I stared at them imploringly, and they shared another look, although instead of concern, it was filled with alarm.
“But even if he is your mate, youcan’tmarry a warrior,” my mother said softly.
“Why not?” I demanded.
“He’s not suitable, Prim. You’re a princess. Certain expectations are expected of you now,” she replied gently.
“Suitable.” I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “Not this again. I hate that word.”
“I realize that royal duties are new to you.” My father leaned forward, his tone level, but behind it, the authority of a king rang. “And I realize we’ve forced a lot on you by bringing you back into the family, but this is your destiny. Your birthright gives you royal status, but that also means we’re held to a standard other fae aren’t. There’s a reason we’re given all of this wealth and responsibility. Our job is to serve the fae of our kingdom, and that comes with rules, one of which is that we’re not allowed to marry commoner fae. It’s simply not done.”
I scoffed again. “Of course, my birthright means that Kole’s notsuitable. Funny how he’s the only one that’s kept me sane ever since I learned of my true heritage.” Tears burned in my eyes. It was all too much.Everythingwas too much.
I blinked rapidly, but I couldn’t hold them back. A tear rolled down my cheek and then another. Throat closing, I eyed both ofthem with disbelief. “You would truly take him from me? Even though he’s mymate? You would be that cruel to both of us even though you claim that you want me to be happy?”
My words hung heavily in the air.
My father sat back and rubbed his chin, and my mother twisted her napkin between her fingers.
Silence descended around us as my parents sat quietly and contemplatively. Only the fire made a sound.
Finally, my mother said softly to my father, “We could work out an arrangement, Russem. Such things have been done before in royal lines. She could still keep him in her life in a controlled manner.”
“An arrangement?” I repeated. “What exactly does that mean?”
My father sighed and scrubbed his face. “It means that Kole could continue being your guard, and you could discreetly continue yourrelations”—he all but growled the last word—“but inevitably, you’ll have to marry someone of suitable lineage, which means that Kole will have to eventually step back, and he’ll have to act in a way that will not cause a scandal. For a mated male, that may be...hard.”
“Truly?” Tears spilled onto my cheeks. “You would still force me to marry another? You would do that to Kole and me?”
My father sighed again, and my mother wrung her hands in her napkin once more as her brows pinched with worry, but in a soft voice, she said, “Please remember that your marriage is a long way off, Primelle. I don’t think we need to be discussing all of this quite yet. For the time being, we still want you to be happy, and if Kole is still able to keep you safe while also providing you with a comforting relationship as you deal with all of the extraordinary changes that have been placed upon you, it’s probably all right to continue. Don’t you agree, my love?” She turned her attention back to my father.
His nostrils flared, but when her pleading eyes didn’t relent, he eventually sighed. “For the time being, I suppose it can continue. But in the coming decades, we will need to revisit this, especially as your hundredth summer draws closer. You’ll need to eventually allow suitable males to court you, but I suppose your mother’s right. That’s still a long way off, so for the time being, we will turn a blind eye to this.”
My shoulders sagged in relief but also despair.
But while the uncertainty of my future still hung over me, the promise that they weren’t ripping Kole away from me, not yet at least, had a kindle of hope sparking inside me. Maybe, just maybe, Kole and I could still find a way to make this work. Never mind that I was a vampire. Never mind that he was a warrior and was notsuitable.
Perhaps we would eventually find a way around all of that, and with enough work on my end, Kole might never suspect that I’d changed into somethingother.
Once again, a spark of my inherent optimism surged to life inside me.
Kole could still be in my life, and if I never slipped, he would never suspect that I’d been turned into a vampire. That meant I would never have to use my magic on him.
My optimism soared, because as a vampire, I didn’t need to sleep anymore, which meant I could spend every night in the palace library, hunting for answers to undo this all. Eventually, I would find a way.
I smiled. All hope wasn’t lost. Not yet.
My optimism grew, and I turned hopeful eyes on my parents. “In that case, I would like to have Kole returned to his guarding duties this morning. If my impending nuptials are still far off in the future, I intend to enjoy every second I’m given with him.”
CHAPTER SIX
My parents sent word to the Council that Kole was to return to the palace, and as I waited for him in my chambers, my thoughts shifted to what I had to do tomorrow.
I hadn’t wanted to think about it and had been wishing that I could avoid its inevitability. But upon sunrise, my uncle’s command would inevitably take hold of me, and if Kole was guarding me, he would be coming along too.
I wrung my hands together. I hadn’t thought far enough ahead to realize what having Kole return to my side meant, but maybe, just maybe, Kole wouldn’t suspect a thing.
I would have to be covert. Sly. Devious. All of those traits made me want to vomit in my mouth, but unless I wanted my mate looking at me with horror, I would have to hide what I was about to do. Because tomorrow, I was to venture to House Torleaf and ask to see their House leader. If anyone questioned my visit, I was to tell them that I was visiting each House to better acquaint myself with those in charge.
