Chapter 50

Chapter

Fifty

Ana

L eaving my apartment in the vampiric palace, I lean back against the door, pausing, hoping to prepare myself for a difficult conversation.

Less than an hour ago, two of Selina's mates, Grayson and Pike, came by to show my four guys The Academy's training facilities. The men were eager to go blow off some steam, and their short absence gave me a chance to go talk to my father. But his secretary said he wouldn't be ready to meet me until…I glance at my watch…until five minutes from now.

I've been riding on a high since Paris, unable to catch my breath, but now that I have the chance, it's time to face reality.

Over the two blissful weeks we stayed in Paris, the men and I had a few discussions about the future, but only in the vaguest, most fantasy-like terms—places we want to see together, experiences we'd like to share, new ways we'd like to make love, but those conversations always ended up with us testing out our love-making ideas, diverting us from all the important questions—all the practicalities of what our futures might hold.

I'm pretty sure it's Crusher who's been discouraging the others from mentioning making commitments, or how our future lives might work, and while that hurts, given all we've been through, I admit I haven't fought hard to force the discussions either.

In fact, since we banished the demon, I've avoided any subject that might make the euphoric existence of the past weeks come to an end. Like, if we made our futures too real, it might shatter the love bubble the five of us have been living inside.

But yesterday, out of the blue, Crusher suggested we visit the palace, and the future smacked me right in the face. This palace is my past, but coming here also means facing all the obstacles to my future.

Straightening off the door, I smooth the front of my modern frock, one of several I bought in Paris. Simple, and crafted from good quality fabric, the champagne-colored shift dress brushes my knees and is a nice compromise between my old conservative gowns and the body conscious garments I tested back in Freetown. As much as the men liked them, those tight-fitting numbers were very much not me.

Gathering my courage, I head toward King Dunkan's office.

Unless a miracle happens, I need to make a choice. A choice between a life with these four men whom I love, or my planned life in service to the crown. Because there is no chance that these men will qualify as acceptable mates for a princess. Not one of them.

The miracle I need is my father's approval.

Seeking his approval isn't about the patriarchy—not just about the patriarchy. It's about the monarchy, about tradition, and maintaining peace amongst vampires. I am now second in line to the throne, but Selina has made her disinterest clear.

Father has shown no signs that he plans to retire and could sit on the throne for centuries to come, but if something happens to him, the lack of a clear succession plan would throw the vampire world into chaos. Again.

So, my choice of mates matters to more than just myself, and my choices won't be acceptable to anyone, least of all King Dunkan.

As nerves gather inside me, I realize that it's not just about the succession either. I want my father's approval. King Dunkan has played such an important role in my life, and the thought of disappointing him, or of never seeing him again, should he banish us from court, is almost as horrible as the idea of leaving my men.

I could lie. I could make up acceptable backgrounds for the men, but I won't do that.

Over the past months, the men have told me more details about their past missions. Crusher, in particular, has been eager to disclose far more than I want, telling me many things I wish I hadn't heard, and if some of the crimes they've committed come to light, the four of them will end up in a vampiric prison for life.

Before I reach the door to my father's office, it opens.

"Anastasia!" King Dunkan strides forward and pulls me into a warm embrace. Pulling back, he holds my shoulders as he looks into my eyes. "You look radiant, my girl. Absolutely radiant."

A full body smile bursts out from inside me, quelling my nerves. "Thank you. I feel great."

"I like your new style." He winks. "Très chic!"

Blushing I run my hand over my dress again, thrilled that he approves of at least one change I've made.

"Come." He slides one arm over my shoulders. "You said you had something important to discuss?"

"I do." My choice of words only heightens my nerves.

Dunkan's arm slips off my shoulder as we walk through the door into his study.

"You've redecorated." I take in the sleek room, adorned with stylishly designed furniture and new modern pieces of art. "Are the furnishings Danish?"

The King nods. "Do you like it?"

"It's beautiful." I run my hand over a graceful curve on the back of one chair, more art than furniture.

"Let's sit over there." He points toward a pair of chairs upholstered in steel blue velvet. The chairs look almost like thrones with their exaggerated high backs, but as I settle into one, I'm surprised at how comfortable it is, conforming to my body as I sit.

Placing his hands on his chair's arms, Dunkan leans toward me. "Please. Tell me what has you so wound up."

