94

Taking a vow with somebody’s life on the line is a serious matter. It is not simply words. A vow is made using one’s own wolf, and if a life is placed on the line, that individual’s wolf is also involved. A vow that is untrue results in a terrible death for the individual whose life has been used.

“You have a sister, don’t you?” I take a step forward. “You and Vivian referred to me as a promiscuous whore. And in a public setting, no less. Make a vow right now and prove to everyone, using her life, that I was the palace whore.”

Xavier’s expression wilts. “I—I don’t need to make a vow. I am a noble in the Eastern Kingdom. My words have weight—”

“Not for me and my mate. Your status as a noble has nothing to do with this matter because I outrank you! You accused me, the queen of the Northern Kingdom, of being a whore, didn’t you? Well, prove it.”

Xavier takes a step back now, his face pale, but Vivian clutches him. “Make the vow, Xavier! Do it!”

Xavier tries to shake her off. “I’m not messing with Selene’s life—”

“She’s not here! They won’t know!” Vivian is starting to sound more and more unhinged, and I see Xavier blanch at her whispered words.

He pushes her off of him. “She’s my sister!”

Vivian turns around to look at her uncle. She hurls herself into his arms. “He can’t do this to me! I am the princess! How can she be the queen? How can she be of higher status than me? I am more beautiful than her! I have royal blood while she is—”

“If you insult my mate again, I will forget that you are a political prisoner,” Cedric snarls at her. “Leanna is now the queen of the North. Her status is above yours. One more word, and I’ll rip you to pieces myself!”

Vivian pales, and her uncle shields her. “She may be a political prisoner, but she is still the princess of—”

“She is nothing but a bargaining tool. Once she has the child she claims to be carrying, I will send it to your kingdom to be raised by your family.”

“It is your child!” Vivian screams. “I’m carrying the heir! The true heir! That bastard child of hers is not—”

“Enough!” Cedric roars, striding over and grabbing her by the throat.

“King Cedric!”

Ignoring her uncle’s cries, Cedric growls, “It seems that you want to share the same fate as Bella Asher. Why don’t I send you to her?”

I don’t want to intervene. Why should I? After everything she did to me? After all the trauma she put me through? She and Bella conspired to separate Cedric and me. She would have killed me. And if she had known that I was carrying Finn, she would have been even more vicious about it.

But my hand touches Cedric’s shoulder. “If she is pregnant, you are talking about taking an innocent life. Don’t do that. Let’s check first whether she’s even expecting or not.” I can feel my mate’s shock and pain, and I instantly realize my mistake. My voice low, I say, “I don’t believe it’s yours. I know you never touched her. Most likely, she’s taken a lover—”

“She’s taken plenty of lovers,” Cedric says harshly. “All of them from the noble families of the North. No doubt, she conspired with them to pass off the child as mine. They very conveniently forgot that only my bloodline can sit on the throne or the North will collapse.”

His words are loud enough to be heard by everyone in the room, and I can detect some unease among a few of the attendees.

“Either way,” I say quietly, “let’s confirm whether she is expecting before we do anything. I don’t want to hurt an innocent child.”

Vivian is gasping for air, and I sense my mate’s displeasure as he drops her to the ground. Her uncle rushes to her side as she begins to cry. She opens her mouth to say something, but he hushes her, helping her up and taking her away.

I feel a strange sense of relief. Vivian will be dealt with, and Bella is gone. I feel sorry that Derrick had to be the one to kill her, but I know that if she had lived, she would never have stopped going after Finn and me. Her hatred for me is something I may never be able to understand. I can’t comprehend hating someone so viciously for no reason.

If Vivian truly is pregnant, then she will have to be isolated till she gives birth. It doesn’t matter who the father of the child is; it will have Vivian’s royal blood. That means it would be considered a potential heir to the Eastern Kingdom. This may prolong Vivian’s life, or perhaps she will be sent back to the East with the child.

I don’t care. I just want my family to be safe now.

Cedric glances at me. “Are you alright?”

I nod. “I didn’t think there would be such an explosive reaction.”

“Well, that was to be expected.” I nearly jump out of my skin when Erik’s voice comes from behind me. He sounds oddly cheerful. “It actually went much better than I thought it would. While you two are here, why not have a mating ceremony? An official one, using Leanna’s real name, in front of everyone? What better way to cement your position?”

“Let’s just focus on getting the ball back on track,” I mutter. “I understand that this was necessary, but I really hate making a spectacle of myself.”

Erik gestures at the musicians, who begin playing. The guests take the hint and begin milling around, deliberately staying away from us.

“You should go check on Derrick,” I tell Cedric.

My mate looks at me. “Why?”

I frown. “You know why. Just go check on him, will you? Or should I go? I also want to look in on Finn. He heard everything Bella and Vivian said. I just want to make sure he’s okay.”

“You should both stay for a while,” Erik cautions us. “It would not look good for the two of you to immediately disappear. Meet a few people and then go.”

Against my better judgment, I agree to stay. The nobles of the North avoid us, as do the Eastern ones. I catch Xavier watching us from a distance, and when I look at him, he immediately turns away, his face white.

“I don’t think some of them will ever truly respect me,” I realize.

“Do you want them to respect you?” Cedric asks bluntly.

I think about it and then shake my head. “No. I don’t care. Together, we will make our kingdom thrive. Any respect that I need, I can earn.”

Cedric smiles. “Spoken like a true queen.”

After an hour, he goes to check on Derrick while I head off to see if Finn is alright.

“He was a little upset, but I told him a few stories, and he fell asleep. He’s a child; he’ll bounce back. Don’t worry about it,” Harriet comforts me. “I’ll help you out of that dress if you’re ready to retire.”

“No.” I touch her hand, looking at my sleeping son. “Just stay with him. I can get changed by myself. If anything, I’ll get Cedric to help me. I don’t want Finn to be alone.”