unwanted

chapter eleven

unease

"How did the meeting go? It must not have gone too well if they kept you from meet and greet."

"All is well, Frick. They are still several months away, and we do not foresee them as being any real issue." Kellum went straight towards his workout room and Frick followed. "The advisors believe that once the threat realizes that these humans are no longer on their own, they will leave without a fight."

"What do you think?"

"My concerns are solely based on Pensley's gift. He sees war and he has never given me a reason to doubt his sight."

"I cannot believe that you have known about this threat all of this time and you have not shared your fears with me. We are friends."

"Friends yes but being the future king must come first. I told you as soon as the council decided it was time for all to know of the upcoming threat."

"Are the humans taking it better than they were?"

"Their responses are as expected. They just found out that the ones responsible for three fourths of their world dying is returning to finish the job. The situation with the humans is being handled. Even the ones causing distress have been deemed a nuisance more than a worry."

Kellum stopped in his tracks and took a deep breath. He was saying all the right things. He even believed most of what he was saying but his unease only grew.

How many times a day did he have to stop and take a deep breath? Some days he had to order himself to take the next step.

He was starting to question rather he was ever meant to be king. What if he was not cut out for it?

So many people were counting on him to see them through. How could he do that if he felt like he did not belong here? If he felt like everything was wrong?

He had made his decision and now it was time for him to stand by that decision.

They would stay and fight. They owed it to the humans and to their own fallen people.

The advisors were a hundred percent behind him.

Unease tried to overcome him, but he fought it down. A king could not afford to live with regrets and doubts.

"Kellum?"

"I am fine."

"You do not look fine. Perhaps you should make time to go visit the human Hayden. She makes you feel better, does she not?"

She does. For a short time. "I said I am fine. Give me a moment to myself. I will be in shortly."

He could tell Frick wanted to argue with him, but he would not. Not when he used his future king voice.

Kellum took another deep breath and tried to combat his weariness. All is well. Everything was going exactly as planned. His people were finding mates. His people and the humans he was in charge of were safe within the barricade where they would remain. There was no immediate threat.

His hand touched his chest. His pain was minimal, and he needed to keep it that way.

He was doing what he had to do. He was doing what was best for his people. That is all that mattered to a king.

He allowed himself one more deep breath before he forced himself to move. He had enough time for a workout with his guards before he was to meet with his mate.