Chapter 109 Bloodline Secrets
KAEL
I waited until Isolde was healed and Nyx was asleep before I let myself process it.
Sera was Shadowborn royalty. Morvenna's granddaughter. First Darkness bloodline.
She had lied to me about everything in her background. or not the entire truth, at the very least. You're going downhill." In my former study, Cassian discovered me. All that's left is a desk and an excessive number of enquiries. "I can hear you thinking from three floors away."
"The ancient vampire queen we recently imprisoned was my wife's ancestor. I never heard from her. Never even hinted." I looked at him. "How do I process that?"
"You don't. You accept it and move forward." He poured himself a drink. "She had her reasons. Probably good ones."
"Like what?"
"Survival. Safety. If anyone knew she was Morvenna's bloodline, they'd kill her immediately." Cassian sat. "You spent centuries hunting down Shadowborn remnants. If you had known, would you have wed her?"
Yes was what I wanted to say.
However, he was correct. I would have immediately killed her three hundred years ago.
"She protected herself. Protected Nyx." Cassian finished his drink. "Now the question is what you do with the information."
"What do you mean?"
"Nyx is the great-granddaughter of Morvenna. Direct descendant. Which means she has a claim to whatever power the First Darkness held." He leaned forward. "And Daemon knows. Is watching to see what she does with it."
"She's not making any claims."
"She is royalty. Ancient bloodline. The legitimate heir to Shadowborn authority." Cassian had keen eyes. "And other kingdoms will either try to murder her or utilise her as soon as they discover that."
"Then we keep it secret."
"Daemon knows. Morvenna knows. Eventually, others will figure it out." He stood. "You can't protect her from her own bloodline. You can only prepare her for it."
He left. Left me sitting with the weight of revelation.
Kael. Sera's voice. Weak. Stop panicking.
You lied to me. For years.
I omitted details. Her presence solidified. And I did it to protect you. To prevent this crisis you're having.
You were Morvenna's granddaughter.
I was also the woman who loved you. Who died for you and our daughter. Her voice hardened. Don't reduce me to bloodline.
She was correct. I detested it. However, she was correct.
I apologise. I'm just—processing.
Then understand this. I knew what I was. And I still chose humanity. Chose you. She paused. Nyx has that same choice. Don't let fear of her heritage steal that from her.
Daemon's watching. Waiting for her to fail.
Then we make sure she doesn't. We support her. Sera's presence began fading. Now stop brooding and go talk to your daughter.
She was gone. Back to dormancy.
But her point remained. Nyx needed support, not judgment.
I found her in the library. Surrounded by old texts. Searching.
"What are you looking for?" I asked.
"Information. About Morvenna. About the significance of being descended from First Darkness." She didn't look up.
"You're meant to be Nyx. That's all." I took a seat. "You are not defined by your ancestry. Your decisions do."
"I have uncontrollable power because of my bloodline. left me with a violent and despotic legacy." She met my eyes. "How do I live with that?"
"By choosing differently. Every day." I took her hand. "Your great-grandmother chose power. Your mother chose love. Bloodline suggests. It doesn't command."
"Daemon thinks I'll become like Morvenna."
"Daemon has spent three millennia by himself." I gave her a firm squeeze. "However, we think the best of you. See the girl who saved her mother. Who chose connection over control."
"That was one choice."
"Then make it again. And again. Until choosing right becomes natural." I smiled. "That's what your mother did."
Nyx was quiet. Processing.
"I found something." She pushed a book toward me. "About the First Darkness. Their original power."
I looked. Ancient text. Describing power beyond comprehension.
"They weren't always tyrants." Nyx's voice was soft. "Originally, they were guardians. Protectors."
"What changed?"
"Humans. Vampires. Everyone started expecting protection. Demanding it. Treating the First Darkness as servants." She traced the text. "And slowly, protection became control. Guardianship became tyranny."
"They became what people needed them to be. Then resented them for being."
"Exactly. Corrupted by expectation. By responsibility." She gave me a look. "I'm afraid I'm experiencing that. becoming into what people anticipate."
"Then tell us. What career path do you wish to take?"
She remained silent. then grinned. Sad. "I want to be someone my mother would be pleased with. Someone who uses authority to defend instead of control." Her voice broke. "I'd like to be her. But I'm afraid that instead I'll be Morvenna."
"You're already more like Sera. You're questioning. Doubting. Morvenna never did that." I pulled her close. "That fear? That's your humanity. That's proof you're choosing right."
"What if it's not enough? What if Daemon sees me fail?"
"Then we deal with it. Together." I kissed her forehead. "But I believe in you. Your mother believed in you enough to manifest from death. That's not nothing."
She cried. Actually cried. First real emotion I'd seen since Elena.
I held her. Let her grieve. Let her fear. Let her be human.
"Father?" Her voice was muffled. "Thank you. For not seeing me as monster. For just being Dad when I need that most."
"Always. No matter what." I meant it. "You're my daughter. That comes before everything."
Footsteps in the doorway. Theron. Face grim.
"Your Majesty. We have a situation. Daemon sent a message. Says he wants to meet with Nyx. Alone. Tomorrow at dawn. In the Shadowlands."
My blood turned to ice. "Absolutely not. That's obviously a trap—"
"I'll go." Nyx stood. Wiped her eyes. "He's testing me. Judging me. I need to prove I'm not afraid. Not hiding."
"Nyx—"
"Don't worry, Father. I'll be cautious and astute." She said with a smile. "I'll return. In addition. Perhaps all he wants to do is chat. Perhaps he is lonely and longs for understanding family. And if it isn't? Is it an ambush?"
"Then I use everything I've learned. Everything you and Mother taught me. I survive. I adapt. I win."
She reached for her coat. "Believe me. Please. One more time."
I wanted to decline. wanted to imprison her. wished to keep her safe.
However, that would make me the despot.
"Fine. But you take precautions. Wards. Weapons. Backup plans." I grabbed her shoulders. "And you run if it goes wrong. Dying for pride is not worth it."
"Deal." She gave me a hug. "Dad, I love you. I appreciate your belief in me despite my lack of self-confidence."
She departed. I'm on my way to get ready for the meeting tomorrow. I was unable to keep her safe as she headed toward danger.
Theron shifted next to me. "She will be alright. She is intelligent. She is strong."
"She's seventeen and on the verge of meeting a three-thousand-year-old creature that has the power to wipe her from the face of the earth." I leaned back against the desk. "What have I done? What have I allowed her to do?"
"You've given her the option. Allow her to develop. Allow her to be who she must be." Theron took hold of my shoulder. "That's excellent parenting. Hard. Terrifying. But good."
"Doesn't feel good. Feels like sending her to execution."
"Then we prepare. We position backup. We watch from distance. We make every effort to improve her chances." He made his way to the door. "And we have faith. In her. In Sera's legacy. In the fact that Daemon wouldn't have spared us if he didn't see something worth sparing."
He left. Left me alone with fear. With doubt.
Dawn would come. Nyx would meet Daemon. And we'd find out if Sera's faith was justified.
Or if we'd just handed our daughter to the monster waiting to prove we'd failed.