I cross my legs, placing my hands on my lap. "Wound up?"

"Daughter." He chuckles. "If you were a spring, the smallest flick would shoot you to the moon." His expression fills with compassion. "You can tell me anything. You know that, right? Are those men you arrived with not treating you well?"

"Oh, they're treating me very well." My chest floods with warmth and bolsters my confidence. "I love them. I love all four of them so very, very much."

"I'm very happy to hear that." He leans back. "So, whatever is troubling you does not relate to them?" He cocks his head to the side.

I clear my throat. It's time. There's no point in seriously discussing a possible future with the men—or even truly considering it myself—until I know the shape of its boundaries.

"Father. I love these men. I love them more than I ever thought possible."

"Are you asking for my permission to select these men as your mates? Are you ready to make such a commitment?" King Dunkan's face turns stern, heightening my nerves. "Are they ready?"

My stomach flips, and suddenly I'm unsure about everything. Terrified. Not about what I want, but whether the men want to commit to me. They've said as much, hinted at it, but…

I draw a long breath and remember how strong and loved and safe I feel when they're at my side. Phil's fierce loyalty and passion, Blade's intelligence and kindness, Flame's dedication to beauty, humor and pleasure, and Crusher's wisdom, power and consistency. Those are a just a few of the many reasons I love these men, and the more I learn about each of them, the fiercer my love becomes.

"I cannot speak for the men," I tell him. "But I know what I want."

"You haven't told them what you want?" Dunkan's head tips to the side.

"I…" Suddenly, all the reasons I've been stalling seem foolish at best, cowardly at worst. "I love these men," I tell him. "And if they'll have me, I want to be with them forever. Even if I don't have your approval. Or the approval of the council. Even if it means I can't continue my diplomatic work."

"You're willing to give up everything you want, everything you've been working toward, for these men?"

I nod, sharply, realizing the truth of my response.

"Then, if you don't care what I think, why are you even coming to me?"

I shift forward. "Because I do care what you think. I care very much."

Smiling slightly, he nods. "Then why so nervous? Why all the uncertainty? Am I such an ogre?" He chuckles.

"It's because they… The men. They have pasts."

"Who of us does not?"

I shift forward on my chair. "They've done things…" I don't want to lie to my father—not ever—but also don't want to say something that might land them in jail.

I raise my chin. "For many years, they were under the power of a vampire who abused them, who controlled their actions, who forced them to do terrible things." I shake my head. "But if you agree to meet my loves, you'll see that their past deeds don't define them. That it's not who they really are. That they've changed."

"How can you be certain?" he asks.

"Because I've seen their hearts." I press my hand against my chest where my own heart is pounding. "I've seen their characters, their souls. And I've never been more certain of anything or anyone in my entire life."

King Dunkan leans back in his chair nodding, his expression frustratingly neutral. "Then perhaps we should invite them in for a chat. Perhaps I can study these hearts and souls for myself."

Rising from the chair, my knees shake. "I'll go get them."

"No need." King Dunkan raises his hand. "Gentlemen?"

A door at the side of the room sides open, and Crusher enters, followed by Flame, then Blade then Phil.

"What?" I shake my head in shock, as they file in to stand in front of the fireplace, facing me and my father. "What are you doing here? I thought?—"

"Crusher contacted me from Paris, requesting an audience," Dunkan says. "To confess their crimes."

My heart stops. "No. Please." I drop to my knees. "Don't arrest them. If you put these men in prison… If you put them in prison, I'll join them there too." All my dreams of the future shatter. But even if the five of us are doomed to spend our lifetimes in captivity, perhaps we can at least be together. Vampiric prisons are less barbaric than human ones.

The king bends over in his chair and tucks his hand under my chin, tipping my view up to his. His expression is baffling. "I'm so sorry, Ana."

My heart breaks.

"I shouldn't be teasing you like this."

"Teasing me?" I've never felt so confused.

Standing, he guides me back up to my feet, and then holding my shoulders, he looks into my eyes. "Daughter. Please forgive me."

I shake my head. "Please. Please , don't put them in prison. They shouldn't have come here. It's all my fault."

"You misunderstand me." He cups my face. "Your men aren't going to prison. At least not because of anything they told me today."

"They aren't?" I look into my father's eyes, then over to the men, but they're all staring straight ahead, refusing to meet my gaze.

