Prologue

JPOV

Mikhail and I stood in the study, discussing a topic that has haunted me for years. It all came too quickly, but it was here and I couldn't fight it. "Jacques, brother, I know this is not easy for you, but it is what is needed for our people. A greater hope for our future." I looked at my brother, almost feeling dazed. I knew he spoke the truth, but was it worth the cost? Our people drew from the hope of our family's leadership, but did it have to come at the expense of my daughter's innocence?

My gaze went past Mikhail to the portrait that hung on the wall. Emmett, Alice and Savannah immobilized as happy youths. Savannah was a laughing babe in the arms of my daughter, Alice. Alice and Emmett were ten years old when they posed for this portrait and Savannah was only a year old. When Alice smiled, she could stop anyone's heart and it was nearly impossible to deny her anything. She was the light of my life, as much as her mother and brother. Bella, Alice and Emmett were mine and I had to guard them. But now, my children weren't children anymore. Emmett was as tall as me and as strong as I always wanted him to be. And Alice, she was as beautiful and brilliant as her mother with a wild spirit like my sister, Noelle. She had flowing black hair with hues of red. Her dark brown eyes were reminiscent of the rich earth of our homeland. I watched as my children grew into a strong man and woman that I was proud to bare my family's name. They were the hope my people waited for, but now, it was time for them to fulfill that hope.

Emmett was to become a warrior and coming into his strengths, but Alice…. she would have to offer something much more precious. Bella and I knew that this day would come and I dreaded it. Emmett and Alice were twins, born minutes within of each other, but Emmett was a man, ready to face the world and its challenges. Alice, however, was my little girl and I needed to guard and shield her for the rest of her days.

Brother, I believe that is what Raven calls a 'double standard.'

I glowered at my brother, I know this, Mikhail. Wait until Savannah is of age and I will happily watch how you act when her time comes.

Mikhail arched an eyebrow at me and I waited for him to challenge what I said, as we both heard the sounds of footsteps coming down the hall. There was the sound of humming along with the footsteps and a familiar heartbeat. My eyes closed and a lump formed in my throat as I thought about what was to pass. How could I tell my daughter this? How could any father do this? She was too young. In the old days, a young maiden would have to wait until her 200th birthday before being claimed, but that was not to be so in these desperate times.

Women were scarce and too many of our men were giving into the darkness that stained our souls. I recalled all too well what the darkness did to our minds and thank the heavens above that Bella found me. Alice was of physical age, but I couldn't handle this. My daughter was fair, beautiful and innocent. She was humming Bella's lullaby as she walked. The song never bothered me; it was the source of it that still gets to me. There was a knock on the door and she stuck her head into the door, "You wanted to see me, Daddy?" Alice flowed into the room. When I looked at her, I saw a little girl with pigtails and a sweet smile. Now her hair was pulled into a ponytail, wearing a flowing green dress. She kissed Mikhail on the cheek, then hugged me, "What did you want, Daddy?" I couldn't help but look her in the eye and that was my undoing. I couldn't do this.

Mikhail, forget it. Alice is too young for this.

My brother looked at me, but he did not argue with me. Alice glanced back, "Too young for what, Uncle Mikhail? What's going on? Did I do something wrong?" I watched my brother, as he thought he was doing what was best for our people and not my daughter. Alice curved her arm around my waist as she felt my body tensed. She giggled and rested her head on my chest, "Calm down, Daddy. Just tell me what is going on. It can't be that bad." Oh my sweet innocent Alice.

"Alice, sweetheart, please sit down. Your father and I want to discuss something very important with you." She smiled and sat down on the lounge chaise, pulling her legs underneath herself. Her dark brown eyes moved between myself and Mikhail, still smiling, "What's up?" Mikhail looked at me, hoping for my approval, but he wasn't getting it. This was my child. He sighed slowly, Then you force my hand, Jacques. Forgive me.

"Alice, you are of age to know the precarious situation our people face. There are no woman to be mated with our males and we are losing too many of them." Alice nodded slowly, "I know. You and Daddy are working very hard to resolve this issue, but what's that got to do with me? What can I do?" An innocent question but it held such resonance. Mikhail sighed slowly, "As my niece and the first female to be born to our people in centuries, Alice you hold a certain amount of responsibility." Her eyebrows shot up, "Yes….?" My eyes closed as Mikhail came to his point, "Alice, it is time you meet your lifemate. It is for you to save his soul. And in time, it will be for you to….." Mikhail hesitated as goose bumps visibly formed on Alice's skin. Mikhail was having difficulty with this, but he knew it was what was needed. "Alice, I know this is hard to cope with, but you are the niece of the Prince and have certain obligations. You are known as a responsible young woman and have brought pride to our family. Now, it is time for you to fulfill your role."

