The Vampire Queen's Destined King

The queen is here...

Queen Mira-

The fact that he beat us here is fascinating. The way my elder swoons over this man is u settling. Him teaching self-defense to the kids? What universe did I land on.

The one I entered has me dealing with an angry brooding werewolf. Who in his defense did lose his mate. Who also thinks I did it. Who wants no part of our mate bond.

Well, lucky for him, I don’t want it either. It’s hard enough proving to members of the clergy that I am of sound mind and body to govern over all of the vampires. But to suddenly have to justify that I now have a big, strong, attractive man made up pure muscle and attitude? They will easily replace me with him or just replace me all together.

I may not have wanted this position, but damn it, I refuse to let a man come along and take it from me on a technicality that the goddess of the moon made a mistake. I mean, she has let me down a few times, and I have tried to be understanding. Dealing with my family, or lack thereof. The loss of my parents. The way I came into power. It has been one s**t show after another. Except for Fergie. My little sister is the only piece of perfection to come from all this mess. So for her I will do my duty so that she can live the life free of this burden. It would fall to her if I stepped down and they would eat her alive.

“Mistress Mandaline, thank you for seeing us on such short notice. We seem to have a problem.” I look to Iroquois as the problem in case she wondered. He smirks back at me. Why does every face he makes look so damn sexy. I look back to our hostess.

“Tell me, child, what can I do for you both.” She gives a knowing smile. Just then, a staffer walks in and serves us tea and cookies. I nod. Her eyes almost bug out seeing me. Very few people knew I would arrive today or at all.

“Your majesty!” The staffer bows.

“Thank you for the tea. If you could please keep my arrival a secret. I’m not due here for a few days.” I smile as the older woman shakes her head.

“Yes your ladyship! Whatever you need.”

“Thank you, Irma.” Mistress Mandaline replies as she gives us the room. “Now back to your request.”

“Yes, well, I just got here and found out that he is my mate. Well, I don’t want a mate. So, we need to see how we can go about breaking this bond as quietly as possible.” I inform her. She nods, resting her pointer fingers to her lips. Deep in thought.

“Oh that is easy. You can’t.”

“What now?” I reply.

“I’m sorry, what?” Iroquois adds. I place my tea back on the table.

“Well at least not until the next full moon. Which is in thirty days from today. You can’t break the bond made by the goddess of the moon until you both show effort and just cause. During which time you have to actually make an effort to co-exist.” Mandaline continues.

“I can’t stay here for thirty days?” I reply.

“Where you go, he goes. So he would have to travel with you until such time.”

“Absolutely not!” We both say in unison.

“See! You are already agreeing on things!” She smiles.

“I don’t understand why can’t I just return in thirty days and we break the bond?” I inquire.

“Because you have to be together and show the goddess that there is no connection. That there is no fire burning between the two of you. That her match was an error.”

“…and then the bond is broken? Nothing else we have to do?” Iroquois asks.

“You do have to share a room. Share a bed. It must be presented in perfect condition. For the goddess to grant the breaking of the bond.”

“Oh you have to be kidding. He is a complete stranger. An angry stranger who accuses me of a crime without any evidence!” I say in frustration.

“You have the scent of the killer! What more evidence do I need?”

“I don’t know. More than a scent that could come from anyone. I’ve shaken many hands. Maybe I touched the hand of the killer!”

“Please. You two will shake the paint off my walls.” Elder Mistress Mandaline interrupts our argument. “There is a lot of passion here. Sometimes, it is disguised as anger.”

“No, I’m totally sure this is just anger.” Iroquois adds.

“I second that.”

“They say it’s a thin line between love and hate.” Madaline adds with a chuckle.

“Well, can you just research and see if there are any loopholes to this rule. I mean I’m sure over the years you have seen a lot of things happen. So maybe there is a way?” I ask with hope. The last thing I need is to be stuck babysitting this angry, frustrated mammoth of a man. I mean, sharing anything with him does not sound remotely good to me.

“Well I will pull out some books from our library and see if I can come across any other information.”

“Thank you, Mistress Mandaline, we would really appreciate it.” I exhale looking to the brooding man sitting in the armchair that can barely hold his massive frame.

