AN: Enjoy this chapter! Happy Reading! :)
Chapter 10
SPOV
I wander back to the palace, a thoughtful frown upon my face as the words of Eric and Godric echo vividly through my mind. Are they really serious? Would they truly grant me my rightful vengeance, even if they won the tournament? I suppose I just assumed as overprotective, controlling vampires they'd insist upon trapping me in a gilded cage upon winning my hand. Could it be I was wrong about this?
They also seem to think I love them both and though I realize the two of them can feel my emotions now that they have my blood flowing within them, I know they must be wrong about this, I mean, I should know if I hold love for someone, right?
"Oh, hey, cuz," greets me as I step through my bedchambers to see my three cousins rifling curiously through the gifts of the tournament competitors.
"Hey, I thought those were mine," I remark, shaking my head at the three of them only to receive two dismissive shrugs from Claude and Claudette as a deep blush falls over the ever sensible Claudine's face.
"Sorry, cousin, we just couldn't wait any longer and were unsure of how long you might be out with your vampires," Claudine explains rather sheepishly, bringing an annoyed groan from me as I strip away the annoyingly pink garment from my body, silently vowing to never wear anything even remotely similar…ever.
"They're not my vampires, okay?" I sigh out, noting the dual smirks of Claude and Claudette upon hearing my words. Whatever. "So, did I at least get anything good?" I question, slipping into an oversized rock concert t-shirt before plopping down to my bed with a small sigh.
"Oh, fuck yes, you wouldn't believe some of the shit they brought you!" Claude merrily exclaims, lifting a pile of glittering jewels and shining golden trinkets before me. I just roll my eyes, completely uninterested in such things. I mean, I grew up in a castle for goodness' sakes. Yawn.
"Yeah, well, you can help yourselves to all that shit, I'm far from impressed," I insist, rolling my eyes at Claude and Claudette's matching grins.
"Oooh, this one's from John Quinn," Claudette remarks, tearing into the packaging like a kid on Christmas. "Oh! Tickets for a whole week's luxury vacation to Vegas! Fabulous!" she cries out, earning a small sigh from me. Again, a nice enough gesture, but I'm far from impressed.
"I have to say, I was a bit surprised to see him entering into the tournament," Claude remarks offhandedly, looking over Claudette's shoulder to check out the tickets.
"From what I understand, weretiger numbers are aren't what they used to be; it would make sense he'd be interested in finding a wife and it's not like the tournament would present much of a challenge for a Pit fighter, especially one with such an impressive record," I muse aloud, earning thoughtful nods from my cousins.
"Oh, God, this one's from Breandan," Claudine remarks, holding up a brown papered package with a grimace.
"What? He actually got me a gift?" I question in utter disbelief before Claudine tosses the immaculately wrapped parcel to me. I roll my eyes, wondering what on earth my mortal enemy would deem a befitting gift before peeling away the paper wrapping. "Oh, holy shit," I whisper, my jaw dropping open in shock.
"Is-is that what I think it is?" Claudette questions incredulously as I'm left nodding absently in return, lifting the glimmering gift into the light.
"The official crown of the Queen of the Water Fae," I remark, shaking my head in utter disbelief.
"He means to make you queen?" Claude questions, his enamored gaze frozen upon the gleaming tiara.
"That fucking son of a bitch," I grit out, throwing the crown against my bedroom wall with an incensed wail. "I'll never, never be his fucking queen! I'll kill him first!" I cry out as my chest heaves in fury.
"Sook, hey, calm down," Claudine insists, pulling me into her embrace as the start of hateful tears sting at the corners of my eyes. "Breandan won't win the tournament, sweetie. He's only trying to provoke you, you know this," she assures me as I roughly brush away the start of my tears with a grateful nod.
"Yeah, yeah, you're right," I concede, not at all doubting her assessment as that is precisely something I would expect from an asshole like Breandan. I take a deep calming breath whilst silently reminding myself the leader of the Water Fae doesn't stand a chance in hell of actually winning my hand.
"Hey, your vampires left gifts as well, cuz. Surely these will cheer you up!" Claude remarks cheerfully, tossing the wrapped parcels upon my lap with a wide grin. I tilt my head curiously, wondering what on earth the two of them could have decided upon as proof of their apparent undying affections for me.
"Oh, wow," I whisper, peeling back the crisp paper to reveal a gleaming set of brand new iron blades accompanied with slick, leather sheaths. Beautiful.
"Whoa, cool," Claudette remarks, her eyes captivated by the glistening metal.
"Is this their way of telling you they're okay with you hunting?" Claude questions with a smirk to leave me blushing lightly.
"They told me as much earlier tonight," I admit, seeing the three of them exchanging knowing grins.
"Aww, our wittle Sook's in wuv," Claudette sings out in a sing song voice, earning an eye roll from me.
"Oh, shut up," I answer back, granting her arm a playful punch to bring a faux pout to her lips.
"But there's more, cousin," Claudine injects then, causing me to turn to her with raised brows. She hands me another package and my heart is already racing as I eagerly tear away the paper to reveal the contents inside. My eyes widen in surprise before boisterous laughter abruptly erupts from me to leave my cousins looking to me in utter bewilderment as tears of amusement begin trailing down my cheeks.
"Let us see!" Claude exclaims, abruptly pulling the gift from my hands before the triplets are left gawking, all three of them rendered momentary speechless in their combined state of shock. "Holy shit," Claude whispers before letting out a loud whistle.
