His Decision

4. Unwanted

----Marco POV----

It’s been two weeks since that ridiculous decree by my father and instead of being happy he achieved what he wanted and made it hard for me to accept my birth right he was wallowing that even if I choose not to marry Maria the throne would still be given to Antonin my cousin.

Antonin was over the moon about this he wanted the throne, who wouldn’t? And what I cannot stand about the whole thing is that Antonin didn’t want the throne to do better for the kingdom and for the crown but wanted the power associated with the title of being the King of Tauleran.

My father, I grit my teeth just thinking about him not worried about the fact that his only son his direct bloodline would not sit on the throne and all because of his mad obsession with my mother’s supposed killer. I wish my mother were alive, because if she was my father would never have been able to get away with this.

I remembered my mother and instead of my frustration I smiled. She was a wonderful woman, beauty, grace and everything else a woman should be. I was the apple of her eyes and she loved me with all her heart. While she was alive the kingdom was peaceful and my father was at his best, since her death everything went on decline and fast. My father was so adamant that she was murdered and although evidence pointed to the fact that it was an accidental death he still descended into an unstable King and Leader who’s only goal in life was to find this fictional murderer. Even talking to him and trying to make him understand wouldn’t help at all in fact it would get even worse if someone questions or disagrees with him ending in him creating in a raucous in the main hall with all the servants and commoners shivering in fright.

I understood why the Elders wanted him to step down, it was the only logical step considering the amount of damage he was doing with the Kingdom. They were trying to salvage whatever they can and stop him before anyone of his actions become irreparable. The commoners were already whispering and the Elders feared an uprising and we are in no way prepared for.

I was walking around my study, entertaining these dark thoughts when a small knock brought me back to the present. I stopped my pacing and looked up at the door.

“Enter!”

The door opened and in walked Maria with her attendants, smiling at me with the sweet innocence that I know she didn’t possess. She was a beautiful woman with long blonde hair, big blue eyes and plump lips her skin was fair even for a vampire but this did not appeal to me as I knew too much about. She walked over to me and hoisting herself on her toes she wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Marco, my love I have been looking for you everywhere. We had an appointment and you promised me you would take around the pavilion garden for a walk.”

Gently removing myself from her embrace, I rubbed my face in frustration.

“Maria, I will have to beg your pardon on this front. I will not be able to keep our appointment as I have very urgent business to attend to.”

She pouted in reply, “Marco, we are currently betrothed we need to make some time for each other.”

“My sincerest apologies but I cannot accompany you for a walk around the pavilion atleast not today.”

She immediately fired up at this but instead of yelling at me like I thought she would, she ended up stalking out of my study in a huff. I could less about that foolish girl, she was my friend and I was sure that this connection with her would effectively spoil the friendship that we had for so many years. I did not want to marry Maria and this stipulation in order for me to claim my birth right was killing me.

I wanted my mate and I wanted to the same love my parents shared while my mother was alive. I remembered the admiration, respect and love they had for each other and I wanted that ever since my mother explained how I will meet my mate. Vampires know they mate when they first meet them only if they touch them. Physical touch is required for them recognize their partner and then like every other species out there we marked our mates to confirm the bond.

My father knew my weakness, knew how much I wanted this so he used this to try and delay my ascension to the throne. Desperately holding onto a madness that was bringing down Tauleran with him.

I was still wallowing in self-pity when the door to my study opened once again. I turned around internally cursing as I thought it was Maria again trying to focus some more of her physical closeness on me.

“By Erebus, you look horrible Marco. What is the matter?”

My face cleared at the sight of my best friend Vladimir Clark, I smiled at him. I was extremely happy to see his short stature, he was gone for so long on the business for the crown that I almost forgot that I have one person who would always be by my side and be a comfort with ludicrous way.

“Vlad, I am so happy to see you, my friend. I’ve truly missed you, with your shortness, your long black hair and your hideous moustache.”

“There is no need to offend my moustache, Marco. What is the issue? I have left my friend for only three months and I come back to find you betrothed to Maria.”

I shook my head in dismay at this, I would never find my way out this and I felt I was doomed to a loveless marriage and partnership to a woman who’s character I always found questionable.

Vlad walked towards the table containing my personal blood bank and poured himself a glass of the bright liquid. Taking a sip, he sighed at its freshness and turned towards me.

“Marco, I would advise you to reconsider your decision of marrying Maria. You have always detested her flirty ways and you always been very vocal about this dislike. This my friend is not at all a solid foundation for a marriage especially one for the future King and Queen of Tauleran.”

“What am I to do, Vlad? I have no other choice in the matter I cannot go against the decree and risk losing my birth right.”

“What do mean, a decree? A lot has happened since I have, come clue me into this mess you seem to have gotten yourself wrapped around in.”

I told him everything right from when my father called me into his room up till the last two torturous weeks in which he was forced to indulge Maria with all her fancies and romanticized ideas for the two of us.

Vlad laughed heartily at my predicament; he could imagine what Maria was like seeing as her past romantic escapades was extremely public for everyone to see.

“It is not a laughing matter, Vlad. I do not know what to do, I do not want to marry Maria and be doomed in a partnership with a flirt. What is worse than all of this, is her silliness, her conversation is so bland and she is always trying to get me into her bed to seal the deal between us. I am always on the watch and am hiding in my own quarters like a scared mouse being hunted by a hungry feline.”

Vlad was laughing so hard now that he spilled some of the blood from his glass onto the ground. I was so angry with his lack of empathy and ideas as a friend that I was getting ready to leave him in my study and walk out when he called out to me in between his laughs.

“Marco! Marco! My friend listen to me I do not think that as of now you can do anything about the marriage. But I can save you from hiding out here like a scared mouse as we need to leave for the Tauleran borders as soon as possible.”

“What are you saying? I have not received any such orders.”

“You have now we need to leave immediately as there has been a few rogue wolves spotted along the borders and we need to go and check this out as soon as possible.”

“How long?” I was already striding up to my chambers to put on my armor and silver sword.

“I don’t know we will have to check for any breaks in the magical barrier and neutralize any enemies that are too close to it. I have already intimated the first level warriors to accompany us and the rest have been asked to follow us half way and camp as we might need backup”

“How many were seen?”

“At least fifty on separate occasions, the warriors have already started off and we need to leave as soon as possible.”

We were getting ready to get out of the door, when it burst open before we touched it. A messenger rushed into the room hands waving over his head and screaming.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!” he screamed.

“What is wrong? I order you to get a hold of yourself and calm down.

He immediately stopped and let out a huge gust of air before saying in a desperate plea.

“Your Majesty! Tauleran is under attack!”