BRAVING THE DARKNESS: One Night With The Demon King
BENEATH HER DARKNESS: The Alpha’s Little Demon Book 2
Chapter 48 – The Queens
PATREA.
After I admitted everything to Lucius, he simply moved on from it. I wanted to believe he wasn’t affected at all, but then I saw him with Luther the moment we came to the Mystic Pack, and my insecurities came back again.
I had known from the very beginning – even before there was him and me – that he was already affectionate toward his nephew, and yet a part of me wanted to grieve. He wanted one, and it was something I couldn’t give him. “If Lucius said it’s okay with him, then it’s okay. I know my own brother. He never sugarcoats his words. And it is what makes both of you click together because you both tell what you feel.” Lucy stated that before she stood in front of me, her hands went to my arms, and she gently brushed them. “Don’t let it bother you.”
“But I wish I could give him more,” I said in a soft voice.
Lucy smiled at me, her eyes watering as she let out a warm smile. “You have given Lucius so much, Patrea. And I can’t thank you enough. I know he can take care of himself, but I’m happy he has you now because you are exactly what he needed. He told me before that the tower seemed empty, but I’m sure it’s not empty anymore.”
“And if there are babies around, it would be a lot lovelier.”
“Oh, Mama. Stop. Let’s not ruin your day.” Althea walked to where Lucy and I were and handed us our glass of wine. “We are here to celebrate Kalmerus and Athwart. And of course, you and Lucius! Baby or not, Lucius loves you.” We were inside Lucy’s office while Lucius was spending time with Luther and Adan.
I took my glass, as Lucy did before Althea went back to the table to pick up her own.
“For the Queen of Kalmerus and Athwart…” Lucy raised her glass, happiness beaming in her eyes as she looked at me before she added. “My Queen…”
My eyes watered at her generosity. “To the queen of my heart,” Althea added.
I looked at my granddaughter with pride before I shifted my gaze back and forth between her and Lucy. “And to the queens of my life.” We clinked our glasses together before we took a sip of the sparkling wine.
“Thank you for helping me when I needed help,” I told them.
Lucy shook her head. “It was nothing compared to the help you and Althea gave me. I will be forever grateful to both of you, and I will make sure I will do my best to protect you both even if you don’t need it.”
“I’m glad everything worked out for both of you.” Althea smiled as she took another sip. “And I’m so happy I was able to help.”
“You did. Big help, Althea. The bond you created between me and Adan saved him from death.”
“And your protective bubble saved my body from crashing to death.”
“Small girl with big powers!” Lucy nodded her head as she spoke. “And with me and Patrea’s lives back on the right track, maybe it’s time we attended to yours.”
“I agree That’s exactly one of the reasons I want to go here.” I added. “I want to know where you will be staying because I’m not sure I want you back in our house alone.”
“I can protect myself.” She chuckled. “With humans, yes. But not with demons. I’m afraid Alastor might come after you.” I told her.
“Alastor? Who is that?” Althea’s forehead creased as her gaze shifted between me and Lucy.
“Arturos’ heir. Nyneve’s brother. He was, of course, not in agreement with Lucius taking Athwart. He can be as sneaky as Nyneve, and the last thing I want is for him to find out about you.”
“Althea can stay here. But we need to move you to a university in this territory as four hours driving there might be too much, especially if we are talking about your security.” Lucy suggested. Althea didn’t say anything and just kept biting her bottom lip as if she were thinking of something while her arms were across her chest.
“Althea? What do you think?” I asked her. “I’m thinking about Blade’s offer.”
“Oh, so the big bad wolf of yours came with an offer. Let’s hear it.” Lucy said as she winked at me before she leaned her ass against her desk while I took the chair beside her.
Althea spun around and faced us. She let go of her arms on her chest and let them rest on her sides before she spoke. “He asked if I could stay with him and be his Luna.”
“What was his explanation?” Lucy asked. “I mean, why?”
“I was there for a few hours, and I think the females around the packhouse heard there was a female inside, so they went there, and it looks like they like me. And they smiled at Blade when he walked over to tell them we needed to be somewhere.” She paused for a second, then continued again. “He said those females never smiled at him, so he thought maybe they like me, and he wants me to help him get his pack back, you know, emotionally, so they will trust him again.”
Both Lucy’s and my eyebrows were raised. “So, he wants to use you for his benefit. Nothing more?” A part of me was expecting Blade to claim my granddaughter, as he was saying Althea was his mate. “He didn’t say anything else,” Althea answered.
“And what do you get in return?” Lucy asked. “After a year, I can decide if I want to take off his mark, and he will take it out.”
