The low baritone snarl echoed down the hall, although the words themselves were muffled by the heavy door of the king's study. The guards posted outside the door didn't flinch at the sound, having become accustomed to the frightful sound. In fact, every time the prince visited lately, it seemed like it devolved into a shouting match between the royals.

The prince's aide was lounging against the wall across from the study, a bored look on his face as he scanned through a stack of papers. He did glance up at a particularly loud shout, but when Rowan didn't emerge, he refocused on the paper. Better to read as much as he could before he had to chase after the prince when Rowan ended up storming away yet again. It was going to be one of those days.

X

Inside the study, Rowan threw himself down into a chair, scowling. He bit out, "I'm an adult, father. My life is mine to live any way I choose. It's none of your business what I do in my own free time. Nor who I'm seeing."

Behind the massive desk laden with papers, King Airell seethed. His voice was laden with ice compared to the fiery ire in his son's voice. "That viper that you insist upon sleeping with is no fit queen for this country. She'd as soon stab her own mother in the back if she thought that it would gain her anything. She isn't even your mate."

Rowan growled, crossing his arms across his chest, "Speak of her with respect or I'll walk out right this moment."

Airell waved that demand aside for the moment. His gaze was intense as he met Rowan's stare, "As long as I am king of this country, I have a say in your life and what you do. The people are getting restless at the fact that you still haven't found your mate. In the past month alone, I've had three offers from kings with eligible daughters for a diplomatic visit."

Rowan asked carelessly, his eyebrow raised sardonically, "And what does that have to do with me?"

The king gritted his teeth before answering, "All of them mentioned trade renegotiations, veiled threats in the most polite of language. Do you want to be forced into a political marriage to provide for our kingdom? Or would you throw your kingdom into war and throw away countless lives because of your infatuation?"

Rowan allowed his arms to drop, his voice laced with bitterness warring with weariness, "I refuse to live my personal life as others wish simply because I was born a prince. Why can no one seem to understand this? If I recall, grandmother was quite set against your marriage with mother and it nearly became a court battle in and of itself when you insisted upon your marriage anyway."

Airell rubbed wearily at his temple, exhaustion lining his words, "Your mother and I were mates and I'm grateful for every minute that we got together, even with how everything turned out. Tell me this, Rowan, what do you think your mother would think about your choice of, companions?"

Rowan sagged into his chair at those words. That was a low blow, bringing his mother's opinion into the argument. He knew very well that his mother would not approve of Angelina, believing that the woman was much too vain and self-absorbed to ever be a good leader of the country. And as much as he fought against it, he knew that his choice of wife would impact more than just himself, would affect the entire kingdom. He was only using Angelina as a shield against the court women who were husband hunting. The arrangement worked out well for him as well, because she'd told him, repeatedly, that she had no interest in a serious relationship. What Angelina truly wanted was power, not him.

Desperation flared in him as he felt a figurative noose tightening around his throat. What was so wrong with him wanting to be free for a while longer? Raking a hand through his hand even as weariness flooded through him at fighting a never-ending battle, he ground out, "What would make you drop this matter, Father?"

Airell didn't rush to respond, but thought it over carefully, to Rowan's surprise. Finally, his father spoke, "A mate hunt. Search for your mate, truly search. If you don't find her after three months' time, then I will cede that your relationships are your private business and speak no more about it."

Rowan stared at him, incredulous. "I can't leave the palace for three months. There's no way. You know that I'm working on several trade agreements at the moment. Not to mention that the Society's research is at a delicate point and I'm overseeing it. And that's not even dealing with the new army recruits and training. A couple of weeks I might be able to squeeze in here and there, but anything more than that is impossible."

He sighed, knowing that his son spoke the truth. Although he accused him of being frivolous at times, Rowan did take his duty to the country very seriously and his attention to detail was meticulous. However, this was not a matter that could be put off, Rowan was nearing thirty and for a Kitala male to still be unmated at that age was nearly unheard of, especially the heir to the throne. But if Rowan couldn't go in search of his mate, then his mate would have to come to him.

Straightening, Airell said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument, "Fine, if you can't go to your mate, she'll have to come to you."

Rowan huffed irritably, "And just how are we supposed to do that?"

Seeing that Rowan wasn't rejecting the idea outright, Airell continued cautiously, "We'll have an event or series of events here at the palace and invite every eligible maiden in the land. If you don't find your mate during this time, I will allow the matter to drop."

Wanting this endless battle over with, Rowan said quickly, "Your word on this? That if I don't find my mate, you won't bring this matter up again?"

