Trash Panda

~Bonsoir~

In the sanctuary of his own room, Vail flipped through the pages of the tome he had read last night with Victoria. It was still early in the day, but he couldn’t sleep. Not after Peter had threatened to remove him from the Hygrace line if he refused to bow down to his rules. He had known from the start that he would eventually be pitted against his own family if he decided to be with Lady Crest, but the time had come sooner than he felt prepared to handle. If his father banished him now, he had nowhere else to go, and no one else to fall back on for protection from the Saints. A lone vampire was a dead vampire. It was common knowledge, and it was the reason why his kind operated in groups. He wasn’t ready to sever ties with the Hygraces, especially when he would only have a few decades at most with Victoria before old age or illness claimed her. After that, he would be truly and completely on his own. It was a depressing end to his long life.

He lifted his gaze from the book to the window, unable to focus on the words on the page long enough to get through a whole sentence without rereading it a dozen times. There had been a part of him that had hoped—foolishly, he now realized—that Peter would come around to his side. Perhaps the affection in his voice when he spoke of her or the determination he showed when his loyalty to her was questioned would persuade his father that she wasn’t as bad for him as he’d thought. Instead, Peter was steadfast in his beliefs and had proven that he would go so far as disown his only son to preserve the traditions he believed were best for their kind.

A knock on his door interrupted his musings, and he called out, “Come in.” At first, he thought the visitor was his father, come with the expectation of getting an answer from him already. However, the person who stepped inside was his mother, Katherine. Vail stared at her quizzically. Until now, the quieter vampire had kept to herself. She often deferred to her husband’s decisions, and as such, had allowed Peter to have full control over the situation with their rebellious son. She hadn’t stopped by when Victoria had been present, and he had assumed she wanted as little to do with the human woman as her partner. Her appearance now was unexpected.

“Can we chat?” she offered him a smile, closing the door behind her.

Vail hesitated for a moment longer before he nodded. Katherine stepped over to sit on the edge of his bed. Her hazel eyes lingered on the unmade sheets a half second too long, and he knew she had figured out what had happened between the couple overnight as well. “I don’t like it when you and Peter fight,” she said, looking away from the mattress to meet his gaze. There was a weariness to her tone that belied her exhaustion. “And I don’t like that he’s on the verge of disowning you.”

“Did you come here to convince me to take his side?” Vail asked dryly.

“Not necessarily,” Katherine shook her head, earning a look of surprise from her son. “I would prefer it if you did, but from what I understand, you’re quite fond of Alexander’s daughter.”

“I am,” he confirmed tentatively, unsure where his mother was going with this.

“Well, then I think you should be permitted to see where it goes,” she stated matter-of-factly. “I agree with Peter that getting romantically involved with a human is a mistake, but you’re capable of making your own decisions and learning from them. It will make you a better leader for having done so. It’s certainly better than forcing you to bend to our ways without giving you the chance to see why those ways are right, and if everyone is more transparent moving forward, we’ll be better equipped to keep you safe if something goes wrong. I’ve already spoken to your father about it, and he’s considering my words.”

“That’s shocking,” Vail muttered. His mother was slightly more reasonable than his father, but her choice of phrasing made it clear that she was still on Peter’s side. “He’s so terrified of conflict with the Wynters that I thought he wouldn’t budge on the matter.”

Katherine pursed her lips, “He’s still in denial, but I believe we’re beyond the point of avoiding conflict with the Wynters if they’re meddling with the Order. There’s nothing you could do to change what is already coming.”

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell him,” Vail’s eyes widened as he grew excitable. “It isn’t my fault that the Wynters are moving. If we let them have Lady Victoria, we’ll be playing right into their hands. She’s a cog in their machine, and if I take her away from them, it might throw off whatever they’ve been putting together in the shadows. I don’t understand why father can’t see that.”

“Remember, Vail, they took his brother,” she said gently, though a mixture of sorrow and anger flashed in her bright eyes. “Peter has worked tirelessly to protect our family from another massacre, and he fears the day our enemies will try to overpower us again. By turning a blind eye to the Wynters, he hopes that they will lose interest in us altogether.”

