They went up the sweeping staircase and down a long ornately decorated hallway until they reached a set of double doors. Tanlir opened one of the doors and gestured his guest to go in. Ulysses and Dr. Taglion walked past him into a spacious living area with heavy expensive furniture. There was a hall on the left and a door at the back of the room to the right.
"That leads to my study," Tanlir said pointing to the right-hand door as he closed the hall door to his quarters. "Let's go down the hall first. There's a guest room and bath for the good doctor." He said leading the way. He opened a door at the end of the hall. It was a fine room with a queen size bed with curtains, heavy pieces of furniture, and a sitting area. "I hope you find your accommodations to your liking doctor." He said. "The bathroom is through that door," Tanlir pointed to a small door in the corner.
"They are beautiful, Prince Tanlir. I'll be quite comfortable, thank you." Dr. Taglion said, looking around in pleased surprise.
"You're welcome. Ulysses and I are just down the hall from you at the first door we past." He said warmly.
"Let me just check your blood pressure Commander then I'll go about unpacking and settling in for the night." Dr. Taglion said briskly going to his medical bag and pulling out his blood pressure cuff. He gestured to a chair for Feral to have a seat.
Feral sighed and sat, extending his arm. The doctor quickly wrapped the cuff around his arm and took his pressure.
"Well it's a little low but not dangerously so. It's a good thing its bed time and you'll be off your feet. Get some fluids on board before you sleep and get some rest. I'll see you both in the morning. Is there a specific time we need to be up, Prince Tanlir?" He asked as he put away his device.
"Breakfast is served at nine in the morning, promptly, doctor. We dress semi-casual usually but tomorrow, Ulysses will be presented to the council so you should go in a suit." Tanlir told him.
"I understand. Then I will see you both in the morning. Good night!" Dr. Taglion said as he walked them to the door.
"Good night, sir." Tanlir said inclining his head politely. Feral just nodded in agreement.
As the doctor's door closed, Tanlir was already tugging Ulysses down the hall to his own room. When he opened the door, it was similar to the doctor's except much larger. The sitting area faced a huge fireplace. Before it was two heavy but comfortable chairs and a chess table sat between them. Thick carpeting was everywhere. The bed against the far wall was a king and heavy crimson draperies surrounded it. A doorway lead to a huge bathroom. A jetted tub, twin shower, dual dryers and sinks were the main features as well as a hidden private toilet. It was incredible. In the main area, Tanlir showed him the huge walk-in closet and the half that was his. His clothes were already unpacked and hanging. A dresser was in one corner for his use as well. He shook his head. 'This would take some getting used to.' He thought in a daze.
The Prince also had a small refrigerator located behind a mini bar in his living space. He had gone back there to retrieve a bottle of water for his mate and handed it to the bemused tom Kat who had followed him.
"This is really some place you have here Tanlir." He said.
"I'm glad you like it. Let's go get stripped and get you to bed, shall we." He said, wrapping an arm around Ulysses' waist and walking him back to the bathroom. After a soothing shower, Tanlir resisted the desire to take his mate, they made for the huge bed. He pulled the big tom into his arms and kissed him warmly.
"Sleep well, my love. Tomorrow will be a very busy and trying day." Tanlir murmured.
Feral sighed unhappily. 'Oh joy! I get to be stared and gawked at!' He thought then shook the unpleasant thought aside and enjoyed the warm arms around him and drifted to sleep.
The next morning, he awoke to bright sunlight streaming through a thin crack in the curtains across the room. He yawned and stretched. Beside him Tanlir rumbled sleepily then blinked his eyes open.
"Good morning, love. How are you feeling?" Tanlir murmured reaching out to caress his mate's face.
Ulysses smiled warmly and leaned toward the cheetah to get a morning kiss. "This is real nice to wake up to."
Their moment was interrupted by a knock on the door. Tanlir sighed, "Come!"
In came a cadre of servants. The head servant bowed. "Your highness, time to get dressed and ready for breakfast." He said politely.
Tanlir looked toward his mate with a lopsided smile. "Welcome to my world, my love."
Feral just rolled his eyes and pushed the bedding off to sit up. Tanlir reached out suddenly and stopped him.
"Slowly, Uly. It's less stressful to the stomach and your blood pressure." He warned gently.
