Forbidden Blood (48 page)

“I’m sorry I’ve never told you how much I love you. I try to show you every time we’re close and you let me inside your body. Shifters aren’t close with just anyone. You are special, and it’s your privilege and right to be intimate with me since you’re my mate. But I should have said something, and I apologize for my ignorance.” He stepped back, cupped her face again, and wiped her tears away with his thumbs. “Naya Kensington, I love you. Babies or no babies, my life changed when I met you.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he moved his to her waist.

She arched up and kissed him on the lips. “I have my own apology. I lied to you our last night in the club.”

His eyebrows drew together.
“Oh?”

“
I told you I could see myself falling in love with you, but the truth is, I already had. I love you, too, Vaughn.”

He leaned in and kissed her. His kiss was more than just lips
. It involved tongue, wetness, and heat. It let her know he meant every word he’d said, and she now realized he really had shown her that he loved her every time they were together.

Later, after making love, they lay in bed, facing each other, and Naya knew Vaughn would fall asleep if she let him.

“Vaughn?”

He opened his eyes. “Yeah, baby?”

She propped her head up on her hand. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“How come when my father said I was unmated and pregnant, you didn’t say anything?”

Turning onto his back, he crossed his arms behind his head. “I didn’t want to fight your battle for you. You’ve had someone talking for you, doing things for you, and thinking for you throughout your entire life. I figured if you needed me to step in, you would have told me. Plus, like I said, I’m not sure how vampire mating works. I didn’t want to shoot off my big mouth when I didn’t know what I was talking about.”

“And when I talked about getting a job, I was a little upset because you never suggested I didn’t need one.” She held up her hand. “Not that I expect to depend on you, but it made me wonder if you planned for us to have separate lives.”

He moved one arm from behind his head and grabbed her free hand. “Now, I know why you tried to shut me out that night. Again, someone has always been taking care of you and telling you what to do. I don’t want to be another person in your life who does that. I want you to know I support you and that working is your choice. But, Naya, if you don’t want to work, I will provide for you.”

She smiled. “No, I think having a job will be good for me. I want my daughters to know women can take care of themselves.”

He pulled her down and kissed her. “You’re going to be an excellent mother.”

He turned her over as she wrapped her arms around him, and he kissed her again.

When he let up, he said, “For the record though, we’re having sons.”

She grinned up at him. “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”

I
T WAS THE last Thursday in October, and Arianna was with Emerson, sitting outside the sanctum at the vampire administration building. It was ten minutes to eleven at night, and they were waiting for the Council’s monthly meeting to start. A few other vampires were in attendance, milling around. Arianna was here because Naya had asked her to be, and Arianna was surprised to find out Naya had asked Emerson to be there as well. What they did not know as of yet was why their presence had been requested.

The door opened, and everyone was allowed into the sanctum where the eight Council members and the King and Queen were already seated. The five men and three women
were sitting behind one long platform toward the back of the room. Off to the left of the platform was a special seating area for her uncle and aunt, who appeared surprised to see her. At the top of the aisle, after several rows of benches, stood a podium facing the platform. This was where vampires could address the Council with issues.

Naya
had told Arianna to sit in the front row, so she made her way to an open spot, and Emerson followed. She scanned the room for Naya but did not see her. Councilman Hutton called the meeting to order by banging his gavel, and everyone quieted.

“
The first item on the agenda is Princess Anaya,” Councilman Hutton said. “She has asked to speak with us.”

The King and Queen immediately tensed and shared panicked looks.

“Does anyone know where she is?” Councilman Hutton asked.

Before anyone could answer, the doors opened
, and Naya entered. She was alone and wrapped in a big sweater that hid her pregnant belly. When she reached the podium, she opened her sweater and revealed her expanding waistline underneath. Gasps echoed around the room, the loudest coming from Naya’s mother.

“
What is the meaning of this?” Councilman Hutton barked to the King and Queen, pointing to Naya’s pregnant belly. “Is this the reason you did not announce a betrothal between your daughter and Councilwoman Vanderbilt’s son? Because Princess Anaya is with child?” He turned to Naya. “May I assume that since the betrothal did not take place, the father of this child is not Councilwoman Vanderbilt’s son?”

Councilwoman Vanderbilt turned red and inhaled sharply.
“My son would never—”

“
No, sir, Emerson is not the father,” Naya interrupted.

