Chapter 11

"Clint, we don't have time for that!"

Clint tugged on the arm of his wife one final time to get her to move, sighing when she did so. "Look. All I want to do is show you something."

"But Mikey will be here in ten minutes so we can start the Council meeting. I'm really nervous and you dragging me all over the house isn't helping," Aiden replied as he pulled her through the hallway. She tried dragging her feet, but he wasn't taking no for an answer.

"Trust me. This is better than waiting for your brother or building your own house."

Aiden bit her lip. It had taken then entire month to get both wings of the house built with electricity and plumping installed. It had been a long month. Everyone had worked hard day and night to get the buildings up and running. The group had taken turns building, sleeping and watching out for Dylan when his parents were working. Even a landscaper had been called in to make all the courtyards they had set in different areas of the palace grounds.

Now that the wings were built, the entire Council was ready to move in, and they did with a lot of noise. The heads of the departments got their own offices in each wing of the house. The main building had enough bedrooms to fit eighteen families because of the familial suites that had been installed just for that purpose.

Housekeepers, a butler, a chef and some maids had been hired in those weeks they had been working. It had made life easier for those painstakingly putting together a new life. They now had clean clothes, fresh linens, and food they hadn't had to clean or cook. They knew all the names of the people employed so it made it easier.

It was finally looking like a home instead of a grand palace it was supposed to be. On paper it was just another mansion in New Orleans. But to those who lived there, it was the palace where they worked to make lives better.

Clint was using his memory to drag his wife around. In the last few weeks he had seen next to nothing of her so it had given him time to work on his pet project. Now he was ready to reveal it to her.

He stopped in front a set of double doors. When she cocked her head to the left in question he threw them open. Inside there were two thrones on a dais. On either side of the thrones were five smaller chairs with the Council sitting in them, looking imposing though many of them were far from it.

In front of the dais were six chairs that could roll around to face the door. They did and revealed Cole, Andy, Wyatt, Austin, Tyler, and Keldin who had been MIA with personal reasons during the construction. When they saw Aiden and Clint, everyone stood up.

"What have you done?" Aiden asked her husband as she looked around the fascinating room.

"I turned the formal dining room into a throne room. I know for a fact if we ever have a formal dinner, we'll be eating outside under white tents so everyone can be accommodated. I couldn't let this room go to waste so voila! It is now our throne room where we can have meetings and hearings when the occasion arises," he replied. He turned her to face him then set the silver coronet on her head.

When she lifted her eyes to look at him, she was smiling. "Thank you, and if you ever say voila again, I'm going to shoot you myself."

Smiling, Clint allowed her to place his crown on his head. They ascended the dais and sat down in the thrones, Aiden beside Kathryn and Clint between her and Jackson Montgomery one, one of the humans they had added to the Council.

The butler opened the double doors again a second time. He stopped and bowed before speaking. "His Majesty Michel Lowen and Their Highnesses Igor Everwood, Pauline Kane, Stanton Iverson and Ethan Wolvesly have arrived. Shall I show them in?"

"Yes please, Devlin," Aiden replied. She gripped her husband's hand tightly as the butler disappeared for a few moments then returned with five other people. A smile crossed her face then she stood, forcing the others in the room to as well. "Mikey, welcome to my home."

Mikey's smile mirrored her own as he looked around. "It seems you have been doing well over the last three months since I last saw you. Did you enjoy your birthday?"

"I did. Clint had a few surprises waiting on me." She motioned to the chairs Devlin had set out before the Court's chairs. "Please sit. We were waiting on you anyway."

The Court and Council waited as the Golden King and members of his Council sat down. They sat down afterwards and prepared themselves for what was to come.

The atmosphere in the room could only be described as tense. It wasn't Aiden who was tense. The people around her were. They had been the ones to work tirelessly over the last month to make their home work, and to meet the deadlines set before them. They were tired and worn out, but most importantly they were mad.

Mikey opened his folder and looked up. "It seems you have everything you need. I heard you have taken over operation of Nottoway Plantation and are planning to open a bar in a free lot in the heart of the city. Is that true?"

This was Keldin's area of expertise so he answered. "Yes, Your Majesty, it is true. We have decided to fill our accounts with a little easy money. In a year's time we hope to have our own financial company up and running. Plus we have some on the police force and Andy is looking to open his own law firm here in the city."

"Have you made contact with your international members?"

This had Austin and Cole all over it. The two looked at each other and smiled.

"Yes, sir, we have. I talked to the leaders of the Sectors in the Gold communities. They have talked to their Silver subordinates and have given us a list of those whole would be best suited as Sector leaders. We have been over it tentatively. Once we narrow down the list for the international leaders, we will have a list for you as well," Cole said.

"As for the home front, we have a few chosen as leaders. They will be responsible for their own teams," Austin added.

"Can you tell me the leaders you have chosen?"

Austin looked at Aiden. With her nod he started rambling off the list of names. "Sector 1's leader is Austin Somme, Sector 2's leader is a man named Agen Chrystler, Sector 3's is Jesse Jenks, Sector 5 is headed by our own Queen, Sector 6 is led by Keldin Somme, and Sector 7 is Tyler James. Sector 4 and the Canadian Sectors we have yet to determine."

"Can you tell us why you have placed your friends and family in such positions, Your Majesty?" Igor asked.

Aiden stiffened but the pleasant look on her face never subsided. "I trust them implicitly."

Mikey flicked his gaze between his ruling sister and his Councilman. Something was going on but he couldn't stop this yet. He needed to make sure his sister could rule.

"You have sufficient housing to accommodate all your staff and people?" he asked.

"Yes, I do. We have enough space for the Court, Council, and their families should they move in. Plus there is room for the staff. There are plenty of bathrooms and enough workout rooms for everyone to stay in shape," his sister replied. The more she answered, the lighter her tone became. She was settling down.

