Derrick sighed, reining in his emotions. He wouldn’t upset his pregnant mate. He would approach this calmly and rationally. He looked up at Abe, Justice, and Jasper.
“Myra is out searching for the culprit now. But apparently, someone has started a malicious rumor that …” Derrick set his jaw. It made him sick to even have to say it. “They’re saying that the child Lucie is carrying isn’t mine. That it belongs to that bastard Erebus. And people are believing the rumor, which means?—”
“Which means it must have come from someone close to your family,” Abe growled, his eyes turning black. “I can swear an oath in front of your people that I knew Lucie was pregnant before she was taken. As her servant, I felt the energy inside her. You obviously know now why I didn’t let you give her the vervain.”
Derrick nodded his head. “Thank you, Abe. But that isn’t necessary. We’ll find the culprit, peel the skin off his body publicly, and defang him. We’ll pour vervain over his exposed skin, giving him a slow and torturous death.”
Jasper clenched his fists. “Damn it. Who the hell would try something like this? They know how important Lucie is. How could our people spread something like this around?”
“I don’t think they were being malicious. Maybe it was out of pity … maybe even concern for their future,” Lucie offered softly.
Justice shook his head angrily. “This wouldn’t happen back at the pack,” he growled out, folding his arms over his chest.
“What if Sam or Adam had told the pack something? The pack would believe them and take their word for it, right? This is probably a similar situation here. And who knows how long this vampire has been around. They’re immortal after all. They could have a lot of clout.” Lucie could feel Derrick’s pride in her brimming inside him. She gave him a reassuring smile.
“I won’t allow it, Justice. Just as your father wouldn’t either. No one will mistreat Lucie. I will make a very firm public statement making an example out of whoever did it. Regardless of who they are.” Derrick pulled Lucie to his chest. “I’m going to hold a public meeting to address this issue immediately. Myra should be able to track down the source. That’s what her mission is.”
“Should I assist her?” Abe asked, his dark orbs filled with anger.
“No, but I want you to make your way through all those on the castle grounds. Please make sure you dispel this rumor among all who are inside the castle. Don’t kill anyone, but get through to them,” Derrick said, his jaw tight as Abe quickly nodded and vanished. He wouldn’t tolerate rumors in his kingdom, let alone his own castle. This was their safe space. And the rumor was insulting.
Derrick reached down and placed his hand over Lucie’s stomach. His unborn child had been insulted too. This was something he couldn’t take lightly. His little love was already someone he was incredibly protective of.
“Derrick … calm down.” Lucie smiled up at him. His anger was storming through him. But it was more than that. His fairy magic began to spike with a red aura that flickered around him. It was a curious energy, and she wanted to touch it so she could understand it. There was a heat radiating from it. She had never seen fairy energy like this, and she wondered if it had something to do with how it was mixing with his pure vampire blood.
Derrick looked down at himself, trying to see whatever Lucie was seeing, but he didn’t have the gift to see the energy.
“That looks like some pretty wicked stuff there,” Justice said as he walked closer. As a guardian, he could see it too. And since Derrick was Lucie’s prince, he was also his guardian, too.
“It’s different, isn’t it, Justice?” Lucie said, looking for traces of the energy that was dissipating.
“Very different. And angry.” Justice chuckled and slapped Derrick on the back. “Thank you, though. I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s livid. It helps calm me down seeing how angry you are.”
Jasper stood there quietly, deep in thought. In his head, he was going through everyone that might have a problem with Lucie. The best candidates that could be potential threats. Someone that was an established vampire whose words would be taken as truth. A lord or lady among the vampires who had been there through the ages. Was it someone jealous of Lucie? This would lead to a lady. Or was it someone who had a problem with her being a werewolf? Maybe it was someone who wanted to cause discord through the royal family.
“Don’t bother, Jasper. It’ll drive you nuts. Let Myra do her job. She’ll get the answer by any means necessary.” Derrick knew what Jasper was doing. It could be anyone, and it hurt to think about someone doing this to them. Then there was the why …
“Lucie, I’m going to talk to my parents. They need to know about this immediately. Do you want to come with me or stay here? Those are your only two options, my sweet little mate.” Derrick’s lips curled up as he felt her playful agitation. He reached his hand out and brushed it through her hair. “Stay here and rest. My loves are tired.” He leaned in and brushed his lips against her forehead. “Jasper and Justice will stay here and keep you company. Why don’t you lay down and maybe try to get a nap?”
“Napping alone is no fun,” Lucie complained, pouting.
“Baby, if I was napping with you, we wouldn’t be napping.” He winked at her and looked up at the two men. “Stay in this room. Under no circumstances is she to leave until I return.”
Lucie watched him walk away and looked at her guards. “Well, he’s gone, so what’s the plan?”
Justice chuckled. “You want to rest on the bed or the couch? If we turn the television on, will that bother you?”
“I’ll rest on the couch and watch you guys play. What are you going to play? Anything interesting?”
Justice began pulling out games for the game console. “Eh, some sort of fighter game or something. I need to take my frustrations out on killing something. Virtual killing will have to do for now.”
“Sounds good to me,” Jasper said, sitting on the couch and patting the seat next to him for Lucie.
She smiled and sat down beside him, tucking her feet up underneath her. Justice handed Jasper a controller and sat on Lucie’s other side. She was safely sandwiched between the two of them. And honestly … it felt relaxing, and incredibly safe.
She leaned her head on Jasper and tucked her feet under Justice, making herself comfortable. She wondered how Willa and Alaric would feel hearing this news. It must be upsetting for them too. The people they ruled over and protected were spreading something hurtful about their family. She wondered how they would want to handle it.
Closing her eyes, she let her mind wander. She wondered … and a thought popped into her mind, but she tried to push it away. Yet, it came back. As if this nagging idea was being put in there by someone. She furrowed her brows slightly and sighed. She would bring it up to Derrick when he came back and see what he thought. This would also depend on what Myra found.
