Chapter 30 #2
“And what would be the point of her sacrifice,” Einar argued.
“If the sirens of Lyndoruun were still conflicted? The solution seems simple to me.” Einar faced Drustan.
“Officially bonding with your human mate will most likely be the key that unlocks your people’s ability to secure their own bonds.
The nereids and fae have accepted their bonds without fuss and look at the success our people are having because of it.
” He leaned forward, folding his hands on top of each other as he locked eyes with the siren prince.
“Bonding with the one whom the goddess chose for your mate, could be what she’s waiting for, to determine if the rest of your people are ready for such a gift. ”
Drustan drummed his fingers on the wood of the table as he asked, “And how does the council suggest I earn the acceptance of my mate, because for those of you unfamiliar with Vanessa, she is not exactly eager to jump into my arms…or bed.”
I smirked at that. It brought me a spark of hope, at least, that Vanessa wasn’t desperate to get into Drustan’s pants.
I’d spend a lot of time by her bedside the last couple of days, waiting for her to wake up, thinking about her situation.
At first, I was angry, because why would the goddess punish Vanessa with such a horrible man as her Hyvenmerian mate?
Vanessa was too good for him, by miles. Drustan was…
unbearable. The manner in which he carelessly took lives was nothing less than evil.
Just because I understood the context of why Drustan murdered my mate’s parents didn’t mean he was forgiven for it.
I hated that he was bonded to my best friend in such a way.
But then Vanessa’s words floated in my memory, “…for reasons that feel all too familiar right now…” and a hard, cold rock filled my stomach.
Did Vanessa seriously consider her and Drustan to be similar in that regard?
To have the same morals and ethics? Vanessa was just a kid, and we never talked about her murdering our foster father that often because, well, I didn’t think we needed to.
I just assumed it was a dark, horrible memory to have, and that she wouldn’t want to dwell on it.
But what if that wasn’t the case? What if Vanessa truly did dwell on what she did more than I thought?
It would explain why she was so eager to plan to kill Ilia.
Perhaps, similarly to how I’ve kept part of myself from Vanessa to protect her from this life, Vanessa had been keeping dark parts of herself from me.
Just the thought made dread fill my veins.
“I think the first thing we need to focus on is ensuring Vanessa wakes,” Queen Ada argued.
“I’m not wasting precious time trying to help the Mad Siren Prince of Lyndoruun pick out the perfect flowers to court his mate with.
” I loved Liam’s sister so much. “And if Vanessa has no desire to finalize the bond between them, then we will have to come up with a more creative way to unify the sirens of Lyndoruun.”
Everyone murmured some form of agreement, even Drustan, who seemed more resigned than I expected him to be.
After discussing more details about the whismerric siren haven Caelena was designing, the dates on which Drustan would announce his intention to claim the throne as Guardian of the Fjellenheim Mountains, and maintaining the Mellhawn Gates, we all rose and left the chambers.
While Liam clasped his large, warm hand in mine, we watched as Fergus tapped Caelena on her shoulder before she could leave.
“Could you do me a favor and let me know what my mother would like for her birthday?” Fergus asked. Caelena released a huff of laughter.
“For you to find your mate,” she replied. Fergus groaned.
“She and I both,” Fergus huffed. “But genuinely, what else?”
“She’s your mother, Ferg,” Caelena scolded him. “I have more important things to do than help you be as lazy as possible with your mother’s birthday.”
Sufficiently scolded, Fergus bid us farewell and followed his parents.
When Liam and I turned a corner with Caelena, Drustan was leaning against a wall in the hallway, waiting for us.
“I’m getting tired of seeing your ugly face every other day,” Liam muttered at my side. I squeezed his hand in reassurance as I fought a smile. Drustan tipped his head to the side, genuine confusion marring his features before his eyes narrowed at my mate.
“Are you still upset with me for killing your parents? Because your mate killed my father just days ago, and I’m already over it.” I genuinely believed him. Drustan did not look or sound like someone who gave a single shit that the people he was speaking to had killed his father.
“What is it, Drustan?” I asked, standing my ground. His eerie siren gaze locked on me, and I genuinely couldn’t believe that he and I shared the same mother.
“When can I see her?” Drustan asked.
“When she wants to see you,” I replied. Drustan ground his jaw together, and a muscle popped in his cheek.
“You must understand how difficult that answer is for me to accept,” he replied.
“She’s recovering in my home,” Liam explained. “And you are needed in Lyndoruun. I suggest helping your cousin lift the load, so your people have a chance at seeing you as the leader you intend to be.”
Drustan glared at him, staring, letting his irritation coat over everyone in this moment.
“So that’s how it’s going to be, then.” He determined.
I lifted a shoulder, “I’m not just going to make Van accessible to you. When she recovers, and she says she wants to see you, I won’t stop her.” Drustan shook his head once before pushing off the wall he was leaning on and storming off. Caelena turned to address us before following after him.
“I’ll keep in touch.” She held herself with such authority, such maturity, I couldn’t believe she and Drustan seemed to get along as well as they did.
“Us as well,” I replied. Once Caelena was gone, following after Drustan, I released a heavy breath that seemed to lift a weight off my body.
“C’mon,” Liam pulled me under his arm, comforting me in the heat of his body, his orange scent that made my brain relax. “Let’s go home.”
I smiled at that. This was all I ever wanted.
I wanted to find out who my parents were, and I discovered who my mother was, at least, which gave me a cousin and brother whom I probably wouldn’t have picked out for myself.
But I had Liam. And his sister Ada. My chosen family, in this realm that felt more and more like home every day that passed, as the magic continued to infuse with my cells.
As Liam pressed his lips against my head and got ready to lyskift us back to Vanessa, I let one last selfish thought fill my mind.
I’d rather close the Mellhawn Gates myself than see Vanessa bound to someone like Drustan Shaw.
THIS CONCLUDES PART ONE.
PART TWO OF VANESSA AND DRUSTAN’S STORY IS COMING SOON.