King Dunkan shakes his head. "Let me tell you what I told your men when they came to me."

I nod.

"I told them that I trust your judgement above all others. And that if you vouch for their characters, whatever they've done in the past doesn't matter. Not to me. What I care about is what they're doing now and what they will do in the future. If we let our past mistakes define our lives, how would we ever move forward?"

"But…" My father believes in justice. The rule of law. So do I.

"One of my advisors," my father continues, "knew of this institute where your men were raised." King Dunkan glances toward them. "And I, for one, am very pleased that they found a clear path out of that horror."

My body floods with so much joy, if my father weren't holding my shoulders, I might float up to the ceiling.

"But that wasn't all that your men discussed with me." King Dunkan's expression turns grave again.

"Are you going to tell me?" My chest is heaving now.

"I have another meeting at the moment," he says. "And I think that it's something you should discuss with them."

King Dunkan kisses my forehead and then strides out of the room.

My knees start to shake again. A fear so intense I can barely stand.

Because I realize how presumptuous I've been. I was so worried about whether the men would be accepted into my life, that I never fully questioned whether it was something they wanted.

They've all declared their love and devotion, but mostly in the throes of passion. And given their lack of integration into traditional vampiric culture, their lack of experience with relationships and love, how do I know that they would want to commit to a lifetime with me?

If they don't…

"Ana." Crusher's voice draws my gaze to him. He's as nervous as I am. "We have something very important to tell you. Something none of us are sure you'll want to hear."

I stagger back a few shaky steps, but then straighten, ready to face my worst nightmare.

"Ana," Crusher says. "I have avoided discussing the future."

I raise my chin. "I've noticed."

"I didn't see any point, until we came here and discussed it with your father."

"Oh." Hope starts to creep back in, and I look between the men. All four of them are nervous.

"Ana," Crusher continues. "You've come to mean so much to us…"

"Oh, for fuck's sake!" Phil mutters, and then drops to his knees in front of me gripping my hips in his huge hands, our eyes nearly level. "Will you fucking marry us? Will you be our mate for all eternity?"

I'm so shocked, so happy, I can barely breathe. But the heat of Phil's hands, and the love I see in his eyes, thaws all my fears, reawakening all my hope for the future.

"Yes." I hug him against me, and then reach toward the others. "Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes."

Blade, Flame and Crusher fall to their knees too, and the four of them form a tight circle around me. One by one, I look into their eyes and then kiss them, each of the connections powerful and electric.

And then all their hands are on me, stroking gently as they continue to take turns with my lips.

I break free, panting.

"We should get out of here," I say with a grin. "Before my father comes back."

Laughing, they all rise, adjusting their pants, although hiding their erections is impossible.

"Is this really happening?" I ask, almost breathless.

"I'm afraid so darling," Flame squeezes my behind. "Looks like you're stuck with your psycho bodyguards for the rest of your life."

"Bodyguards?" I laugh. "Is that what you'll be?"

Blade takes my hand and raises it up to his lips. "We promise to guard your body and your heart."

"Wherever you go," Crusher says, "that's where we'll be. Our lifelong mission is now keeping you safe and making you happy."

Phil scoops me off my feet and into his arms. "But right now, my love, our mission is to get you back to our rooms and deliver you so much pleasure you scream."

I cling to Phil as we race back to our apartment, my body aching with need, and floating with the confidence that this joy will continue for the rest of my life.

I hope you enjoyed PRINCESS AVENGED!

My next series will be set in the "other realm" that Ana, Crusher and Phil visited, and will feature a female dragon rider. To make sure you don't miss it, sign up for my newsletter .

In the meantime…

Have you read Ember, Zuben, Ryker and Axe's story? Their story begins with AUCTIONED FOR HER BLOOD.

Danger and passion lurk after dark

There's a secret in my blood. When I was fourteen, my mom died, protecting me from dark magic. For ten years, I played it safe, never going out after sunset. But I'm an adult now, and I refuse to die alone and a virgin.

How could I guess that my first night out would lead to an auction block, and then the passionate world of vampires? But my euphoric adventure takes a turn, when I land in a prison full of creatures hungry for my blood, and with only the bloodsuckers who bid on me for protection. But nothing about these handsome vampires feels safe.

Order now or continue for an excerpt.