Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
We looked all over the kingdom for Cordelia’s body, but we couldn’t find it.
The Alphas had many theories about it. Some said she fell into the hole I opened with the witch weapon. Others said one of the escaping creatures carried her body.
She was alive. For some reason, I knew it as a fact. Not that I could convince anyone of that. They wouldn’t believe me if I said I felt it with my instincts. My witch instincts.
The next three days were the hardest to bear as I witnessed funeral rituals and the rebuilding of the marble hall. Many warriors were killed, but the kingdom’s people who evacuated to the secret tunnels in the dungeons were alive.
Dad wasted no time restoring the place. He had the whole marble floor ripped out, the gaping pit closed up, and a fresh floor laid down. I told him to leave the old chandelier as it was—beautifully damaged but still hanging there.
The people in the kingdom were used to the inconveniences of construction.
I liked that Dad kept the manor modern and up to date with technology and new furnishings.
During his reign as King, the manor went through construction every few years, even if it was to install new fridges in the common kitchen, tables, and chairs.
Mom and I helped the injured in the hospital, silently working side by side. I didn’t ask her anything about Dad, but she could tell by my mood that something bothered me. She kept giving me strange glances I ignored.
There was a storm brewing behind my chest, and I waited for my opportunity to confront Dad.
The news of vampire Torin, who’d wounded Cordelia and saved the second Princess, spread like fire in the kingdom.
I smiled as I listened to the people’s words about a fearless half vampire fighting to protect the werewolves, risking his life for them and the royal family.
It was the first step to changing Torin’s image within the kingdom.
The second step was to seize the moment.
I told Dad to call another Alpha meeting.
I had to convince them to vote on allowing Torin to shift into his vampire form in our territory.
The Alphas couldn’t go against it now that Torin was a hero, and the kingdom was more willing to accept his uniqueness. I just had to make it a formal process.
I swung open the door to Dad’s conference room and walked in with bold steps. The air smelled old and dusty, as if the air conditioning wasn’t working. The lights over the conference table seemed to be turned down as shadows cascaded on the table’s surface.
I swept my gaze around the room, taking in its occupants. All heads turned toward me, and all supernatural eyes focused on me.
My heart thumped as I carried myself, though inside, my stomach knotted. On the other side of the wooden circular table, Dad watched me carefully and zeroed in on my shoulder. He watched my movements for a limited range of motion and my face for a grimace of pain.
I gave him nothing to worry about, even though I hadn’t healed completely.
The royal doctor examined my shoulder, giving me local anesthesia and stitching my flesh. When I lay in bed, my shoulder would itch, stretch, and twitch under the bandages, but it was healing well.
Dad worried about me too much, and he had no idea he should have been more worried about what was coming for him. Me, asking for answers.
I couldn’t bring it up to Dad by saying, Dad, the dark witch said you were naughty. Did you, by any chance, cheat on Mom? Oh, and by the way, am I the product of that affair? That wasn’t going to go well with the King.
But I was going to find the time and place to confront him.
Dad’s eyes searched mine as if he wanted me to tell him what bothered me, but I didn’t. Not yet. I had to do this for Torin first.
He’d suffered the Alphas’ ridicule, bullying, and taunting for years, but he still chose to stay in the werewolf kingdom—probably because of me. I would return the favor and try to make his life here easier, even if I felt like I was about to crumble to the floor.
Alpha Leo from the Midwest region twirled a pen between his fingers without disconnecting his gaze from mine. The Frontier Alpha, Michael, leaned back in the leather chair, arms crossed at his chest.
But the first Alpha who spoke was Mark. “Another meeting, Princess?”
I plastered on my fake smile and sat in Torin’s spot. I told Dad to let Torin know not to join in. I’d heard a ruckus outside my bedroom door, where I guessed Hayden had shooed Torin away. Torin had come looking for me in my room, but he didn’t get very far.
Regardless of the outcome of the meeting, I planned on stopping by Torin’s room to give him an explanation. I didn’t want him to think he was in trouble with me or the King.
Although it felt like the distance between Torin and me grew, I was determined to help him heal as much as possible. And it started with his acceptance in the kingdom.
I glanced away from Dad as I spoke. "We need to have this meeting because there’s a big decision we have to make."
I hadn’t informed Dad what the requested meeting was about.
“Let’s hear it,” Mark said, dropping his hands on the table.
Straight to the point. Good.
I swallowed my insecurities and doubts about Torin and Layla, which were unreasonable, but discussing them during the meeting would still be difficult.
“Alpha Torin’s vampire gave him extra power to defeat numerous creatures and ultimately wound Cordelia.
