Finally I got the courage to open the door and I slipped in, I wished it went unnoticed but it hadn’t.
My mother’s cool blue eyes locked with mine immediately, and slowly I pulled mine from hers and scanned the room. Liam was sitting beside the bed, with Annabel standing behind him. The woman I had followed in was beside the bed also, fussing over whoever was laying in it.
“Isabella.” My mother’s mouth was open, stunned.
“How did you know to come?” Liam looked across at me, his eyes stained with sadness.
“To come where?” I was confused and I walked closer into the bed. “Why is the palace closed?” So many questions were running through my mind, was why everything so strange.
“Isabella?” the voice was weak, very weak,, but I recognized it immediately. Though I had never heard it without strength and authority.
Mother stepped similarly out of my way, and my father came to view. He was snow white, lying in the middle of the bed, with a dazed look on his face.
“Is it really you, Isabella?” he turned his head to the side, his shallow eyes scanning my body.
I pushed the hood off my head and let my blonde hair fall freely around my face. “Father, what is going on?” I looked at Liam, but he wouldn’t look up and mother was staring into the ground with an empty expression.
I walked to my father’s bedside and he was clearly sick. “Are you ill?”
“Isabella, please sit.” My father weakly patted the bed. My angry had fallen for him, seeing him so weak I could barely remember why I had come here in the first place.
Like a scared child, I did as father asked and sat on the edge of the bed next to him. My father was so strong and powerful, seeing him like this scared me- no, it terrified me.
“What is wrong?” my voice was steady, yet I was feeling anything but. My mother placed a hand on my shoulder, and I glanced up into her sad eyes before looking back at father, who was struggling to breathe.
“I’m dying, Isabella.” He gently told me.
“How?” I shook my head, “That isn’t possible, you aren’t old enough.”
“It isn’t age.” Liam answered, and our eyes met. His emotional were flashing through his face, I knew my brother and I knew when it was fair to say he was upset and he was most defiantly upset. “His wolf is dying.”
“But that doesn’t happen only in very rare cases. Father you have royal blood, its impossible!” I looked between Liam and father. “It’s impossible.” I repeated.
“Isabella.” Dad’s cold hand embraced my warmth on “I am glad you came.”
“I didn’t know you were sick.” I frowned, “Does anyone know? Do the people know?”
“That is why the palace is shut off, none knows yet.” My mother squeezed my shoulder.
“How long have you been..” I paused, barely able to say the word, “sick?”
“Weeks.” Liam shifted next to the side of the bed.
“Isabella.” My father’s voice stained as he attempted to get my attention. “I’ve only ever wanted the best for you-”
“Father stop, you don’t have to do this. You aren’t on your death bed.” I swallowed hard. I was not expecting this. This shouldn’t be happening.
“You must take your place as Queen Isabella. It is your birth right, promise me you will take your blood back. It is my last order as King that you take your blood back.” His voice weakened slightly and I heard the air in his lungs slowly exhale, “You must lead this throne.”
My mouth dropped open and then I closed it again. I couldn’t fight with him on his death bed. I knew I was coming back to get my blood, but it wasn’t to be Queen Blackmore- it was to ensure Connor got was he deserved. That Cooper got what was rightly his. Cooper..
“You have a grandson.” I blurted quickly, “His name is Cooper, he is mine and Connor's son.”
A small smile crossed my father’s face, “An heir to both thrones, what we always wanted. Peace.”
I nodded my head slowly. He was right. This was my the script was created in the first place, so we could have an heir and most importantly peace.
“His very clever.”
“Like his mother.” Dad closed his eyes slowly, “I trust you with the throne Isabella.”
“I have been gone for years father, I left it behind.” I whispered, “I don’t deserve your trust.”
“And I never deserved you as a daughter.” His breathing was shallow, and mother dropped to his bedside; tears dripping from her long eyelashes.
“Please Albert, don’t leave me.” She whispered into his neck, wrapping an arm around his upper body. Her body was slightly shaking from soft sobs.
“My top draw Isabella.” My father voice was a low wheeze. His hand leaving mind and he comforted my mother.
I reached for his draw, “What do you want?”
“The goblet.”
I reached into the deep drawer and pulled out the goblet, the swirling colour within the goblet sent a craving through my body.
“My blood.” I looked at father cupping the goblet. “You kept it in your draw?”
“To keep you close.” My father stroked my mother’s long hair and I moved so she could curl up beside him.
Standing to my feet, holding the goblet the moment was coming I could feel it and the nerves and feeling within my body were craving me to drink the substance and claim what was mine.
“I allow you to reclaim your blood, Isabella.” My father’s order was soft, but the seal which was in place over the goblet lifted and the substance was now free.
I brought the goblet up to my lips and swallowed the substance quickly. I felt the royal blood flaring through my body, and I watched as the scar on my arm healed.
I was a Princess again.
“Just like it should be.” My father smiled before looking at Liam, “You both will lead this throne to victory and into peace. I’m sorry for…”
“Albert?” my mother’s voice raised in panic and she shook my father’s body. “ALBERT?” Her pure pain coated his name as she called for him. But there was no point- his heart had stopped beating. The weak thumping was gone.
