Dr. Luna
The Vampires Promised Bride Chapter 69

The kingdom had a big celebration in honor of the future heir to the vampire kingdom. Wyatt and Freya along with Lilly stopped by to visit a couple of days ago too. She found out that Aiden and Diana are doing okay. Diana is trying to adjust to her life here and they have told the pack about the two of them being lycans. The Diamond pack was very excited about their future leaders being lycans and what it would mean for the packs.

Lilly was able to confirm that Alexis' child would be the first heir to the fairy kingdom. But it seemed that things have changed in that as of now there will continue to be two fairy princesses. Maybe had Alexis gotten pregnant first that would have changed. So there is a chance that if Alexis' daughter conceives first then things will go back to there only being one princess at a time. Who knows since fairy magic has a will of its own.

Her grandmother told her that she will need to come with Derek to pick out a future guardian for their daughter. There was no doubt about it that the first child would be a girl. Though Derek wasn't so certain and planned to prepare for either gender. Derek was being adorable with how he treated Lucy. He was always rubbing and kissing her stomach. He would have conversations with his little love and tell them how important they were to him already. He would also brag to Lucy at times about how good he actually was at making babies since it happened from their first time together. Though she had to tease him that it was the heat that played the main factor in it.

For the most part things have been fairly quiet. The elite soldiers were still silently waiting for the witch to emerge. And Lucy had about a two to three-hour time window before she needed a recharge from Derek or Aba. Though usually Derek never left her side except when she demanded girl time.

That was the other thing. Stella and Lucy had been getting along well together. Stella was actually a very sweet girl who wasn't malicious at all. She was a bit weak and allowed herself to be bullied. Because she wasn't strong enough to stand up for herself she made up a fake boyfriend.

Overall life was good right now. No, it was perfect. Willa and Alaric were over the moon excited and when her parents were visiting, they were deciding on grandparent names. Willa took Mimi and Alaric Papaw while Wyatt and Freya elected just to be grandpa and grandma.

Derek had been overly doting and Lucy had needed to take a couple of days each week for her 'de-smother' time. That's what was happening right now. She was walking down the hall with Stella. They were going to take a quiet stroll through the garden. While Derek, Aba, Jasper, and Justice were holding a sportsman sparring competition. The three of them would be attacking Justice and testing his guardian skills. Just a muscle-flexing competition if you asked Lucy but whatever got the smothering men out of her hair. Though Justice never used his sword while sparring with him. I guess he felt like he didn't need it or he was afraid to accidentally hurt them.

Lucy and Stella entered just out of the palace when they saw Mira holding a guard by his throat. Her eyes were the color of a storm and this tiny fragile looking girl had this man lifted up with one hand.

"Tell me who!?!" Mira growled lowly.

"It's everyone... everyone is saying it. Please... I didn't mean anything by it." The guard stuttered through a strangled breath.

"Mira." Lucy said, shocked. "Put him down." She walked up to the banshee who immediately obeyed. "What seems to be the problem?"

The guard fell to the ground and bowed sprawled across his stomach. "Forgive me princess. Please. I promise I didn't mean anything by it. I was just asking a question. I didn't know."

"Didn't know what?" Lucy asked as Stella came closer to Lucy's side.

"He is talking about the rumors...." Stella whispered out quietly looking down at the man.

"What rumors?" She looked at Stella confused. Stella looked away and wouldn't make eye contact with her.

"You don't need to know. They are just vicious rumors." Stella whispered quietly.

Lucy looked up to Mira who would give her the answers she wanted. "Mira, what is being said?"

Mira's eyes softened and sadness flickered in her eyes. "They are saying... they are saying that the child you are carrying is not that of the prince's. That you are carrying the deity's child in your womb. He forced himself on you and that now they are saying you are bearing a false heir to the throne."

"But that isn't true. Erebus never touched me like that." Lucy watched as the soldier lifted his head, his eyes looking relieved.

"Thank goodness. So you really are carrying the prince's heir."

Lucy was shocked. It was clear by his eyes just how much he believed it. This would be how much they all believed it. It was like being blindsided. She was obliviously happy. And this... this wasn't something that was easily fixed. Sure, Derek could make an announcement. The king and queen could make a decree. But all the vampires would be sympathizing with the royal family over this tragedy. They wouldn't believe in the child until they were born and could smell the pureblood themselves. "Should I kill him?" Mira asked coldly.

"You'd have to kill the whole kingdom." The soldier said horrified.

Mira shrugged. "We can build again. And build again with more loyal vampires."

"Leave him Mira. He is only repeating what has been spread around. Though you should have told me Stella." Lucy looked at her sadly.

"How could I tell you something like that?" She shook her head sadly. "You don't need to think about such things."

"Mira... see if you can find the roots to this rumor. It started somewhere." Lucy watched as Mira nodded her head.

"Do I kill them?" Mira asked with a small smile reaching her lips.

"No, Mira. You bring them to the palace."

Mira lowered her head and bowed. And instantly she vanished. Lucy did not doubt that Mira would be able to locate the source of the rumors. Lucy looked at the soldier and sighed. "You are free to be on your way." The soldier stood and bowed. He apologized once more before he left.

"Lucy, are you okay?" Stella asked with worry.

Was she okay? It was more to it than that. It wasn't just the gossip in itself. The truth is this rumor brought back the pain she had forgotten. It brought back the memories of the weeks she was kidnapped and abused. She remembered the feeling of helplessness and the pain she felt. The desperation that plagued her. It all flooded inside of her once again. It was haunting her all over. Then to top it all off they were calling her child that was created with love a false heir.

