Forgotten Royalty (Escaping The Throne)

by Tiffany Wood

  Dad watches her as she puts her head back against the couch, she slowly relaxes her muscles. Dad tries again, still nothing. “Damian, how do you get this child to relax enough to read her?” He thinks to me.

  “Well, before I bit her, I mostly got bits n’ pieces unless we were locked in a gaze.” Dad looks confused. “Sara, I want to try something different. I want you to look into my eyes and just relax.” She opens her eyes and stares straight into Dad’s. As she does this, I can feel the mind link between them. It’s amazing. I feel power passing between them. “I see. You have an extraordinary gift Sara. You can keep people from reading your thoughts without making an initial mind link. In Damian’s case, when you first kissed, you created a link. The only way for someone to break into your mind without the initial link is for them to catch you in a gaze. Damian, I want you to try to link with her mind. Sara, I want you to keep from looking at him and try to keep his mind from entering yours. Imagine you’re pushing him away from your thoughts.” We were all amazed when she was able to do this on the first try.

  “So even if someone has linked with your mind, you can still hide thoughts from them. I’m sure you guessed that Damian was doing this yesterday. Why don’t we try working on your transformation now? Damian shared that you had found the memory of his most painful transformation. Would you like to see mine as well?” She shakes her head. “I’m a little scared.” He smiles at her, “I understand how scary it can be. There is another way. If it is too painful to make the change yourself the first time, someone you are linked with can share the pain. This would increase the mental bond between you as well.” I look at Sara and shake my head. “Damian, what haven’t you showed your mother and me?”

  Sara looks back at me. “Well, I told you that she found my most painful memory on her own.”

  My father looks at me, “It was too much for her. She was in so much pain that she was on the verge of transformation again and you shared the pain to stop it. I taught you too well son. What else? Tell me now before your mother wakes back up and finds out. You know I can keep her from getting too worked up if I tell her.”

  I look at Sara, “I have to tell him. If you want to go out to the garden or something while we discuss it all, I’ll understand.”

  She smiles, “Curtis, if you would allow me to retrieve something from my room, I think I can make this simpler on all of us. I have written all of this down in my diary, with the exception of last night’s events.” Father nods in agreement and she runs up the stairs. “You have done more than you told me, haven’t you?”

  I object, “It’s not what you think. We didn’t mate. Search my memories. We did not have sex.”

  I hear Sara coming back down. “A girl’s diary is her best friend. I promise to only read from the day that you met my son, until now.” Dad gives her a knowing smile.

  She smiles back, “Thank you Curtis, but you can read it all if you’d like. I haven’t had a very eventful life before I met Damian.”

  Mother comes to the bottom of the steps. “Curtis, how is everything progressing down here?”

  He looks at me, “We are getting along fine darling. Sara has just given me her diary to review because her memories were a bit fuzzy to me. She is still getting use to letting others in. Damian says that her grandfather lives close by, perhaps you could take the children to see him while I read this.”

  She smiles sweetly. “That sounds like a wonderful idea. Shall we?” With that we left Dad to read Sara’s diary. I was gonna be in a lot of trouble when I got home.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Little Sara Payano? Your grandfather will be so happy to see you. Wait here and I’ll get him.” The nurse hadn’t changed since we placed Grandpa here. Dad had handpicked his staff.

  As we sit waiting I hear a wheelchair coming up. I turn to the door. “Grandpa Zeke!”

  He looks up at me. “Sara? My little Sara, is that really you? I’ve missed you so much. Regina here reads all of your letters to me. How is your fuddy-duddy aunt?” Grandpa never did care much for Aunt Lynn.

  I lean in to hug Grandpa before answering, “She’s alright grandpa. I’d like to introduce you to my new friend and his mother. This is Katrina and Damian Lykaios. Do you recognize their name?”

  Grandpa looked at them and then at me, “So they’ve found us? I knew it would only be a matter of time. Why won’t you people leave us the hell alone?” Katrina frowns.

  “Grandpa, will you please just listen to what they have to say?”

