Heiress To The Throne: Book 1

Chapter 25

Jesse's POV

After the battalion was sworn in the Queen, King, Princess, Nate, Joel, the six shadow guards and myself all headed backstage again.

The King spoke to the princess about the importance of following our lead and that we were now part of her daily life. It got a little awkward when he started talking about mates and future heirs. I could see her cheeks flushing from embarrassment. 

Mates.

I don't know why but the thought of the Princess finding her mate made me envious of the guy. Annoyance and Irritation quickly followed as I thought about having to witness him touching her  and kissing her—

NO— I had to stop thinking about her like that.  

The king finished his speech to his daughter then hugged and kissed her and went back out on stage.

Princess Lillian walked back towards her mom. Nate, Joel and I walked over to them.

Queen Lilith began explaining to Princess Lillian that because the four of us were at least shifter or vampire we only had to do a blood exchange to form a strong mental link. We then cut our palms with sharp knives to fill a drinking goblet.

Once we all did, we had to exchange goblets, I exchanged with the princess first. I had been actively avoiding her gaze up until we exchanged goblets and our fingers touched shooting sparks down my body, I gasped. I locked gazes with her when we touched. I quickly averted my gaze.

When her blood reached my lips and I flicked out my tongue to swallow it, a burst of pure euphoria consumed me immediately. My fangs descended as my soul felt a burning sensation. I fought the urge to let out a primal growl as a single word fell from my lips, "Mate!" 

I looked towards the Princess to see her fangs descended as well and she was obviously enjoying my blood too. 

She stopped drinking and looked over at her mom who grinned.

I was still trying to process everything, and I'm sure she was as well.

Nate and Joel who had finished their exchange walked over laughing. Nate slapped me on the back congratulating me. Joel elbowed me grinning.

"Well, isn't that something? Looks like you found your true mate my sweet girl. You've been here less than a week and have already found your mate. That's wonderful. Your Father and I will discuss with you what that means later. Jesse, the King and I are going to need to speak with you as well."

We both nodded.

I don't know if discovering my mate had me moody and overprotective, but something about Nate's congratulations seemed off.

Nate and I were out of sync right now. 

I had to mentally shrug it off. I trusted him with my life. 

This mate discovery is clearly messing with me.

I looked over at Princess Lillian, judging her reaction. My nostrils flared as something sweet reminding me of nectar filled the air. Her ears turned a bright red as her face flushed as she must of realized both Nate and Joel would be able to smell her arousal.

I glanced at both my friends. Nate was awkwardly looking at the ground blushing while Joel shuffled his feet.

Joel then reached out to exchange goblets with the Princess. Nate and I switched as well.

The exchange was painfully silent.

Finally, Nate exchanged with her next.

When she had drank from Joel's cup nothing seemed amiss but we were partially bonded now so I felt her confusion and the peacefulness she felt drinking Nate's blood. I didn't understand how someone else's blood after finding her mate could give her any sense of an emotion.