Her own pack would never have doubted her. She could go to them right now and they would welcome her and the child she carried. She could go to the dragon kingdom... hell in any of the four dragon kingdoms and she would be welcomed and treasured. And obviously, she would be precious in Elysium. But for this malicious rumor to be started and spread as it did... it meant there was still a long way for her to go as far as being accepted. At a time when this place started feeling like home... she was now back to feeling like a stranger. And not just a stranger, but an unwanted one. Someone who they thought would be ruining their vampire legacy by the child she carried.

Meryl thought Freya was an abomination and even now her granddaughter hunted the bloodline down. All because they were an existence that was unwanted by them. The purest of witches couldn't stand for the contaminated bloodline. How many vampires actually felt this way? It was clear by these rumors that there were many who did not approve of her. Regardless of the blood bond... she wasn't wanted.

Derek told her she would be their precious princess. She would be treasured by the vampires. No. She was treasured by the royal family but not the vampires. To the vampires, she was still an outsider. And though she was speculating she imagined they didn't deem her worthy of being mated to their prince. Anyone who loved their princess wouldn't make up such a nasty rumor. And as her mind wandered she began to really miss her pack... her home.

Lucy cleared her throat and gave Stella a sad smile with half a shrug. "I'm a little sad... and the rumor leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I'm sorry I really don't feel up to taking that walk anymore. Maybe next time?"

"Of course. Hey, don't let it get to you. The truth will come out when your baby is born. Then they will all feel horrible for their bad judgment." Stella watched as Lucy nodded to her with the same sad smile.

"I know. Thanks Stella." Lucy walked Stella back in through the castle and saw her to the exit. She waved goodbye to her friend and closed her eyes inhaling slowly in long deep breaths. This was not one of those situations where you wanted to hear everything would be alright... eventually. This is one of those times she wanted to go out and show these vampires their princess. She wished she could unleash her hurt and anger and smash them into submission.

Her mother Freya, spent most of her life in solitude until she met her father. She was unwanted by the Briar coven but she was not part of that witch's group. But if there was someone who knew how it felt to be unwanted it was her grandmother, Lilly. Lilly came from a pack where she was unwanted because she wasn't a pure werewolf. That has long changed now, but Lilly grew up unwanted by her own pack. While Lucy had always been wanted up until now. She was a tri princess. Princess to the wolves, vampires, and fairies. Two of them would gladly welcome her... she was a rare gem in their eyes. Because of this she felt even more slighted by the vampires. Why were they so much better than the other two species?

Derek would be welcomed by the fairies and the werewolves if they lived there. Malicious rumors would never be spread about him. She knew her pack and trusted them. If she would have been the one to bring Derek to the Diamond pack and he was taking his place by her side there... Yes, she knew without a doubt nothing like this would happen if it was reversed. Were there some wolves that would be against it? Yes, like Kyle and she was sure there would be select wolves but not like what she was experiencing here. And they were doing it maliciously behind her back and talking about her in secret. They were not even giving her a chance to refute it. To them, this is the situation and there is no changing their mind.

She reached down and touched her stomach lightly rubbing it. She felt sad for her baby even being thought about as an illegitimate heir. She knew Derek was going to be livid. He would more than likely plan to come down hard on his people. And whoever started the rumor... she wasn't sure what would happen. If it was a higher-ranked noble they would probably be exiled, but a lower-ranked member might be killed. Then what would happen? The people would view this as an act of the prince protecting his mate and they would just be more cautious about their thoughts in the future. But this wouldn't change anything. They would still continue to think and feel like they do now.

She could admit it. She was angry. And because of this, she was lumping all the vampires together. Because one person started a rumor that spread around she assumed they all didn't like her. It could be true and it might not. But that soldier from earlier seemed to really believe the rumor. But he didn't look at her with contempt. If anything he looked relieved for her when she said it wasn't true. Almost as if there was pity. She supposed this could be true too. Maybe some did pity her, thinking the deity forced himself on her. But one thing logically hit her... for this to be so well believed there was no way the rumor came from someone low ranking. This must have come from a prominent family. Only someone with a lot of clout and connection to the royal family could have their words believed this much.

She rolled her eyes at herself for the drama she just created. Luckily her mother taught her to keep thinking until she reached a logical conclusion. The logical conclusion was that someone with connections to the family spread these rumors which is why they spread with so much belief.

Had someone close to her family said something about them it would spread through the pack as truth too. This wouldn't be a malicious act but would show their faith and trust in this person. If Sam said it, it would be as if her father said it. The pack trusted him that much. Who was like this in the vampire kingdom? There is Jester and Jasper... but she trusted them and they had a great relationship with her family. It wasn't them.

She really didn't know the prominent members that well to know who had the most clout. She walked back down the long corridor slowly. Mira would find out... she wouldn't have to worry about figuring it out and she was starting to feel tired. She walked back into her room and laid on the couch. She embarked on an emotional ride there that took her for some mental loops but luckily she arrived at the most logical conclusion. At least it was the conclusion she needed to believe in. Because if she felt that the vampires really didn't want her here...

She grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch and pulled it up over her body. She couldn't think like that. Derek trusted his people too and he said she would be treasured there. There was someone who didn't want her here... someone had a problem with her. The door to the room opened and Derek walked in, followed by Jasper, Justice and Aba. They were laughing and jabbing at each other. The moment Derek's eyes fell on Lucy his face fell. His lips pursed tight and his knuckles turned white with the fist he was making. He walked up to Lucy and knelt next to the couch wrapping his arms around her. He pressed his head into her neck and squeezed his eyes shut.

"I'm so sorry, Lucy." Derek whispered. His mate had been hurt. She had been mentally suffering. How dare his people spread such a rumor about HIS child and HIS mate. He kissed her neck gently and leaned up looking over to Jasper. His black orbs were full of rage. His fangs were slightly elongated as he snarled. His whole body was trembling now in a very dark fury. There was no quelling his wrath... someone was going to die for this.