The King was dead, my father was dead. There were no more choices or decisions to be made. No more what if and buts? Cooper’s fate had been decided, and mine and Connor’s future relationship had been decided.
I was now Queen.
Chapter Twenty
Isabella
"Is?" Liam walked out into the hall, glancing down at me. I couldn't move, I was frozen- how could this of happened. Liam slid down the wall and sat down on the ground beside me.
"What can I do?"
"Connor I need Connor." I wiped the tears from my cheeks.
"Then I will make sure he is on his way." Liam looped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me to his side.
I just needed Connor. He would know what I should do, now that I was Queen.
Connor
I stood outsider, watching the setting sun. The yard was quiet, not one other soul was near. Just me watching the day end. I exhaled slowly, letting myself relax. Why had I stopped coming out here?
I took a few more steps onto the porch. My family and I would always dine out here. It felt like it happened another lifetime ago. The setting sun would always be a feature, and I had to say I had missed seeing it.
Since I had become King, it felt like one long day, very coming to a close.
"I never understood your obsession with the setting sun."
I looked over my shoulder
It couldn't be....
"Please Con, I'm your sister not a monster." Sophia smiled sweetly at me, walking to my side.
"You're dead." I couldn't be seeing what I am seeing, it wasn't possible. I had watched my sister die. I had cried at her funeral, and I had missed her every day since.
"And you are King." Sophia chuckled softly "Though that isn't going very well now is it."
"Am I dead?"
"Don't be stupid." Sophia smacked
my arm lightly, and the weird thing was, I felt it. "Now back to why I am here."
"Here?" my eyebrows knitted together. Had I lost my mind?
"Must you always know everything Connor?" Sophia cocked her head to the side, studying me. I hated it when she did that, because she usually could see what I was hiding from the world.
"How is Isabella?" Sophia's black hair whipped around her face, as she turned to look out across the gardens, "and your son?"
"She is, well they are um good." I stuttered, not being able to look away from my sister. She looked the same. Her flawless hair and features.
"Good?" Sophia looked across at me, with my eyebrow arched. "You barely know her or him, may I add."
"You came back from the dead to hassle me about Isabella?" I looked at her. "Unbelievable."
"Isabella was never right for you, I stand by that."
"You're right." I looked her in the eye.the shock of seeing her again slowly wearing off. "Isabella has always been suited to someone better than me."
"You know that isn't want I meant." Sophia narrowed her eyes "You deserved better than her, always have always will."
"What do you want, Sophia?" I never thought I would actually not want to see my sister again, but time had clearly wiped away Sophia's character in my mind. She never was that sweet little sister. I had forgotten her bitter side.
"I actually came here about Isabella." Sophia exhaled sharply and turned to face me, crossing her arms. "I didn't want to, but you are my brother and for some unknown reason you love her."
"She is my mate."
"She is and always will be the enemy." Sophia pursed her lips, "But that is just my opinion."
"And you can keep it to yourself."
"You know death is final." Sophia's grey eyes hinted with sadness, "And devasting to your love ones."
My anger from before slowly disappeared, "I know."
"No you don't." Sophia shook her head, "You haven't experienced it yet."
"Losing a sister and losing a mate, is two different things." Sophia's eyebrows raised, "And sadly brother you are going to experience both."
"Both? You mean I have experienced both, Isabella has just returned."
"Royal blood is a killer, it binds you to a life you have to lead, it's a curse." Sophia's eyes drifted out to the garden, away from mine "We were born with the curse, and it controls us until the day we die."
"It isn't a curse, Sophia, it is a gift." I corrected her. We were given the ability to lead nations and yes, it came with drawbacks. But it also came with opportunities a normal wolf would never experience.
"You won't be saying that when you lose her." Sophia's head snapped back, and her eyes raked mine "Just like always Connor, you will choose wrongly."
"What are you on about Sophia? Are you threatening my mate?"
"Not threatening you, telling you." Sophia stepped in closer to me, her voice lowering slightly. "You will get a choice Connor, and you will choose wrongly. Because you are blinded and a blind man can't lead."
"What choice?" I looked into her eyes with concern, "What choice should I pick?"
"You are a Griffin, we Griffins have a responsibility."
"The throne before all others." I muttered, remembering the line we were brought up with. Something dad would always remind us.
Sophia nodded her head, "You need to remember that." Sophia's small hand linked into mine, her eye bleeding with concern for me. "I love you Con, you were the best brother I could ever of had. You always protected me." her lips curved slightly into a sad smile "And now it is my time to protect you. Don't lead as a blind man."
Her eyes were begging me to understand, but I didn't. I didn't know what she meant by being blinded. "Blinded by what?"
Sophia shook her head sadly, looking at me with pity. "There is only one thing that has ever blinded you, Connor, and that is your love for Isabella."
"So you want me to lead without her!?"
"No!" Sophia shook her head firmly "I want you to see the damage your relationship with her costed us. Once you recognize that, only then can you make the right decision."
