Chapter 53
The colossal double doors were solid metal, each one thick enough to stop a battering ram.
They groaned deep in their hinges, opening as they approached.
All eyes were on Lucie as Justice led her inside.
She felt Justice pat her hand on his arm and he winked at her.
She scanned the room but didn’t notice Derrick or Ryan anywhere.
She met Aedan’s gaze as he stood at the front of the hall.
He was also wearing a black tuxedo and was talking with a few gentlemen.
He gave her a small smile as he continued his conversation.
Justice led her through the curious eyes. They were looking at the stranger next to Lucie and probably wondering where the prince was. She was wondering that too.
A man approached her, one she had never seen before. His eyes fixed on her neck, and his lips curled in disgust.
“So, he really did it. He really claimed a pup as his mate. No offense to you, but to preserve our kind, only the purest have been mated to the throne. This whole concept of you having pure blood is mind-boggling. As if we need a treaty with the wolves anyway.”
Justice pulled Lucie slightly behind him, his eyes blazing.
No one would disrespect her. He felt a strong hand land on his shoulder and he turned his head to see Jester standing there.
“I’ll handle this. Continue on.” Jester nodded once to them before turning a dark gaze on the man in front of him.
“I see you think you know more than the royal family. Above all of that, she is his soulmate. You know our rules about that.”
Lucie wanted to hear the rest of the conversation, but Justice led her away. She looked up at him and the tense expression on his face.
“You don’t need to be bothered with that stuff, Lucie. That’s not the point of tonight,” Justice said firmly.
“And what is the point of tonight?” Lucie asked with a small smile. She watched as Justice chuckled and shrugged.
“I guess we’ll find out.” He winked at her again.
He’s less than helpful sometimes.
For a moment, Lucie found herself looking for Jasper. She frowned as she remembered he wasn’t there. This witch business was taking longer than it should. Why hadn’t she been found? She must be shielding herself well. After this long, she was probably really good at hiding.
“Lucie,” Queen Willa said, motioning for her to join her in the center at the front of the room.
Lucie looked up at Justice and he nodded at her. “I’ll be waiting right here.”
Okay, something had been planned for sure. Lucie stood beside Willa, who smiled at her. She watched as Alaric stepped forward and the crowd quieted down.
“I’ve been waiting a very long time for this day.
Not only has my son claimed his mate, but I am happy to introduce you to the real face of my son.
” Alaric’s voice rang with clarity. The double doors opened, and both Ryan and Derrick walked in side by side.
Ryan was wearing a formal military suit, his jacket a dark purple with gold epaulettes and black piping that traced the lines of his shoulders.
Derrick wore the colors of the royal family, his suit black as midnight, threaded with veins of gold embroidery along the collar and cuffs, purple silk lining flashing beneath the jacket.
Whispers rose from the crowd as they watched the two men walk to the front of the hall.
“I would like to introduce you to the first knight of the elite soldiers, Ryan, who you have all thought to be Derrick. And to my son, who has been leading the elite soldiers in battle up to this point. Today, we make his face known to all.” Alaric moved to the side as his son reached them.
Derrick’s eyes met Lucie’s and he reached his hand out for her to join him.
He squeezed her hand gently and turned his attention to his people.
“As you all know, the elite soldiers must be the most trusted and loyal soldiers to the royal family. To ensure this, I have been undercover since I was young. I’ve discovered many things this way, but most importantly, I know the sincerity of the loyalty of my soldiers.
I am showing you my real face now in light of some disturbing news I have heard.
Know this. I have loved Lucie since I was a child.
Even before I knew she was my soulmate, she was in my heart.
She is the reason I live. My everything. ”
He smiled at her. “At no point was there ever anyone else. Anyone who claims otherwise is committing treason. The banshee and our newest-bound servant will deal with any treachery according to our laws. We will forgive this once, only because any accusations were not done knowingly about your prince.” He scanned the area until his eyes found Stella’s nervous eyes.
He shot a clear warning at her, then continued to look over the crowd.
“I know many of you were concerned about the strained relationship. Well, that’s because it was a feigned relationship.
” Derrick chuckled and looked at Ryan, then back to his people.
“I don’t want there to be any doubt in your mind at how important my mate is to me.
None. Not only have I claimed her as such, but I have already marked her as my own.
Furthermore …” He spun Lucie to face him.
His eyes trailed over her, landing on her soft lips and inviting neck.
“I will publicly show you our committed, unbreakable bond.”
He leaned his head down and bit into Lucie’s neck.
He knew she wouldn’t be shocked since she had already read his thoughts and knew what he was planning.
Vampires didn’t just mark. They also signified their unbreakable bond through the exchange of blood.
Those who exchanged blood could never take another mate again.
It was more permanent than just marking their mate.
It made it so that only their mate could ever satisfy them.
It is something generally done quietly and privately among only the most devoted couple.
By doing this publicly, he was delivering a very clear statement: there was no future to the vampires without Lucie.
He licked her neck clean before smashing his lips into hers desperately. He panted against her lips and kept his eyes on her. Now it was her turn. She also had to drink his blood. He smiled as he felt her bashful emotions coming forward. To make it easier, he lowered himself in front of her.
A heads-up about all of this would have been great.
This was like the public marking with dragons, only they at least knew what was coming ahead of time.
Lucie had never drunk blood before either.
Sure, she’d marked Derrick, but it wasn’t the same thing.
She inhaled deeply, slowly composing herself.
Baring her fangs, she leaned toward his neck and slowly sunk them into his flesh.
She felt the warm liquid trickle into her mouth and was surprised at how her insides filled with desire.
It was as if his blood was an aphrodisiac, sending a rush of heat pooling between her thighs.
