Chapter 143 The Rogue King 

**Rosalie’s POV

Soren was healing steadily, but the pack wasn’t too happy about his stay

“Your Majesty!” Cerina knocked at my open office door.

“Cerina,” I looked up from the piles of documentation and studying materials and greeted her.

“Where’s the prince?” The prince was my baby boy

“He’s with Seraphine. Do you need me for something?”

Cerina breathed in deeply through her nostrils, held it for a moment, and then let it go. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

I stood up from my desk and gestured for her to take the seat at the sofa with me.

“Is this about Soren?”

She nodded. It was obvious she wasn’t pleased with his presence, and I could hardly blame her.

I started, “I know that it’s difficult for anyone to understand why I haven’t simply locked him up or had him executed. But our relationship is a complex one. He helped me when I was in

need of assistance, and I would like to do the same for him.”

“My understanding is that he helped you when you were in need of assistance because he had ordered some men to beat you, isn’t that so, Your Majesty?” Cerina might be respectful, but she also didn’t have any problem speaking her mind.

Yes, to an extent,” I said. “There’s more to it than that. Anyway, he did take me in. He gave me a job and cared for me while I needed it most.”

“He held you hostage so that he could use you and the prince as bartering chips. That’s how I see it,” Cerina replied, folding her arms. “Forgive me, Your Majesty, but I believe you may be more trusting than is good for you.”

“I’m sure you’re probably right about that,” I admitted. “I do tend to forgive easily and think the best of people.”

“And in many ways, we admire you for that. But in this case… he is a dangerous man. He needs to be dealt with accordingly. He should be seen as a prisoner of war, not a friend visiting from out of town for an unforeseen amount of time or a political refugee.”

I considered her words and realized she was right: “Very well,” I said. “Toward that end, I’d like to give him someplace to stay. It should be somewhere that he will be comfortable but also where we can make sure he is watched at all times.”

“We’ll take manpower away from the cause for that,” she

reminded me

an ally, he may be

not as if we can ransom him back,” Cerina said

that his resources and

to have a friend than a potential enemy. Worst case, even if he is a foe, wouldn’t it be better to keep him under our watch than letting him run

to be more acceptable to her. She sighed and finally

the palace grounds near the highest part of the wall. There’s no gate there, so it would be difficult for him to escape, and

sounds perfect,

hours later, I personally walked Soren to the cottage Cerina arranged for him. I’d already been there

as the one you put me in, but I think it

your hospitality, Rosalie… I mean… Your Majesty. Sorry. Old habits die hard.” He laughed and looked

Rosalie when there’s no one else around.” I did have my guard with me, as I always did, but they were in the distance, and they weren’t listening that closely

front door, I said, “Here we are,” and gestured for Soren to walk in. “It’s just a small living room, kitchen,

Soren said,

dingy furniture. The walls were a light yellow and in need of a fresh coat of paint. The kitchen cupboards were old, and one was falling off

was a man who owned an

the closet for you. The toiletries are in

I’ve always wanted to learn cooking! Maybe one day, you’d be willing to come over

and didn’t seem to be bothered by the outdated internal decoration at

had already made

offer down. “I’m afraid I’ll be quite busy for a

say so, Queen Rosalie,” Soren said. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close. For a moment, it was like I was hugging my old friend. “Thank you so much. I can’t tell you how much I

some time. However, regardless of what I think, you should understand that my people will be

“I

say more, but before I could get anything out, one of the guards knocked on the open door. I turned my head to give him

he said,

needed

was never a good summons to receive. “Thank you,” | told him and then turned back

have a baby.” He put his hand over his abdomen the way

“Please behave and don’t do anything silly,”

it,” he

I smiled

the battlefield, he was dirty, with sweat and blood caked to his face. He didn’t appear to be injured himself, but he had surely

I said with a nod. “What is it that you have

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