"Humph! What a pain!" Feral growled but did as told. Once he was sitting up, he was surprised by a young maid who presented him a tray with assorted crackers and a mug with some fragrant tea in it.
"Consort, this was ordered by your doctor. He instructed that you eat a few crackers and drink the tea before rising." She said with a warm smile.
"Uh, well thank you." Feral said, finding this level of service a bit unnerving and being addressed as Consort would take some getting used to. He took some saltines and the tea.
Tanlir got up from the bed and went to the bathroom, soon the sound of a shower was heard. Feral finished his tea and crackers then carefully stood up. He was pleased to note that he felt fine. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted the head servant and another had been watching him closely but once he was safely on his feet they returned their attention to laying out clothes for Tanlir and himself.
Shaking his head mentally, he hurriedly made for the bathroom. The shower was still going even though Tanlir was already under the dryers. Uly stripped and made for the shower himself.
He came out of the bathroom and made for the closet only to be halted and dressed by the servants. This made him feel very uncomfortable but didn't say anything. Tanlir gave him a small knowing smile from where he stood near the door, already dressed and waiting.
Soon he was completely attired and walking with Tanlir out of their room meeting the doctor coming out of his.
"Good morning, your highness . . . Commander. How are we feeling this morning?" Dr. Taglion asked pleasantly as he joined them.
"The tea and crackers worked wonderfully. It's the first morning I've been able to get up without needing to lose my dinner." Feral said gratefully.
"That's good to hear. You need your strength today, or so I'm told." The doctor said.
"You heard correctly, doctor. It will be a trying time as my father addresses the council. They will be understandably skeptical of you and there will be some that will insist on tasting your scent. Once we're past the council then it's the press conference to tell the public. It will be a long day." Tanlir said heavily.
"Sounds like fun . . . not!" Feral said flatly. "I've always hated public appearances and the press."
"Yes, I have no doubt of that and its never for a happy reason either." Tanlir commiserated with his mate as they made their way to the dining room.
Nearly everyone was there except for a couple of brothers and, of course, the king and queen, when they entered the dining room. Tanlir led his guests to their seats where they stood behind their chairs and waited. Torr and Genrey hurried in and took their places just ahead of the Seneschal's announcing the king and queen. They came in and smiled at everyone and took their seats. Everyone else followed suit and a very nice breakfast was served.
Feral couldn't eat much and wasn't used too much breakfast anyway. Dr. Taglion stealthily passed certain items to him and urged him to eat a little of it. Feral sighed and complied. He would just have to accept the fact that he no longer had any real control over his life anymore.
"I trust you slept well, Ulysses." The Queen said questioningly.
"I did, your majesty." He said politely.
"Please, you're my new son, you are allowed to call me Regina when we are together privately and it will feel more like family that way." She requested
"As you wish,...Regina." Ulysses said reluctantly.
"And my name is Geoffrey." The King said with a smile. "Now, Ulysses, I'm sure Tanlir has already warned you that presenting you is going to cause a stir. Just a piece of advice, keep silent and let the council rant for a bit then answer their questions as completely as you can." He instructed his new son-in-law.
Feral nodded politely. "I'm used to dealing with irate government officials, sir. Hazards of the job."
"Oh of course, I'd forgotten for a moment that you are career military and a leader in your own right. My, this is taking me a bit to get used to. Anyway, I know you'll do fine." The King said.
Mentally he shook his head. He was still adjusting to the fact he had a son-in-law rather than daughter and that his new son was an experienced military Kat with a distinguished career. Instead of supporting his new female member of the family, he was going to have to allow his 'son' to return to his present duties as a Chief Enforcer despite the fact he was pregnant. That thought still caused him to squirm.
'Imagine a male giving birth...oh that's just too strange and if I'm having trouble with it heaven help the council and my people!' He thought with a sigh.
Breakfast conversation was lively, though Feral didn't participate much but did listen avidly. This was a very interesting family and he could feel the genuine love they felt for each other. He counted himself lucky to be included.
As soon as their meal was finished, they rose as a group and followed the King and Queen to the council chambers located in the main part of the castle. It was a good ten minute walk down hallways then down a grand staircase to a grand mezzanine. They crossed that to a heavy set of ornate oak doors with a guard on either side.
The Seneschal stepped from another room and went before the royal couple to announce them. The doors were opened and the Seneschal walked to the head of the huge table. The council was standing beside their chairs.
