Chapter Thirty–Eight
Von POV.
Three days later I was placed in a state of shock. Sitting on the patio table I’d placed in the gazebo in the gardens, where I often came to think. Here in this place where the presence of Sara was the strongest, my mind swarmed with thoughts. So much had changed in my life here recently, that it was difficult to keep up with everything
I’d been almost three weeks since the day Kadden had summoned me to the office for us to talk. Shortly later I had assured him to give him what he wanted, mexchange for what I wanted. For the last couple of weeks, we’d worked diligently to achieve the goal, of producing a new heir. Hoping that by the time the Remnants or council paid him another visit, he could announce the coming birth of his child. 1, just like him hoped it’d convince them off of the insane track of placing Luke in as the new King.
Though I’d never personally met the man, I knew that he wasn’t the kind of king our people needed. There was a remon why King William had allowed his daughter to choose an heir, rather than naming his brother as his surcensor. Lukin “Luke” Kane was a malicious, rold–hearted, and cruel man down in the center of his being. He cared about no one and nothing else in the world, raking whatever he wanted, be damned the consequences. If he became king he’d fuck what he wanted, kill everyone that got in his way, and turn their allies into enemies.
Not to mention a few years back there’d been rumors of him having allied himself with the vampires and rogues. Some even daimed he was actively practicing dark magic in the hopes of increasing his own strength Asateen, he’d killed their own father to take his throne of power but wasn’t counting on his brother defeating him. It disgusted me to know the Remnants and council were even considering giving him the throne. Even if Kadden weren’t my mare there was no way in hell I’d ever allow that bastard on the throne.
A whistle caught my attention.
I was pleasantly surprised when I glanced up to find none other than Lisa sauntering near me. My shock multipled when I noticed the way her anns were cradled and the bundle tucked in the curve. “You brought her outside! Does Kadden know!”
“Yes,” Lisa assured as she came before me, appearing completely indifferent to the change of scenery. “His Majesty mind linked me a little while ago. informed me I was to bring Angel to you for a visit. The girl needed fresh air.”
My eyes went to the manor. “Dors he know Im outside!”
“Yes,” she giggled. “He knows your every move.”
Though I was still shocked at the baby being brought out of the room, I didn’t allow myself to focus on it. Instead, I moved closer to the woman, and hands deftly though gently hefted the child up. Then for the first time since I’d witnessed her in that dark room 1 held her cradled in my arms. At barely three puunds she was so tiny she was barely visible, nearly the size of a domestic newborn puppy. I was overwhelmed with emotion I couldn’t properly discem, at holding this precious cab in my arms.
“She’s truly beaiful,” 1 breathed in amazement, overwhelmed with a floodgate of emotion
Angel coord and squealed.
“She’s happy.” Lisa stated. “She’s missed you.”
Stroking a gentle finger down the delicate slope of the child’s nose, love burst to life inside of me. At that moment I knew I would never allow anyone to ever hurt or harm this child in any way. Sarah Beth might have been the one that carried her for month and brought her into the world But it was in that moment, suring down at the elf–like features of the child, she became mine fd be the one to raise this child up into the world, to become the mother she desperately needed. And I would protect her as my ownL
Angel smacked her p
Lips.
I frowned. “Is she hungry?”
“Probably,” Lisa murmured as she took a seat at the table beneath the gazebo, eating from a tray of fruit. Deciding to enjoy the momentary freedom while the child was tended to by her companion. “She’s normally quite fussy during the day, she fights me most of the time. She’s been moodier danol. Ithink she noticed the only time you and His Majesty visit is at night.”
Taking the tiny bottle the nursemaid handed to me, which was the kind used to feeding newborn animals when abandoned. Raising the nipple to her lips, it took some coaxing on my part, but eventually, Angel opened up. A moment later she was suckling on the bottle of formula, proof she’d been ravished but was being stubbom.
“Hungry aren’t ya?” Icoord. “Got your dadily’s hunger.”
Sometime later I was surprised by the arrival of Layla, who often found herself seeking out my presence. The only other woman close to her age. Only to be brought up to an abrupt halt as she spied me rocking, though it was the child in my arms. “Is that..my..the baby!”
Understanding the reason for her shock, Timmediately moved to a stunned Layla, assisting her in holding the baby in her arms. “To answer your question yes, thin is your baby sister. Her name is Angel. Your father and I have talked in great detail on the terms of her presence in the house.” “She’s su tiny,” Layla was awestruck by the child, tears misting in the comer of her eyes. It was a very emotional moment for her. “I only had a moment to watch her before she was spinted away and Daddy never told me where Lisa took her.”
