The Gentle Maiden and Five Lustful Brothers-Chapter 213: desperate means dangerous
***Author’s Note: BIG Thank You to Juniper for being such a loyal reader. This bonus Chapter is for you***
Once their hour was up Ambrose came back, he looked on edge, but Odette knew he was just worried about her.
She saw him in the doorway and came to his side instantly, looking into his eyes with all the love she had to give.
"My servants have been briefed about your stay, and you won’t have any problems with them. They understand the importance of your stay here and have sworn their discretion on their wolves." Ambrose told Ash.
"Thank you, Alpha King Ambrose, for your diligence and hospitality, despite our... issues." Ash nodded in respect.
Odette was nearly jumping out of her shoes with excitement, her father has never been so respectful to another man, and here he was showing his enemy the upmost respect and curtesy.
"Dinner will be served in the main hall shortly, please join us. I will now take my future Luna away." Ambrose turned pulling Odette with him, she waved by and left.
She couldn’t believe the meeting went so well.
"That carrot haired little fucker... He’s lucky he’s still breathing." Ambrose growled, his wolf pushing to the surface made his eyes glow a violent gold.
"I’ll deal with him myself. Don’t give him anymore of our mental space, please. My father says he plans to accept our terms. He just wanted to double check with me that this was what I wanted and that you weren’t forcing me." She smiled gleefully.
"I take it, they will join us at the Gala?" Ambrose asked her.
"Yes. I haven’t asked yet, but I’m sure they won’t want to miss me being crowned as Luna." She stated proudly.
"They will have to wear a glamour to mask their scent and blend in until we make the announcement. Will they go for it?" He asked a very important question.
"I think so. Especially if it means they can be there to protect me in case they riot." She explained.
"I’ll leave it up to you then, Artemasia has the glamour ready." Ambrose said "She also agreed to work with Arya. Hesitantly and reluctantly, but she knows what’s at stake, so she agreed."
"Good. I’m glad to hear that. Why was it even a question to begin with?" Odette didn’t know why it would be an issue, they were both witches.
"Independent witches don’t trust or often work with coven witches. Independents aren’t forced to follow the Wiccan Reede, the way a coven is bond. So, partnerships tend to be rocky, at best." Ambrose expressed to her Artemasia’s stance on the subject.
"I can’t believe how smooth things are going right now." Odette said "I hope the Gala in a week will be just as good."
"It will be. Now let us get ready for dinner with your family." Ambrose laughed at the whole idea of it. Having the vampires over for dinner. Like this was just a regular thing.
The two went back to their room to get ready for dinner and Ash went to meet up with the rest of the family and confirm their acceptance of the terms.
"Are we seriously doing this?" Jeremy protested angrily.
"Yes, Jeremy, we are, we will not stand in the way of the Goddess’s well, or her choices anymore. And our personal feelings should not dictate decisions that affect our entire species. And it shouldn’t stop us from saving Violet, unless you think your thoughts on the subject are more important than the life of your sister in law and Queen." Ash growled at Jeremy, giving him a warning.
Jeremy looked away biting down, not happy about it, but agreeing with Ash said was more than he could say out loud. Jeremy was too proud.
Rosa had taken Delilah away to their room and began screaming at her.
"That is your best friend, your cousin, and your princess, what the hell were you thinking sleeping with Odette’s fiancé?"
"I love him mom, I’ve always loved him! She didn’t even love him! It was supposed to be me, mom, it was always supposed to be me." Delilah crumbled to the floor hugging her knees sobbing. "I’m sorry, mom, I just... I love him so much... So, when he paid attention to me, I couldn’t stop myself from falling desperately for it. I know I was stupid and horrible, but I love him."
"Yeah, you were, and you owe Odette with world’s largest and most sincere apology. And Kalvin. He’s lucky to survive what your father and uncles will do to him." Rosa shook her head. She understood love and struggled with the same thing once upon a time with Jeremy and Violet. Jeremy was one of Violet’s prospective suitors, and as much as she tried to stay away, she couldn’t. The minute Jeremy was confirmed to be free of his obligations and with Violet’s blessing they pursued each other.
"I’m the world’s worst friend, I know..." Delilah cried so hard she was almost choking.
"And Kalvin. He’s a scum bag. He cheated on the princess with her cousin and best friend. He’s even worse than you. Honestly. He doesn’t love you as much as you love him, or he wouldn’t have chosen Odette, and kept you on the side. I know you love him, but you deserve someone who loves you. Not some piece of shit who played both teams for years." Rosa went off.
"I know..." Delilah admitting that only made her heart ache worse. Made her betrayal even worse. Because after all that she wasn’t the one he chose, in the end even when given the out he chose to lie than be with her.
"He doesn’t love me. He never truly loved me or Odette. And... I don’t know if she’ll ever forgive me." Delilah was hysterical and wasn’t sure if she should comfort her daughter or let her feel this pain.
She needed the pain to help let go of Kalvin. But as a mother it broke her to see her daughter in such a desperate state.
Kalvin was pacing the room him and his mother would be sleeping in. Trying desperately to come up with a plan. He just needed an opening, a way in. And he was confident he could fix this.
He couldn’t lose, not when he worked so hard for so long. He couldn’t. He was going to be the King of Vampires, if he had his way. But now, that dream was crumbling and he was a desperate man grasping at broken straws.
Desperate men were dangerous men.