"I will always choose Isabella." A firmness coated my eyes, "Over anyone, or anything- she will always come first."
Sophia slowly pulled her hand away from mine, "With that choice comes heartbreak and troubles. Though you never did like the easy way out."
"I will always fight for her."
"And that was your first bad decision." Sophia took a few steps away from me. "I hoped I could have changed your mind, but seeing as I haven't I might as well worn you Connor. You are going to lose her, your fight is pointless."
"You don't know that." I crossed my arms, staring my sister down.
"We all lose what we love the most. It's a fact."
"I never understood you." Why did Sophia have such a dislike for Isabella? If it wasn't for Sophia, I would think it was impossible for anyone to hate Is.
"Isabella is capable of anything, I think I always saw that." Sophia shrugged her shoulders, "But it doesn't matter anymore. She is going to show you that herself."
"You know what I think?" I looked at Sophia with only disgust, "You have always been jealous of her because she will be the one thing you could never be, and that's Queen."
Sophia chuckled softly at me, "A dead woman is nothing but dead. She being queen doesn't worry me now."
"But it did." I pointed out to her.
Sophia's face soured "Isabella will be Queen, but will you ever be her King?" she looked at me smugly "I came here to help you, but like always you choose her over me."
"You're the one who has made the competition between you and her."
"Well I suppose all fairytales come to an end, and I tell you know you- Isabella's will be shortly lived."
"Why don't you just tell me what you mean?" I looked at her with a bitterness coursing through me, which was creeping rage into my tone.
"Griffin or Blackmore, Con? Where will your loyalties lie?" Sophia's voice was calm "The Blackmore have killed so many, taken so much from us." Sophia walked up to me leaning into my ear, her breath as cold as ice "Will you forget it all? Turn your back on our Kingdom? All in the name of love for her?"
I looked Sophia in the eyes for just a moment.
"History should never be forgotten." Sophia's face began to fade and a thudding consumed my mind. "I suppose we all will have to wait and see." Sophia's voice floated to my ears, but I couldn't see her, the air turned a white and the thudding had got louder.
"CONNOR."
I pulled my head up from my desk, confused. Where was I?
"Connor were you sleeping?" Tyler frowned at me, before closing my study door after him, "I knocked, you didn't answer."
"I...." had I just dreamt that? I looked around my study, everything beginning to become clearer. "I guess so." I rubbed my face, waking up and slowly getting to my feet.
"I have news." Tyler's very suddenly got serious, and I looked at him with concern. I nodded my head and prompted him to continue. "The Blackmore King is dead."
My expression wiped, "Does Isabella know?"
"Yes she left hours ago?" Tyler frowned at me, "I thought she had got word from the castle or something about her father being sick she left some time ago. Didn't she tell you?"
The office phone cut my chance to reply. Looking at the phone, I reached out placing it to my ear.
"Isabella wants you." the voice was deep, but then was followed by the engaged tone. The person hanging up immediately. I haven’t heard that voice in years, but still I could pick it as Liam's.
Looking back up at Tyler, I ran a hand through my hair, "Isabella wants me."
"You can't go." Tyler scoffed, looking at me, like I was a mad man. "And your stupid if you do."
"Is wants me." mine and Tyler's eyes locked together, "I need to get to her."
Tyler held my eyes in his for a few more moments before giving and nodding his head. "Fine I will organize it."
If
Isabella wanted me, I would be there. But I couldn't deny that Sophia's words were still running through my mind- was I making the wrong decision going to her? Then again when I had ever done anything right when it came to Isabella.
But one thing was for sure, she could only be Queen to the Griffins throne now. Her rights to the Blackmore one died with her father. He wouldn't of given back her blood, and her right to the throne. Which left me with only one choice- I would wipe out the Blackmore throne once and for all.
Isabella
Life is often unfair. You can think you can path the direction of your life, and we all have this belief that we are in charge of how we live our life. When really we are controlled- we just don't see it.
Rising my fist I trapped softly on mothers door again, "Please mother, we need you." I begged her behind the solid wooden door. She wouldn't come out, and I knew my begging was pointless. She wasn't ready to face the world without her mate.
"Your mate has arrived." Liam's voice was harsh, and I spun around to meet his judging eyes.
"Thanks." I knew Liam had organized him to come, how I didn't know how he had. Even though he despised Connor. "Have you had any luck finding Serenity?"
I felt uneasy not having Copper close, and Serenity was yet to know of fathers passing.
"You will have to announce Fathers death soon, the community is beginning to worry and the arrival of Griffins isn't helping anything." Liam strolled up the corridor with me.
"How do I tell a county that I am to led them, when I have been missing for years?" I chewed my bottom lip, feeling more like a scared teenager than a Queen. "I was beginning to think perhaps it would be best if you took the throne."
Liam stopped dead in he's tracks "You're kidding?" Liam looked more angry than surprised "After everything, you are still wanting to give the throne up? When are you going to get it Isabella! Your Queen, stop running from your responsibilities."
"I'm not running."
Royal Blood and One Forever : Book Three Page 16