Alice blanched, finally moving, "Uncle Mikhail, are you serious?" I could see the pain on my daughter's face, "Wait? You're kidding, right? Uncle Mikhail," her voice was almost pleading, "I just turned eighteen last week. Are you that anxious to get rid of me?" "No!" myself and my brother answer her quickly. Why would she think of such a thing? I stepped forward, "Alice, your uncle had a point. You are a Dubrinsky woman and our family is look to for leadership." Alice narrowed her eyes at me, "So, Daddy, you're admitting that I'm a woman?"

Damn, she was more cunning than I thought. And bold. I recalled Alice, when she was seven years old, walking into the room where myself, Mikhail, Gregori, Carlisle and Aidan were discussing the latest threats. Ignoring everyone, Alice climbed into my lap and rested her head on my chest, "I had a bad dream, Daddy." She was trailed by her mother, "Sorry, I'll take her." I shook my head, "Excuse me for a moment." Alice was already asleep when I placed her back in her bed. I removed the memories of her nightmare of a vampire taking her brother. She worried for her family, even at that young age. Looking back, her dream came to fruition when the vampiress was created and set loose on to attack our family.

I inhaled deeply. No, Alice would never be a woman to me. Looking into her eyes, she was the little girl I spoiled every chance I could. The one who would run to me when she was hurt and I could never refuse her. She was the girl who would lay her head on my chest, while I read to her. So many times Alice has fallen to sleep while listening to the sound of my voice.

Now, she was sitting before as a young woman, who was to be mated to anyone of our males. I didn't know who he was going to be, but whoever this man was, he was going to have to answer to me. Alice looked down for a long moment, fiddling with her fingers, not saying anything. Mikhail and I waited until she said something. Bella and Raven would have our heads when they learned that this upset her. Bella was dead-set against this whole thing, but she said it was for Alice to decide on what she should do.

"Our daughter is more than capable of making her own decision, but I don't like this, Jacques. You're encouraging Emmett to go off travelling with Tristan, Benjamin and Josef, but Alice has to stay home and breed. Is this why you were so happy that I was having a girl?" Bella glowered at me when we discussed this. She had every right to be upset and I wasn't completely happy with this. Now, she was giving me the silent treatment.

I looked at Alice as she raised her head and combed her fingers through her hair, "Then on this, I will say no. No, I will not meet any lifemate." Mikhail was going to debate her, but she held up one hand, "Let me speak." She stood up and straightened her skirt, "Uncle Mikhail, Daddy, I am very much aware of the situation our people face, but this is unfair. I'm not even in my twenties. I don't think any man would want to marry a teenager, especially when he's centuries old. So, yes, I am an adult and as an adult, I am saying I am not ready to just lay on my back for some stranger for the mere reason of procreation. I know, for the both of you, I will never be a woman. I know what you both see when you look at me. A happy little girl who would sit in your lap and bat her eyes until you both crumbled. And, for whoever my lifemate is, he will never see me like that. Either way, I am not ready and only I will know when I'm ready. So, as a Dubrinsky, I am making the choice to be an example for the young women who will be born to our people, that she doesn't have to be mated before her time and no one will make her. I have a lot to learn and my parents are supposed to guide me, then I am to learn things on my own. So, that is my decision. I will not be mated before my time."

Mikhail stared at Alice in disbelief. She turned the full force of her eyes on him, her voice becoming softer, "Besides, Savannah is half my age. In nine years, will you make her do the same thing? Give her the same speech about being seen as a responsible young lady and she has certain obligations as the daughter of the Prince? You know Aunty will never go for that. Uncle Mikhail, I am not asking for anything outrageous. Just some time. Is that too much?"

The room was spinning and turned onto its axis. Alice took control of the conversation and said what she wanted to do with her life. When Alice put her foot down, nothing could sway her, just like her mother and our fallen sister. I looked at Mikhail, who was still in shock and that was a rare thing. He and I had gone about this all wrong. To just spring it on Alice like this was not the way to go. We should have talked to her when she was younger, so she would have time to become accustomed to the idea, but like this, she wasn't going to budge. I looked at her, "No, my *lańa, it is not too much to ask. What is it that you want?"

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Taking her hand, Alice and I sat down and she told me what she wanted. Mikhail conceded to what she said, knowing that she was right and we were wrong. Prince or no, Alice was still his niece and he loved her as he loved his own daughter. Bella was going to be happy with this turn of events. Maybe now, I would get back on her good side.

*Carpathian Language Guide:

lańa – daughter