THE BLOOD ROYALS Book 2: Long Live The Queen!

Chapter Twenty Two: Fast Swimmers

A/n: The time line for this chapter is before the conversation between Nilsa and the King.

Saine Neane
Army Base
Prince Relian's POV
"General, there's a visitor for you."

"Who is it?"

"The Queen."

Of all the people I don't want to deal with. "Let her through." I sighed as I out away the classified documents.

I'm not a confrontational person. I would rather let something go that confront it. It stems from my deep reservation against conflict. It's the pacifist in me. But lately, I have had to confront a lot of things. I have had to confront the pain of losing Thalia. I have had to confront death and fight to live. I have had to confront my heart to allow me love another woman. I think I will need to confront Xanth and his intentions. I have had to confront the fact that my mother is just like my father. She's also having an affair. I have had to confront the possibility that I am not the rightful heir.

When I left Rowan's palace, I was angry. I didn't go back to the base. I went to the hotel suite, to Renée and we didn't talk. We did what we do best and that is to engage in mind blowing passion. But later on, I opened up to her and I told her about Rowan and what he's saying. She convinced me that it would be better to know so that I can know what to do next. I went back to Rowan's place and I agreed. He insisted on his doctor but I didn't trust his intentions so I brought extra samples to the doctor on base. I didn't tell her who the samples belong to.

"Hello son, I think we need to talk."

I stood up. "I agree. Have a seat."

"Thank you."

I sat down after she did. "What do you want to talk to me about?"

She fumbled with her fingers for a moment. She looks nervous. "I'm so sorry about this. I really am. I told Rowan not to tell you anything. He... He never listens. He's hardheaded."

"You do have a type. Let me ask you a question mother. Does the one in Carperia know about this other one in Saine Neane?"

"No."

Now what will happen when dad finds out?

"Will you tell him?"

"Reli, it's none of your business."

"Before Rowan got into my face about him being my father, it wasn't my business but now I'm smack in the middle of it. He called me the fruit of your love!" I cringed. "Am I the by product of infidelity?"

She looked down.

I expected an affirmative answer.

This silence is worrying me.

"Mother!"

"I don't know!" She screamed back. "I... I don't know who your father is."

May the ground beneath me swallow me whole because I cannot be Rowan's son. I love my father. This will change a lot of things. I'm not against stepping down from the throne if I'm not from the House of Kaelan but not at this time. Not at this time when a rebellion is on the horizon.

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"I was with both of them within a span of hours."

"I don't want to know." I got up to pace a little. "How?"

"In the morning I was with your father. Later that evening, after he hosted the Dukes and Duchesses, when he went into a closed meeting with his Generals, Rowan came to my room. It happened."