The three of us were enjoying the moments of the child’s presence when my senses went on alert. Glancing in the distance I immediately spied Larken, who’d come along with Bianca Blake. Puck Take the baby inside.”
“What” Layla was alarmed
I urgently maneuvered her towards the manor. “I want you to take Angel back into the manor, take her to my chambers, and lock yourselfinale. L
Chapter Thirty–Eight
do not want either of you out of the room. Lisa, alert Kädden”
“Yes My lady,” she promptly agreed.
Standing there I watched as Lisa guided the younger woman into the house, though neither understood why. Not really. Even if either of them had seen the couple, neither would comprehend my unease at their presence, Relieved when the doors finally closed, taking them out of eyesight, I turned to face them. I didn’t know why Larken or his so–called fiancée was here, but I didn’t put it past them to be up to no good.
Sauntering up the steps of the gazebo, Larken made no attempts to maintain police civility. “I see that you’re still here.”
“Making yourself quite at home I see,” Bianca sneered in derision, plopping down in one of the chairs at the table, she reached for fruit. The dasdain. she felt for me was obvious in her expression, as well as the desire to get rid of me. “I hear all about how cozy things have gotten for you here. Going from barely appearing more than a maid to now being doted on hand and foot by the king”
“You don’t say.” Larken sneered in disgust, though none were certain if it was in disdain or jealousy of the news. “I’m sure my father likes a young Little thing like you, after the years of a practically sexless marriage.”
Bianca rolled her eyes at the statement he’d made, clearly unimpressed at the choice of Alpha Kadden. She placed a gentle hand on his arm. fluttering those eyelashes sweetly at him. “Honey, why don’t you find your father! I’m sure he’s wanting to talk to you.”
“Of course love,” he mumbled.
Bianca maintained the sickening sweet persona as he walked away, talking as if we were old friends. The moment Larken disappeared into the house she flipped the switch, a coldness filling her eyes. “I don’t know what the fuck you think you’re up to, but it’s not going to work. Whatever magic you’ve been putting on these men is about to be over.”
I burst out laughing at the threatening note heard in her voice, showing none of the fear she expected. Grinning snugly I reached for a fruit on the platter, appearing indifferent to the commanding tone. “Oh, Bianca, you are delusional. Kadden will never see you as more than the waste of space occupying lus son’s bed, just as Larken only sees you as a fresh piece of ass.”
“How dare you?” she reared angrily
I shot straight up to my feet, hands planted on the edge of the table, and leaned forward to glare at her. “All these years of plotting and manipulating Larken are numbered, you will never be Luna or Queen. I don’t know how you got him wrapped around your finger, but you are about to see what a
waste it is.”
She snorted in derision. “I got that man underneath my finger the same way women have always gained power and strength. I merely let him clumb between my legs, nut over me like an offish pig, and whispered sweet nothings in his ear. It wasn’t hard to do ”
“And his mate?” I gritted out between clenched teeth, having the feeling this girl had a hand in what’d happened. That night Larken had changed to much good from a sweet boy to a cold and heartless brute. “It wasn’t a coincidence Larken rejected her, I bet you had a hand in that too.”
“Of course,” she burst out laughing as if it should’ve been obvious. “I knew she was his mate from the beginning everyone knew it. She was weak, pitiful, and a total disgrace to Larken and this kingdom. I wasn’t about to let him destroy himself and this town for the little beat, not when there was
someone more willing to
So it’s true? Larken hadn’t been intending on rejecting me? It was all thanks to the manipulation and cunningness of this woman that changed him so dramatically. This only served in pissing me off more. I had rejected him, run away from my home, and given up my family, for his supposed betrayal. A betrayal only committed because of this spineless bitch.
Curling my lips back, I bared my fangs in warning. “Get this through your thick head Bianca, you will never win. You can have Larken all you want, but you will never have Kadden or the crown you want. Their mine.”
Von” came Kadden’s voice.
“We’ll see about that,” she snickered.
Stepping away from the table at Kadden calling out my name, I immediately moved toward the manor, I didn’t know the reason why he called out to me, but had a feeling I knew what was the cause. Larken. There was a very good reason why the bastard had come to the manor, that had nothing to do with visiting. The way Bianca had convinced him to go inside, the sneaky smile, told me everything I needed to kn
know. Both of them were up to no good.
I was right.
Walking through the door of his private study it was to find Larken in his presence, clearly distressed. “It’s true Dad”
“Larken you’re despicable,” Layla was reprimanding her twin, judging by her reaction she wasn’t too happy with him. “You aren’t around for weeks on end and you come back for this crap. Do you luve no dame!”
Larken shot straight to his feet. The both of you are idiors if you believe there’s an ounce of truth to what she’s been saying.”
“You called me!” I brought their attention to me.
