Chapter75
The room fell silent, the weight of my words hanging in the air.
I could feel Philip tense beside me, but I didn’t waver.
In case they hadn’t noticed. I wasn’t my uncle. I didn’t care
about their rules, traditions, and I was going to be the puppet
under their control. If I was going to be their King, I would
know every goddamn thing in this kingdom.
“Now, spill it.” I urged grimly, “What’s the plant that can
weaken magic?”
There was another long silence. Finally, the female elder spoke
- up.
“It is no plant,” she said. “What can weaken magic is not a
thing… but people.“”
I frowned. What she said made no sense. “People? What
people?”
She exchanged a glance with the other elders, as if weighing
whether to reveal more. Finally, she sighed:
“Specifically, those with magic in their blood. They can
counteract magic, weaken it. But using their blood comes at a
cost.”
“What cost?” I demanded, my patience wearing thin.
“If their blood is drained to weaken the magic, it could kill them.
And not just any magic wielder’s blood will work. It has to come
from a specific lineage. A lineage tied to the bloom.”
The pieces began to fall into place. I felt like the ground had
been pulled out from under me.
“Charlotte’s lineage,” I said quietly. “Violet’s lineage.”
The elder nodded. There was actually pity in her eyes, “Yes.
Your mate and her brothers–they carry the blood of their
mother, the blood of magic. Their blood could weaken Isaac, but
it would also endanger their lives. If they give too much, they
will die.”
Fate was laughing at my face again.
To save Mia, Violet had to risk her own life.
Violet’s POV
Chapter75
I stayed behind with Charlotte and Jayden while Asher and
Philip went to the Royal Council. My mind was spinning from
everything that had happened. Honestly, I didn’t even know
where to begin.
Charlotte seemed calmer than I was. Seeing her as the steady
rock calmed me a little as well. I didn’t hate her that much now
that she had explained everything–her past, the choices she’d
made, the things she had to give up.
But it still hurt. She put her members‘ lives before her own
children’s lives. I would never make the same decision.
Asher and Philip returned a few hours later, looking like they’d
been through a storm. Philip had that tight–lipped look on his
face that always meant something wasn’t right, and Asher
was.Always controlled and steady, but I could see the tension in
the way his jaw flexed.
“So?” I asked urgently, praying with all my heart and soul.
Please have some good news. PLEASE.
Asher gave me a quick glance, his brow furrowed. “We got
some answers,” he said, his voice grim. “But nothing good.”
“Nothing good? What the hell does that mean?” I snapped
before I could stop myself.
“Violet.” Asher started, but Philip cut in.
“Can we ask you about something? Mo.Alpha Charlotte?” Philip
asked. He still wasn’t used to the idea of calling her “mother.”
“Of course. What is it?”
Philip let out a breath, clearly uncomfortable. “Have you ever
seen the four of us bleed in front of your before? Like.how was
like that? How did that make you feel?“.
Charlotte frowned, looking utterly confused, “Seeing you
bleed? I.Honestly I don’t recall such a moment. It’s so long ago.
And we didn’t really get to spend much time together.“”
“It’s important. Please think harder.” Asher spoke up this time,
his voice serious and strained.
“Well, OK then.I remember Jayden as the naughty when he
was little, always running around and bumping into things.
One time he hit the doorframe and there was blood gushing out
from his forehead. I remember vividly because it was the first
time I saw my child bleed and it freaked the hell out of me.”
“And how did you feel?” Asher pressed.
“I was horrified. As I said. I was so worried if that bump would
leave any permanent damage on him-”
“No I wasn’t asking how you feel emotionally. Physical wise,
how did you respond to your children’s blood?”
OK, these questions were getting weirder and weirder. I
couldn’t help but interject, “Can somebody tell me what the hell
is going on here?!”
“We are getting to it, sis.” Philip gestured me to stay quiet.
“Alpha Charlotte?”
She pondered, her frowns tightening, “If I have to describe
it.well the blood makes me sick. My chest hurt like hell, my
head went spinning. I thought might just die.But that’s how all
mothers feel when they see their children get hurt in front of
them, right? It’s the mother instinct.”
There was a strange expression on Asher and Philip’s faces as
they exchanged a quick look.
