The Crown's Entrapment

It was the same as any other day, Clara thought. The sun was shining, and Gilas was walking alongside her as usual. However, today was decidedly not the same as any other day. After all, this was the last day of her mate's treatment, and it was more than a cause for celebration if she did say so herself.

"So, are we planning anything for later?" Clara couldn't help but ask.

"Nothing beyond going back home to Keen Manor," Gilas replied with a shrug. "Why?"

Clara simply nodded. In truth, such an answer was the best thing she could've heard from him that day. At the very least, her efforts with Shila wouldn't be wasted with him suddenly going off to do work for the day.

Indeed, today was a cause for celebration, which meant that the Keen Manor was already gearing itself up for a party right at that very moment.

"No reason," she coolly replied. "Just checking, really."

"Doesn't sound like it," Gilas scoffed. "Are you planning something?"

"None at all," Clara scoffed, hoping that her nonchalant attitude would throw him off her plan. "Like I said, I was just checking."

"Checking for what?"

"You're being awfully insistent on this, huh," Clara sighed. Thinking quickly, she came up with an excuse that would hopefully be decent enough. "Fine then. If you must know, I'm just preparing myself for something to happen later."

…

...

A beat passed before a faint blush colored her cheeks. She didn't know why, but her own words sounded so suggestive to her that she couldn't help but think of last night's 'treatment.'

Gilas chuckled. "Oh? Are you going to continue my 'treatment' later then?"

Clara blushed hard at her mate's question. Still, if she wanted to keep her plans a secret, she had no choice but to agree.

"Something like that," she vaguely replied, making her tone sound more of a yes than something else entirely. "Think of it as a celebratory gift."

"Clara, getting Ham back is already more than what I'd ever want as a gift today," he smiled at her. "Still, if you're offering, then who am I to refuse?"

His voice sounded so alluring, and Clara couldn't help but swoon at the want dripping from his voice. Sure, she hadn't planned on it then, but perhaps she could add it later once all of the actual celebrations were already over.

[That's assuming you two will have the energy for it,] Sheba pointed out.

[Gilas is already getting healthier by the day,] Clara quickly pointed out. [There's no way that he'll… well…]

She stalled, her mind already filling with ideas on where exactly Gilas could take her without them leaving the comfort of their own bed. She couldn't even deny that she wanted it, her former apprehension having completely evaporated whereas before where she would justify her denial with nonsensical excuses.

[You really love him now, don't you,] her wolf remarked.

[What else is there to say?] she inwardly shrugged. [He has managed to do the impossible.]

Indeed. Even as Clara watched her mate enter the room where his treatment would begin, she couldn't help but think back on all of the things that had happened between them. From the beginning where she truly and almost utterly disliked Gilas, to the point where he would somehow strike a deal with her in exchange for his cooperation with Darius. From there, their relationship would somehow develop and further blossom into the amazing thing that they now shared between them today. It was honestly funny thinking just how much she loved Darius back then, only for her to somehow let him go in favor of her real mate.

[And how the times change, indeed,] Sheba wistfully chuckled. [And now you no longer love the King, yes?]

[What makes you say that?] Clara scoffed. [I still do, but my love for Gilas has overtaken him somehow.]

It was something that was both a worry and a relief to her if she would describe it back then. Her ever increasing fondness for Gilas first made her want to try and shake it off, wanting nothing to do with the Mate Pull that somehow had full control over her destiny. But as the days passed and her efforts were rebuffed at every turn, she couldn't deny that Gilas had earned his place in her heart. He was sincere in his efforts, and unlike her first love, he actually had eyes for her instead of any other woman.

[That honestly sounds like you just took your mate in because your King didn't accept you,] Sheba scoffed.

[Well, that was a part of it, but it became sincere as time went on,] Clara admitted. [There's just no way that I could refuse him after everything that he had been through at this point.]

That, and she had genuine feelings for him now. Even if it was through the Mate Pull that they became linked together, she was truly happy with her lot in life now. Even as Gilas went through his lowest points in life, she was there with him every step of the way.

And she wouldn't have it any other way.

"And I'm done," Gilas announced as he emerged from the room, his look one of relief as he looked at her. "We'll have to do something for Lady Jayra one of these days for this."

"I agree," Clara nodded in agreement as she stood up from the wall that she was leaning on. "She had done so much for us, and without even prompting as well."

"Indeed," he hummed. "Also, why didn't you go in there with me? You usually wanted to watch."

"I had a few things to think about," Clara shrugged. "That, and I kind of wanted to get away from Master Kasper for a while."

"I can understand the sentiment," Gilas sighed. "He wouldn't shut up back there, you know?"

"That just makes my decision all the better then," she chuckled. "I'll have to thank Jayra myself in another day then."

"She's still in there if you'd like to do that now, you know," Gilas pointed out. "Although, she's kind of occupied with the amount of letters she's writing."

Clara simply chuckled. She could only assume that they were all for Master Kasper to take as payment for his services.

"So, shall we go then?" Gilas asked.

"Sure," she smiled.

She couldn't help but feel excited as they promptly left the castle. The celebration would be glorious. Of that, she was sure of.