“But they won’t,” Vail asserted. “All he’s doing is leaving us vulnerable to the attack that will inevitably come. We should be rallying our forces, not cowering like bugs beneath a rock in the hopes that our enemies won’t step on us.” Setting his book aside, he stood up from his chair. “If father won’t do that, then I will.”

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Crow watched his sister walk off with an amused smile. He was learning quickly that the nobles in the inner kingdom had a weakness for fine wine, and the royal family seemed to fall prey to the tart drink even more than the others. When he eventually began taking on more duties as a viceroy, he wondered if he would start developing a fondness for drinking as well. He liked to think his decision to stay sober wouldn’t ever change, but there had also been a time in his life when he would have said the same thing about being a thief. Everything had been changing so much, he found it difficult to predict where he would be even a year from now.

“That’s putting it lightly,” he sighed, turning back to Penelope once they were alone again. “I can tell my father isn’t happy about altering his plans, but I’m hoping he’ll be reasonable when I speak with him.” He was doing the king a big favor by traveling to and from Younis to negotiate on his behalf, after all. Even though it was part of the job description, he hoped Albin would see that he had been working hard and deserved to start having some things go his way. Namely, having a woman by his side whom he cherished.

As Penelope announced that she needed to go, Crow rose from the table as well. “If you’re leaving, I won’t have any more protection from those women who’ve been eyeing this table since I got here,” he sighed, tilting his head toward a group of noblewomen he had spotted not long ago. Tilla and Palatina were sitting among them. “I guess I’ll head back to my bedchamber as well, so I won’t be bothered.”

Picking up his goblet from the table, he downed the rest of the wine he hadn’t finished yet and then set the empty cup back down. “I’ll see you tomorrow, love,” he casted he a warm smile. “Maybe even as your suitor.”

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Smart, haha. It worked long enough for her to leave

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

While Penelope and Naida spoke, Crow dug into the supper Preston had left for him on the table. He pondered how he would go about bringing up his interest in courting the knight when his father seemed to be focused solely on the preparations they needed to make for his trip to Younis. Interrupting the king when he was working seemed like an unproductive way to go about it, but he couldn’t think of any other option when he and Albin rarely talked about anything other than his job as the new viceroy. Forcing a casual conversation just to slip in what he actually wanted to talk about wouldn’t work either. His father was just as sensitive to foul play as he was, so he would know right away that his son was trying to get something from him. He didn’t want to come across like he was trying to be manipulative.

Caught up in his planning, he didn’t realize right away that Penelope had roped him back into the conversation with Naida. His sister waved a hand in front of his face when he didn’t reply. “Hello? Anyone in there?” she called mockingly.

“Sorry,” he startled and casted her a sheepish look. “I was thinking about something. It’s not important though.” Turning to Penelope, he wracked his brain to remember what she had said until he managed to pull the words from his echoic memory. “I don’t know yet,” he admitted with a shrug. “It’s all happening so fast, I haven’t had time to process the fact that I’m leaving Brerra again.” He returned her smirk. “But it’s definitely a plus that I’m not risking my life for a damn walking stick this time.”

“Technically, you didn’t last time either though,” Naida pointed out. “Since you did steal it without dying.”

That’s debatable, the viceroy thought, thinking back to his encounter with Aeklora. He still wasn’t entirely sure if he’d died for half a second back then or if it had all just been a vision. He probably wouldn’t ever know. However, he couldn’t tell his sister the truth about what had happened at the Younisian castle that night without sounding like a raving lunatic, so he said instead: “I guess you’re right.”

“Anyway,” Naida stood up from the bench. “I just wanted to come over and say hi. Braden’s mad that he was left out of father’s council meeting again, so Willow and I are trying to cheer him up.” She casted them an impish grin. “I’m going to get my brother plastered. See you both later!”

~Bonsoir~

As soon as the door was closed, Peter turned on Vail with unbridled anger. Now that the humans were gone, he had no more reason to feign politeness and hide the frustration he had felt since he’d first caught the scent of heightened pheromones outside his son’s bedroom door. Sleeping with the Crest heiress—and under the roof of the Hygrace manor, no less—had been one of the most foolish things his successor had ever done. It would not go without punishment.

“My study, now,” he growled, turning to go back up the stairs.

