Love Before Blood

Chapter 10

Azriel’s POV

It was around six in the morning when I looked at the clock and Avalon was still asleep.  I turned to look at her and I could see she was curled into herself, as if she was trying to keep herself warm with the blanket at her waist. She looked like she was having a nightmare seeing how much she was twitching in her sleep and how fast she is breathing.

I brush her cheek and gently run my fingers through her hair a couple times. Her hair was so soft and her cheek was cool to the touch. She stopped shaking and her head and body shifted towards my hands, as if she unconsciously wanted more of my touch. I obliged her for a bit, but then the maids quietly came in to get me for the meeting with our generals and my family. She still had the robe she wore last night on and with the light that was peeking through the curtains, I could see the sheer, lacy material of her night dress.

I’ll admit she still looks beautiful in it, but it’s way too revealing. I didn’t pick this dress, but I do have a good feeling who did.

The maids came in and I gestured to them to be quiet. Reluctantly, I stroked her cheek one last time and pulled the blanket to her shoulders before leaving for my bath. The bath in the palace was like an infinity pool with a beautiful view of the mountains and if you go far out, you can see that in between the mountains, there is a slight view of the ocean. It was enchanted so that the cold air would not come into the bath area.

After my bath, I quickly slipped on skinny black jeans, a collared shirt with a cloak, and some combat boots. Cassian escorted me to the meeting room. When I entered, I saw our clan generals seated around a round table with a holographic map. My parents were seated at the head and my brothers on the same side where my seat is. All of them were wearing simple clothes with the colors that resemble their clan colors.

There are six clans of drakes. The mineral clan were our security guards and built this palace as proof of their loyalty. The majority of our army is made up of the metal clan who can produce the strongest types of metal for weapons and armor and are very skilled with torture and interrogation methods. Our healers mostly come from the aquatic clan, but they only show up with the most impeccable timing and have a specialty with poisons. The phoenix, or fire, clan specialize in all of our firepower and have the most skilled archers. The aerial clan is the royal family and can control many types of magic. The astral clan, however, we have not heard from in centuries. To be honest, everyone thinks they are extinct, but legend has it that they can control the matter of space itself and are able to see the future. Not only that, they were among the most powerful of the clans.

“Prince Azriel,” said Nami, the aquatic general,” have a seat, please.”

After I took my seat, my father spoke and said,” I hope you have a very good reason for calling us this early in the morning, General Nami.”

“I do,” she said,” After Prince Azriel came back, one of his soldiers came to me with two shallow cuts on his left side. He told me that someone attacked him and left while they were retrieving the bride.”

“And this is a concern because,” Peri drauled on, obviously bored and drunk from last night’s ball.

“That someone who attacked him wasn’t human and it was laced with poison,” she said.

“Why would a non-human attack one of the soldiers?” my dad asked,” Why not just kill him when it had the chance?”

“Darling, I have a feeling that they knew about the marriage alliance and didn’t want to stir up trouble when peace had just been established between our two lands,” my mother answered. “If they killed him on their land, we would have every right to launch an attack and continue the war with no mercy.”

“The cuts that were on the soldier could be identified as a vampire or a werewolf,” General Nami explained,” however based on how shallow and careful the cuts were, I would say it is most likely a vampire. The poison however was something I’ve never seen before. My healers are trying to research it as we speak.”

The generals exchanged worried glances amongst each other.

“Something’s not right about this situation,” I added. As the image of the treaty popped into my head.

My father looked at me with surprise and said,” And what would that be, Prince Azriel?”

“Could this be a warning or a sign that peace isn’t truly achieved?” I asked. “As far as we know, the humans are the ones who called on this marriage alliance to happen. However the copy you showed us didn’t say the vampires or werewolves would step down.”

My father looked like he was about to shout at me, but my mother gave him a pleading look and his frown disappeared.

“I can see his point, Your Majesty,” said Onix, the general of the mineral clan. My father’s head turned towards him with an incredulous look on his face. “Not only is it a huge coincidence that this soldier was attacked at night, but according to the soldier’s report, he was attacked right after Prince Azriel arrived on their palace grounds. Every general and soldier knows how ruthless Queen Rosario is, and her predecessors. She isn’t the queen of werewolves, but also the vampires.”

“Furthermore,” General Nami added,” we all know that there is a myth about our blood. One drop of blood can cure a vampire or werewolf of their blood lust. They could’ve started this war in order to get to our blood.”

Father was thinking, but he was still unconvinced of the plan,” But that is only a myth, it hasn’t been proven. Not ever!”

All of us exchanged worried glances. And we turned back to my father with a worried expression written on all of our faces. My father touched his hand in a comforting way. He sighed and said,” Alright, let’s say Prince Azriel is right and their queen truly wants our blood to end their lust, would precautions be truly necessary? After all no human or blood-sucking creature has ever come into our lands before.”

All the generals hesitated to answer the question, I decided to step in and say,” It will have to be necessary for the time being. For now, it’s better to make the mistake on the side of caution instead of reacting to them when they begin to mobilize.”

Peri looked at me incredulously and said,” What if they find out that we are doing this and find out that we do not trust them?”

What if they find out? 

“How would they find out, Prince Peri?” I asked,” If they somehow find out that we are taking measures because of this attack, then that would mean we have a traitor among us.”

Peri then had a smirk on his face and said,” Does this mean that you are going to suspect your wife, Prince Azriel?” I thought I heard my mother gasp a little,” After all, she was practically forced into this marriage alliance seeing that she is the only daughter of their royal family.”

I did my best to not react and stay calm so I don’t end up punching him in the face. I looked him in the eye and said,“ I am most certain that my wife is not involved in this attack whatsoever, and I have no reason to doubt that. However, if it must be done, I will keep a close eye on her and her bodyguard, since they are the only two humans who have entered our kingdom.”

“I know that is a bold accusation, but I agree with Prince Azriel,” said General Slade of the metal clan. “Knowing how relentless Queen Rosario is and those before her, we should take the necessary precautions. We can slowly move our troops and have them keep training until we are certain that this is a false alarm. I can also have my surveillance soldiers keep a close eye on her without being detected by her bodyguard.”

“Very well,” he said reluctantly,” take all the necessary precautions needed, but don’t overdo it. We will be keeping this amongst ourselves. Our peoples have had enough of this terror and war, we cannot uproot their lives again so soon. Are there any other important matters that need to be discussed?”

General Scar of the fire clan raised his hand and said,” The families who have lost their loved ones.”

Before my father could speak, my mother said,” All three of my sons will be personally sending their condolences to their families, with the offer to be buried at the Fallen Soldier Memorial.”

He nodded and my father dismissed everyone.

We all got up and bowed as my parents left the room. After they left, the generals left, each of them congratulating me once again for the marriage alliance. However, Peri gave me the biggest glare ever with Grey following right behind him, not even seeing his glare. I don’t like this any more than he does, but if it’s to protect our people, it’s all worth it. Right?