Super thanks to May & Meg, and the never-forgotten muse queen Cece!
The following day, I walk into a meeting with the king and queen full of trepidation. Life has been so good to me lately that a summons from them can only be bad news.
And I'm not wrong.
"The Supreme Council is demanding proof of your union to Isabella," my father says, his keen gaze pinning me to my spot. "They're preparing to contest our right to retain Rose Hale."
A low rumble works its way up my throat, and I fight to hold my temper in check. My eyes fall closed, the pale pink essence that links me to my mate becoming a lifeline. Her light, happy mood sings through our connection, and I use it to center myself before opening my mouth to speak.
"Are the cubs in her belly not enough?" I bite back a snarl, mentally reminding myself that it'd be wise not to take my anger out on my king.
"To them," he says, shrugging, "that could also be a ruse."
"They're trying to provoke us," I say after a moment of thought. "As long as we don't react in a rash manner, they'll have no grounds to force an intervention."
"I'm not sure that's going to be the case, my darling prince," Mother says softly. "They've been looking for an excuse to invade for decades, and with a new President in place we cannot rely on old agreements."
I jump from my seat, gripping the slats and slinging. The chair slaps the wall and shards of broken, splintered wood scatter across the floor. "That cannot happen," I roar, anguish ripping through my body and coursing a shimmery black as it speeds through the link I share with Bella. "There's too much at stake."
My father stands at his full height, an imposing creature in an impossible position. "I intend to do everything in my power to avoid a war, but you should prepare yourself and the guard as if it's an imminent threat. We cannot be caught unaware."
The Cullenites are experts at war preparedness, though it was during my great, great grandfather's rule when we last experienced anything that came close. There was a struggle for space as humans staked claim to land on Planet Eclipse, and we ended up tussling with the Canid population that lives beyond our western border.
Lives and land were lost, and the humans took advantage of our squabble. It was too late when we realized our true enemy wasn't each other but the aggressive interloper who'd settled within a day's travel from both of our communities.
Bella, feeling confused by the bitter emotions that flow from me, reaches out with an abundance of love and adoration. It quells my dark mood, but I cannot mask the worry that permeates my mind. Orange swirls through black and pink to create a muddled blob resembling smoke instead of the light, translucent, intoxicating link that binds us.
For the first time since I became aware of her existence, I lock my emotions away. The last thing she needs in her condition is my worry and fear to drag her into the depths where I currently spiral. The other side of that coin, the dark, desolate one, is that I also push away her light.
"Edward." Mother's snarl is intense, meant to snap me from despair. "I realize you have more to lose than ever, but you cannot let the humans know how much this affects you. They will latch on and dig in, burrowing deeper and deeper until they discover your weak spot."
"Do not refer to the woman whose mere existence is proof that our race can thrive as a weak spot. Our bond is stronger than anything you could possibly imagine," I snap, feeling remorse as soon as the hurt reflects in her eyes. She cannot relate to these feelings, neither of them can. Their match is one born of duty. I deflate. "I apologize for my tone, but I will not stand for any blame to be placed on Bella, or Rose for that matter. We brought them here for our purposes and it turned out better than anything we ever dreamed. I have found my soulmate, and I will gladly die so she can live."
"Son," my father and king says, his frame imposing. "Your moth—"
"I realize that." I sigh as I meet my mother's round, teary gaze. "I just need to know that no matter what happens you'll treat her as if she is the future of our race."
"Always, son." She lifts a shaky hand and strokes the soft fur on the bridge of my nose. "I, too, will protect her with my life."
As I draw my mother into my arms, my father and I exchange a sharp stare, and a silent pact is formed. No matter what it takes, we will stand tall and proud and fight for a future that's suddenly brighter than it's been in a long time.
"I'm going to call a meeting." My father stalks to the wall of windows and scans his empire. "I know Kingdom Black will have our backs, but it's past time that Kingdom Volturi and Kingdom Denali take a stand, as well."
I hiss, jumping back at the mention of the Denalis. One might think all felis sapiens are the same, but I reject that philosophy. The Denalis are much like us, a hybrid of feline and human, but they're covered in rosettes and, as the saying goes, a leopard never changes its spots.
"I don't like it." I'm pacing now, running scenarios through my mind at a rapid-fire pace. "We denied their request to join our breeding program. Isn't it more likely they'd work against us rather than with us?"
My father releases this rumbly laugh, shaking his head so his impressive mane fluffs out to its full potential. He's an imposing man, even if his prime is swiftly coming to an end. "Eleazar will hate it, but he has no choice but to go to battle with us if it comes down to that."
"And you know this, how?
"Our history is long and storied," my father says. "But what it really boils down to is dirt, my son." He huffs a laugh. "I know things he would pay any price to keep hidden."
"And you trust he would keep his word?" I'm skeptical.
"In a physical fight? Yes," he murmurs, inhaling through his nose. "Psychological warfare is another matter entirely."
"Then I don't want him here," I snarl, opening myself to my mate's emotions once again. The flood of relief that washes over me is so strong that I stagger, gripping his desk to stay upright. "They cannot be near my family."
"Very well." My father nods, glancing at my mother.
She promptly leaves the room, no doubt to start planning a summit between the species.
This was the first chapter I wrote after the OS. It took me a bit to get it all in a decent timeline.
I'll try to work up a teaser for ch 13, which will post on Tuesday instead of Monday.
See you then!
P.S. I've been asked about Isabella Swan Princess of Kingdom Cullen more than once. Notice I've never called him Edward Cullen. He's Prince Edward of Kingdom Cullen. In my mind, and I never intended to explain it lol, the last name is a human tradition on a planet of many dif species. Maybe they're all known by their title... Angela midwife of Kingdom Cullen or Emmett Canid Guard of Kingdom Cullen. So Isabella came with the Swan name, so she retains it as is human tradition. What happens if there's 2 lionwards doing the same thing with the same name at the same period in history? Not a problem I intend to settle in the story.
One other teensy thing... someone asked what exactly the "knot" is so I replied in a review... go look if you wanna know but were too embarrassed to ask lol.