Myra nodded her head. “Do I kill them?” Myra asked, a small smile forming on her lips.
“No, just bring them to the palace.”
Myra lowered her head and bowed, vanishing instantly. There was no doubt that Myra would be able to locate the source of the rumors. She looked at the soldier and sighed. “You’re free to go.”
The soldier stood and bowed. He apologized once more before he left.
“Lucie, are you okay?” Stella asked with worry.
Was she okay? There was more to it than that. It wasn’t just the gossip itself. The truth was this rumor brought back the pain she had forgotten. It brought back the memories of the weeks she was kidnapped and abused. She remembered the feeling of helplessness and the pain. The desperation that had plagued her. It all flooded her mind, haunting her again. Then, to top it all off, they were calling her child that was created with love a false heir.
Her own pack would never have doubted her. She could go to them right now and they would welcome her and the child she carried. She could go to the dragon kingdom, any of the four dragon kingdoms, and she would be welcomed and treasured.And obviously, she would be precious in Elysia. But for this malicious rumor to be started and for it to spread as it did … it meant there was still a long way for her to go as far as being accepted. At a time when this place had just started feeling like home, she was now back to feeling like a stranger. And not just a stranger, but an unwanted one. Someone who they thought would be ruining their vampire legacy through the child she carried.
Meryl thought Freja was an abomination, and even now, her granddaughter hunted their bloodline. All because their existence was unwanted, unnatural. The purest of witches couldn’t stand for the contaminated bloodline. How many vampires actually felt this way? It was clear by these rumors that there were many who did not approve of her. Regardless of the blood bond, she wasn’t wanted.
Derrick told her she would be their precious princess. She would be treasured by the vampires. No. She was treasured by the royal family, but not the vampires. To them, she was still an outsider. And though she was speculating, she imagined they didn’t deem her worthy of being mated to their prince. Anyone who loved their princess wouldn’t make up such a nasty rumor. As her mind wandered, she began to really miss her pack … her home.
Lucie cleared her throat and gave Stella a sad smile with a half a shrug. “I’m a little sad, and the rumor leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I’m sorry. I really don’t feel up to taking that walk anymore. Maybe next time?”
“Of course. Hey, don’t let it get to you. The truth will come out when your baby is born. Then they’ll all feel horrible for their bad judgment.”
Lucie nodded, the same sad smile on her face. “I know. Thanks.”
Lucie walked Stella back in through the castle and saw her to the exit. She waved goodbye to her friend and closed her eyes, inhaling long, deep breaths. This was not one of those situations where you wanted to hear everything would eventually be alright. This was one of those times she wanted to go out and show these vampires their princess. She wished she could unleash her hurt and anger and smash them into submission.
Her mother Freja had spent most of her life in solitude until she met her father. She was unwanted by the Briar Coven, but she wasn’t part of that witch’s group. If there was someone who knew how it felt to be unwanted, it was her grandmother, Lita. Lita came from a pack where she was unwanted because she wasn’t a pure werewolf. That had long since changed, but Lita grew up unwanted by her own pack. Lucie had always been wanted, up until now. She was a tri-princess. Princess to the wolves, vampires, and fairies. Two of them would gladly welcome her. She was a rare gem in their eyes. This was why she felt even more slighted by the vampires. Why were they so much better than the other two species?
If the situation were reversed, Derrick would have been welcomed by the fairies and the werewolves. No malicious rumors, no whispers. She knew her pack. There would have been grumblers, sure, Kyle,there’s always a Kyle, and a handful of others, but nothing like this. Nothing decided about him in corners they couldn’t reach.
She rubbed her stomach lightly. It ached, the thought that anyone believed her baby was illegitimate. Derrick was going to be livid, which meant someone was about to have a very bad week. A high noble would be exiled. Lower-ranking would probably suffer something worse. And then what? The people would frame it as their prince just protecting his mate, tuck their opinions somewhere quieter, and go right on thinking what they already thought.
She was angry, which meant she was lumping every vampire into one faceless mass.Was it fair? No. Satisfying? Maybe a little.One rumor had her convinced the whole species hated her. The soldier from earlier had believed it, but he hadn’t looked at her with contempt. He’d looked relieved when she’d told him the truth. Almost pitying, like he’d assumed the deity had forced himself on her.
That detail was the one that stuck. For a rumor to land this hard, it hadn’t come from someone low-ranking. Gossip from the bottom didn’t travel like this. This had come from someone with weight, someone close enough to the royal family to be trusted on instinct.
She rolled her eyes at her own spiral. Her mother had trained her better. Keep thinking until you reach the logical conclusion. If Sam had said something about her family back home, the pack would have taken it as gospel, not out of malice, but because their trust in him was absolute. When Sam spoke, it was as good as her father speaking. So who had that kind of clout here? Jester and Jasper, maybe, but she trusted them and they were close with her family. Not them. And she didn’t know the rest well enough to guess.
She slowly made her way back down the corridor. Myra would find out. That was what Myra did, and Lucie was too tired to keep chasing the thread. She walked into her room and laid on the couch.At least I’ve landed somewhere that lets me sleep.Because the alternative, believing the vampires really didn’t want her here …
She grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch and pulled it over her. She couldn’t think like that. Derrick trusted his people too, and he said she would be treasured here. There was someone who didn’t want her here, someone who had a problem with her.
The door opened and Derrick walked in, followed by Jasper, Justice, and Abe. They were laughing and jabbing at each other. The moment Derrick’s eyes fell on Lucie, his face fell. His lips pursed tight, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists. He walked up to Lucie and knelt beside the couch, wrapping his arms around her. He pressed his head into her neck and squeezed his eyes shut.
“I’m so sorry, Lucie,” he whispered. His mate had been hurt. She had suffered trauma from her kidnapping, and now she had to deal with vicious rumors from his own people. How dare they spread such a rumor about HIS child and HIS mate?
He kissed her neck gently and rose, his black orbs full of rage as he turned toward Jasper. His fangs were slightly elongated as he snarled, his whole body trembling with dark fury. There was no quelling his wrath. Someone was going to die for this.
CHAPTER 70
Jasper came a couple of steps closer, his gaze flicking between Lucie and Derrick. “What happened?” He could see Derrick’s hands trembling in anger. It was one of the rare moments calm and collected Derrick looked like this. He also looked like this when Lucie had been taken, so Jasper knew this was serious.
Lucie reached up and intertwined her fingers with Derrick’s. “Let’s take a moment here and be calm, okay? I’m okay. I worked it out in my head. I mean, I was upset and still am, but?—”
“But nothing, Lucie!” Derrick growled angrily, raising his voice to a level she’d never heard before. She could feel his anger, but he was also in pain because of the rumors. His eyes softened. His emotions weren’t directed at her. His outburst was the result of his frustration.
“I’m sorry, Lucie. I’m not yelling at you. I would never ... I am losing my temper, but in no way is it directed toward you. I didn’t mean to raise my voice there. I’m?—”
Lucie reached forward and cupped his face in her hands. “Derrick, I can read you, remember. What are you stumbling over an apology for?” She giggled and pecked his lips.
