Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 90639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90639 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Samuel’s jaw flexed once. Twice. “He’s a bit tied up with the Sons at the moment.”
“You ally yourself with vampire slayers?” Lachlan roared.
“We seek peace for our kind!” Samuel countered.
“And you think marrying Avianna will give that to you?” Alek kept his voice eerily calm.
Samuel directed his attention to our king. “I think that centuries ago, my mother’s claim to the throne was just as strong as your father’s, and he broke their betrothal and wed your mother. He took the throne by force.”
“Because that’s not the way monarchies have ruled for millennia.” Benedict shrugged. “He took power. The royal line of succession falls to Alek.”
“I’m here to argue that it does not.” James hissed. “That for centuries we’ve watched from the sidelines with dismay as you led our species toward their ruin. Or do you deny the civilian casualties of your war with the Sons? Deny the slaughter of aristocratic families and the destruction of schools? The terrorizing of children that has happened under your watch?”
Alek didn’t move a muscle.
“By wedding Avianna, it brings our family in direct line to the throne,” Samuel said, cutting off his uncle.
“Until Lyric produces an heir and your claim slips back to number two.” That comment came from Zachariah.
Samuel looked away from his brothers as if shamed. “That may be, but it still places a Deveraux in the line of succession. If Avianna honors her promise, completes the betrothal agreement, and marries me, we will drop any other claim against you.”
James grumbled, and Samuel turned, shooting a glare at his uncle.
“You were not alive, young king, so your memory cannot serve you.” He took a scroll from behind the witch queen’s chair and passed it over. Lachlan took it, then unfurled the parchment. Ancient, old-school writing that Julian—the king’s resident historian—would have loved filled the scroll.
Shit. I’d seen this before. It was an exact replica of the scroll I’d seen on Avianna’s table.
“It’s a formal complaint from my mother stating that your father broke the alliance they’d forged with their betrothal agreement. It shows that our family’s recollection of events is the correct one, no matter how hard your family has worked to sweep the events under the rug, because your father married for love.” Samuel crossed his arms over his chest.
Their claim was fucking legitimate.
“Why are you doing this?” Talon demanded, his brow lined with the indignation of betrayal. “When did you decide that we no longer serve our king?”
Samuel flinched. “I have no desire to break faith with you, my brothers, but Saint…”
“Saint has been on the edge of madness for years,” Dagon argued. “And now you choose to follow him because, what? He wants power?”
I glanced at Benedict, who shook his head subtly. Samuel wasn’t lying. But did he only want the allegiance of the Hunters?
“Saint’s desires have never made logical sense,” Samuel said. “But I will always protect my twin, even if that means protecting him from himself.” He looked at Alek. “It’s why that’s my name on that pre-betrothal agreement and not his. I would never serve Avianna up to him.”
“Keep her name out of your mouth.” Every muscle in my body clenched.
“You can’t go around stealing princesses for fucked up power grabs!” Zachariah shouted, moving our way. “I came tonight because I wanted to hear the truth for myself. I prayed your motivations were only in protecting Saint—I could understand that. You’ve spent centuries keeping him on this side of sane, but to know that you are willing to carry out this…” He shook his head, as if he couldn’t find the words. “This barbaric plan of forcing Avianna’s hand is unforgivable.”
“Do not forsake us, brother,” Samuel pled. “For centuries, you have been at my side. Together we can bring in an era of peace.”
“We serve our king.” Zachariah arrived at my right.
“Ajax?” Samuel looked toward the giant warrior.
Ajax shook his head slowly. “I will be the first to admit that adjusting to modern times was a challenge, but Samuel, we no longer force women into subjugation, even if it’s in the form of a wedding ring. She doesn’t want to marry you.” He sent Talon and Dagon a look I couldn’t decipher, then walked over to our group.
“She agreed!” Outright panic stole across Samuel’s face.
“Only because she wants to avoid a war!” Benedict snapped.
“She didn’t speak for a month after her return,” Talon added, misery etched in the lines between his eyes. “She kept quiet for a month, looking for a way out of this. That doesn’t sound like a woman who longs for your ring, Samuel.” His shoulders dropped. “I can’t support you in this.” He walked to our side, leaving Dagon as the only Hunter left undecided.
“The marriages of princesses have never been about love or want.” James curled his fists. “Royal marriages secure alliances. They bring in lines of strength and talent to the bloodline. They bolster peace.” He narrowed his eyes at Alek. “And they are decided not by younglings with romance on the brain, but by our kings.”