CHAPTER 14

Analise's POV

"Are you serious?" I exclaimed, shocked at the bomb Evelyne just dropped on me. "Please tell me this is a joke Evie."

"I am serious Ana." She was sprawled on my bed as I sat on her side, looking down on her. "Rayna is Axel's mate, or was Axel's mate."

"Evie you can't just barge in my room and tell me that Rayna and Axel are mate without any explanations."

"Were." She corrected me.

"Evie, I need an explanation. A detailed one." I nearly whined as I laid next to her on my side.

"Calm down, I am getting to the explanation." She turned on her side, facing me. "So, remember I told you she was flirting with Axel and insulted me in front of them but Axel remained quite?"

"Hmm." I hummed in response.

"I confronted Axel later about that." She sighed. "Basically, a few years ago, your family were visiting the packs. Rayna met Axel during their stay at my pack. At that time, it had been less than a year since Axel was Alpha and our pack was not high up in the rankings like it is presently. So, Rayna rejected him."

"I never expected that from her." I admitted. "Yeah she can be really rude and obnoxious sometimes-"

"Sometimes?" She interrupted me.

"Okay, all the time." I rolled my eyes. "But I thought she would love her mate. I guess what they say is true then. The mate bond no longer has the same significance it did long ago." My mind drifted to what happened last night at the pond.

"Yeah." She agreed. "When I went back to my back after graduation, I met Axel and it turned out I was his second chance mate."

"I don't understand something. If you are Axel's second chance, then was he your second chance too or your first mate?" I asked. "Because if he was your first mate and Rayna did not reject him, then what would happen? It's very rare to have second chance mates."

"I never thought about that." She admitted. "Let's make as if he my second chance mate too. What about my first mate then? Is he dead? This is confusing." She sat up straight let out an irritated groan.

"But maybe he is your first and only mate?" I suggested.

"I hope so because I am not interested in having complications in my life."

"Since we are talking about mates and complications, I have to tell you something." I admitted. After thinking about this, I finally decided to tell her about Alexander. She was my bestfriend and she could help me figure this out. Before I could speak, my mother barged in the room, fuming.

I sat up straight on the bed and said in an irritated tone. "You talk about etiquette all the time but don't know about knocking?"

She was about to say something when she realised Evelyne was here too. "Oh dear, I thought-" Her voice came out soft and caring.

I rolled my eyes. "Drop the act. She knows everything."

She looked taken aback for some time but composed herself quickly. "You missed lunch. You know that it meant disrespect to the other leaders."

"Nobody actually minded Ana." Evelyne reassured me.

"Luna Evelyne, you are not familiar with the ways around here in the Royal family." She said sternly.

"Oh well, go ahead your highness. I would love to learn more about how the royal family treat their daughter." She glared at my mother. "From what I heard, it seemed kind of unique"

"I am just teaching my daughter the basic manners."

"If you are here for another speech of how I should behave, the door is right there." I pointed behind her.

"No offense your highness, but even if we did not have etiquette classes at school, most of us have better manners than those who learnt etiquette here." I knew who Evelyne was referring too and bit back a smile. "Maybe the person teaching is not exactly suitable?"

"Thank you for your concern Luna." My mother said with a fake smile.

"No worries your highness." Evelyne added, not letting my mother continue whatever she was saying. "After all, we want the best for our kingdom."

"Yes." She said before addressing me. "You are expected at lunch to discuss matters. I am sure your gossip could wait."

"Certainly." I gave her a fake smile. She turned on her heels and exited my room, slamming the door behind her and both Evelyne and I started laughing.

"Anyway, what did you have to say?"

"I'll tell you later." I sighed. "I'll see you at lunch?" She nodded as we parted ways as we both needed to get ready.

"I desperately need some new clothes." I muttered, tossing clothes around. Changing style overnight is so annoying. Finally I decided to wear my blue jeans and a black cropped top. I threw on my blazer from yesterday's outfit and put on some accessories, did my hair and makeup and finally left my room.

