Blood Right by T. H.

Chapter 4

We arrive at a beautiful outdoor area, tables with table cloths, candles and cutlery are all aligned with seating arrangements and name tags. There is an outdoor stage set up and large tents surrounding the area. As we step out of the car we both notice that it isn’t cold. “There’s snow falling Leo, why isn’t it cold?” I ask as I take his arm. “Must be some kind of fae magic to keep it warm. I won’t complain, it’s nice!” It WAS nice. We walked around from tent to tent looking at all the beautiful jewelry and clothing from each clan group. Every species has brought things from their home lands to sell or share with others. We noticed the Demadie tent right away and rushed to see what was brought from home. “Those are Linny’s chocolate croissants!” I say, a little too excitedly. There were all kinds of chocolates brought from home, that’s what we exported most of after all. “Chocolate croissants huh?” A voice said from behind us, it was Cannon, looking delicious in an all black suit and red tie. “Hello again, Elizabeth.” He says while kissing the top of my hand. “Hello, Cannon” I say back, and “who is this?” He asks looking almost angrily at Leo. “I am so sorry, Alpha Cannon this is my cousin Leonardo Accardi.” Leo let’s go of my arm and reaches a hand towards Cannon “nice to meet you Alpha Cannon, your lands are beautiful.” Cannon smiles and takes Leo’s hand in a firm hand shake. His hands are so much bigger than Leo’s, it’s amazing. “Nice to meet you Leonardo, and thank you.” He says. “It’s Leo” he says and the Alpha nods his head in understanding. “Well I must take 2 of those chocolate croissants please,” he says to the woman behind the counter. “Kate would love them” he says to me. Trumpets sound in the distance and that’s our cue to find our seats. Leo helps to my seat which is between himself and my father, but also across from Mark and Vincent.

“You look lovely pumpkin” a man’s voice says behind me, “Daddy!” I exclaim and engulf him a tight hug. “You look handsome yourself” I say to him as he pulls my chair in for me. Vincent and Mark join our table, but little is said between the two parties. A man takes the stage and announces our entertainment for this evening as a local saxophone player. He begins to play and the music is incredible, I ask my father to dance with me and he follows me to the dance floor. I wrap my arms around his neck and star into his deep red eyes. “Father, I need to ask you something.” I say staring at him as we sway. “Father and not daddy hm? This must be serious then.” He chuckles a little to himself. “After training, Leo andni went to the lake to practice our powers and Mark found me there. He said that you had agreed for he and I to be mated together.” His face grew dim and my heart sank. “Pumpkin I-“ I didn’t let him finish. “My answer is no Father, my answer will always be no and I cannot be his mate if I don’t accept the relationship.” I say very sternly. “If you reject him Elizabeth, this could mean trouble for our clan. Vincent has made friends with dark fae and they can overthrow me pumpkin. You cannot take your rightful place as Queen without a mate.” He says. “But if I take him so I can become Queen then that makes him the King, our clan leader, and he would be horrible to me and everyone in our clan.” He nods in understanding. You are wise daughter, but you lead with your heart and not your head as you should. I look away from him with tears in my eyes, as I try to shake them away I feel him stop dancing and turn. “Ah young Cannon!” He says she he shakes his hand, “have you met my daughter Elizabeth?!” He says, trying to shout over the music. “I have” Cannon replies, “may I cut in?” My father looks at me and he says “yes, yes you can my boy!” My father gives my hand to Cannon and I felt a spark, he did too I guess because he jumped as I did. “I apologize, I don’t know what happened,” he said. “That’s ok, I’m fine” I reply. Cannon takes me around the dance floor, spins me and really make me wish I had worn a dress tonight. We talk about his pack and his parents, we talk about my clan and my home. Then he stops dancing and Mark is standing behind him, with a gentle tap on the shoulder Cannon turns to mark, “hello alpha, may I cut in?” Mark asks, Cannon looks to me and I let out a sigh, “it’s fine Cannon,” I say. Cannon slowly hands my hand over to Mark and walks away to watch from his table. Mark wraps his arm strongly around my waist, pulling me uncomfortably close to him. “Mark, don’t” I say and try to pull back without luck. “Oh love, you can fight me, but you can never win.” I’m a better vampire than you, always a step ahead. Now, did your father tell you about deal?” He asked, looking very smug. I didn’t even look at him, but said “yes, he did.” He smiles an evil grin, “so it’s settled then, we shall announce and both accept it tonight then.” My eyes widened at his remark. “No we won’t!” I say and stop dancing, he pulls me back into him and spins me round, “YES.WE.WILL.” He says thru a gritted smile. You will be mine, the throne will be mine, and your virginity will finally BE MINE.” “No” is all I could say, looking to the ground defeated. “YES he says in my ear. This is a man’s world love, you’re only here to look pretty on my arm and to give me your body at night. If you won’t then others will.” He said with a cackling laugh. “You’re despicable” I say to him and listen his grip on my waist to return to my table. After sitting back down I took a drink of my wine, looking up to find Cannon staring at me from his table, almost trance like. Someone comes to pay him on the shoulder and he breaks his stare to converse with them.