“Guess we should head out and let her get to work. Thank you, Mistress Mandaline, for all your help.” Iroquois adds as we all stand and head towards the doors. Our soldiers stand outside the home. Following in a second vehicle. We both stand in the yard facing each other.

“So, are you done stalking me or what?” I ask.

“Where you go….”

“…you go…yeah I recall. Well, we are headed to my cottage to change and prepare for bed. There is nothing more we can do here tonight.”

“Let’s go.” He walks to the SUV and holds open the door.

“You are seriously going to attach yourself to my life?”

“Like glue, baby.” He winks at me. I huff out in frustration as I climb into the car. Once seated, I take a few calming breaths.

“We have to come to an understanding. I don’t share spaces.”

“Well you will now. If we want to break this bond.”

“I don’t have strange men in my bed.”

“Good, neither do I.”

“I have an image to uphold.”

“Don’t worry. Ice queen of the dark will not be a problem to uphold.”

I pause. I refuse to let him know that got to me. I nod to the driver to take us home. Gerald sits in the front seat as we drive. Nope. It's not happening. I have been in my mother’s shadows my entire life. I have constantly been compared to her. I looked like her. I walked like her. But I was never as brutal. I could never kill without merit like she could. When she held hostages merely for me to kill them for her satisfaction, I refused. Then she would simply show me how it was done. I was only seven the first time she did this. From that age, if I didn’t perform to her liking, she would send me away to a school for training. I would leave, and it would be the happiest of times for me. I thrived, but as soon as she found out I had a glimmer of happiness, she had me returned to the castle.

I would run the halls of the castle whenever she was out to torture those she seemed worthy. My father was not much different. Except he promised to marry me off to the first man who showed promise of power. He wanted to hand the thrown over to since they only had my sister and I. When I refused to marry this old count that my father grew up with, I was beaten. When I refused to shed a tear, my mother called me the ice queen. It was the only thing that got to me. I have no idea why. The pain of the paddles or chains, nothing broke me. But to know I had ice in me like my mother. Maybe that was it. Knowing I was in any way like her…that broke me.

So I was sent away to school again. This time, I realized to keep to myself and not seem as though it was fun. I came back after graduation to find the castle in chaos. So much horror was going on. War was inevitable. My choices were not hard to make. I would do it all over again after what I saw when I came home. I would never let my people get dragged into such a life. Such an existence ever again. It is why it’s so important for me to be a better version of both of my parents. It’s not that hard with the bar so low.

“Here we are you highness.” Gerald announces as he gets out of the vehicle to escort me to my cottage. He has a cottage just in front of this one. My… Iroquois gets out. It seems he is now quiet. Which is shocking from the man who just started back talking. He has wasted no time getting back to his old voice, I guess. We walk into the quarters. The nice open living room is light and airy. You would assume I like it dark. There is a time and a place for darkness. I actually like it this way. The kitchen is state of the art with a chef who prepares the meals when requested and leaves. Several donated bags of blood are in the fridge. The welcome note told me so.

“The bedroom is down the hall. Along with the bathroom. Gerald will have a bag brought over for you since you refuse to let me out of your site.” I speak without making eye contact.

“Okay, thanks.” He replies.

“I have a lot of work to catch up on for tomorrow. I will be in the office. In case you need to check on me.” I give him an ice-cold look. If he sees me this way. I will give it to him. He nods and walks toward the back.

“Give him a chance. He had no way of knowing.” Gerald whispers. As if he can’t hear us. I raise my hand.

“I am in charge here. I have to keep my distance. Survive these thirty days and get our vampires in order. So that is all my focus will be. Besides, he already has me figured out, so why prove him wrong. I’ll see you in the morning. Thank you as always for your guidance.” I nod to Gerald as he nods back. He closes the door, and I sense the soldiers we brought stationed outside the cottage. I quickly get out of my dress and throw on sweats and a sweatshirt. Pull my braids into a ponytail and sit behind the desk. I need to see about a meeting tomorrow with Alpha Ronan. Maybe this land isn’t what’s best for my people. For tonight, I get ready to go over what needs to change for my vampires.