Chapter 28 Love.
Domenic's POV.
I glared at Giron daring him to spit out the rubbish he just said. He wants Kate? Who the hell does he think he is to ask for Kate? Who gave him the audacity to think that because he is a council elder he could ask for what belongs to me? I'll rather die than give Kate to the likes of him.
"Is that your final decision Giron?" My father asked with slight hesitation. I could tell that he also doesn't want Kate to fall in the hands of Giron. Giron is cruel and selfish, and if he finds out what Kate blood can do, there is no doubt that he would use her for his own selfish purpose.
But at the same time, my father hates to offend the council members especially Giron. Giron holds a power that's almost equal to the king. Some vampires even respect him more than they respect the King and offending him is really not the smartest thing to do.
"Yes," Giron answered smirking at me and my fist clenched tightly in rage as I resisted the urge to go over to that bastard and rip his head clean off his neck. "Give me the human girl and I shall forget everything that happened in your palace. I shall forget that prince Domenic killed my man and won't make a big deal out of it."
My father looked uncomfortable, "is there no other way to settle this Giron? Why do you want Kate specifically? You can choose any other slave from my palace."
"No your Majesty. The fact that she's a human guest in a vampire palace makes her interesting to me. Seeing how neither you nor the prince are willing to give her to me, I have concluded that there may be something special about her, and that's why I want her."
"Well you can't have her!" I growled at him.
"Domenic, watch your tongue!" Father warned.
"I refuse to listen to any more nonsense he may have to say father. No body is going to have Kate! No one is taking her away from this palace under my watch. She belongs to me!"
Father glared at me. He seems to have lost all patience with my madness. "She doesn't belong to you Domenic. She's a human. I may not have declared her a slave, but you brought this upon her when you decided to kill Giron's coven member."
With a voice filled with determination I spoke darkly, "I won't mind taking another life if you decide to forcefully take Kate away from me." I looked towards a surprised Giron with a meaningful expression and added, "I do not care who's life I'll have to take to protect her. Do not test me!"
Luciana one of the council member gasped for the first time. "How could you speak such foul words Prince Domenic. That's a direct threat to a member of the council."
My father now had a blank expression on his face. He was probably sick of my stubbornness, but it seems I have completely gone mad because of Kate. I have never forcefully defended anyone like this, not even a fellow vampire.
"Leave us elders, and forgive my son for his careless words. I shall talk some sense into him and get back to you."
The council members all stood up in their elegant and formal outfit. "I hope you do your highness," Giron said distastefully. "Because this is the very last time I shall forgive him for his atrocious threats." With that, he left and the others followed behind him.
My father didn't say anything for a second. I could tell that anger was boiling in the depths of his soul. I had gone too far for a human.
"Do you realize what you've done Domenic? You are directly proving to the council that you are not fit to be king. How can you side with a human?!"
I stared at him incredulously. "She saved your life father!"
"It doesn't matter!" He snapped back, "she's a human and you mustn't threaten Giron because of her. You were wrong!"
I clenched my teeth in anger. "He can take any human in the palace but not Kate. If he takes Kate, I am afriad they will be blood shed father."
He frowned in confusion like he couldn't make sense of my words. "What makes you care deeply for Kate son? You were never this reckless!"
His words tied my tongue because I myself do not know why I suddenly care so much for that human. It started of as lusting for her blood and then her body, but now I don't really know anymore. Back at the cave I remembered how she saved my life.
Kate is a good human. Sweet and innocent. It's hard to come across someone like her in the human world. She fascinates me and I found myself wanting to protect her and be with her. It's not just about her body anymore and I found myself going crazy as I thought about what these feelings could mean!
"I don't know father, but all I know is that I want no harm brought to Kate. You left her under my care and I will do everything to protect her even though that means going against you!"
Father said nothing for a few minutes, then to my surprise, a small smile came upon his lips. "I know the problem son, you're in love with Kate."
My eyes widened in shock at his assumption. "No father, I'm not in love with Kate!" I was repulsed by that statement. How can I love a human? A weak pathetic human?!
Father shook his head like he doesn't want to deal with explaining shit to me. "Once upon a time I was like that when I started catching feelings for your mother. I would tell myself, how can I fall in love with a pathetic human?!" I was once again shocked by his words. That was my exact thoughts just now. "It's fine son. I am not against it, but the council will not have it. If not because your mother died at childbirth, the council would have deemed her an abomination and executed her. I might have rebelled if that had happened."
There was sadness in his eyes which confused me. "Did you love my mother that much? Enough to rebel?"
He sighed and stood up, stepping down from his throne to come stand right in front of me. "I loved her Domenic. I loved her more than anything in the world. You remind me a lot of her, and that's why I will do everything within my power to keep you safe until you inherit the throne and take over the kingdom. That was my last promise to her."
I couldn't believe this. All this time father loved my mother and I didn't even know. I thought I was nothing more but a mistake he couldn't bear to execute. I had no idea he fell for my mother.
Father placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and said. "I know how you feel about Kate son, and I know we cannot teach the heart who we fall in love with, but what you spoke before the council today was reckless and inappropriate. If you handle the situation with anger and stubbornness, you may lose Kate in a more painful way and your throne as well. It's better to handle it peacefully."
I scrunched up my face in displeasure. With Giron, there is no peaceful way to handle things. He always insist on an impossible compensation.
"How will I handle it with peace when I'm certain that Giron wants anything but peace."
"Apologize to him Domenic. Bring down your pride and bow your head to him."
My eyes widened. Bow my head to that bastard?! No way in hell!
"But father..."
"For Kate's sake son. As it is no one is on your side. Apologize to Giron and bow your head to him. I'm sure that much will settle a lot of issues."
The idea was horrifying. Bring down my pride and bow my head to that bastard?! He would look down on me. He would see me as a weakling.
But I realized that if I keep fighting against this, everyone will eventually turn against me and accuse me of favoring humans.
I guess I have no choice but to give in to that malicious man and bow my head to him. I have to do it if I must protect Kate.