Murmurs could be heard from the platform.

“So, this is why you requested an audience with us tonight?” Councilman Hutton asked.

“
Yes, sir.”

“
You are a princess, next in line to be queen, and unmated. What do you have to say for yourself?”

“
That is why I am here. While I have already accepted him as my mate, I am requesting permission to be mated with the father in a vampire ceremony.”

“
What do you mean by
already mated
? Who would this male be? Why is he not here? Is he scared to show his face in front of the Council?”

“
No, I asked him to wait,” Naya said.

As if on cue, Vaughn entered the sanctum.

“I am the father—Vaughn Llewelyn, future Alpha of the Minnesota Pride.” Vaughn strode to Naya and grabbed her hand.

There were m
ore gasps.

Vaughn ignored them.
“Good evening, councilmen and councilwomen,” Vaughn addressed everyone with a small bow. He turned toward Naya’s parents. “Good evening, King Kensington, Queen Kensington.”

“
A shifter?” Councilman Hutton barked. “You are pregnant with a shifter baby and want to be mated to one? You are a foolish child. We cannot allow our fellow vampires to be led by someone who is irresponsible.” Councilman Hutton pointed his finger down at Naya and shook it as if he were disciplining a child. “We should consider stripping you of your position and power and banning you.”

Uncle Marek stood
, and in a firm voice, he said, “Councilman Hutton, you will not speak to my daughter that way.”

Naya
’s eyes widened, and Arianna was sure her eyes matched.

“
Yes, she made a mistake, but she is not completely responsible.” He looked at his wife and back at the council. “Our contemptuousness toward others is one of the reasons Anaya is in this position.”

“
Marek,” Aunt Celeste said and tugged on his arm.

He turned to her.
“Celeste, you know this to be true. Over the past few weeks, I have come to realize that in our attempt to keep Anaya close and pristine, we have pushed her away. I don’t know about you, but I do not want to lose my daughter forever.” He turned to his daughter. “Anaya, I am sorry for anything I said to offend you the last time we spoke. Part of the reason I said those things is because I do care for you, and I don’t want to see you hurt or disappointed. While I might not agree with everything you’ve done or will do in the future, I do not want to lose you. Therefore, I accept your choice in a mate, and I will do my best to be a good grandfather to your children.”

Naya
’s hands covered her mouth, and her eyes glistened with tears. “Thank you, Father.”

Uncle Marek regarded his wife.
“Celeste, is there something you would like to add?”

When she didn
’t say anything, he leaned over and whispered something in her ear. Aunt Celeste’s face turned white, but his words drove her to her feet.

“
I”—she cleared her throat—“also approve of this mating.”

“
I also approve,” Councilwoman Vanderbilt said to the astonishment of them all.

“
Does anyone else approve of the mating?” Councilman Hutton asked, disdain dripping from his voice.

To his chagrin, three other
council members agreed. With half of the Council supporting the mating and the King and Queen behind it, Councilman Hutton was unable to deny them their wish.

“
Princess Anaya, you and Mr. Llewelyn have permission to be mated,” Councilman Hutton reluctantly said.

Naya threw her arms around Vaughn
’s neck, and he wrapped her in an embrace. The room applauded, and Uncle Marek and Aunt Celeste returned to their seats. Arianna was happy for her cousin, and she clapped the loudest.

When
Naya and Vaughn separated, Naya said, “Thank you, Council. With our mating, instead of keeping our species segregated from one another, I hope we can work to unite vampires and shifters.”

Naya looked up at Vaughn and smiled. He pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed it.

“You may have permission to be mated, but your role as future queen is still in question,” Councilman Hutton reminded her with a sneer. “You are still with child and mating a non-vampire.”

Uncle Marek half
way stood up, but Naya put her hand out to stop him.

“
Well, sir, I agree most vampires are not ready for such a dramatic change this quickly. However, I do have a suggestion,” Naya said.

“
Oh? And what would that be?” Councilman Hutton asked.

“
As you know, my father had a younger brother, who had a daughter—Princess Arianna.”

“
Yes, we all know. Your point?” Councilman Hutton said.

“
I suggest Princess Arianna be the next queen. Emerson should be mated to Arianna, and he can be the next king as you all wanted. I, in turn, will simply retain my status as princess, and I will use my position to become the new vampire ambassador to the shifters.”