Ember of Hope

The story had ended. All that Katherine had done… her treachery wasn’t limited to just one world. No, it bled into another. She had betrayed her own flesh and blood. She had betrayed her own mate. Everything was breaking inside Raegan. It was painful… oh so very painful. She wanted to mourn the loss… the loss of not knowing her father. She didn’t even want to acknowledge the fact that the woman sitting in front of her was the one to give her birth. She wanted to scream at her. She wanted to rip her head off her shoulders. She wanted to burn her to ashes.

But no, she won’t give the woman in front of her the satisfaction of seeing any emotion on her face. So, on the outside she was a mask of indifference even though her insides were screaming. “I don’t trust myself to talk right now lady. And it will be in your deepest interest to stop pretending to be someone you’re not. My mother is dead. And her memory is enough for me. I don’t need an imposter to claim her place”.

She hadn’t screamed at all like she was dying to do, instead she delivered her blow so calmly, she herself was surprised. She looked at the raging expression on Valiance’s face and left without even looking at the man who had done nothing to earn her scorn - Her father - the real one. She didn’t trust herself enough to talk to him right now. So she’d find another chance because he was as much a victim of Katherine’s venom as she was – and the people of Evreux – Valiance. Her blood boiled at the thought of Valiance enduring for so long because of that bitch that had the audacity to call her daughter.

Her shift was smoother than ever before, maybe because it was fueled by her anger. But she was thankful nonetheless because she couldn’t bear to spend a moment longer in the vicinity of Katherine Vidarr. She knew her mate would soon come in search of her and he would find her. But until then; she wanted time to calm the storm inside her.

………………………

Valiance turned his eyes to the king – a man who had sired his beautiful mate. He turned to him fully because in that moment he didn’t trust himself to not strangle the culprit. Alex then came forward and hugged him “I’m glad you’re her mate. I couldn’t have asked for a better match for my daughter. I don’t know her, but I know you. And I know you’ll keep her happy.” He said with an emotion filled voice. “I just hope that one day she can find it in her heart to forgive me” remorse was etched on King Alexander’s face and it broke Valiance’s heart. A mighty man who commanded a nation, stood before him, afraid of his daughter’s reaction. And it gave Valiance some peace to know that atleast Raegan had a father who would love her like the one she’d lost… like she deserved to be loved.

“You are not responsible for any of it. You don’t have to worry about her forgiveness. She must be angry now but she is strong headed and rational. She has nothing against you”.

“How can you be so sure? She didn’t even look at me the whole time”. His voice broke with emotion.

“I’m sure because I know her. She didn’t look at you because she was angry at her” Valiance pointed his finger at Katherine who was now standing there; defeated and silent. “Raegan didn’t want to hurt you so she didn’t speak. She’ll come around. Trust me”. He then turned towards Katherine, “But you – you better stay far away from her. She doesn’t want you and she never will. And I won’t allow you to hurt my mate any further than you already have. You’ve done enough” he snarled in her face.

“She is my daughter. You can’t keep me away from her.” She fought back; putting her head in the lion’s mouth.

Valiance’s face was so cold and vicious as he hissed, “You don’t have any claim on her. As she said, her mother is dead. I won’t think twice before slicing your head off if you so much as look in her direction. Don’t force me”. He turned to leave but stopped. It seemed like he had something else he wanted to say to her. He whipped back with a killer’s wrath in his frosty blue eyes, “Because of you she had to go through her first shift alone. Because of you she had no idea of what was happening to her and why? She was scared and alone and what if something had happened to her while shifting? What would’ve happened if she was in the human world when she turned?” he was bellowing in her face now… his chest heaving with his ragged uncontrolled breaths. King Alex was standing there with horror etched on his face. He knew how many of the young dragons faced difficulties while shifting for the first time… how many didn’t make it past it… he knew about his sister.

“So no, you don’t get to call her your fucking daughter.” With that he stormed out leaving them both alone.

Katherine fell to her knees and broke down. Alex felt a tug at his heart but stopped himself from consoling his mate and silently left her alone. It was her own doing and he had his own demons to battle.

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