“Do you also accept him?” Ciana asked, curiously looking at Irene.
Irene looked down at the floor. “I haven’t really been around others a lot. I usually stick to myself and work alone. I don’t really know how to be a mate, but …” She lifted her eyes to lookat Jester, who was smiling at her. “If he still wants me despite that, then I’m willing as well.”
Freja leaned into Hunter’s side. This girl was a lot like her. She’d felt the same way. Maybe if Hunter hadn’t forced himself on her, she would have been the same way about accepting a mate. She would have agreed, if that was what Hunter really wanted. In her case, he made his choice blatantly obvious by immediately marking her.
“What do you think your brother wishes to discuss?” Chasen said, getting back to the matter at hand. He was still wondering if they were going to have to fight their way out of here. There wasn’t room to feel sentimental.
“I’m not sure, actually. He did seem intrigued by Freja. Maybe he likes the idea of the Queen of the Werewolves also being part vampire. I guess we’ll find out soon enough. At least it seems like he hasn’t made an agreement with the demons. That can only be a good thing.” Jester looked at the door that was now closed. He wasn’t sure what his brother was thinking. But now that he’d found Irene, he planned to settle down here again. Irene wanted to continue to live here, and he could tell that his brother had missed him as well. And to be completely honest with himself, he’d missed things about this place.
Jin stayed quiet as she observed everything. She leaned herself deeper into Chasen’s side with a small frown on her face.
“Jin? Is everything okay?” Chasen whispered lowly to her.
“I don’t like how he was looking at Freja. Maybe we should get her and Hunter out of here,” Jin whispered to Chasen. Her green eyes looked up at him with worry. She felt like it was more than just an interest. There was more he was planning to talk about with his mate other than alliances.
Chasen smiled at her and nodded. “We know, Jin.” He glanced at Freja and Hunter who stood together confidently, looking at the closed door. “They know it, too. They’re seeing itthrough, though. They can’t leave now. All we can do is be ready to fight if we have to.”
Their quieted whispers were still no match for the keen hearing of Jester, who was standing nearby. He and Irene walked closer to them, and he met Chasen’s gaze. “Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to them. I might have been gone, but I still have some clout here.”
“Did you know about Freja and who her father was?” Jin asked, which drew the attention of everyone else. Including Freja, who was also curious about this.
Jester nodded his head. “That was the first reason I started watching over her. From the moment I met her, I knew she was Gilbert’s daughter. Well, that isn’t entirely accurate. I suspected it at first. Then, the moment I talked to her, I knew it. Gilbert was not just any vampire. He was special. He had original blood in him.” Jester sighed and looked at Freja. “Gilbert knew that allowing your mother to live here wasn’t a good idea. Because of the purity of his blood, they would want him to strengthen it with another pureblood. You have no idea how special you are, Freja.”
Jester looked around the room. “But my brother does know. He can feel it from you. Normally, when vampires take a non-vampire mate, their offspring are weaker. That’s not the case with you. You ended up stronger. I can recognize your blood when I’m close to you. That’s how I knew you were Gilbert’s daughter. Your blood was never diluted. Instead, it became even stronger.”
“What do you think he wants from Freja?” Hunter felt unnerved as he held her next to him protectively. He would destroy the world in order to protect Freja. He would order all the werewolves to protect their queen. She was his first priority.
Jester pondered quietly for a moment and shook his head uncertainly. “I don’t quite know what he is thinking … He might want some of Freja’s blood to study it. I honestly don’t know.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Freja smiled up at Hunter. She could feel his tension in his arms. “Calm yourself. Don’t be getting ready to start a war without knowing anything.” She giggled as he gave her a guilty grin. She was right. The very idea of them wanting Freja had his alpha blood raging. His killer instinct started to surface, ready to eradicate any threat to his mate.
Just then, the great room doors opened, and a man walked in. “The King and Queen wish to speak to the King and Queen of the Werewolves, privately.”
Jester furrowed his brows. “Now wait a minute …”
“Alone,” the man repeated, interrupting Jester.
“It’s okay, Jester. We’ll speak with them privately,” Hunter said with a slight nod.
“Hunter.” Chasen growled. He did not want them leaving his sight. He needed to be close so he could protect them.
“It’ll be okay, Chase. Besides, Freja and I are not exactly pushovers.” Hunter winked at his brother. “Wait here for us.”
Chasen scowled and balled his fists together tightly. He felt Jin’s gentle hand rub his back. He looked into her eyes and she nodded to him.
“We will be right here and ready, in case they need us,” Jin said in a soft tone.
Chasen growled and looked up at Hunter. “If they even make your hair fall out of place, I’m destroying everything.”
Hunter chuckled. “Wouldn’t expect any less.” He and Freja walked through the doors, their fingers linked. As soon as they entered, the doors closed behind them.
“This way,” the same man said. He led them through the throne room and to another set of doors to the side, opening them but not walking through. “They’re waiting for you in here.”
Hunter and Freja glanced at each other and walked into the next room. The room was much smaller. The walls were white stone, and there was an open balcony extending off of it. Sitting at a small circular table were Alaric and Willa, who looked up and gestured for Hunter and Freja to take a seat.
“Please, just act normal with us. We all have the same standing, and I think we can be good friends in the future. Pending the treaty agreement, of course,” Alaric said with a glint in his eyes. He watched Freja and Hunter sit down, and then reached out to take Willa’s hand. “We have come to an agreement on how to make this work.”