But her gaze never left his subordinates' faces. He tried not to think too much of it, but the tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife.

He couldn't think of anymore questions so he closed his folder. "Everything looks to be in accordance to our laws. Aiden and Clint Miller, I hereby name you sovereign rulers over the Silver Kingdom. May your rulings be just and firm." He watched Aiden wince as what looked to be a new mark burned its way onto her skin.

When a member of the Silver or Gold Court turned seventeen, their first tattoos or marks burn into their skin. The marks symbolize a person's power when it matures, such as lightning, water, air and so on. They also turn either silver or gold to show which faction the person belongs.

Whenever a bond is formed with a person's intended, a specific symbol only known to the couple is burned into the skin. With each new achievement in life, new marks can be tattooed on the body. In this instance, Aiden's inheritance was now emblazoned on her somewhere. It would mirror the moon on her chest but would say she was the Queen of the Silver Court.

With things somewhat situated, their guests were getting ready to go. A murmur wafted through the room as people started shifting around.

"One moment, Your Majesty," Tyler said. Mikey and his entourage were getting ready to leave, and they turned to look at him. "I have a question for your four Councilmen."

Mikey motioned for him to go ahead. He stood and grabbed the manila folder by his chair. He adjusted the wire framed glasses on his nose as he paced in front of the dais. "Would you mind telling me what this is?"

Igor grabbed the folder and looked at its contents, his face reddening as he read everything. His mouth worked like a fish, but no sound came out. He looked up into Tyler's face then shifted his gaze to the woman behind him with her head canted to the right.

"Where did you get this?" he demanded. His voice held barely contained rage and his face was turning scarlet by the second.

"What is it?" Mikey asked. He reached for it.

But Igor jerked it away, shoving it behind his back. "It's nothing, Your Majesty. Nothing at all."

"He's lying," Aiden said. Mikey flicked his gaze to his sister and folded his arms in front of him.

Igor turned his attention to the new Queen. "How would you know?"

"My sister is a Truth Hearer. She knows when you're lying," Mikey said. He let that sink in for a good, long moment. "Give it to me now."

Begrudgingly, Igor handed his King the folder. Mikey read it then turned an angry gaze to the four Councilmen at his side. "You've been stealing money? More importantly, my money? You've been stealing from the hand that feeds you?"

"Your Majesty, let me explain," Igor stammered.

The Golden King's face was incredulous as he snapped the file closed. He handed it back to Tyler then crossed his arms. "Oh, please do. And it better be good because not only did you steal money from me but from my family as well."

"He was planning to return to the old regime, where Golds rule over the Silvers. He planned on having enough money to other throw you after he made sure our palace wasn't finished on time. Once he overthrew you he could stack his Court and Council anyway he wanted," Austin said. He was sitting sideways in his chair looking completely bored, but he was far from it. He was coiled and ready to pounce if he needed to.

"I want to know how you know all this," Stanton said.

"We were still subjects of the Golden Kingdom until yesterday. It means all your files were public records. It was easy to get it," Tyler replied.

It was a lie but Aiden knew better than to let the others know. She stared down at her brother as he looked up at her. He understood and wisely kept his counsel to himself.

Everyone started talking at once. It was hard to decipher who was saying what as the voices escalated in pitch and tone. The two Rulers continued looking at each other and shook their heads. They knew this was something that could happen but they didn't want to believe it. Now that it was in their faces they had to deal with it.

Aiden could read anguish in her brother's face. She knew he simply wanted her help in governing their people and splitting them up had been the only way. Now he was wondering if he made the correct choice.

Beside her, Cole made a face then jumped up from his seat. "Your Majesty, watch out!"

There was barely any time for them to react as something began choking Clint. No one, save Aiden, was touching him but she couldn't summon the wind without someone using it first. Opening her tempered senses, she searched for the Windler in the crowd of people. It was Stanton. All she had to do was step in his way and divert his energy back at him.

Before she could do that, fire raced at her. Dodging, she felt the room begin to heat up. Austin was drawing the energy from the electrical wires in the room, causing the lights to flicker. He was getting ready to electrocute everyone in front of them, save Mikey. And right beside him Klark was spinning a flame between his fingers, ready and willing to defend his family.

Aiden got to her feet just as Clint began to slide from his seat. She found the string of energy and turned it all back on its wielder. She sank to the floor as Clint began to gasp for air.

"Enough!" Mikey's voice rang out over the sudden fight. "Cole, please detain these criminals. I will deal with them when we get back. I hope you can forgive me."

He showed the utmost respect by bowing at the waist to his sister. Because a crowned monarch was lower than them, the others had to do so as well. They didn't mind. It meant things were starting to get better for them.

"All is forgiven," Aiden replied as she held her husband. "Just get them out of here." She turned her attention back to the man in her arms. He opened his eyes and looked up at her. "Hey."

"Hey," he whispered. He choked a little and his eyes rolled back in his head for a moment before he looked at her again. "Am I alive?"

Aiden laughed and placed her hand on his chest. "Yes and we took care of the criminals in Mikey's Court. He's going to deal with them."

"Good. Are we a Kingdom?"

She laughed at him. "Yes, we're a Kingdom."

He closed his eyes. "Good, but let's call it a court. It sounds so much better." He sighed and dropped his head into the crook of her arm. "Now can I sleep?"

She pressed her lips to his forehead in her answer. Wyatt was gentle as he picked up his brother-in-law and carried him to the infirmary for medical care. Kathryn called the meeting, and slowly everyone dispersed.

Aiden stood in the doorway of the throne room and looked back. Save for a few scorch marks, this place would soon be filled with dignitaries from all over the supernatural world. All her alliances she had made over the years would come and pay their respect. Business would truly begin.