Chapter 88

They left the corridor and headed to Nicole’s office. Kayley and Valon stood at attention near the door as Nicole grabbed a handful of throwing knives. She turned to the remains of the target. She would need a new one. Perhaps she should get a portrait of the duchess and John commissioned for the purpose.

“I want to know who is training John’s militia and what he and the duchess have worked out,” Nicole threw a dagger and it landed just left of the shredded center of the target “I want to know who is on his side and what they offer him. Then, we start dismantling the entire operation. I plan to murder him myself.”

“And the duchess?”

“Either of you is welcome to sever her head from her shoulders,” Nicole threw another knife. “We have a bit of time before she will be able to make a formal appearance, but not much. Get going and be discreet.”

“As always, general.”

Kayley and Valon left, leaving her alone. With a cry of frustration, she threw the remaining three knives into the target and seethed. They had some time, but not a lot to get this under control. The best thing she could do now is prepare for the worst.

She chuckled turning and looking up at the portrait of Queen Lily, her father, and their parents. She had never once, in all of her years alive, thought there was a chance she would one day stand shoulder to shoulder on a battlefield with a werewolf, but Daphne had been clear about her affection for the young werewolf king, and Valon’s report made it clear that the affection was mutual.

She’d sworn to get Daphne on the throne and support her in all of her endeavors. If John’s foolish ambitions were leading them to the destruction of the August line’s reign over the vampire nations then she would have no choice but to lead the charge as she had so many times before.

The next morning, John settled into his seat with glee. Things would be going as planned as soon as Daphne appeared. The ritual should have erased her memories and the bond between her and Arthur. With her blood in him, she should feel an attraction to him, just strong enough to get them on the path to marriage but not so quickly as to be suspicious.

Nicole would be suspicious, but so long as he kept their courtship going long enough, even she would have to agree not to stand in the way. If she didn’t, she would risk alienating herself from Daphne and losing her position.

The door opened and he stood to greet Daphne with the rest of the nobles. Her scent entered the room first, spicier than before and her gaze drifted around the room without recognition. His gut clenched in fear as she entered, examining each person in turn before moving on with apathy. Her gaze stopped on him for just a moment before moving on and John tried to keep his displeasure hidden.

Nothing? Not even a second glance as she took her seat at the head of the table.

“Greetings, Your Highness,” one of the general said. “We are overjoyed to see you returned and feeling better.”

Daphne looked at the woman, trusting her instincts when they said that she was truly happy. She was still wary about this entire meeting, but it eased the pounding in her head from when her gaze had fallen on the man who had looked at her almost expectantly.

"I am," she said. "Have you found anything on my escort?"

"With all due respect, Your Highness," the man, John, a part of her recalled, said. His voice slipped through her consciousness like a knife, sending hot slices of pain through her head. "What happened?"

"I don't remember," she said, stiffly. "But, clearly the werewolf king sent them here with me to at least protect his unborn child. They would not have simply abandoned their posts."

At least, she didn't think they would. Her heart told her she was right even though she couldn't remember them. The room gasped in horror.

“And… you are certain that the child is his?” A noble asked. “A werewolf, vampire hybrid has never been heard of.”

Daphne pursed her lips, “I… have a good feeling.”

Nicole glanced across the room. John was truly shocked, but that shock was morphing into horror and fury quickly. He hadn’t known she was pregnant and that was lucky. There was a chance the child would not have survived if he had known.

"It must have been very traumatic, Your Highness, for you to have no memory of it," the duchess said. "It isn't unknown that werewolves would… force themselves upon vampire women if captured."

Nicole narrowed her eyes, "What are you insinuating?"

She lifted her shoulder delicately, "You said the current king is the son of the former. How are we to know that Her Highness hadn't suffered at his hands? We don’t know how long she was in his possession, and she is not in a position to tell us."

"Precisely," John said, turning his gaze on Daphne. "Your Highness' pregnancy was surely ill-gained if it’s caused you such distress."

Nicole watched the fury in John's eyes boil and fester. Poking at old wounds from the war was the tactic he always employed to start trouble. He was furious that his plan wasn’t panning out the way he thought it should and showing his hand as she expected him to. The duchess looked a bit exasperate behind her speculating expression.

She wished she could just cut his tongue out and kill the duchess for their scheming. Plain violence saved a lot more time than political intrigue.

Another noble said. "Those wolves probably kidnapped Her Highness to bring her back to that filthy wolf!"

"That is quite an assumption, and will be taken into account." Nicole said, "As you have no proof that Her Highness was assaulted by the werewolf king, its hearsay and inflammatory to keep on the point."

"What more proof do we need?" One of the nobles asked. "She was taken from the castle and recovered but has no memory."

"She left of her own accord," Nicole said.

"How can you prove that?" John asked, sneering at her.

“She left through the royal passages.” Nicole smiled, "How can you prove she was taken?"

He seethed, clenching his jaw as she met his gaze. He hated her. Her eyes told him nothing. Even her smile seemed to be hiding a myriad of secrets. She knew something, but she wasn’t showing her hand. Maybe the duchess had a better sense of what she could know.

"While it would be easier to jump to the worst conclusions, it would be a disservice to Her Highness to not pursue all possibilities." Nicole shook his head, “We are seeking to rebuild our nation and our people, not make war.”

Daphne glanced between the two of them, then around the room. Her instincts were telling her that she was right to trust Nicole. John, whoever he was to the nation, was shady doing his best to make

"If Her Highness has no recollection of anything, she can hardly be called in sound mind and body," another noble said. He sighed wearily, but Nicole knew better.

He was one of John's lackeys, for lack of a better word, wanting some glory he felt should have been his ages ago. She braced herself for what nonsense would come out of his mouth.

"It may be best to start considering a nuptial steward.”

Nicole’s eyes widened, baring her fangs with a hiss, “You expect anyone to agree to that antiquated nonsense? You just insinuated that she should be considered invalid! We have never evoked the need for a nuptial steward if the monarch is not married!”

“Well, perhaps if we had, the nation would be in a much different state,” another lord said. “And the law does not prohibit it. I see no reason to be against it. She will be our queen and she will need a vampire heir. That… abomination she’s carrying now is a disgrace to the August line and the vampire nation! It should be aborted at once!”

The air heated and sparked. She turned to look at Daphne as she bared her teeth in a vicious snarl. Her teeth elongated into sharp fangs as she glared at the man.

“You will not harm my child,” Daphne said, her voice echoing with power. The room froze and Nicole felt the compulsion in her voice. She barely refrained from smiling. She’d awakened the August line’s power of vampiric compulsion.

She sat back, satisfied that at the least, Daphne would have a tight grip on their nonsense.

“I am the queen, and I will not be taking on a nuptial steward,” Daphne glared. “Insinuating that I am unable to make decisions for myself and the nation is insulting.”

John froze as she glared at the lord who’d spoken and the air turned cold around them as if death had placed a hand on his shoulder.

Daphne stood, “I will not tolerate any further talks about it. Find the members of my escort.”

Nicole stood as Daphne turned to leave and escorted her out of the room, leaving them in silence and shock.