Chapter 50
The Queen was silent. The dig hit hard, and the room was silent. Then she muttered “Get an heir out her Vlad. She has… spirit.” With a regal wave she dismissed them.
Once they were out of the room Charles found his voice and exclaimed. “Fuck me, mother likes her!”
Vlad and Azura’s head swivelled in his direction then they glanced at each other then back at him. Vlad asked. “Were you not there?”
“She’s alive and not being dragged off to the tower. Mother likes her.” Charles repeated.
Puzzled Azura asked. “Why are you so sure of this?”
“No one stands up to the old bird. Everyone dances to her tune. She coddles the boys, so they get away with anything but every woman that walks into a room with her has had to take her barbs and like it. Plus, she respects power and backbone. You showed her plenty. She likes it in her heirs as well.”
Vlad smiled as he agreed. “She does like ruthlessness.”
“It’s why she likes Vlad too.” Charles pointed out grinning and Vlad’s eyes widened. “So, don’t worry she’ll back your little cause, plus she likes a good scrap as well.”
“So glad we can provide her with entertainment.” Azura remarked with a roll of her eyes and a wry twist of her lips.
“What were you thinking?” Vlad rounded on her and Charles discretely made his exit, not wanting to be a witness to their quarrel.
“I was thinking I had enough of people treating me like shit!”
“What if this had gone another way?” Vlad asked angrily. “Did you even think about Irena or me? Did you even think about what would happen if she made good on her threats? No one knows we’re here and you are not supposed to even exist! We came here for help not to make a powerful enemy!”
Azura hung her head as she apologized “I’m sorry but when she started talking about Azura passing and referring to me as ‘it’, I lost it.”
“You think you’re the first noble she’s insulted! She insults everyone who doesn’t meet her standards…which is everyone! And what she said about Irena is the truth!” Azura’s eyes lifted to his in a fury of rage but he continued. “It’s a reality she will have to live with. Just like I have to deal with her mother being black!”
“If the colour of my skin offended you so much…”
“I love and worship every inch of your skin, you know this! But the reality is others in my world don’t and I can’t change that unless…they give me the right to shoot them all on sight…but until then, the reality is that Irena will be more accepted by them if her skin was lighter. And tell me if the situation was reversed that wouldn’t be the case in America. I know the truth.”
Azura’s eyes flashed then she asked. “How do you know?”
“I spoke to your mother a lot before she died. You weren’t accepted among your so-called people either.” He replied softly then took her in his arms. “We can be our own people. We don’t need anyone else’s approval, but we can’t live on an island…as you very well know. We need allies. We need her help.”
Azura handed off Irena to Vlad and returned unannounced to the Queen’s chamber. After a few minutes she returned smiling. “Apology accepted. I will keep my tongue.”
Vlad smirked and knew more had been said but he also knew the queen. Anything she said to Azura was to be kept in the strictest of confidentiality, anything less would put Azura in a bad light, so didn’t bother questioning her. He offered her his arm and with Irena in the other her escorted his women back to their wing.
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Azura and Irena were officially presented at court the next day and new duchess was the first to rush to her side. The woman looked over Azura as if she were a God sent then flashed a smile of friendship before recalling her audience and allowing proper protocol to take place.
The women cooed over Irena and she was shown to her younger cousins, who now that he thought on it, she was excellent candidate to marry. Her blood was royal enough and the blood ties not that close, it’s what was regularly done, but somehow, he didn’t think he’d mention the possibility to her mother. In fact, he was glad he didn’t have an abundance of distant female relatives to choose from.
They attended a few public affairs and they got the attention of the media but Azura was always in either a hat or sunglass. People close to her may recognise her easily but from the news over a decade ago, he doubted. Her features still had some of their baby softness but with her hair cut short and her eyes always obscured, it was hard to be sure.
Funny, he didn’t suggest she hide herself. She did it all on her own and he didn’t know what to make of it. One minute he was sure she wanted to be rid of him and the next she did things that made him think she wanted to stay. It was puzzling, and he was growing weary of her actions pulling at his bruised heart. She needed to make a decision, once and for all. He just couldn’t take the pulling and pushing anymore.