The music stopped and the announcer came back into the stage to introduce the Alpha and his family. “Hello esteemed guests, from near and far. My name is Alpha Grant of the Lothaire pack, this is my Mate Dion, our son and future Alpha Cannon and our daughter and Alpha in her own right, Kate.” The crowd erupted with applause. “I hope you are having a great time tonight, I look forward to the festivities this evening and the next nights to come.” Before our meal, we will have our announcements from each clan and pack. Announcements of mating ceremonies, births and passings. Please be respectful as our brethren take the stage, your dinner will be served momentarily.” Then crowd erupted in cheers again and the family returned to their table where their meal was served first. Vampire clans from all around announced their mating ceremonies and births, so did the fae, but the lycans only announced their mating ceremonies, not a single birth was announced. I found that to be odd.. My father took the stage next to announce the mating ceremonies and births of our clan, when I thought he was finished I was relieved until he said “finally, I would like to announce an arranged mating between my daughter Elizabeth Accardi and Mark Anthony Alestro of our Demadi clan.” The crowd erupted in cheers again. “Elizabeth and Mark, please join me on stage.” He says. Tears fill my eyes and Leo grabs my hand and squeezes. I let go and walk towards the stage, Mark is already standing proudly beside my father. “d**k”, I murmur to myself. I take the stage standing next to my father, trying to decide what to say.. “don’t do this..” a voice says clearly in my head. I look up confused and searching for who said that. “Please, don’t accept him.” The voice says again.. I hyperfocus on that voice and I can see the strands of vocal energy in the air, leading me directly an older lycan woman in the back of the room. “Please, Elizabeth.” Her eyes pleading with mine. “I don’t want to, I don’t want him.” I say back, wondering how the heck I’m communicating with her. “Just say no, this is not the blood-mothers plan for you and YOUR mother wouldn’t be happy.” She says.. “you know my mother?” I say to her. “After this night I’ll tell you what you want to know, but you mustn’t say yes to this man.” With those words I lost the connection, my father began shaking me asking if I was alright. “Yes, yes I’m alright.” I say to him. “You were in a trance.” He says, laughing it off. “As I was saying, do you Mark Anthony accept Elizabeth as your arranged mate?” “Yes” Mark says. “Elizabeth, do you take Mark Ant-“ I didn’t even let him finish. “NO!” I shouted “No I do not accept him as my arranged mate.” The crowd gasps and a few people clap, in the background. My father looks at me with disapproval and says to the crowd “my daughter may need more time to accept young Mark here, but in time she will do what is right.” He nodded to the crowd and led me off the stage. He and Mark returned to the table, but I walked toward the line of cars waiting to return to the pack house. “Cantrell!” I yell as I walk towards the handsome butler, “Miss Elizabeth” he says as he smiles to me. “Please, take me back to the pack house.” He gently opens the door for me and I enter the car. As he walks around the to the driver side, the door opens again and Mark slides in, with en evil glare sitting firmly on his face. We sit quietly on opposite sides of the car, Mark never taking his eyes or his glare off of me.. Im staring out the window to avoid his glares, thinking of what he will say or do when we are alone. “Are you alright?” Another voice in my head, this time it’s Cannon’s father?! “Alpha Grant?!” I respond. “Yes, this is. Are you alright? We saw him get in the car with you, we were concerned.” Oh by the blood, the last thing I wanted was to cause anyone to be concerned. “Yes, alpha it’s nothing I can’t handle. Thank you for your concern sir.” I say, “Call me Grant. If you need help, think of Cannon, Cantrell or shout guard down the bond and we will send help for you.” With that I closed my eyes and rested my head against the glass. So many thoughts going thru my mind… how are we able to communicate like this? Why would the alpha be concerned with ME, of all others? Why did Mark follow me to the car?.. so many thoughts.