Arriving at the hall, I released a relieved breath. I was not late. Since this was not an official meeting, everybody got to sit wherever they wanted, irrespective of their titles and power. My mother and father sat at the head while my grandmother between the queen of the witches and queen of dark angels, all three engaged in a conversation. Rayan was seated next to an Alpha I did not recognise while Ivory interacted with the some of the Lunas.

I took a seat next to Evelyne which unfortunately was also next to Rayna. Thankfully, Rayan did not say anything as I sat next to her. "Thank god you came. I was about o murder your sister." She said, not caring anyone heard her.

"You should have told me. I would have brought some popcorn." I laughed.

Once everybody was here, they maids brought in the food but I had no appetite. Yesterday's events were still fresh in my mind and they only worsened my mood. On top of that, Crescent has not spoken to me at all since last night. To make matters worse, Rayna decided to speak. "Isn't that too much food for you?" She whispered, laughing at her words.

"Thanks for the advice Rayna but I don't remember asking you." I said, not wanting to deal with her. Thankfully she did not say anything further.

"What's wrong with you?" Evelyne nudged me in the arm as I played around with the food in my plate.

"What?"

"You are not eating." She motioned to my food. I shrugged. "Not really hungry."

She looked at me sceptically but did not press any further. "Did you piss King Denver perhaps?"

I looked at her, confused. "Who is that now?"

"King Alexander Denver." She stated. "You did not know?"

"No and why do you think I pissed him off?"

"He keeps looking at you. Kind of glaring actually." I sighed at her words.

"He can do whatever he wants." I just muttered. I lifted my eyes and surely he was looking at me. I rolled eyes and focused back on my plate. Finally, the meeting started.

"We don't know when the vampires will attack next but we need to already start planning. I hope we will do this as one and peacefully." My father punctuated his last word with a glare in Alexander's direction. "Anyone has any idea how to proceed?"

"A peace treaty?" The leader of light angels suggested.

'So original' Crescent made her presence known.

"I was starting to get worried about you Crescent. Why were you not talking and what got you in such a foul mood?" I asked. "You know what, don't answer that. I already know it."

My inner conversation with Crescent was cut short as I heard my name. Caught off guard, I could do nothing but just look back at the leader of light angels who had a questioning look on her face. What were we discussing about again?

This is so embarrassing.

I was about to ask her to repeat when someone else spoke up, saving me from the embarrassment. "I don't think that a peace treaty will be useful here." Right, the peace treaty. "I already have one with them but they still attacked my people. It does not mean anything to them. Right, Princess Analise?" I realised it was actually Alexander who was speaking all this time. It was the first time I heard him say my name and I hated that it did something to me.

As much as I wanted to just ignore him and stay quiet, I did not. This was about the future of all of our kingdoms. Not about me. Not about him. Not about us. I was not going to let yesterday's event change what I was here to do- help the innocents.

"I agree." I said before addressing the leader of light angels. "A blood oath bound by magic would be better. In this way, if it is broken, the person will be affected by whatever magic was used. But, the magic needs to be strong so that it cannot be broken by anyone and of course, everybody should be willing to swear the oath."

"Judging by King Knox's actions I doubt he would even consider this, much less swear an oath." Grandmother said.

"King Knox?" I asked Evelyne.

"Vampire King Ana." She said as if it was the most obvious thing. "Are you sure you are feeling well? You look kind of lost."

"Yeah, I'm fine." I reassured her, focusing back on the discussion

"What if attack them now?" Rayan suggested. "They would not be expecting us."

"They infiltrated our castles without any of us knowing and killed our people." I reminded him. "He is one step ahead of us and if we attack right now, we will lose."

"I agree." King Tarsal supported me. "They might be keeping tabs on us. They might even be observing us. Attacking them right now would be too risky and rushed."

"We should prepare ourselves." Alexander spoke up. Unlike Rayan, it did not feel like he was suggesting or even asking. He was stating -ordering- the obvious and he knew everybody would agree. "Train our people harder so that when the time comes, we will be ready."

"It would be better if we would train them all together to ensure that everyone was on the same level." King Tarsal spoke up. "But where?"

