Heiress To The Throne: Book 1

Chapter 14

Kaden's POV

The drive felt endless — eight hours of silence, the hum of the tires, and the sound of her breathing the only thing keeping me sane. Every time I looked at her, it reminded me how much I risked bringing her back, and how fragile she looked despite the power running through her veins. I couldn't decide if I was more nervous about her waking up and remembering the brutality I showed, or her not being able to wake up at all due to the trance she subconsciously entered in her fight.

After draining the eight blood bags I had during the trip, from College Station, Texas, to Tulsa, Oklahoma—to the nearest portal home, we were finally almost to our destination. I pulled up to the closed-in parking garage gate.

The guard at the gate nodded as he opened it. I pulled into a spot and parked my Camaro. Camille, who slept through the whole trip, is still out. I get out, go to her side, and gently scoop her up into my arms as I head to the elevator. The elevator opens as I approach it, The New Head Mage Gatekeeper bows to show respect as she says, "Your Highness, what is your destination?"

"The Bewitched Farlands Kingdom — my castle center of the Palace."

"As you wish, Sire."

"One more thing Sire..."

I looked at the Mage waiting.

"Your arm, if you will...and hers as well Sire?"

I gently stretched out Camille's right arm with mine since she's still unconscious.

This mark she mentioned—all Royalty get the family crest and rank of nobility the moment they're born. It's called a Hidden Eye mark. It's a brand that you can only see with fire if you have elemental powers, or if a magical light which was created to hold essence of the blue fire, something similar to a black light but it's magically resistant to shortening out, making it very durable. Or if you're a Mage you can conjure a blue flame to see it.

The magic in the light makes the Mark visible, which is what the Mage was currently doing.

I saw her eyes widen as Camille's mark revealed itself. Confusion in her eyes.

"How can this be?"

Her thoughts picked up by me due the lack of a mental guards.

"And yours Sire."

I stretched out my arm as a small blue flame appeared hovering above it.

"Good," I said, flashing a brief smile showing a glint of my fangs. "If you didn't ask when I made it to the other side of this portal without showing you the mark— You'd have hell to pay. If you can't be trusted to take all the precautions necessary to ensure the safety of the Kingdom and the people in it— you'd be replaced within the hour," I say, firmly. Leaving no room for misinterpretation or mistakes.

I lean in closer to her ear as the octaves in my voice drop even lower as I whisper, " Breathe one word or thought of the princess's return before I do and you will be charged with treason and threatening the safety of the crown, understood?"

She swallowed loudly and nodded her head.

"I'm so sorry Your Highness, I don't know why I took so long to ask besides nervousness, It'll never happen again Your Highness." she said all flustered slightly shaking.

"And I wouldn't dare threaten her safety my King."

I nod. Good I scared her, she should be scared. I let my fangs and canines slide back under my gums and let my smile fall as I frown at her.

"It'd better not, there are too many lives at stake for you to be so careless, you could've costed us the safety of our realm being absentminded." I say as I begin raising my voice to hammer my point in.

"Yes, Your Majesty. So Sorry Your Majesty." She said bowing again, as tears form in her eyes.

Damn, I hate crying. I didn't mean to take it that far. Sometimes I can be too blunt, dammit, that's why Lily talks to people not me. With the way I was raised it's hard to be gentle sometimes.

"Good, now let's get going."

"Yes Sire" She wiped her eyes and began her incantation.

The air around us shimmered, humming like a heartbeat that wasn't ours. Sparks of blue fire licked the air as the portal the size of a pea appeared. As she continued the portal widened, the scent of the ozone and old magic thick enough to taste. The floor beneath my boots vibrated until the realm's gateway flared wide, its edges rippling like water reflecting a storm.

As I walked through the gateway the scent hit me first— lavender oil and burning oak, the same mix my mother insited on centuries ago. For a moment, I also felt like the child i used to be, before the crown, before all the bloodshed. But as I looked down at my daughter, it hit me—My child wont have those same experiences. the palace suddenly felt less welcoming but instead felt smaller and heavier filled with the weight of the voidness of Camille's abscence here as a child. And everything hidden from the Kingdom—and from her.

I stepped all the way through the gateway and into the Palace in the main room of the center of it.

I'm Home.....scratch that—We're Home!!!

I see maids and butlers stop as they turn to bow and show respect to me and continue their duties. Although, some try their best to not be caught side-glancing at Cammy, who was tucked in my side, which was understandable because no one knew of her existence minus a very few trusted people.

"Bastion" I called out.

Sebastian appeared beside me.

He held his temple and rolled his eyes as he sighed so dramatically I almost laughed. "Sire must you continue to insist on calling me that absurd nickname?"

"Oh, Bash. You'll always be my Bashy Bash." I said smiling.

"If the servants hear you, they'll think I let you get away with anything," he muttered, his wings twitching faintly at the thought.

"They already do," I teased, earning the faintest smile he straightened , all business.

"What can I do for you my King?"

"Prepare a royal room for her," I say, getting serious.

"Yes Your Highnesses."

"Oh, and  let Lily know I'm back and to meet me in Camille's room with her mother as well. Also Bastian I need some fresh blood and some on standby for Camille when she wakes up"

"Absolutely your Majesty."

Sebastian then turned his attention to those trying to sneakily eavesdrop and as Head of the personal servants to  the Kingdom he said angrily, "If you have time to eavesdrop you have too much time on your hands, maybe I should find you something to do. All of you should be working! Everyone is to also stay away from the Royal Wing of the Palace unless asked to do so by myself, my sister or the King and Queen. There will be serious consequences for those that disobey!" Sebastian finished and then vanished as he set out to complete the tasks I'd had given him. I looked at the servants frowning and they all scattered. I used my Vampire speed and sped out of the main room into the Royal Wing and into Cammy's new bedroom. As I gently laid her down and tucked her under the sheets, Lillian appeared with her puffy cheeks, and eyes crying and very red. I walked over and wrapped my arms around Lily.

"She's finally back."

"Yeah, babe, we don't have to watch over her with your magic anymore."

"Lily where's your mother? I know you're just as powerful if not more than your Mother, but with this being our daughter I want to have another exceptional healer to check our daughter. Something has to be wrong, she hasn't waken up yet. It's been half a day already, and I'm getting worried. After she's taken care of there are some things we need to discuss as well."

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