Chapter 31
I could not believe my eyes. Eric was mated to Princess Cora. I just hope she didn't break his heart. I turned to her parents, who did not seem so pleased with this change in plans.
Vincent broke everyone staring at the new couple. "Eric, please escort the princess and prince to their rooms, but stay outside the doors."
"Eric, you were to be my date today for dinner. She can't be your mate." Katie cried with big tears coming down. She threw the flowers to the ground and ran into the house.
The queen said "Oh my, I feel our coming here has caused quite a commotion and a broken heart. Cora dear, please allow that lovely little girl to join you and your mate at the table for dinner."
"Yes, your majesty." Cora responded. Cora was tall and slender. She had golden sun-kissed skin and bright brown curly hair which bounced off her shoulders when she moved.. Her eyes were green and sparkled when she looked at Eric. Whose stare she had not broken even when she spoke to her mother.
"Eric!" Vincent yelled. This startled everyone and Eric broke the stare.
"Yes Alpha." He looked at where we were standing.It was as if everything that had just happened hit him in the head. "Oh, Filli, I am so sorry. I need to talk with Katie."
"Yes, you do, but I recommend doing what your Alpha asked first. Maybe bring Cora with you to ensure you will not be abandoning Katie tonight for dinner."
"We could even tuck her in if that is ok with her mother and her majesty," Cora added and grabbed Eric's hand.
"For tonight, yes." We both responded. Bringing our gaze to each other as we did.
"I assume that is your child, but I do not see a mark," The King remarked.
"That is a long story better told after you are all settled." Vincent gestured for them to enter. The King nodded and took his wife's hand and placed it in his arm and followed Vincent to their room. The other pack members were greeting their assigned guests and leading them to their rooms. Fifteen of the 45 would stay in the main pack house. The other 30 would be housed as guests at various member homes.
We escorted them to their rooms and allowed their Omegas to drop their luggage and set up. We agreed that in an hour we would meet in Vincent's office to discuss the reason for the visit and the up-coming events.
After dropping them off at their room. Vincent and I headed straight to his office. Once he closed the door, I dropped onto the couch.
"Oh My God. Eric is Princess Cora's mate. What else can happen?" I exclaimed.
"Filli focus. Did you see their reaction to this revelation? It was not good. Cora seemed lovely but the king and queen seemed angered by this. We did not need this when we did not even know how they were going to react to you and Katie?" "Katie. Do you think they can tell she is different as well?" Suddenly, they panicked.
"They can tell." Sasha chimed in my head.
"How?" I asked.
"She pushed her emotions out when she was upset. It landed on the Queen. She may not know but she could sense it. I assume that is why she was ok with Cora accompanying Eric to feel the power there." Sasha began to pace in my head. "Please stop, you are making me dizzy."
"Sorry. I will fill Marcus in with what I saw." Sasha turned out after that.
"What did Sasha say?" Vincent asked.
"She is showing Marcus now, but she says the Queen is already very aware of her powers, as when she was mad, she projected her anger towards the Queen. I am not sure how that happened or what impacted the Queen, but I know she knows." I said a bit in despair.
"I thought the Queen took special interest in the way Katie left. I didn't see the shift in energy." Vincent replied. "It is good we know more than they know, and we won't be caught in a lie trying to hide Katie."
He came over and sat by me. His warmth surrounded and comforted me. I was not ready for this, but we sat together until it was 5 minutes to the hour. I got up and straightened my dress and hair. Fixing my make-up in a mirror. Vincent walked behind me, placing a hand on my back and kissing my temple.
"You look beautiful," he said. I smiled at him in the mirror. There was a knock at the door letting us know they were here. John had escorted them to the office and Eric was to bring the Princess and Prince once requested.
I took a deep breath and took my place next to Vincent. "Enter," he said. John showed the King and Queen in. King Chase and Queen Carmilla looked very stoic as they entered. "Please have a seat," Vincent said as he showed them to the conference table that was set with water and snacks.
They took their seats on one side of the table and we sat opposite. John retreated out of the room an closed the door.
"Lets make this simple." King Chase's voice filled the room. "Do you plan to join your father and overthrow us?"
My eyes grew big. "Do I need my magic?" I asked Sasha.
"I don't know but have it ready." Sasha said, retreating further for me to access more of my magic side.
"Of course, she would not," Vincent had said as I discussed with Sasha.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
"It is good that you think that but she has not let you mark her, so I fear she has not chosen her path yet. I need to know more about her." The king said, leaning forward.
"Yes, I would also like to know more about the little girl. You called her Katie. Her magic is like none I have felt." The queen quipped.
"You will not harm Kaite," I said sternly, and my eyes began to glow. Vincent placed his hand on mine, calming me a bit but not enough for my magic to stop simmering.
"Calm yourself. I will not hurt her or you unless there is need to." The king said, earning a growl from Vincent.
"Everyone please, I think we started off all wrong." Queen Carmella pulled out a book from her lap. "We did not come to quarrel. We came to learn. My husband always jumps ahead." She gave him a stern look.
"Fillian, do you know what this is?" she said. I shook my head, not knowing. The book looked old and a bit tattered.
"This book records all the royals and their blood lines. It contains all those from the beginning to now, even up to our youngest Carly, who is just a pup." She gave the book to me. "This book is spellbound and when a new royal is born or comes to power their name is added. In a similar way, when they die, the date is given. Please open the last page."
I carefully opened the book and went to the last page. I just stared at the name. Not linked to any other names, but there none the less. I looked up at Queen Carmella. Giving the book to Vincent so he could see without breaking his neck.
"But how?" Vincent said.
"That is why I asked, do you plan to join your father and destroy us?" King Chase said as he leaned forward, clasping both hands. "No." I said.
"How can you be so sure. You are waiting for something, or you would be marked and mated by now." King Chase didn't hold back his words. This angered and hurt Vincent.
I looked at the pain in his face. I grabbed his hand. "I needed to make sure I selected the correct path. The moon goddess was clear that if I chose wrong, I would lose either my magic or my wolf. I am proceeding with caution. There has been a lot in my history and even now we have only returned from my captivity. Life and the paths the moon goddess has set forth have been coming at me too fast to process."
A tear fell from my cheek. I wasn't even aware of them falling. I was right. Life was flying past me, moving me down one path after the other without room to breathe or take it in.
"Poor dear," Queen Carmella said, handing me a tissue from off the desk. "I have decided. You will need to come with us. You are now a Princess after all. You will need to see what type of path that would be."