Catching A Queen

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Four
Vladimir Of Verish

I awoke to movement in the silken sheets of our bed, my mate sitting up to stretch. Even though her back was turned to me, I knew she was beautiful; the smooth, pale skin of her back was begging for me to run my hands on it as I did so often last night. I sat up and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, kissing her hair; she smelt of me. "Good morning," she yawned, caressing my arms.

"Good morning, beautiful. How was your night?"

"Spectacular," she giggled, turning to face me. "And your's?"

"Heavenly," I smiled, pecking her lips. We often woke each other up to make love, never really tiring of each other's embrace. "Do you need a blood bag this morning?" She shook her head and smiled. "Good." I got up, pulling her along with me as we headed to the kitchen.

"Vlad?"

"Hm?"

"What if someone walks in and sees us naked?"

I chuckled and set her on the counter while I reached in the refrigerator for my breakfast. "They won't, love."

"But what if they do?" I rolled my eyes, my fangs puncturing the bag. She crossed her arms and watched me with a irritated glint in her eyes. "Don't roll your eyes at me." I finished up the bag and threw it in the trash can, wiping my tongue along my lips and teeth. I turned and placed my hands on either side of her, trapping her in.

"And if they do?" I cocked my head to the side. "What will you do?"

She gulped and scanned her predicament. "Well, I'd want to hide."

"And why is that? You don't want them to see me touch you?" I asked, gliding my hand up her calf. My lips grazed her neck and she shuddered, my hands now gripping her thighs. Our moment was cut short when a knock at the door sounded. Our heads whipped to the sound's direction and I stiffened. "Go to the room, get dressed and stay there until I come to get you."

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine," I said, nudging her towards the steps. "Hurry." She scurried up the stairs and I tried to get the scent of who was in front of the door; I could not, and that worried me even more.

"Brother, it's me," a voice said and I immediately stiffened. What was he doing here?

Violet Of Verish

I relaxed against Gareth as his fingertips brushed up and down my arm. My youngest brother was back, and he had a message for Vladimir. "Do you think he will harm them?" I was brought out of my thoughts by my mate's voice.

"I really don't know," I confessed. "As children we were all very close, but Claus has always been...on the darker side."

"Maybe he's changed."

I nodded and pressed myself deeper into his chest. I could feel the peace that washed over him when I was near and that told me that this bond was real. "Gareth, I have something to tell you." I pulled away and looked at him, sighing. "We rescued Lucinda from Draco, and I felt the mate bond with a prisoner there." His eyes widened and he sat up, creating some distance between us. "But it was a trick; it was fake. I want to be honest with you, always so I felt it fitting you should know in case Draco tries to mess with your mind in battle."

"We're going to battle?"

"Eventually we'll have to."

He shook his head, taking my hand. "We can't, Violet, he'll kill us all."

"We can, and we will."

"You don't understand! You don't know what I know, and you haven't seen what I've seen! I can't-I can't lose anyone else! He took my family, he took my home, he took my Chose-" He stopped and I felt my heart collapse.

"Your what?"

Tears welled up in his eyes and he took in a shaky breath, bringing my hand to his cheek. "I was holed up in that cave with my clan all my life, Baby, please try to understand." I could feel my heart shattering all over again. Why does this keep happening to me? Who was she? Am I like her at all? Does he love me more?

"You..you..."

"I never thought I'd ever find you, and Belinda was someone that cared for me deeply."

I tore my hand from his and stood. "Were you fully bonded?"

He gulped and nodded, tears leaking onto his cheeks. "With our daughter, Ayla." I stumbled backwards as he reached for me. He'd been fully bonded, and he'd had a child. A daughter! He stood and opened his arms, begging me with his eyes to come to him, but I did not. "Please, Violet, how could I have known that I would meet you? We were barely allowed out in the valley!"

"You have a Chosen," I sobbed. "And a child."

"Violet, that life has been destroyed by Draco," he whispered. "I miss them dearly, but my place is here with you." My throat ran dry and I stepped away, turning my back to him. There was nothing I could do about his past, but it still hurt. "Violet-"

"Please stop," I begged him. "I-I need to think for a few minutes." I retreated up the stairs and into an empty room, closing the door. Maybe I was nbeing unfair, but shit why am I always having to be the one getting hurt!? I felt his presence on the other side of the door, but he didn't move to open it, or even touch it.

I love you he said to me. And I'm sorry that I've hurt you

I reached and opened the door, looking down at my Mate sitting on the floor. "I love you too." He stood and caressed my face, leaning his forehead to rest against mine. "I can't change the choices you've made, and I understand why you did make those choices; I probably would have made them too if she hadn't have left. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too." His lips descended upon mine, and he backed me up into the room, closing the door with his foot.

Call it a filler