Page 71 of Fated to the Vampire Prince
All but me.
I’d put the idea of a mate and a child so far out of my mind and turned to helping other children. Lost souls who came to my castle needing safety and food. I employed them. Housedthem. Tried to make this world a little safer for them by negotiating with covens on our borders.
“You can’t stay here! It’s against the laws. Mated vampires are impulsive. You’ve been thinking of nothing but her for weeks.”
“Never,everaccuse me of putting myself before my people.”
“Fine. But?—”
“What would you have me do?” I asked, fastening a new cravat. “Return to the capital? Leave Tyson to lead the negotiations between Hector and Chastity in the Lawless Lands?”
“No. Of course not,” Natalia replied. Deep down, I knew she was just as unhappy as I was to have an heir named for me. “That’s why you should petition to become the High Prince. Then you can force them to listen.”
Since the moment I’d seen my niece swing a sword, I’d known she was a warrior, and I needed help leading and ruling here in the north. But she wasn’t my heir. And as much love as I had for her, I was only one man amongst twelve brothers.
“I’m sorry, Natalia, but you know I have no desire to take Marius’s position. I’ve done everything I can to get your titles reinstated or to name you my heir, but they are obstinate and refuse. ”
Fury burned in her eyes. “They think I’m just being difficult. That one day I’ll grow up and stop pretending to be a girl. Then, and only then, will I be treated like an equal.”
Yes, Natalia might’ve been born a male, as all vampires are, but she knew she wasn’t meant to be called ‘lord.’ When she confided in me the truth, I’d beenproud. Proud of her for insisting to be seen for who she truly was. While our family accepted her new name and dress, they couldn’t allow a female to rule. So they stripped her titles, and with them, her rightful claim to lead.
“If my brothers want to shun you for who you are, it’s their loss.”
“It’s not justtheirloss,” she said quietly. “It’s mine. I’m the one who suffers. And so do our people when they get Tyson instead ofme.”The words scraped from her throat, torn from some pain she rarely spoke of.
“You’re right,” I said quietly. I blew out a long breath. “Listen, I know you’re upset about many things right now. Tyson. Claire. The fact that things are changing. But you are my most trusted advisor, my second-in-command, and I will not abandon you. I need you to trust that I have everything under control.”
We stared at each other for a long moment. I needed her to believe that I could do this in order to believe it myself.
“Idotrust you.” She crossed her arms. “It’sherI don’t trust. Even if she is your… you know,mate.”
Not this again. Her skepticism about Claire. I shook my head as I brushed past her, checking my reflection to ensure no one could see the bloodstone. “Not everyone is an enemy,” I reminded her as I straightened my tie.
“But some are,” she hissed. “There’s something about her and her sister that I don’t like.”
I’d had my suspicions about Claire at first, but now I understood why she’d bought that necklace. She was scared, and besides, she was my mate. “Claire has given us no reason to mistrust her. You heard the report from the scout. She returned to Nightfall Convent. How much more proof do you want?”
“What about Alec’s story? He was attacked by strange men and scratched by a woman who turned into a werewolf—a woman who’d been at the same inn. A woman who matches her sister’s description.”
“Except for the hair.”
“It’s close enough!” Natalia snapped.
I leveled a look at her. “Claire is not an enemy. End of story.”Natalia’s opinion appeared to be unchanged despite my reasoning. Even though I trusted her judgment, she could be just as pig-headed and stubborn as my brothers when she thought she was right. “Can I trust you to keep this information confidential?”
She turned away from me. “You know I will.”
“Thank you.”
Natalia let out an annoyed breath. “Don’t get all sentimental on me. I’m not your mate.”
I grinned. “Thank the gods.”
We shared a laugh that relieved some of the tension, but I could tell she still had her doubts. To be fair, so did I. I doubted how I was going to earn her trust. And more importantly, how I was going to walk the line between being mated and being the Duke of Roselyn.
The two of us left my apartment and made our way to the council chambers, where my advisors were waiting, looking grim.
“What news?” I asked, taking my seat at the head of the table.