His vampire allowed him to get to the second Princess before those creatures killed her.
His uniqueness is what made it possible for him to help us win.
Once Cordelia was out of the picture, the creatures seemed more confused, and our warriors quickly pushed them into the abyss. ”
“What exactly are you getting at, Princess?” Mark asked and blew out a hot breath of air.
I shot him my most annoyed look, my smile disappearing. My patience had been very thin lately.
His eyes widened, and he leaned back in his chair.
“I’m requesting a vote to allow Alpha Torin to shift into his vampire on the premises of the kingdom,” I said.
Silence.
Finally, Alpha Henry’s tapping fingers broke the awkward silence. He drummed his fingertips on the surface as if he were playing the piano.
“It’s risky, Princess,” he said.
“It’s only helpful, as you saw,” I deadpanned.
“I mean, it’s risky for our people.”
“How so?”
His fingers froze, and he glanced at the King as if he sought his approval first. I didn’t look at Dad.
“He could lose his temper. He could compel us.”
“Has this happened before?” I asked him.
Mark cleared his throat. “No, but there’s a first time for everything,” he said, smirking.
“If you were in trouble”—I made sure to look at each of the three Alphas—“during the fight with the creatures, and you could only be saved by Torin’s vampire because he was faster and stronger, wouldn’t you want to survive?
Or would you choose to die because you’re too proud?
” I took a deep breath. I couldn’t lose my cool now.
“It’s time our kingdom became more accepting of others who are different.
We live in a supernatural world. There will always be a risk of danger. ”
Mark opened his mouth to say something, but I’d had enough.
“With a show of hands, who is voting favorably for Alpha Torin’s ability to shift into his vampire on our premises?” I asked.
All hands went up except Mark’s.
“Four to one. The vote passes,” I said and smiled. “Thank you all for your trust, warriors, and your fight against the dark witch.”
I stood, and out of nervousness, I did a small bow and strolled out of the boardroom. Smiling, I couldn’t wait to tell Torin the good news.
If people got used to his vampire here, perhaps he could also start accepting that part of himself. The King and the Alphas would make it official by announcing it to each pack and the kingdom at a gathering.
I climbed the stairs and walked past my room and Hayden’s. Torin’s guest room was at the end of the long hallway.
I stood at the door, my hand midair for a knock, when muffled voices echoed on the other side of the bedroom door. My blood chilled in its tracks.
It couldn’t be.
The door swung open, and Torin appeared.
“Anna,” he said in a low, shaky voice.
Behind him stood the reason for the tremble in Torin’s tone. Layla smirked at Torin’s side.
“I can explain,” Torin said.
“No need,” I said and turned around.
I shook my head. I knew he hadn’t done anything with Layla, and she must have pressured him to talk to her using our mate secret.
But still. My heart ached, and I massaged the spot over my shirt.
Torin grasped my wrist and turned my body to face him. I blinked back the tears before he could see them.
“Let go of me, Torin,” I ordered.
Hayden’s bedroom door opened, and he stormed out and swatted Torin’s hand away.
“Make good choices, Torin,” Hayden said. “Fall back. It’s her wish.”
Torin froze, and his gaze darted between me and Hayden. Were the two going to fight again?
I wasn’t going to stick around long enough to find out. I dashed out of the manor and toward my secret cave. The cave where I’d brought bruised and beaten Hayden as a boy and nursed him back to life.
It was my thinking spot, which only Hayden and I knew about. I just needed to breathe—alone.
I bolted toward the familiar path of the forest. My feet pounded against the soil, matching the pounding of my racing heart. As the distance between the manor and me widened, so did the distance between Torin and me. I needed space to think.
Breathless, I slowed to a walk. Usually, I would enjoy the hum of insects and the calling of birds, but now my ears rang. The cooling breeze did nothing to calm down my nerves.
As moss-covered rocks appeared, I knew I was getting close to the cave. But before I got to the opening of the rocks, rustling and then sounds of flesh hitting flesh echoed around me.
In front of me, one of Dad’s warriors fought another man. The two men threw punches and kicks with supernatural speed and strength. I gasped when the stranger had Dad’s warrior by the throat, slowing down enough for my human eyes to study him.
His red eyes were set on the warrior. Were we under vampire attack now?
Perhaps the vampire Queen wanted to use our weakened state to strike us, but I couldn’t see anyone else around.
There was only one vampire in the distance, and I wouldn’t let him kill our warrior. I sprinted toward the vampire and did what every other future werewolf Queen would do for her people.
Risk her life.