Chapter 78

ROSE

Grace resented us all, especially Eleanor. The next evening after her wedding, she and James left on their honeymoon. She glared at us all in turn.

After they left, little by little, the other pureblood families cleared out of the castle.

Selene, Orion, Demetrius, and I spent all evening after they left cleaning the castle, removing decorations, cleaning blood stains, throwing out broken furniture.

Angus and Aleesha stayed in the castle, spending their evenings hunting. Eloise stalked the halls, glaring at everyone.

Elizabeth and Damon hadn’t been seen in twenty-four hours, but I could still smell them downstairs.

I was elated and afraid—a mixture of emotions I had gotten used to since I first became a mother.

I watched from the windows in the ballroom as Aric and Eleanor made their way, hand in hand, to the horses. With them trailed the human, Eleanor’s brother.

We had all been shocked to still smell him when we woke at dusk. Eleanor had sprung from her bed first thing and had rushed upstairs to find him.

He was gloomy, and he didn’t like speaking to anyone except her and Aric. I could understand why. His heart raced in utter fear when he heard us coming.

I could easily imagine what Elizabeth and Damon had put him through. But he stayed, and he even spent all day writing down his memories with his parents for Eleanor. She was so happy she wept.

They spent the early evening exchanging stories. She set up her painting and, listening closely to his instructions, painted her parents, holding hands. This time, David was the one to cry.

I was so happy to see her bonding with her blood, so happy she was still alive. I didn’t want to mention her abnormal transformation. She had been glowing.

She was stronger than a turned vampire, just as strong as us, and her scent was definitely that of a pureblood. Aric was curious to turn her brother.

I wasn’t bothered by the idea. It would make Eleanor happy to have him around. She wouldn’t have to watch him decay and die then mourn him.

It could also help us get a glimpse of what she was maybe supposed to be. But she saw things very differently. She insisted on bringing him home as soon as possible.

I waited anxiously for Venus’s return.

Demetrius watched them with great joy as well. I could see the smiles playing at the edge of his lips. They turned into a deep frown whenever he caught sight of Prince Alexander.

He and Phoenix were ignoring each other. That was obvious to everyone. Phoenix busied herself cleaning the castle and helping Eleanor cook dinner for the human.

The two sisters had never had much to talk about before, but they laughed loudly together from the kitchen. I couldn’t have imagined a better outcome.

Prince Alexander kept to himself. He was constantly on his phone, avoiding us all, staring at Eleanor.

I wasn’t blind to his affections for her. They had sprouted from nowhere and had blossomed in the last few days.

Even though she had thrown him against a tree, he still tried to approach her each day.

Aric kept him a good distance away. Though he knew Eleanor was very capable of defending herself, she seemed to not want to have anything to do with the prince.

I didn’t mention anything to Demetrius about his family’s plans to overthrow the royal family, and he didn’t say anything to me. Time was on standby until Venus or the king arrived.

We were in a blissful limbo of time, and I was grateful for the breather. I watched my adoptive daughter, for the first time not afraid for her life.

***

King Lucius arrived first. And with him came his entire family. The Nights thundered into the castle at midnight, and Alexander was the first to greet them at the door.

Elizabeth and Damon appeared for the first time since Eleanor had hit them. They were dressed in finely tailored suits.

David bristled when he saw them but kept his head high as he stood next to his sister. Eleanor and Aric held hands, watching as the Nights filed into the great room.

Kind Lucius sat in the ballroom, calling for an armchair to be brought to him immediately. He then summoned us all to his makeshift throne room.

His gaze was thunderous, darting back and forth from the different members of my family. Behind him stood his own family. Alexander stood proudly beside his grandfather.

William, Lucius’s son, stood behind Alexander, holding the hands of his two daughters.

I couldn’t help looking at the little princess Jessica. She was a little taller, her hair longer, but other than that, she looked almost the same as she did when she had bitten my daughter.

King Lucius was fixated on Eleanor. She stood next to Aric, their hands clasping tightly. She met his gaze, her chin held high.

“You’ve grown,” he said.

Eleanor nodded. “I have.”

“So, alive then. You didn’t die in front of me.”

“I did not,” Eleanor agreed.

The king pursed his lips and nodded.

“Demetrius, it was you?” He turned his gaze toward Demetrius, who stood stoic next to me. I squeezed his hand, but Demetrius looked calm.

“It was me. I love her as I love my other children. I would not let her die,” he answered.

The king scowled at me.

“You went against a direct order,” he concluded. “You will be trialed, and if found guilty, you face imprisonment or death. Depending on the kindness of the jury.”

“I am disappointed, Demetrius.”

“I regret nothing,” Demetrius answered him.

“Lucius.” Elizabeth stepped forward. “I won’t let you hurt my child,” she cautioned.

Lucius turned on her, his eyes blazing bright red.

“He went against my direct order. Had he been a turned vampire, he would already be dead! He’s lucky I’m extending him the right to a trial. He’s lucky he’s blood,” he growled at her.

Elizabeth bristled.

The king turned back to Eleanor, his expression relaxing into a lazy smile.

“You’ve gotten pretty,” he told her.

She didn’t answer but slightly shifted toward Aric. Aric beside her hissed just slightly. The king chuckled.

“So, have we figured out what she is yet?” he asked the crowd. They shuffled awkwardly.

“A pureblood,” Alexander answered, his eyes fixed on Eleanor’s. She returned his gaze with a fierce one of her own. “She’s definitely a pureblood.”

The king appraised his grandson. “And how is that possible?” He glanced toward me. “Did you do something to her as a child?” he asked.

I glared at him. “Of course not,” I uttered. “She was human. When Aric turned her, she returned a vampire. Pureblood.”

“That’s not possible,” he answered.

“And yet, here I am,” Eleanor announced loudly. She glared at the king. “King.” She hesitated, not sure how to address him. “I won’t let my father be hurt for saving my life.”

The king stared at her and shook his head.

“You have no power, child, no more than you had as a human child. I am still very much within my rights to take you home with me as a slave, like all turned vampires. Or to have you killed, correctly this time.”

He glanced at me, frowning. I boiled with rage. Behind me, I heard Eloise let out a loud giggle.

Eleanor seemed to be getting angry as well. Her skin let off the slightest amount of shimmer.

“You won’t touch her. She’s a Mcnoxnoctis pureblood. You cannot hurt her without cause,” Aric snapped at the king.

King Lucius bristled at his impertinence.

Alexander stepped forward, his gaze on Eleanor. “She isn’t a Mcnoxnoctis. She shares no blood with the family. There has never been a nameless pureblood before.”

He glanced back at his grandfather. “Your Highness, if you permit it, I would give her our name. Night. And take her as my bride.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. Aric let out a loud growl and moved toward the prince, his fangs bared, his eyes crimson. Rage radiated off his body.

“I refuse,” Eleanor snapped. “I refuse to take your name, and I refuse to be your wife.”

Alexander seemed unfazed. He glanced at his grandfather, who seemed to be considering the proposition.

“Actually, I do have a right to marry my subjects off to whom I chose,” the king declared. “My grandson seems very taken.”

I held my breath. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Demetrius was by my side, fuming with rage. Aric’s fists were clenched. He was seconds from pouncing on the king.

Phoenix was steaming with rage and embarrassment. I wanted to tell her she was better off without the prince. I didn’t want any of my daughters to marry the prick.

Only Eleanor seemed calm. She cocked her hip, gazed at the king. “You cannot marry me off if I’m already carrying a pureblood child,” she said.

“What?” I gasped.

“Oh snap,” Phoenix giggled.