She’d heard about how vampires craved the taste of their mate’s blood.
It made no sense to her before, but it did now.
And she knew no other blood could ever quench her thirst but his.
How was he able to stop? She felt like she wasn’t getting enough, and she wanted to devour the rest of him.
She expected his blood to taste bad, but she was wrong.
It was like drinking pure, insatiable desire.
She’d felt Derrick’s desire flowing into her while he drank from her, but this was more intense, and what she wanted from him now, she couldn’t get this instant.
No … wanted wasn’t right. It was what she NEEDED from him now.
Gods, Lucie. If you don’t stop those thoughts, I will take you right here and right now. Derrick’s voice rang in her mind. She could feel his lust, which only fueled hers more.
The only thing that was able to snap her back was knowing how many people were watching them, and that she was really afraid he would publicly cross the line in front of them. So, with great restraint, she pulled her fangs out and licked his neck clean.
He rose back up and she wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing him into her face.
She pressed her lips into his, their two types of blood mixing together.
Struggling to fight her desire, she dug her nails into him slightly.
It was Derrick who pulled away from her, though she could see it was the opposite of what he wanted.
His thoughts were screaming in her head, promising everything he planned to do to her.
The sound of cheers and applause snapped Lucie from her unquenchable hunger. She turned to face the crowd shyly as Derrick’s arm came around her, pulling her tight against his side.
“We will be having a formal wedding ceremony at the end of the summer. However, as you can see, this is now a bond that will never be broken. I know, as my subjects, you will both respect and support our relationship. I trust you will also protect any future heirs with your lives. I plan to secure our future lineage well,” Derrick said with a wry smile.
The crowd chuckled and heat spread over Lucie’s face.
“I’m sure many of you would like to speak with your prince, now that you know who he is,” Alaric spoke up, giving his son a glance.
“Derrick will now walk among you so you can each get to know him.” He knew this wasn’t what his son had planned, but it was important, regardless of how badly he wanted to escape to somewhere private with his mate.
Derrick sighed inwardly but kept a warm smile on his face.
He and Ryan had already addressed Stella.
Shock overwhelmed her when she saw the two of them at her door, and she immediately knew the jig was up.
She was mortified hearing that she’d been making up lies about having been with the prince.
She was tired of hearing about her friend’s trysts, so she’d decided to make up having a boyfriend, and Ryan was perfect, since the elite soldiers weren’t around.
Not to mention he was incredibly attractive.
It was all too perfect. So she took some pictures of the two of them and edited voices into the video.
The camera wasn’t on his face when she went in for a goodbye hug, so it was perfect.
What wasn’t shown was how Derrick immediately pushed her back and told her it was inappropriate for her to hug him.
In the video, she froze the scene to look like they hugged for a long time.
She’d added the audio to make it all look and sound real.
She went way too far for her elaborate lie, and now she was humiliated.
Her friends would know she’d been lying this whole time, after the speech the prince had just given.
They would also know he was referring to her.
She would get what she deserved, though.
It was her fault for not being honest about not wanting to mess around with others.
Derrick leaned over and pecked Lucie on the side of her head before leading her out into his people.
As they walked through the crowd, Lucie noticed the man from earlier.
She felt Derrick’s grip tighten around her as he saw her memories from before.
With the soulmate bond, everything flowed between them when they were close.
It had just happened, and he instantly knew everything that had happened while they were apart.
The same was true for her, and she could see what had happened with Stella as well.
“Count Basil.” Derrick’s eyes pinned the man in place, his voice carrying a lethal chill.
“I know my uncle already spoke with you, but I won’t tolerate anyone not approving of what is mine.
And just so you know … I’ve tasted her blood.
It’s a miracle, but the purity is unquestionable.
My bond with her will secure our lineage.
And if you have a problem with my bride, you can always go rogue.
Your position can be filled by another. I don’t need anyone to be part of the kingdom who is not completely loyal. ”
Lucie watched as the Count’s face fell. He lowered his head and almost shrank himself down. “Forgive me, my prince. I won’t misspeak again.”
“That’s not good enough. I need more than you not speaking.
I will need your blood oath of loyalty to the family.
You’ll give it to my father or you will leave.
” Derrick wasn’t going to play around with the chance of betrayal, and a blood oath would prevent him from ever betraying the family.
This was the price the Count would pay for his words.
He wasn’t forgiving when it came to Lucie.
“Of course, my lord. I’ll give it to him immediately,” Count Basil said, slinking away toward the king.
Not into making friends? Lucie tilted her head up at Derrick, who lovingly rubbed his hand over her side.
I’m their leader. They don’t follow me for my friendship.
They follow me for my wisdom and protection.
I will guide them into the future, and I can’t have anyone around that I don’t trust. Anyone who would dare speak to you like that …
calling you a pup … he’s lucky I didn’t shred him.
Derrick looked around as people started lining up, seeking an audience.
This was going to be a long evening. And after the moment he’d shared with Lucie, lustful thoughts were plaguing his mind.
The desire she had for him was overpowering.
Knowing she wanted him so much at that moment showed how much they were meant for each other.
It was true that drinking the blood of your mate bound you together.
But the more you desired your mate, the deeper the connection was.
Derrick purposely put some vervain in his system to help weaken the effects.
He was going to give some to Lucie, but Abe had warned him against it, since she’d just finished her heat.
It made sense to him. But she’d had to endure the full surge of desire, and through her, he’d felt it too.
He loved her so much. Her eyes twinkled up at him and he felt her love flow into him. She was feeling the exact same way. And now, finally, everyone knew she was his. No more hiding. No more her having to pretend to belong to another. She was HIS and he was hers.