Chapter 29

Chapter 29
Rheas pov

I wake with a sigh and a stretch, feeling well rested and ready to face the day, and whatever may come of it. I feel a solid body next to me, and I don’t have to open my eyes to know that it’s Gabriel, he hasn’t left me since the attack, and I don’t think he plans on it anytime soon. Which I’m secretly glad for.

I don’t know why there is a rebellion against him, especially after all he has done for his people, the vampires are thriving and it’s all because of him. I don’t know why they want me dead either, all I know is that they tried to kill us both yesterday, and regardless of the vast numbers they sent against us, we survived.

I have to be grateful for that, especially for this new power, whatever it means. I don’t know where it came from, but I do know that it is a gift from the moon goddess. I know that She has a reason for everything, so she must have a reason to give me such power.

I was taught never to question the goddess and her choices for her children, but how can I not? I’ve never been weak, I’ve always had strength, just the same as the men of my pack. And I was always told that it wasn’t normal for a woman to have such power. But there I was, able to stand amongst the strongest males and hold my ground. Even without my wolf.

But now I have her it’s different, I may not know much about fighting a vampire, but I know from watching Gabriel that you have to remove their head. I’m sure I could do that even without the power to turn them to ash.

I’ll have to train, just as I used to back home, I need to get stronger again, faster. I need to learn how to use my wolf to my Advantage.

I may not have my family to support me anymore, but Gabriel says that he will teach me all he knows, and I believe he has my best interests in mind. After all, he wants me healthy enough to bare a child for him.

I can’t bare a child for him if I am dead, and he knows that, he knows he needs to keep me alive, and if that means training me to fight his kind, I know that he will.

I finally open my eyes, my mind full of a thousand questions that I don’t have the courage to ask, not yet anyway. Maybe one day.

“Good morning, My Queen.” Gabriel says, placing down his book, and turning towards me, a smile on his lips.

“Morning.” I reply, unable to hide my own smile.

This was nice, new and strange, but nice.

It was certainly better than waking up in that damp cell I was in when I first came here.

“Did you sleep well?” He asks me, moving some hair away from my eyes with a feather-like touch. “Are you hungry?”

“I could definitely eat.” I admit, stretching out my back before I sit up, pulling the duvet tight to my chest.

“I’ll be back in a moment.” He says, climbing off the bed and walking towards the door.

He’s still fully dressed, the same as he was before I fell asleep. Did he really not leave me at all? I remember him talking to Rayan, but after that he must have stayed with me.

He talks to someone behind the door in a voice I can’t hear, and then a moment later he shuts it and walks back towards the bed with a larger smile on his face.

What put him in such a good mood?

I need to bottle it up and sell it. I’d make a fortune.

“I hope you like bacon and pancakes.” He says, carefully sitting down beside me. “I order you some coffee as well, seen as you can’t function without it.”

Is Gabriel making a joke? I never thought I’d see the day.

I want to ask him why he’s so happy, but I don’t want to burst whatever bubble is lightening his mood.

I don’t think I could handle his anger right now, although this kindness is knocking me on the door of confused.

“The ceremony is in a few days time.” He says, noticing my silence, “After that you’ll officially be mine.”

Of course, he wants to try for a child straight away. He doesn’t want to wait, even with the rebels attacking whenever they wished.

I’m not sure I’m ready to carry a child, or perform the act needed to have a child, but I know that I must if I want my freedom.

Will I be able to give my child to him? Or will I want to stay and raise them?

I’d like to think that I would just leave, but the more I think about it, the more unsure I am.

I may not have the heart, or the strength to leave behind my own child for freedom, especially knowing they Gabriel has a lot of enemies.

What if they go after his heir? What if they try to kill my child? I’d never forgive myself if I left and my child died.

At least if I were here I’d be able to protect them until they were old enough to protect themselves.

“What do I have to do during the ceremony?” I ask, trying to push the thoughts of the baby aside.

“It’s like a human wedding I suppose, you say a few vows, promise to give me an heir and it’s done.” He says, his eyes on mine. “And after that there will be a crowning ceremony to make you Queen.”

“Do I have to become Queen?” I ask, nervously playing with my hands.

The vampires clearly don’t want me as their queen.

“Yes Rhea, you have to become queen.” He says sternly, “then if anything happens to me and you are carrying the heir, you will be protected, and you will have rights to the child. If I do not make you queen, you will have no right to either the child or safety.”

“They will take my child?” I ask, shocked.

Who the hell does that?

He nods slowly, “they will lock you up until you give birth and then take the child to be raised by another.”

That’s sick, twisted even.

I guess I have no choice.

“Then I will become your queen.” I say confidently, crossing my arms, “and anyone who tries to take my baby from me will be killed on the spot.”

Gabriel smiles, stroking a hand down my cheek, “you aren’t even pregnant yet and you are fiercely protective.”

I smile back, unable to help myself, “maybe I am.”

She wolves are always protective of their young. It’s in my nature.

But he doesn’t need to know that.

“Can I ask you something Rhea?” He mutters, his eyes so intense that I could barely concentrate.

“Sure.” I whisper, lost in the blackness of his gaze.

He leans forward, so close I can smell the mint in his breath. “Will you kiss me?”

I nod, unable to find my words.

And he kisses me with such passion that the floor gives way beneath me and I plummet to hell, right where I belong.

It’s addictive, it’s passionate.

It’s everything I dreamed that my first kiss would be.

And I lose myself in the moment.