Everlasting Series: Princess and the Vampire (GxG)

Chapter Twenty-Four

Demi

I could feel everything as I had known it crashing down around me. As Elliana spoke, the dread in my heart grew. After a millennia, I was being told that everything I had believed was a lie. I also felt a weird form of relief. The Caelestis had not betrayed us. Although everyone in our village was long dead by now, I knew the truth. My father had not trusted the wrong person and in turn, caused our demise.

To make things worse, now that we had bonded, I heard all of her self-depreciating thoughts loud and clear. All of her doubts, worries, and fears were audible and it didn't help that I was the subject of many of her fears.

I held my mate in my arms tightly, afraid that she would slip from my grasp if I let go. The part of me that thirsted for revenge only grew stronger, as now I had to avenge both my family and my mate. I now understood why Charlene was one of the few people she had let in, why she and her step-mother were so close. She owed her life to them, and in turn, I owed them too.

Elliana's hand covered mine, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Don't blame yourself, okay?" She smiled gently at me and I forced myself to return her smile. I truly admired how she could stay so strong after all that had happened. And not only that, but she was forced to face her tormentor everyday for the past thousand years.

Sebastian deserved more than just death for his actions. I realized that the issue was far beyond simply Sebastian. The Queen was also a cruel person who did not deserve to be a mother. I finally understood why taking the throne was so important to my mate. By taking the throne, she was destroying any last hope Sebastian and the Queen had of reclaiming it, and when the time came, I would fully support her.

When I didn't respond, she spoke again. "How would you like to come with me back to Cael for a visit to meet Elder Thomas? He's truly felt sorry for everything that happened that night. It was out of his control, and I know he'd love to meet you...as my mate." She added the last part softly and I looked at her in surprise.

"You told him?" She blushed and nodded before leaning into me.

"I hope that's okay. He only knows that you're my mate, nothing else. If you want to, you can tell him." She turned away for a moment. "You know, after the things in Cael had settled, the day he was supposed to leave, he snuck away from the group of Elders to go visit your village."

She sighed and spoke softly. "I followed him out. He buried every single dead body that he could find and made a headstone for each. He actually cried at the chief's - your father's -grave, apologizing for what his grandson had done, and how his son had failed to stop him. He still visits occasionally, to remind himself of what happened."

Elliana stopped and sighed again. "I just feel like it'd be a good thing. He supports us, and he's a good person. He's not the one who hurt your family."

I found myself nodding in consent and her face lit up. "We can go in the early evening. I need to go see Ma."

"Can I come?" She glanced at me shyly.

"I thought that was a given." I smirked and tickled her sides teasingly. She giggled and tried to push my hands away.

"Oh no you don't!" I ran my fingers frantically along her rib cage and she squealed in laughter, trying to kick me off. I pushed her back down onto the bed and held her wrists above her head. Smirking seductively at her, I heard her gulp. I giggled and lowered my head, capturing her lips in a heated kiss. I could hear her whimper softly as I molded my lips to hers and lightly bit her bottom lip. Sucking on the drop of blood that came out, I ran my hand underneath her robe.

"Uh-h D-Demi..."

"Mm-hm?" I continued to kiss down her neck.

She closed her eyes and whispered in a breathy tone. "Ma. We were going to see Ma."