Lover Sacrificed - Chapter 13

The next day, Nalla woke up a little woozy from all the blood she had given Darius. The knock on the door made her head ache worse, but she knew who it was and couldn’t exactly keep her out.

- Come in mahmen.

Her mum opened the door and walked in, but she wasn’t alone.

- Dad! Eh... hey.

Her father was looking at her with his angry face. With his scars and permanent scowl, the look was scary.

This was the face he had used on her when she had been naughty as a kid. The one that made her want to crawl back into bed and hide. For a year. Even now, adult vampire that she was.

- When the fuck did this shit with Darius start, Nalla?

- Zsadist!

Her father curled his lip up at her mum but his gaze quickly softened at her arched brow. Nalla had always admired the power the shellans had over their mates, and it was almost comical to see a male the size of her dad back down like that.

- Nalla honey, you know we trust you and you can tell us anything, right?

- Uh huh.

- So we are just a little shocked… I mean, since when are you and Darius… uhm… when did you two…

- Mom, there is nothing going on. The royal mating is still on if that is what you are worried about.

- Like hell it is.

Leave it to her dad to be blunt.

- Dad…

- Nalla, honey, if you and Darius have…

- If he has touched you, he will mate you. And to hell with the royal mating.

- Mom, dad, it’s not like that ok?

- So what? He’s playing you? I will fucking rip his heart out, heir or no heir.

- No! Daaaad…

She sighed. Her parents were very big on being open and honest. She knew she could tell them anything. So what the hell…

- I am in love with him allright? I… I love him. And I have done so for a few years now.

- Oh honey…

Her mother looked at her with sad understanding while her father looked like he was about to pop a vein.

- Dad, don’t freak out ok? We…ah… we have kissed, like ages ago. Nothing else happened.

She wasn’t about to give her father a heart attack telling him about what had happened in the pool. She might confide in her mum. Someday. But not now.

- Why didn’t we know this?

Bella seemed hurt.

- Mahmen… I… we knew nothing could happen.

- Do you think… does he feel the same about you?

- Bella, D’s bonded with her, what do you think?

- Nalla honey?

- Yes, I think he does. Like dad says… but we both know, duties come first.

Her father snarled.

- He would rather mate a skanky glymera bitch than you?

- Dad, I am sure the king has explained his reasons to the brotherhood. And I… I am ok with it. No really. Darius… he’s truly a male of worth and he will do what is necessary for the race. As a true king should. I can only love him more for this.

- Are you sure, Nalla?

- Yes daddy. Sometimes we need to make sacrifices for the greater good. It seems that unfortunately, now is one of those times.

- You’re sure? Because I can kill the king, and make D mate you.

She chuckled, knowing he meant it.

- That won’t be necessary dad, I kinda like Wrath. But, I do need something from you.

- Anything. You know that.

She sighed, slightly embarrassed.

- Well, my needing is hitting soon, so I’ll be going up to Rehv’s cam at the Adirondacks, instead of staying down in the tunnel, this time.

Her parents looked at each other and nodded, understanding.

- That’s not all. I ah… don’t want you to tell anyone yet but I eh… I’m planning on staying there, for good.