  He looks at me and sees that it means a lot to me. “If it will make you happy, I will listen to them. But if they don’t have a damn good reason for barging back into our lives, I’ll make theirs a living hell.” I had to smile at Grandpa’s wit. He wouldn’t be able to catch them.

  “Milord, I am the Lady Katrina Lykaios, daughter of Devon Lachapelle, Crowned King of the Dragon Guard Clan. My husband is Crowned Prince Curtis Lykaios, son of Crowned King Richard Lykaios of the Knight Wolves Clan.”

  He waves a hand, “Get on with it Lady Katrina. I’m not interested in pleasantries.”

  She bows, “We have read the archives and I understand why you are so hesitant to trust any of us, let alone the other royals. We did not seek you or your granddaughter out my lord. My son Damian is an honored member of the royal guard as all princes are before their crowning. He was sent to investigate recent Blood Borne Clan activity reported in this area. He tracked the hunter Bane to your granddaughter’s school. He went in to investigate before Bane came back that afternoon.”

  My grandpa holds up a hand, “I want to hear the rest of the story from the boy.” Katrina nods in agreement.

  “Milord, as my mother already said, I had tracked his scent to Sara’s school. I went in to scout for anywhere he may hide if he ran inside. Sara found me in the shadows without any kind of encouragement. I didn’t want to interfere in her life as this was just a mission at the time. I was taught well to leave the victim out of it if possible, so I left the school to wait in my vehicle.”

  My grandpa’s hand shoots up again. “I think you’re skipping a part boy. You forget, I may be old, but I have no trouble reading your thoughts as you remember.” Wow, grandpa had kept all of this a secret from me.

  “If it pleases you to make me squirm sir, I can continue.”

  I speak up, “Grandpa, why don’t you just read our minds if you can? I’m not exactly thrilled that nobody had informed me about any of this.”

  My grandpa looked into my eyes. “Sara, I am so sorry that you’ve been going through all of this alone. When you hadn’t started showing any signs of change at thirteen, I thought you would be normal like your mother. I know you’re scared honey.”

  Tears fill my eyes and I hug my grandpa tight. I sat there for about ten minutes crying. I sensed grandpa scanning Damian’s mind and then mine. When he finished, I looked up at him.

  “Sara, I’m not mad at you. I love you whether you change or not. You are my heir. Now, this Bane, he claims that my son Zachaeus has promised Sara to him? I don’t know how he would have even known about her. Robert kept his family well hidden from the clans. As you know, they thought I was dead. As long as I am here, he has no say. As much as I want the son I never knew back, I want the granddaughter I already know more. I will disown him before letting another of my blood be taken by that clan.”

  Damian looks at me, “Sir, there’s one more thing. He’s issued a challenge to me. He wants to fight for her.” Grandpa looks in my eyes. “This boy bit you. You were changing too fast. He knew it would stop it temporarily. Now Bane thinks that he is to mate with you. How do you feel about this?” I stare at my grandpa and he smiles. “You’ve felt this way since you saw him in the shadows. It is written that the next heir of our family would marry into the Knight Wolves Clan. I guess I can’t stop destiny can I? Your father found love outside of the clans because I removed him from them. You seem to have found your way back to them. Lady Katrina, if I could return to your manor w
ith you, I would like to make this official and escort my granddaughter down the aisle.”

  She looks at me. “It would be my honor to have your presence for such an occasion. I shall take her shopping immediately after lunch.” She whistles. Seth comes in the door. “Seth, be a dear and bring the car around. Then escort Lord Payano to the car.”

  “Please milady, call me Zeke.” Grandpa smiles. “My boy, you will have your hands full with this one.”

  *****

  Lunch at the manor was a bustle. Kat was continuously spouting off plans for the wedding, “We will have to call a council session. We can conference tonight. We will schedule the ceremony for two days from now. We’ll have to have it while Lynn is at work, she would never allow it.”

