Twisted Fate: The Future Queen’s Mate

Chapter 10

After hauling Dante into my SUV and back across town to the castle, I finally got him upstairs and into his chambers. It took a few guards to help me get him up the stairs to the second floor but eventually we got him there.

Dante was completely knocked out. Knowing how trashed he is based off of the odor coming off of him, he’s going to be out for at least another twenty four hours. Too bad for him though because we have a meeting with my father and a few other councilmen tomorrow afternoon so he won’t get the luxury of sleeping that long. Not like he deserves it.

I look over at the grand tower clock in Dante’s room. It’s just a little past three am which means the meeting is actually today and just ten hours away from taking place. Yeah I’m not sure how he’s going to sober up enough for this one.

All I know is he’s going to have to pull himself together for it and be on his best behavior. To say we’re on my dad's bad side right now is an understatement. He told me we both better be at this meeting on time and that he better not hear about any foolishness.

I know I’ve disappointed him a lot recently but none of it was really my fault. But if I know one thing about my father it is that there are no excuses in wrongdoings. And just like he said, a queen has to think five steps ahead of everyone else. I can guarantee I am thinking ahead now. Dante won’t be screwing up the meeting for me or anything else for that matter. After seeing him the way I found him tonight with that slight dusting of white powder on his nose, I decided I was done.

Done trying to protect him and defend him and done trying to make whatever this thing between us is, work. If I’m forced to marry him and be queen, then fine. I’ve decided we’ll sleep in separate rooms, in separate wings of the castle. There will be no flirting, no dating, no romantic feelings of any kind and especially no s*x. Our paths will only cross when they absolutely have to such as banquets and town meetings. But other than that he can do what he does best, getting shitfaced and sleeping around and I’ll do what I do best, being alone.

I take one final look at Dante sprawled out on the large bed he has in his room. He’s fast asleep and honestly looks like a train wreck. He usually is breathtakingly handsome with his perfectly shaggy hair and designer clothes but tonight his hair is greasy and his clothes are soaked with liquor and what smells like piss. If I didn’t know any better I’d feel bad for him looking like this. But knowing now that he’s taken to hard drugs, I don’t feel bad for him. I take a big breath in and let out a long sigh before turning and heading for the door. I may as well head back home and get some sleep before the meeting with my father. Knowing now that Dante is back in the castle hopefully I can actually get some rest.

Curtis, one of the palace guards insists that he walk me home being that it’s in the middle of the night. I agree knowing there’s no way they will allow the future queen to be out in the dark alone.

After a eerily quiet walk we make it to my house rather quickly. I walk up to the front door and fumble with my keys. When he thinks I’ve unlocked the door he nods at me before heading down the street and disappearing into the darkness.

After no longer being able to see him I slink around the house to the backyard and begin to climb up the lattice that’s secured to thehouse. Too many times I’ve snuck up and down this thing coming to Dante’s rescue. Not anymore though, this will be the last time. I quickly open up my window and plop myself down on this bed. Tiredness quickly comes to me and I give up the fight of keeping my eyes open and fall asleep.

When I woke up the next morning and headed downstairs for breakfast my fathers already gone and left the house. I’m feeling a little disappointed to know that he left without me. I was hoping we could talk and iron out some of this awkwardness between us before we have to sit in a room with his fellow councilmen.

My mother is sitting at the table looking as beautiful as ever with her silky blonde hair brushing just past her shoulders. When I was young I wished that my hair would look like hers instead of ridiculously dark like my fathers but now I’ve come to love my espresso colored hair. It makes me feel like I blend in more and don’t stick out too much. Which can be nice when all eyes seem to want to be on the next queen.

I make my way over to her at the table and sit down. Everything is already laid out so I quickly grab a muffin and pour myself a cup of hot tea.

“Morning mama, did father already head to his office?” I ask, taking a bite.

“Oh yes, he was up all night reading and studying the Seattle case paperwork. The situation is becoming far more serious than anyone anticipated. He couldn’t sleep a wink last night so I think he just wanted to get up to his office and get to work first thing this morning.” She says waving her hand about before grabbing this mornings newspaper.

She looks tired too. Her usually green eyes seemed more hazel today and she had bags under her eyes. She must be suffering the effects from her mate's stress.

When two people are mated by the moon it isn’t just their physical and emotional connection that is completely intertwined. But also the brain and the body. If one is sick, the other will also feel beat down even if they aren’t sick themselves. If one of them gets hurt the other will absorb some of that pain from their mate to ease their suffering. If one is angry, or in my parents case, extremely stressed out, the other will feel the toll of its effects. And in the worst case scenario for mates, if one of them was to die, the other would be so heart broken, with their soul torn in half, they would too start the dying process. Some it just takes a few days but others it can be weeks or months of excruciating pain and distress. Fated mates beasts simply cannot live without each other.

“I’m a little nervous for our meeting today. Father has been so angry with me lately that I can’t stand to let him down again. He hasn’t spoken to me in four days now. Usually I can take it from him but this is the longest he’s ignored me.” I say looking down and picking at the crumbs on my plate.

“You’re his daughter and only child. He just wants what’s best for you.” She says looking at me like I’m a little girl again. “Why don’t you go upstairs and take a hot shower before you get ready. It’ll help you feel better.”

I stand and head over to the stairs but just before climbing up, I turn around and look back at my mother.

“Did he tell you what the meeting was going to be about?” I ask her.

She takes a sip of her tea before replying “He didn’t say what it was going to be about. Just that the king had a few order requests that your father was supposed to go over with you and Dante.”

I nod at her and head up the stairs to my bedroom. The king has orders for us? Great. This can’t be good.