Page 76 of Wicked Allure
“I had assumed you had, Your Highness.” Dru bowed her head out of respect of the woman in front of her. “How may I be of service?”
“This has nothing to do with you serving me, but you serving our people.” Lethia took a few steps toward Dru. Her bright-blue eyes didn’t waver as she stared at Dru.
Had Dru not known they were speaking through the hologram device, she’d have sworn Lethia was physically in the room with her.
“There has been a royal decree handed down by my mother, the queen.”
Dru paused. She studied Lethia. What had the queen announced that she hadn’t already known about?
“And what is that, Your Highness?”
“You are to donate your blood and enter the draft. All members of the royal court have been ordered to enter.” Lethia stared at Dru. “If you should defy the orders, there are warriors waiting outside the room?—”
“Okay.”
“What did you say?” Lethia blinked for a moment before relaxing a bit.
Dru smirked and shrugged.
“I said okay,” Dru replied calmly. Now that she knew fate had been trying to get her attention all along when it came to Tomesha, this was just another sign that she needed to go and enter the registry.
“I thought there might be a little pushback or something.”
“You said it was a direct order from the queen?” Dru asked.
“I did.”
“And you do know that I am one of your most loyal vampires to the crown. Why would I defy a direct order from my queen?” Dru should feel insulted, but right now, seeing how shocked Lethia was at her reaction made everything better.
“I had hoped you wouldn’t.” Lethia took a few steps closer to her and inspected her. “Wait a minute. You’ve already found your mate, haven’t you? That’s why you’re being nonchalant about this?”
“That is classified,” Dru said with a straight face. She was going to make her princess sweat this out for a little bit. Dru wanted to be selfish and keep Tomesha to herself for as long as she could. Once they arrived in Crystal Cove, it was going to be a whole new world for Tomesha. She’d be the mate to a high-ranking member of the royal court. Her life was going to change forever.
“Classified, my ass.” Lethia rolled her eyes in the most un-princess-like manner. She blew out a deep breath. “Now I need to call Kane and notify him. I’m sure he’s not going to respond as well as you did. You have until midday tomorrow to report to the lab. Failure to do so would be considered treason.”
Dru gave a low bow to Lethia. If only she could see Kane’s face when Lethia broke the news to him. He was a vampire who’d vowed to never take a mate, nor did he want a family.
“Understood, Your Highness.” Dru turned on her heel and made her way back to the hearth where the hologram box awaited her.
“And Dru?”
“Yes, Your Highness?” She lifted the box and paused with her finger hovering above the disconnect button.
Lethia stood in the middle of the room with her hands on her waist. “Congratulations. I can’t wait to meet her.”
Tomesha couldn’t believe she’d slept as long as she had. By the looks of the shields covering the windows, it must be daytime. She slid her sandals on and made her way back to the bed. She didn’t want to leave it in disarray before she left. She grabbed the edge of the thick comforter and made the bed. She didn’t want the housekeepers to have to clean up after her. She was sure they had much to do with the amount of warriors staying at the inn.
After she’d woken up, she’d gotten dressed and made herself presentable. Her stomach let loose a rumble. She’d go in search of food. She was sure the inn’s kitchen had some available. It was run by humans.
She moved over to the side where she assumed Dru had slept. When she’d first awakened, she’d thought Dru hadn’t come to bed, but the sheets on her side had been faintly warm. Even though Dru was a vampire and a nocturnal being, had she’d taken a nap? Tomesha put the finishing touches on the bed and took a step back to admire her handiwork.
When they relocated to Crystal Cove, would they have a small home for just the two of them? Or was there plenty of room for Tarek and her grandmother? She bit her lip at the thought of the conversation she was going to have with her brother about them moving. Delonda would be easy to convince. Her brother, on the other hand, may give her some pushback.
Butterbush was the only town she’d ever known. This was her home, but in her heart, she knew that home was wherever her family was, and if Dru said they could come with her to Maine, then they’d create a new home together. This could be just what her family needed. She’d saved enough money that would hold them over until Tarek could find a new job, and maybe they could find something to help their grandmother stay busy. Even though Delonda’s mind came and went, she still had hobbies she loved.
Maybe Tomesha could open a tailoring shop of her own? Or a dress shop. Everyone loved her creations that she made for the club.
She froze in place.