The King and Queen swept in and took their seats at the head of the table. Tanlir led Ulysses and Dr. Taglion around the table to a wall where a line of heavy, padded chairs were. He gestured for them to take the chairs to his right while his brothers took the ones on his left.
When everyone was settled, the council began its day's business. Feral listened closely to how this country ran its affairs. Though there was some dissension here and there among the members, none was acrimonious. A great deal of business was accomplished in a short amount of time then it was time for new business. He felt himself get tense as the King stood to address his council.
"I know rumors have run rife about some important news my son Tanlir has brought back from Megakat City. I must say that this news shocked and surprised me as well. It's good news but extremely unusual. I must insist that you all pay attention to everything I say before getting angry and upset or interrupting me before I finish. Is that clear?" He asked of all of them.
There were many looks of surprise and consternation but they all nodded, eager to know what the rumors were about.
"Very well then, Tanlir please stand, son and you too Ulysses." The king requested. Tanlir did as asked as did Feral, whose knees shook a little with nervous tension.
"Members of the council, Prince Tanlir has managed to lifemate. His mate is presently four weeks pregnant making my son next in line for the throne. His lifemate is Commander Ulysses Feral, Chief Enforcer of Megakat City. He is an hermaphrodite and our new 'son'." The King finished.
There was profound silence for several seconds then a roar of sound flooded the chamber as multiple voices tried to talk at once. The King and his family merely waited in silence for the fervor to settle down.
It took a while but finally, when they realized the King would not answer any questions until they quieted, silence began to fall once more punctuated by an occasional angry whisper.
"Your pardon, your majesty. You have verified Prince Tanlir's claim that this male is pregnant?" His minister for defense asked tautly glaring a bit at Feral.
"Naturally. However, Ulysses is willing to let any that need to have proof to take his scent." The King said mildly. "Ulysses, if you would come here, please." He ordered his new son. Feral made his way around the table until he stood next to the King. "Now, all that wish to, please come and satisfy yourself of this claim." He told his council.
At least half of his councilors' stood. They took turns coming close. Feral stood stiffly as each male came close and sniffed. It made him uncomfortable doing this. The last of the councilor's lingered a little longer than the rest. He was a middle-aged tom with an amazing red coloring to his fur. The Kat's gold eyes matched Feral's own and he sniffed deeply then leaned a bit close. Feral found himself shivering at the scent of this tom. Something about him made him uneasy.
Everyone was startled when a loud hiss and growl intruded behind the councilor. The red tom turned in surprise to see Prince Tanlir standing there, his eyes glowing with anger, his stance one of fierce protectiveness. He pushed the councilor back and interposed himself between his mate and the councilor.
"Tanlir!" His father barked in shocked surprise.
Tanlir didn't acknowledge his father's sharp censure. His focus was on the councilor. He bared his fangs and growled.
"I meant no disrespect Prince Tanlir. Your protective response tells us all that you are truly lifemated. My apologizes for making you prove that." The red tom said bowing and stepping back to allow the prince to calm down.
Feral heaved a sigh of relief. 'So that's what was wrong. I was feeling threatened and Tanlir, through our bond, reacted to it. Amazing.' He thought, still a little shakened.
He reached out to Tanlir and nuzzled his face to calm his mate. Tanlir huffed and shook himself out then returned the nuzzle, an arm snaked around his mate's waist possessively. The councilor's all retook their seats.
Tanlir turned to his father still holding his mate. "My apologizes for disrupting the proceedings, father. I really couldn't help myself." He told his father softly.
King Roender was amazed. He'd never witnessed a lifemating this strong before. It was obvious his son had indeed found his soul's other half.
"The cause was justified, my son. Go sit down and relax." He told Tanlir gently.
Tanlir walked back to his seat with Ulysses close at his side.
"If all of you are satisfied, we now need to discuss how we are to announce this to the public. Obviously, this is going to be tricky and will take very careful wording to make them understand that this is real and not a joke. That we are all agreed that the lifemating is a true one and that Tanlir is the next in line for the throne." The King said.
For the next hour, the council threw out many ideas about how to approach such a delicate situation. Finally, they came up with a press release that they all could live with. After lunch, they would face the press and tell them news that would shake the kingdom for months to come.