  Grandpa hits the table. “Let her try to stop it. I’ll put her in her place just like I have in the past. That’s the only reason she quit bringing Sara to see me. I told her what was.” We all had to laugh. Seth was to stay with grandpa and Regina. Damian and his father were going shopping as well.

  “Please try to control your blood pressure Grandpa. I’ll be back soon.” I kiss grandpa’s forehead and head to the mall with Kat.

  *****

  “Oh Sara, that is a lovely dress. It’s perfect.” Kat peers over my shoulder at the mirror.

  I look down at the tag. “It’s too much. I don’t want you to spend this much money on me. I’m sure I can find a cheaper one.”

  She frowns at me, “Nonsense. Our money is your money. Sara, your grandfather has trusts set aside in banks all over the country. They all revert to you when you turn eighteen. Money is no object.” I smile. I know that she won’t let me say no so we buy the dress. She has it adjusted while we’re there and picks a dress for herself. “I only become a mother-in-law once you know.”

  I almost cry, “Kat, thank you so much for all of this. You are the closest thing to a real mom I’ve had since mine passed away. You don’t know how much this means to me.” Now she’s almost crying. “Honey, I know I told you to call me Kat, but after the ceremony, I would be honored if you want to call me mom.” We both did cry then.

  *****

  After we finished, she took me to a beauty salon. We got manicures, pedicures, and she had them give me a perm. I looked in the mirror and couldn’t believe it was me. I looked so different. She paid the stylist in advance and arranged for them to be at the manor Monday morning before the ceremony. Our dresses were to be delivered to us the night before and their personal tailor would be there first thing in the morning to make sure no adjustments were needed. She even managed to have the catering party set up before we went home.

  *****

  We had a light dinner when we got back and Damian was just as stunned with my hair now as he was by my dress this morning. “You do realize that we’ll have to separate you tomorrow after lunch?” We just stared at each other. Everyone laughed at us.

  When Aunt Lynn got back from work, grandpa went to his room to hide. He had no intentions of seeing Aunt Lynn the entire time he was there. She saw my hair and that I was in a sundress and almost bawled. “Oh Sara, you look so beautiful. Katrina you have to tell me your secret. How did you get her to where anything other than black?”

  Aunt Lynn turned in early and I noticed Damian getting tired also. We cuddle up on the couch in the study and fall asleep.

  Damian’s POV

  “Damian.” I open my eyes. “Get up. You’re going to have to go take a shower while your father takes her to bed. Her uncle is making an appearance and will be here in half an hour.” I jumped off of the couch, careful not to disturb my sleeping beauty.

  Mom continued her conversation with me through our mental bond after that. “I’ve discussed the meeting with her grandfather and we’ve decided its best that he is not brought into it tonight. We’ve already had a conference with the council and they agree that it is her grandfather’s choice whether or not to honor the agreement that his son made. He sat in on the conference but we brought him in on a separate camera so that they wouldn’t know he was here. His signal was bounced so many times, we were afraid we lost it” I had to move fast. If they smelled her scent on me, it could ruin everything.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “My Lord and Lady Lykaios, may I present Lord Payano.” Bane thought he was being smart.

  A tall man storms into the room and practically screams, “Where is my niece? I wish to see her immediately.” This must be Zachaeus.

  My father gave me a look to tell me to act my age. “Your niece is sleeping soundly. She is not to be disturbed.”

  “If you will not bring her to me, I will go and take her. I am not playing mind games.” Zachaeus stormed towards the stairs.

  My mother never blinked. “Oh but I believe you are Zachaeus. You are no lord. Your father is still alive and he sends a message. If you want to come home you still can, but you are not that girl’s father and have no control over her life.”

  He looks at me astounded. “I beg your pardon. I am the closest thing that girl has to a father and I will not let her be taken by the likes of you. My father has been dead longer than hers.”

  My mother smiles, “I thought you may not believe us about him being alive, so we’ve decided to video conference him in on our little party.” She whistles and Seth rolls a TV in from the living area. “My Lord Payano, I present your lost son Zachaeus.” He looks up to the screen and glares.