Vail blinked, still caught in a daze as he stared at the ghost of where Victoria had just been. Peter’s words barely registered as he stood processing what had just happened. Part of him wanted to chase after her to proclaim that he loved her too, but doing so would delay her leave and infuriate his father even more. To keep from ruffling any more feathers that morning, he would just have to wait until the next time he and Lady Crest were able to meet.

With that thought in mind, he turned away from the door to drift after the clan leader to his study. Before they even arrived, he already knew what Peter was going to speak with him about. He also knew that his father would have done so sooner if it hadn’t been for the armed Saints in their foyer who might have become violent if they had overheard that the heirs of the Hygrace and Crest families had slept together. Peter’s patience was purely political, and now that their guests were gone, he would say what was on his mind.

“I am beginning to seriously consider making your cousin, Erasmus, my successor,” Peter said in a dangerously quiet tone, closing the door behind them when they were both inside the study. The thin panel of wood wouldn’t be enough to deafen any listening ears if any of the other Hygraces decided to eavesdrop on their conversation, but it provided enough of a semblance of privacy for the clan leader to part with his mask of composure. As he turned back to his son, there was a burning fury in his eyes. “Your actions have been incautious lately, Vail. I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but this needs to stop right now. What were you thinking, sleeping with Alexander’s daughter? Do you not understand how reckless that was?”

“We’re in love,” Vail replied simply. It felt strange to admit his feelings to his father first of all people, but there were no stronger words to express the depths of his attachment to Victoria. “And I don’t care if it was reckless. I want to be with her more than I’ve ever wanted to be with anyone else.”

“She’s a human!” Peter snapped. “And, not to mention, she’s engaged to be wed to a member of the Wynter clan. You have no right to lay claim to her when she cannot be yours.”

“She isn’t going to marry him,” Vail asserted stubbornly. “She doesn’t have to. The engagement was arranged by her mother, but it can be broken.”

“You’re stirring up trouble that may just get you killed,” Peter curled his lip. “The Wynter clan is composed of far more than just one man. There is obviously a reason why they want her—”

“For her blood,” Vail interrupted, crossing his arms exasperatedly as he repeated the point to the thick-skulled clan leader.

His father shot him a glare, “Whatever the case, if they’ve set their sights on her, they won’t give up until they have her, and they won’t tolerate an interloper like you getting in their way. All actions have consequences, Vail. If Lord Spencer realizes what you and Lady Victoria did last night, he will be furious. And what if she’s pregnant?” He pinched the bridge of his nose as he noticed a flicker of confusion cross his son’s face. “You didn’t know vampires and humans can interbreed, did you?”

Vail shook his head, “We’re of different species, so I thought…”

“Of course you did,” Peter said dryly. “Yes, we’re of two different species, but vampires are related closely enough to humans that one can reproduce with the other. It is especially risky when the human is female, because their kind is far more fertile than ours. They have limited lifespans, so they bear children at a higher rate in their youth and have a period of time every month when they can be impregnated.” He sighed as the blood drained from Vail’s face. “Sleeping together once doesn’t mean she is with child. I just need you to understand all the consequences that could result from what you two have done.”

“I didn’t know that part,” the Hygrace heir admitted, deciding not to remind his father that he and Victoria had also been intimate at The Shire. “But it doesn’t change the fact that I’ve made my decision. I want to be with her, and I’m going to do everything I can to make that happen. I’m sorry if you disagree, father. My mind is made up.”

“Don’t be stupid,” the clan leader narrowed his eyes again. “I didn’t want to do this, Vail, but if you continue to defy me, I’m going to have to disown you as a member of our clan.” He held up his hand as Vail opened his mouth to respond. “I would suggest you take the rest of the day to think about the gravity of the decision you choose to make.” With that, he turned and walked out of the study, indicating that the discussion was over.

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

She shook Crow up a little too xD

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Crow’s eyes widened just as much as Naida’s when Penelope answered his sister’s question truthfully. He turned to her in surprise, wondering if she had given up on keeping their relationship a secret from the princess or if she had simply decided there was no reason to keep doing it when he would be speaking to his father about their courtship within the next two days. Her wink was enough to tell him what she was really doing though, and he relaxed slightly, realizing that she was messing with her friend.