“That’s ridiculous! He put that mark on you, and you should not be the one working hard to take it off.” My nose was flaring. I was disappointed that it seemed he still didn’t want Althea at all.
“And here I thought, based on how protective he was with you when Nyneve attacked, I thought there was a chance of him claiming you.” There, I said it. I couldn’t stop my mouth, as I was hurting for Althea.
“Maybe he knows if I die, his wolf will suffer,” Althea spoke while Lucy was just listening to us.
“I’m not even sure that what he’s offering you is a good idea. He’s basically using you.”
“You can say no, Althea. We will find a way to make him remove that mark, even if I have to ask Adan to do something about that.” Lucy finally spoke.
Althea swallowed before she locked eyes with mine. “I already said yes.”
“What?” Lucy and I said it in unison.
“You can always take it back and tell him you’ve thought about it,” I told her.
“I want to try, Mama,” Althea said in a soft voice before her eyes softened. “I like Blade.” I was lost for words this time. She liked him. She had never admitted this before.
“Are you sure you’re ready if he can’t return what you feel for him?” It was Lucy who asked. “I don’t know. But I’ve got to try, right? I mean. I’m sure Lucius and Adan were not easy to deal with at the beginning, but you stayed and tried. I want that too — a chance. Although I know it’s different on our end because he’s obviously still not over his first mate, but she’s not around anymore. And I’m still here. She will never get a chance with him, but I still can. So, I guess I’m luckier. I just have to make him see me as I am, not as a second chance mate. Not a replacement.”
I bit my bottom lip and stared at Althea. She had always been a confident female, but I could see doubts in her eyes.
Blade was making her doubt her worth. “But if anything, Blade had never had a Luna. So I guess that position is mine until I give it away.”
“I’m not sure if this is a good idea, but since you have already decided, then I just have to be okay with that,” I told her.
“I don’t want you to be okay with it. I want you to understand why I’m doing this.”
“You said you liked him I think that’s a good enough reason, but a part of me wants to make sure that he won’t be able to break you. I don’t know Blade personally, Althea. And I don’t want to judge him, I just don’t want him to hurt you, but I think it’s part of the risk, right?” I looked at Lucy, and it looked like she was thinking hard as well
“If it’s just me, I will say no. But you’re not a kid anymore. Follow your heart and spirits! I hope it will be worth it. But if not… I know it will make you stronger.”
“And whatever happens, Patrea and I will always be here. We are just one call away.” Lucy added, and I kept nodding my head as my eyes welled up with tears.
“1 just want to make sure he will do everything to protect you,” I added
“He will, Mama. As long as I have his mark, he has no choice but to protect me.” Althea looked like she had already made up her mind.
I stood up from my seat and went to her, my arms wrapping around her body as I hugged her tightly. “As Lucy said, whatever happens, we’re just here.”
“And you’re always welcome to come back here anytime, Althea. No questions will be asked.” Lucy told her as she came to us, her arms snaking around our bodies as she hugged us. “I’m so lucky to have you both,” Althea murmured.
“No, Althea I’m the lucky one because you both welcome me into your family.” Lucy said. “As you did welcome us to yours, Lucy,” I told her. “So, I guess we are all lucky because we have each other.”
We remained in the same position, hugging and squeezing each other before I pressed kisses on both their cheeks.
“Luna Althea, huh?” Lucy teased Althea, a coy smile playing on her lips.
Althea smiled. “That’s what he said. He also said he will move his Alpha Ceremony to give me a little more time, and we will have both the Alpha and Luna Ceremonies at the same time.’ “Will there be a Union ceremony?” I asked. Althea shook her head this time. “We didn’t talk about that. And besides, this was just for his people, not for us. I’m just hoping this will be a way to make it work for us. If not, then it’s not.” She then walked to the table where the wine bottle was and took it with her, refilling our glasses as she continued to speak. “Blade said there’s a university in his territory, so I can go there and continue studying if I want to. He said it’s still possible to be a Luna and study at the same time.”
“That’s great. Then you don’t need to quit school.” Lucy stated.
“Yes, but he said I can quit anytime if I end up not liking it there, and we will find a university not too far from home.”
Althea probably didn’t notice, but her mouth twitched into a smile after she mentioned home, and it warmed my heart, but it made me worry at the same time.
Home for her is where Blade was, as Lucius was to me.
I just wish she would get the same ending that I did to end up with the man she liked and for Blade to love her the way she deserved to be loved.
And speaking of Lucius, I think it’s time I summoned the God of the Underworld. I already knew what I wanted for my privileged wish.