Chapter 37

Arthur’s POV:

They have held us in special silver cells for 18 months as a punishment for our deeds. They locked Evan and me in separate cells. But we could still talk with each other, as his cell is right in front of mine. Four guards are always on watch. There is no way we could escape in a situation like this. Even if we could flee, there were strigois outside.

Big brother Arnold came down to check on us daily with food and water. After everything we have done to him, I don’t deserve such excellent treatment. I could still eat normal food. But when my brother was in these cells, I gave them very little to eat, not thinking about the later consequences of them.

It had been a few days since they held us here, and I felt the absence of my mate. I have never cared much about Synthia and Caleb. Looking back, I have realized that I haven’t been a father to my son nor a husband to my wife. She cared for Caleb and the kingdom on her own all these years.

I had been too busy planning to gain the throne and trying to kill my brother's family to focus on my own. I could feel how the mates felt being apart. The day of the full moon seems torture without my mate. I didn’t even care about the half-blood children and put them into dungeons mercilessly at the age of 10 years.

Now, I could see how much they suffered because of me at such a young age. This might be what every family that was torn apart has felt. I am regretting my past decisions. I could have been a better person if I wasn’t after the throne. My greed blinded me to look at anything else.

This punishment is nothing compared to the deeds we have done. Our brother should have punished us more. We deserve far worse than this. We are not tied up with the silver chains and can freely move around in our cells. I can mind-link and talk with Evan as well.

Evan has been reflecting on what he did as well. After getting away from everything when we look back at what we did now. It seems horrible. We even told Aria we were going to kill you in front of your parents before killing them. How she must have felt us saying that to her?

Aria seems like a wonderful child. She single-handedly tackled us when we were under her command. She could have killed us when we went to kill our brother and his wife. But she did think about my family. She has a very kind heart, like brother Arnold and his wife. They never treated me indifferently, yet we still made them suffer.

I made my child suffer. My brother was right Caleb couldn’t tell me he found his mate because he was afraid of me. Afraid of me hurting his mate, who is a mere human. Never did I speak with him as a father should. I might have even forced him to never meet her again. I should apologize to everyone, especially my wife and son. His mate deserves an apology as well.

We reflected on our past deeds daily, regretting what we did. Our greed for power made us lose our humanity. I might have been the worst ruler, causing everyone heartbreak.

Evan might have been thinking the same. He was the one who gave me that idea. I shouldn’t have let him guide me.

Our brother Arnold came down to visit us every day and would let us know what was going around in the kingdom at the moment. Our people were content to have my brother back as their ruler once again.

A few months later, our brother Arnold came down as usual. He seemed to be in an excellent mood. He let us finish our meal first before he said anything. Evan and I shared a look as to what had gotten him in such a jolly mood.

“Arthur, Evan, I have come here today to let you know that Caleb is getting married in a few days. Two weeks later, we will have Amelia’s wedding. I hope you both give blessings to your children when they will visit you. Brother Arnold concluded.”

We just nodded our head in agreement. He seemed to be more happy than us, the fathers of the Bride and Groom. I hope Caleb and his mate can live happily from now on. He just told us and left. He is such a kind-hearted big brother. I am ashamed of myself for thinking about killing him and his wife, along with their daughter.

“Our children are getting married. They have gotten so big without us noticing it. Evan spoke to me through mind-link.”

“Yes, they have. We barely have been fathers to them. I hope they will be happy alongside their mates. They deserve the happiness that is coming their way. I told Evan getting sentimental.”

“I wish for our children's happiness as well. I should have known better. What we were doing was affecting our children as well. Evan stated.”

“We have been selfish and ignored our family and subjects over what we wanted. We could have been better. I accepted.”

We both fell silent after our conversation. We felt guilty for all the things we did. A few hours went by in silence before we heard someone coming down the stairs to us. It was none other than our children, Blair and Aria. They came to inform us, just as Arnold mentioned earlier.

I was glad to see my son after a few months. Aria might have accompanied them in case we got offensive about the news. She is a little younger than her cousins, but she is overprotective of them. Blair has become everyone’s elder sister as well.

“Dad, I am going to be married to Anna in a few days. Amelia is getting married two weeks after my marriage. I hope you both bless us. Caleb added.”

They didn’t wait for us to respond, as they didn’t expect any from us. I was happy that my son had personally come to tell me about the wedding. Evan seemed happy to see his daughter as well. We felt happy that our children had such a strong bond with each other.

Time passed quickly with everything going on for others in the kingdom. But, we were able to catch up on it because of Brother Arnold. He always informed us what was going around in the kingdom. One day he came to us happily once again. This time it was to inform about Aria and Blair’s marriage.

Both girls are best friends and going to be married and living together in the “Vampire Kingdom”. It’s great to know that Aria is getting married soon. I wish her a happy life with her mate. It seems all of them have grown very close in these months.

Brother always told us how much Aria, Blair, Anna, and Amelia enjoyed their time together like they were real sisters. All of them have gotten close to the family and people of the kingdom over these months. We were happy to get so much wonderful news while sitting ideally.

Soon after Blair and Aria’s marriage brother Arnold came to us with another good news that Anna was going to be mother. It didn’t stop at that and a few more months later we were informed that Amelia and Theo were going to be parents. Happiness was raining down on us one after another.

Months passed by quickly with my brother informing us of the everyday events in our kingdom. Caleb had come and informed us when we became grandfathers as Anna had a baby boy. Amelia was due in two months but we will be released by then.

It was the day we were going to be released. Our 18 months of imprisonment had been completed and we were ready to go home. Brother Arnold is coming here to take Evan and me back home. The rest of the family will be waiting at the castle for our arrival. Evan and I have decided beforehand to apologize to everyone once our time in cells is up. I hope all of them can forgive us one day.

We didn’t waste any time after we got back to apologize to our family. I bowed down to them along with Evan.

“I am extremely sorry for the way I have treated all of you. Being locked up made me realize how important family is. I am sorry for taking everything for granted all the time and neglecting my duty as a parent and ruler of the kingdom. I let them know.”

Following my lead Evan started to apologize to all the members as well.

“I am very sorry as well. I promise to never look down on anyone again. Evan said bowing to our family. “

After we were done telling our brother Arnold’s family about how we regret our past decisions. Evan and I went ahead to our families and acknowledged that we were wrong to them. I have accepted my daughter-in-law with their child as a mate to my son Caleb. It felt good to see my family again after all these months, especially my wife. All of them seemed happy for us as we have changed a lot in a short amount of time.

Later we settled down to have lunch together as a family for the first time in a while. This time Aria and Blair have something to say. They both informed us that little hybrids were on the way. All of us rejoiced with happiness at the thought of our children being happy in their lives. Shortly after lunch, they returned to their kingdom.

A few days have passed since we are back. Brother Arnold is keeping an eye on us along with Caleb. We have changed our behavior and started treating people equally. My family talks to me normally now and I am delighted to have such a wonderful time with them. Playing with our grandchild seems good as well.

After a few days, Brother organized a big party as he was happy to see we had changed for the better. The “Shifter’s Territory” and “ Vampire Kingdom” were both invited, it would also serve as a ball for unmated people who want to find their mates.

That night we had dinner with people from three kingdoms who were enjoying the party peacefully. The atmosphere was shining with the radiant smiles of the people. Thanks to brother Arnold I get to witness such a wonderful moment.

I am glad that I could change for the better. The air around felt soothing as the light music went on. I felt a sense of calmness that I never felt before surrounding me making me appreciate such a small moment that I never cared about. It was the first time I felt at peace surrounded by my loved ones. I can finally understand what true happiness means.