He was also glad the royals here made her feel welcome. It was odd watching her interact with the others of their social class. She didn’t falter or even stand out as odd, she acted like the princess she was at every turn and no one ever forgot to treat her as such. A scathing word or look put any detractor in their place. She didn’t even need his help, she stood toe to toe with them and bowed to no one. She was a true Czarina.
That tongue of hers had them watching what they said. To make matters worse, it already made the rounds that she had the Queen’s blessing. Her beauty lured men in but her poise let them know she was no plaything. It was hard for him to see. This was who Azura was and for years he had tried to destroy it. To make her cower to him, when he should have just let her shine. He should have always kept her proudly at his side.
He did so now, and as long as she let him, he would continue to do so. The thought had him wondering how long will that be? Because as he continued to watch her over the last few weeks, he had made his decision. He would set her free. He’d have to set some terms for his daughter and her safety, but it was time. It was time he let her live. Keeping her was now a punishment for them both and every time he went to bed with her, he wanted to keep her there forever. Better he cut the strings now, so at least they’d both have a chance at a full life.
Pain gripped his chest at the thought of parting from her but holding on tightly wasn’t winning him any favours. The packing for the journey home was tense and sombre as a funeral. He had kept his distance for the last week, only being a passing visitor. His gruff greeting as he boarded the helicopter was met with a puzzled look.
He flew the plane home as well. Not giving her a chance to ask the questions in her eyes. She was ushered to the waiting helicopter and he got in the pilot seat, again avoiding her. He kept it up after they arrived at the summer palace. He made his arrangements in private and didn’t share a room with her. Apparently, she got his message because she didn’t seek him out after that.
When the time came, he wanted to postpone it. The date on the calendar a stark reminder of what could have been. It was their wedding anniversary. Not that the ceremony or the marriage meant that much to him, it was just the significance of having his brand, in the form of his ring on her. Now he was giving her the option to remove it.
She swept into his office frowning and spying Eon, she inclined her head in greeting and returned her puzzled stare to him.
“Please sit.” He asked her and the fact that she did so warily keeping an eye on both himself and Eon made him realize just how much damage he had done. “I don’t know how to do this…” Vlad began with his head low as he braced himself on the desk. “I’m giving you an anniversary present…not one I appreciate.” Then he signalled to Eon who opened the leather file in front of her. “I cannot erase your identity as my wife completely neither in word nor …in my heart. But…I am prepared to see you…happy. These documents are divorce papers…”
“But I didn’t do anything!” Azura cried and Vlad lifted his hand for silence.
She flinched, and he growled. “But I did!” He paused and took a breath pinching the bridge of his nose before he spoke again. “I …was not good to you. I’m no good for you. I have already signed. If you wish for Irena to live with you, I’ll have to add additional security as she is my heir and if you want Mila or Nora can go with you. I was very generous with your monthly allowance and if you choose to work…I can help with that as well. No matter what you choose, I will support you. I have some concession though; you cannot return to where you used to live the risk will be too great for you there. The penthouse I have in Canada is yours, you can stay there or choose your own home. I leave that up to you….”
“You’re letting me go.” Azura interrupted softly.
And he replied just as quietly. “Yes.”
She looked around the room and to Eon who nodded smiling and stood. “This is not a trick?” She asked tearfully.
“No, Kitten. It’s not.”
Tears flowed freely, and she swiped them away with a smile. “Can I go now?”
“After you sign the papers…yes.”
She bent over the papers and took the pen from Eon. “Why are we getting a divorce?”
Vlad and Eon frowned at each other, then down at her bent head. Did she realize what she just asked? “I-I thought it was what you’d…would want.” Vlad stammered.
“I know I want to be free that’s all I know.” She whispered, her hand frozen over the paper.
Vlad’s heart leaped in his chest. She didn’t want to leave him! She wanted to stay with him! Pulling the folder away from her, he quickly closed it and panic flew into her eyes. “We can just have a separation. It need not be public. The offer still stands.”
She beamed at him and he saw the love he wanted in her eyes. Time, Vlad thought. She just needed some time to think and time to herself then she’d come back to him. He smiled back, and she walked around the desk and hugged him. He couldn’t help it he leaned down and kissed her forehead. She pulled away and pulled his head down and the kiss she gave him took all his doubts away. She turned then skipped out of the room.
Mine. Vlad thought. She will always be mine.
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