Last To Know (The Wanted)

Chapter Twenty-One

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It was a week since the five of them left. The Wolves and the Rogues had seized nearly half the kingdom, but we had seized most of both of theirs. In secret I had been writing to King Matthies and Tom's brother, whose named I had learned was Carmichael.

I had offered my life, my loyalty in turn for the end of the war and money to fix the damages on our land. They had agreed, only if I married Carmichael. Ava wasn't even in question.

I hadn't written back, but I knew I could never marry Carmichael. No matter how it ended up this way, my heart belonged to Tom.

"Maisie? What are you doing? What's that?" I heard someone ask. I looked up to see Jacie. Quickly, I hid the paper behind my back.

"N-Nothing." I stuttered.

Jacie came over and took the paper from behind my back, gasping.

"Maisie... you can't do this. You know I can't let you." Jacie told me, sitting on the bed next to me.

"Jacie, you have to let me do this. The war going on is my fault. Mufasa died in my hands. Everyone in this war is endangering themselves because of me. I can't let that happen. If I am a queen, or princess, I must do the honorable thing. And, as I hold a higher position than you, I must order you to not speak of this to anyone." I said quickly.

"Maisie... I know I must honor you, but I can't let you do this. Tom loves you. You are betraying him by simply thinking of leaving him. Do you understand what mating is?"

"Jacie, I love Tom with everything in my being. It is because I love him so much that I can't let anyone else hurt him. I'm doing this for him and for this kingdom."

"Maisie, believe me. Nothing will hurt him more than if you do this. He spent his entire life searching for his mate. You mean more to him than anything else in the world. He is fighting for you." Jacie told me urgently.

"No, Jacie. He is fighting because of me. Nathan is fighting because of me. Siva and Max and Jay... they're all fighting because of me."

"You can't think of it that way. You cannot give Carmichael what he wants. We're stronger than them. Help from the Witred and Wizzian are coming in. We will win this with their help." Jacie told me.

It was silent for a moment when suddenly everything came crashing down on me. What was I doing? I couldn't marry Carmichael if I was betrothed to Tom, and I couldn't leave him.

"I..."

"Shh. I know, Maisie. Vampire emotions are a little confusing when you're fairly new." Jacie said, pulling me into a hug.

"I just want him to come back." I sniffled.

"I know. I want Nathan back as well. Once we have enough help, then they will come back." Jacie told me. "For now I cannot let you leave this house. And you will not write back to King Matthies or Carmichael."

"Jacie." I whined.

"Whining is not lady-like or proper of a princess." Jacie scolded softly. "We need you to stay safe. You are our leverage, okay?"

"Alright. Fine. I will stay here in this room from now on." I sighed.

"Thank you. I will not speak of this to the others as long as you don't want me to."

"Wait, Jacie. Don't vampires have super hearing? And smell and taste and eyesight... shouldn't they all be heightened?" I wondered.

"You work your way up. I'm not too old as a vampire... so my senses are heroic. Better than yours, but worse than Nathan's. Tom is an extremely powerful vampire. He is one of the oldest in the kingdom besides our rulers."

"I guess that makes him suitable to be the next ruler. Kassimuss was right, though. I am not meant to be queen. I'm not good enough."

"You're new, Maisie. I can tell you will be a very strong vampire."

"I hope so. You know, Jacie, you've been so lovely to me ever since I arrived. Tell me what Tom was like before all of this. He seems so intrigued with always being with me. What'd he used to be like?"

"Uhm... well... he was very different..."

"What do you mean?"

"I think that's a question you should ask him. Not me."

"But-"

"Jacie, Maisie you- hey wait. That rhymed!" Hailey smiled. Her smile suddenly went away as she went back to being serious. "There's big news. The wizards have joined and we've already pushed back their forces to the western border. Oh, and the boys have written notes. All the letters are out in the kitchen."

"See, Mais? I told you. The war will be over soon enough." Jacie smiled. Her and Hailey ran out to the kitchen to see their letters.

I sighed and looked back at the letter from King Matthies. I hid it under my pillow and ran out to the kitchen.

"Did Tom write?" I asked while all the other girls were reading their letters.

"Uhh... actually there isn't a letter from him. I guess he missed the mail carrier. I mean, they are really busy. Don't get offended. The next letters should come in next week or two." Danielle told me sympathetically. Siva had written her three pages.

I nodded and faked a smile before going back to my room.

It seemed like all of the problems I was having were because Tom and I were supposedly together.

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