  “Hello son. I’ve already spoken with the council. They regret that they didn’t search for you when you were taken, and have agreed that it is my right as Sara’s grandfather to invoke the mating laws. If you had read the archives, you would know that Sara is already promised since before she was born. I would not force her into any marriage but she has found her way to her mate because of you. If your swine hadn’t gone after her, she would have never met Damian.” Zachaeus opens his mouth as if to argue but Zeke was ready for him, “If you continue to attempt this challenge you will be disowned. As for Bane, if he attacks Damian or attempts to mate with Sara ever again, his life will be forfeit. I will kill him myself. Now get out of that house or I will have the council arrest you!”

  Zachaeus looks at us, “What kind of trickery is this? My father is dead. I don’t know how you made this, but it’s some sort of trick.”

  My mother whistles for Seth again.

  “My boy, take out this trash for the Lady.” Sara’s grandfather addresses him. He had spunk, I’ll give him that. The screen went black.

  “I believe Lord Payano asked you to leave.” Seth growls.

  Bane was furious. “This is a farce. I demand you give me my challenge.”

  I was done with this. “I accept!” I transformed.

  “Damian, you will not. Go to your room.” My father commands.

  Bane joined me in wolf form and I tore into him. “Damian! Stop this now!” My mother’s commands were falling on deaf ears. I wasn’t letting this filth continue to insult me or my family. I lunged at his back paws, he feinted left. I was faster. I grabbed his front paws and tossed him against the wall. I lunged at his neck and he grabbed my nose. I batted him away with my paws. My father transforms to stop us. It’s too late; Sara is at the bottom of the steps. I can smell her. My father rears up and howls. It’s over. We’re almost instantly transformed back. I run to the steps but her uncle is already there.

  “Take one more step and she’s mine forever.” Zachaeus brings his mouth to her throat.

  Everyone has converged in the hallway. “You would dare take your own niece as a life mate? You know the laws. It’s forbidden to inbreed.” My mother gasps.

  He laughs, “You think we’re worried about your laws. We stopped listening to you long ago.” I was ready to transform but I couldn’t risk him completing her transformation. If he transferred his will to change on her, she would have no choice and he would simply have to bite her in the process to stop it. “Damian?” Sara was ready to cry, “I’m scared.” She moaned through our connection.
<
br />   He pulls her hair to make her head fall back. “You like that girl? Of course you do. You will be our property now, one way or another. Crying won’t save you.”

  I start to seize, “Don’t touch her!”

  My father looks at me, “Damian, calm down. You’re too close to the situation to think straight.” He was right, but I didn’t care. I was still seizing. He mauls my shoulder with his large hand and digs his fingers in. “I said calm down.”

  I had no choice. My dad was the alpha, when he gave a command, I had to listen. “Yes, father.”

  He didn’t move his hand. “Think about what you do Lost One. You know the consequences of this decision.”

  Zachaeus licks her neck with an evil grin. “My life has been forfeit to the council since I was taken. I need only take this child as my own and her life will be forfeit as well. Look at me child!” He turns her around to him and forces her into a kiss. Smack! She slaps him across the face and leaves scratches. “I like spunk in my whores, but do that again and you’ll regret it.” Smack! She hits him with the other hand across the opposite cheek and struggles to get free. “I warned you.” Crack! He backhands her with one hand but keeps her from flying across the room with the other. She has a large gash on her cheek.

  “Take your hands off of her!” Her grandfather was at the top of the steps. He was standing there which none of us had seen him come in.

  Zachaeus spits at his father, “You have no say here old man. You’re dead to me. You died the day I was taken.” I could tell that he was hurt deeply by that.

  “How dare you speak to me that way? You will address the alpha of your clan with respect!” Zeke roars.

  Zachaeus laughs, “My clan is the Borne Bloods. I never belonged to your clan.” Lord Payano started to seize as I had only minutes ago. He falls to the ground and we think he had a heart attack. “You can’t even give a lecture without dying how pitiful?” He laughs and turns back to us. “Was that your great rescue attempt? Leave it to the royal families to rely on an old man.”