As the subject was changed to the results of the council meeting, he turned back to his sister with a grin. Now that he knew he would be able to have more time with Penelope than he’d thought, it was easier to speak about the topic from an optimistic perspective. “It went great, actually,” he told her honestly. “Preparations are already underway for my trip to Younis to petition the king for peace. I’ll be leaving the castle in just three days. With any luck, this war will be over in a month.”

“Really?” Naida mirrored his expression. “I can’t believe that actually worked! Father is usually too stubborn to take anyone else’s advice besides his old advisor, Gerard—and Gerard is a kiss ass anyway.”

“Well, I guess three hundred and forty-seven voices were enough this time,” Crow laughed.

“Going to Younis sounds exciting too…” the princess fidgeted nervously. “Do you… Do you still think you can convince father to let me come with you?”

“I can’t promise anything,” the viceroy admitted. “But I’ll do what I can.”

“Thanks,” she perked up slightly, looked across the table at Penelope and then frowned again. “Oh… I guess this means you couldn’t court anyway, huh? Not when Collin is leaving so soon. What are you going to do now that the war might be ending?”

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Heeeeere's Naida xD

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

Crow shrugged halfheartedly when Penelope pointed out that they would have more time together after his return from Younis. She was right, but it didn’t do much to lessen his disappointment that they were going to have to keep waiting to establish themselves as a couple among the other nobles in the castle. One day wouldn’t be enough to prove to persistent men like Cedric that they were serious about their plans to get married in the future. He wrinkled his nose at the thought of other men trying to woo her while he was away, because they thought that the relationship was too new to persist or that she could be enticed while he was away in the northern kingdom.

When Penelope spoke up again, the viceroy lifted his head from his hands to meet her gaze with a frown. At first, he wasn’t sure what she was trying to do by bringing up the fact that she needed to return to the warfront now that Albin had been convinced. It certainly didn’t make him feel any better to be reminded that if the treaty with Younis failed, they would be separated even longer when she went back to her duties as a lieutenant. However, as she explained that she could depart from the castle at the same time as he did, he sat up slightly straighter.

It was a surprisingly perfect idea. While leaving the inner kingdom at the same time wouldn’t solve the dilemma of their time apart while he was in Younis, it would certainly earn them a few extra days together while they traveled. Even more encouraging was the fact that she would be far away from the manipulative men in the palace who would likely try to flirt with her in his absence. He liked the thought of knowing she would be with her comrades in the outer villages while he was gone instead.

“That would be great,” an affectionate smile brightened his features. “We probably won’t have much time alone, but I can’t complain about getting to see your face for a few more days before I leave Brerra.” If they were openly courting, they wouldn’t have to worry about hiding their casual touches from the other nobles either. As fun as keeping everything a secret could be at times, he was looking forward to being able to admit to the whole kingdom that he was in love with her.

“Hey, you two,” Naida’s sing-song voice cut in as the princess slid onto the bench next to Crow. She had a mischievous expression on her face as she leaned into his side. “So… I thought I’d check up on you two to see if you’ve had a chance to talk about what happened last night. You can’t let these things go ignored!”

Let Me Steal Your Heart [BuzzingBee + Dagger]

“Well, the good news is that my father has formally decided to try negotiating with Younis before he makes a pact with Gorm,” Crow started, finding this half of the meeting easier to deliver than the next. It was exciting that the petition Penelope had worked so hard on had been enough to persuade Albin to cooperate with them, and he was happy to be the one to tell her that her efforts had paid off. But as he prepared to deliver the second half, he sighed. “The bad news is that he’s gotten impatient and has decided to send me to Younis in three days.”

Beneath the table, he stretched out his leg to rest against hers and met her gaze solemnly. They had come so close to being able to court that it discouraged him to know that even if he managed to convince his father to give them the go-ahead before he left, they wouldn’t be able to really start courting for at least another two weeks. It felt like he had reached for the handle and pushed open the door just to have it slammed in his face after he’d gotten a glimpse inside. Unfortunately, they had already pushed the king as far as they could. Albin wouldn’t be making any more compromises regarding the negotiation.

“I hate this,” he groaned, dropping his head into his hands in frustration. “I know it’s just one trip, but I was hoping we would be able to start courting in the next few days. At this rate, we’ll be lucky to get even one full day together before I have to leave.”