"If you don't mind me asking Gabriel, is your castle big enough to accommodate around-" Annoyed, my father did not let him complete his sentence. "Yes it can accommodate an army if needed." He stated proudly and I wanted to laugh at how he fell into a trap.

"Well I guess we found where we could train everybody." Alexander said with a smug look while my father's face contorted in one of anger. "Bring your best fighters here and we will overlook their training. As for the others, put someone you trust in charge of their training at your kingdom. When the time comes, they will be called here." My dad did not get to say anything as everybody agreed with Alexander.

"And remember, don't force anyone to fight for this war will be brutal." My grandmother said. "If you need anything, feel free to ask us." Everybody started leaving and at the same time Crescent started whining continuously. I already knew why she was behaving like this.

"No Crescent." I stood up and started leaving.

'Lizzie please.' She pleaded. 'Try at least once. Only this time'

"You heard him yesterday"

She interrupted me 'If you love me, please do it. I promise I will not ask you to do it again if he does not give us a reason."

"Crescent, you know I love you.-"

She let out a low growl, interrupting me. 'If you don't talk to him right now, this will be the last time you hear from me.'

"Crescent." I was speechless at her words. I stood there, conflicted whether to talk to him or save myself from further heartbreak. My mind went to Crescent and how she was probably more hurt from this than I was. She was with me during my hardest time and right now she was suffering more than me.

I guess I could try it.

Before I changed my mind, I turned around, catching Alexander's retreating figure as he left the room. Before I could lose him, I went after him. "King Denver." I called out once I caught sight of him again in the hallways. Thankfully no guards were here.

I started feeling nervous as my feet brought me closer to him. I need to do this. For Crescent.

He turned around, a blank look on his face as he watched me. "How can I help you Princess Analise?" He stressed on the last part and I refrained myself from rolling my eyes.

"I have a question." He nodded and I took it as my cue to continue. "Why can't I tell people about us being mates?" I asked firmly.

He just stared at me and I could not decipher what he was thinking. "Because I don't want them to know." I took in a deep breath, keeping me calm.

For Crescent.

"That's not a reason." I stated.

"It's simple. Don't tell anyone." He was speaking as if we were discussing mundane things. He was behaving as if we were not talking about what was between us or what we could have.

"It is actually simple." I shrugged. "It would be simpler if I knew the damn reason behind it because you can't just order me around to do things like I am your puppet or something."

"It would be better if we kept our distance." He answered and I did not bother hiding my irritation.

"Do you need the definition of the term reason?" I glared at him. "Because whatever shit you are saying is not a reason." I said as I grew more agitated. Crescent was already restless in my mind and his words were doing nothing to make me keep my calm.

"I don't like repeating myself." He said through gritted teeth, clearly displeased by my disrespect. "I do not want people to know." He emphasised on each word.

I nearly laughed. "If you would just tell me the reason, you would not have to repeat yourself. You are the one making this more complicated." His jaw clenched as he looked at me dead in the eyes. Despite his composed exterior, I could see the raging cyclone in his eyes. "I really hope we don't see other in the next few days, fucking asshole." I emphasised on the last part.

'Lizzie!'

Before anyone could say anything, someone else did. "Analise! That's no way to talk to a guest." Rayna came next to me.

Great.

She looped her arms with mine, pretending we have the best sister bond. Fed up of her act, I removed her hand immediately as she touched me. "I am really sorry Alexander-"

"King Alexander, Princess Rayna." He reminded her. I saw Rayna blush a little but she continued.

"Sorry. It's just that we are of the same age and-" As she saw the unimpressed look on Alexander's face, she cleared her throat. "I apologize for my sister's rude behaviour. She just came back here and has yet to adjust with the ways around here." Alexander looked at me but I looked away.

"I have to go." I said as I put some distance between us. Before leaving I spoke, "Oh and Rayna?" She looked at me. "King Denver was lost. Maybe you could help him with the directions?" I smirked, looking at the irritated look on Alexander's face. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere but near Rayna. Rayna beamed as she turned to face Alexander but his gaze was fixed on mine as I took a few steps backward in the opposite direction.

Before turning, I flipped him off, a smirk still on my lips.