"Damn, Sook! And here I thought your choice in men was questionable," Claudette remarks, tilting her head to examine the gift a bit more closely.
"Mr. January," Claudine remarks, shaking her head as a slight blush crawls over her cheeks. "They certainly are rather dashing, aren't they?" she comments as the trio begins leafing through the rather risqué calendar together.
"They really are," I concede fondly, shaking my head at the blatant confidence of the Viking Sheriff and his ancient Maker, the very vampires that seem so confident of my love for them.
"Princess?" sounds outside the door, accompanied by light knocking and my brow furrows in confusion before I rush over to the door to take a peek at my late night visitor.
"Oh, Preston, hey," I answer somewhat hesitantly, recalling his seemingly abrupt decision to enter into the tournament earlier this evening. Just what the hell was that all about anyways?
"I told you I'd explain things," he reminds me before glancing back to my curious cousins. "Unless this is a bad time?" he questions, earning a firm headshake from me.
"No, no, not at all," I answer back, reaching over to procure a bathrobe before slipping through my bedroom door and closing it firmly behind me. I shrug the fluffy material over my shoulders before following Preston's lead towards the palace conservatory.
"I suppose you're a bit surprised by my decision to enter into the competition," he remarks as the two of us drop down to a cool marble bench together. I glance up to the gushing fountain before us whilst lightly nodding to my friend.
"You heard Grandfather, Preston, and you yourself are old enough to know entering into this tournament is not a decision to be made lightly," I answer back, glancing over to see the fae warrior fidgeting rather nervously whilst staring intently at the gray flagstone beneath our feet.
"I know," he answers back softly, earning a soft sigh from me.
"Look, Preston, I know you just want to protect me and I appreciate that, I really do, but you'll be risking your life for me and I'm just not sure how to feel about that," I admit, seeing a small frown form over his face.
"You think that's all this is? Me trying to protect you, Sook?" he questions before raising his face to catch my surprised gaze.
"Well, yeah, I mean, that's what you said," I answer back whilst tilting my head in confusion.
"I do want to know that you are always protected and it's true my job necessitates I lay my down my own life if it means saving yours," he remarks softly. "But that's not why I signed that contract today, Sookie, not entirely anyways."
"Preston, what are you trying to say here?" I question hesitantly, my pulse suddenly quickening in anticipation of his answer.
"I intend to win your hand, Sook, to claim you as my wife," he informs me to send my heart pounding as my eyes widen in shock.
"Wh-what?" I stutter out, shaking my head in disbelief. "Preston, where is this coming from? The two of us are friends, really good friends, but nothing more. There's nothing romantic between us."
"Perhaps not as of yet, but you have to admit we'd make for an excellent team," he remarks, a small smile pulling up his lips. "And I'd never try and control you, Sookie. Isn't that what you want after all? A husband who can understand you? Who will love you just as you are?" I'm left shaking my head in turn. Damn if this isn't the apparent song of the night.
"Well, yeah, but, Preston, you and I aren't romantically involved. We don't love one another," I insist, only to elicit a light shrug in turn.
"Not yet, but would marrying me truly be worse than finding yourself tied to a complete stranger?" he questions to leave me shaking my head as a small frown falls over my face.
"No, of course not," I answer back honestly, my mind whirling with my friend's surprising admission.
"I'm glad you agree, because I intend to win this tournament, Sookie, and when I do, I intend to prove myself a faithful and attentive husband, a husband the likes of which you truly deserve," he wholeheartedly informs me, his chest puffing out in apparent confidence.
"And what of love?" I question softly. "Can the two of us truly hold a marriage together without it?"
"That will surely come with time, Sookie," he insists, wrapping an arm around me tightly. "Everything will be alright, this I promise you," he whispers before placing a tender kiss upon my forehead. A weak smile finds it's way to my face as I grant him a light nod, not sure at all how I should be feeling about all of this.
"Yeah, okay," is all I can think to answer back, wondering how the hell I'm to get through this damned tournament without fear of going entirely insane.
"Oh, I almost forgot," he suddenly remarks before leaning over to dig into his pocket. "You know, for tradition's sake," he says with a wink as he places a rather heavy, cloth wrapped package into my hand.
"Preston, you really didn't have to," I insist, seeing him shake his head insistently before I peel back the soft cloth. "Oh, no fucking way," I whisper, a wide grin falling over my face. "This is so cool! Where the hell did you get it?" I question excitedly, earning a low chuckle from my friend as his chocolate eyes alight with glee.
"I've got my connections," he answers back slyly as I slip the iron knuckles over my hand with an appreciative smile. So fucking cool.
"Just let Breandan try and fuck with me this week," I remark, swinging my fist experimentally through the air. "I'll be more than happy to fuck up that pretty face of his," I grit out, gripping onto the heavy weapon tightly as I feel Preston's hands fall over both my shoulders.
"I'm not sure what his intentions entail, entering into the tournament the way he did, but me, along with the rest of the guards will be diligent in our protection of you throughout the tournament, Sookie," he tells me, earning a light nod from me.
"Yeah, I know," I answer back with a small frown, recalling the surprising gift the leader of the Water Fae left me. The bastard. I grip the deadly metal into my palm, silently promising to see Breandan on his knees and bleeding before this tournament is through and rules or no, I won't let anything stand in my way.