"As you all know," Kael said firmly, "I have returned with my son, who is now the Crown Prince of the Beast Kingdom. You will treat him with respect, because I will not sire any other children in the future."
As he spoke, his gaze flicked briefly toward Vestor, making the owl stiffen. The owl knew that statement was meant for him—the one who had once assumed Kael would eventually mate with Ruela.
It was also Vestor who didn't have a tight surveillance around Ruela, so she could freely walk into the royal banquet wearing a dress only a prostitute would wear.
The declaration sent a ripple of shock through the hall.
Kael was the first alpha—no, the first king—who openly refused to take multiple concubines to produce powerful offspring.
He was placing the fate of the entire kingdom on Jojo alone, as though he trusted completely that his son would survive to ascension—and be strong enough to inherit the crown.
