need to admit it. They want the right to choose whether they sleep alone or with a male.”

His father’s brow raised. “If the males do not have a release, it will distract them from their fighting.”

“I learned a new saying. The men need to ‘suck it up’ and grow up. They are not children who cannot control themselves. They must abide by the female’s wishes. Even in nature, the female sometimes decides which mate she will take.”

His father grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. “Anything else?”

Ferrus chuckled. “There is a list, sire.”

The king’s mouth dropped open, his eyes widening. “What more could they want?”

“They do not want to be forced to wear the brown coverups.”

“But the males will—”

“Sire, that is another one of those 'grow up’ items. They can and will control and restrain. They will continue feeding us as long as they no longer have to serve the men at the tables. They will bring the food to the room, but the men will fill their own cups and plates.”

His father’s breathing came faster and shallower. Ferrus had not even gotten to the most critical demand. Should he list it or let it be? His mate was so set on mates working together. It worked well for the forest fae. Why couldn’t they do the same? Besides, he wasn’t about to not have his mate beside him.

“One more thing. They want mates to be acceptable.”

The king rose from his throne, holding his arm out. “NEVER.” He stamped into his rooms and slammed the rock walls together to close off access, knocking loose a shower of pebbles.

Clapping came from the tunnel entrance. Silvo stepped in with a saunter, a sneering smile on his face. “Wonderful presentation, Ferrus.” Occasionally, in a personal setting, he’ll let his men call him by his name. But only in closed quarters.

“You will honor me as our rules command, or I will kill you.”

Silvo snapped his arms up in a surrender fashion while bending at the waist. “Forgive me, sire. I forget myself.” He returned to his upright stance, the haughtiness still showing. “Seems His Majesty is not happy with the female demands. And, rightly, he shouldn’t be.”

“Why is that, Silvo?” Ferrus looked at him with disdain. The man thought he had more power than he did. Just because Silvo was in charge when Ferrus was gone did not mean the ass was on the same level. Perhaps the subordinate needed a reminder.

“Why?” Silvo replied, taking a step toward him. “A female’s only purpose is to serve her master in all ways.