He nodded, "You have my word. Do your best during this to truly look for your mate and if you do not find her, I will never again comment on your choice of relationship." He held up a hand before Rowan could speak. "However, if you dare to make a mockery of this, I will arrange a marriage for you with no remorse, understand?"

Rowan stood and nodded, his words curt, "Then I give you my word as well that I shall sincerely participate during this event. I have to go, another trade meeting to attend. Give my aide the information when you have all the details worked out."

When Rowan left the room, Airell glanced over at a small painting of a red-haired woman, "Grant me patience, Rose. Your son is more stubborn than you ever were. I hope that his mate will be strong enough to stand up to him and not get trampled. This is my one chance, Rose. I just want him to be happy, like we were. I know that you'd want the same, if you were still here." He sighed, "I miss you, every moment of every day, my love."

Turning away from the painting, he opened his inkwell and reached for a quill. He needed to get this all set up before Rowan changed his mind.

X

It had been nearly three weeks since Rowan had made the agreement with his father. In truth, he had forgotten all about their deal, caught up in intense trade negotiations. They had finally reached an accord and he was taking a well-deserved evening off to celebrate a successful negotiation. However, they'd barely finished the first course when his aide came out onto the balcony where he and Angelina were having dinner.

Knowing that his aide wouldn't have disturbed him unless it was truly important, he took a long drink from his glass of wine, putting off the inevitable. Finally, when he could delay no longer, he asked tiredly, "What is it, Kiran?"

Kiran nodded distantly to Angelina before handing Rowan a sheaf of papers, "His Majesty has arranged for the matter that you spoke of last. All the information is there. I'll take my leave now, Your Highness."

Kiran didn't wait for Rowan to dismiss him but simply gave a curt bow and disappeared as silently as he'd appeared, not wanting to linger for the inevitable explosion. Especially when Angelina learned of the deal that the king and prince had reached.

Trying to figure out what Kiran was talking about, Rowan started skimming the papers. Angelina rose gracefully and moved to stand behind him, her beautifully manicured hands reaching out to massage his broad shoulders. She purred huskily in his ear as she tried to discreetly see what the papers said, "What is he talking about, Rowan? Doesn't he know how hard you've been working and yet he tries to add yet more to your load? When will it be enough for him?"

Rowan warned absently, his tone laced with iron, "Careful how you speak, he is still king and you still owe him respect."

Angelina made a face but he didn't notice it where he was reading. However, she quickly adjusted her tone, not wanting to irritate Rowan. "Of course, Rowan, I didn't mean any disrespect. I'm just worried about you. I know that you've been working so hard lately trying to please him and he's been putting extra pressure on you with his demands."

Finishing his skim of the papers, Rowan set them aside and leaned back into her massage, "Well, not for much longer. We've reached an agreement."

She kept her voice light, "Oh, may I ask what it is?"

He took a sip of wine, his expression relaxing, "Father is concerned about what our people think of the crown prince still being unmated, so we've reached a compromise."

A sour feeling swirled in the pit of her stomach and it was all she could do to keep her voice level and light. "Compromise?"

He nodded, "In three months' time, he will host a week-long festival for every maiden in the kingdom for a mate hunt. During that time, I shall look for my mate."

A strangled gasp escaped her, her crimson nails tightening on his shoulders as she repeated incredulously, "Mate hunt?"

He reached up and gently pried her fingers loose from their over-tight grip, adding nonchalantly, "However, at the end of that time, should I not have found my mate, he will drop the matter and never bring the subject again."

She slipped her hand from his and walked back over to her chair, dropping into it when her legs refused to hold her any longer. She picked up and drained her wine glass before finally asking, "A mate hunt? You can't seriously be considering partaking in such a spectacle?"

He reached out and calmly refilled her glass, asking coolly, "What does it matter to you if I do or I don't? You've told me repeatedly that you don't want anything serious anyway. Was that a lie?"

She forced a smile to her lips, although her stomach was in knots, "Not at all! But remember, you agreed that if I protected you from the women of the court, you would allow me to use your name and position to gather enough power to maintain my position."

He shrugged, "I doubt anything will change with this hunt. Plus, after this, I won't have to deal with him badgering me to find my mate any longer. It will be a win for both of us. If you have a problem with this, speak now and we can end our arrangement."

Lowering her lashes, she took a sip of her wine before murmuring sweetly, "Of course not, Rowan. I trust your judgment. I'm sure things will work out fine."

He smiled and went back to his meal while she stared blindly at the sunset and sipped at her wine, her appetite having deserted her. She'd spoken confidently, but she couldn't help but feel the chill of fear skate up and down her spine. She hadn't worked this hard just to have her future unraveled now. She had to come up with a way to make sure that Rowan never met his mate.