Blood Legacy Chapter 133: 131. Yes world, he's actually alive

I tiredly yawned, wrapping that fleece blanket even tighter around myself as I sat with my knees pressed against my chest in the backseat of Darius' car.

We'd been driving for hours now. And I'd occasionally fallen in and out of sleep, drifting away to that barely audible radio playing in the background, only to stir awake whenever I heard him quietly talking to Nate.

It was just the three of us this time round as the wolfy girls and David had had chosen to stay and keep Jess and my sister away from the upcoming shit we were about to deal with. Yep. We were going to finally meet with that stupid council. And I couldn't've ever been more afraid than I was right now. I was scared shitless. And nervous. And that because I still had no idea what was going to happen to us. What those assholes wanted from us. What type of punishment we were going to receive for failing to uphold and fulfill that treaty's stupid requests.

I still didn't want to marry anyone. Or bind myself to either of them into that dumb and demeaning ritual. And neither did they. They didn't want to have to shackle me like that. Neither of them. Plus that it wouldn't even have made any sense now, seeing as Darius already had both types of power to his side. The wolf spirit he'd been born with and that ancient magic coursing through his veins. And he was the first of his kind. Well, the first one from the werewolf royal family to inherit supernatural abilities from both sides anyway.

He did tell me at some point that he'd discovered another hybrid right after his resurrection, but that person had chosen to live in secrecy. Away from both clans. So he'd respected their wishes and vowed not to ever make their existence known to either of the clans, choosing to affirm instead that he was the only one.

One of a kind.

I did try to suggest him that we run away at some point. Somewhere far, far away from the kingdom. Just the three of us. Him, Nate and I. But he told me that it would've been a dangerous and reckless gesture from our part, seeing as we'd already broken the vow by not moving forward with the wedding -Nate and I- and the council must've already known by now that our bond was slowly dissolving.

Damn. I shouldn't have shown my snake of a father the evidence of it fading away that day. Maybe Nate did make the stupid mistake of marking me before the ritual -as I later found out that he was actually supposed to do it then, not before and that was why everyone was so pissed at him- but at the end of the day it was still there. I was still bound to him, either way. It was still a reassurance that we were going to go through with the ritual.

But now, now that everybody knew about our bond situation -especially after I had so proudly spat in my father's face that I was never going to marry Nate now and that he couldn't even try to force me to do it- it was safe to say that we were definitely fucked.

We either had the choice of going to meet with the council willingly, or sit tight and wait for them to start retaliating. And let me tell you that the second option wasn't really an option to begin with, apparently. We could've risked everyone else's lives, had we actually chosen to do just that.

Including my sister's.

*Yeah, no thank you. Anything but that.*

I would've rather married the whole fucking council instead. Whored myself out before they even thought about touching a single strand of her hair.

I let out another yawn and peeked through the window, casually noticing the first slivers of light shily peeking out from between the thick conglomeration of trees. It was early morning. And that could've meant only one thing. We were close.

A single, long and distant howl reached my ears and I sat up straighter, not at all surprised to realize that I was right. We really were close.

Few more followed as we gradually advanced down the gravelly and unlit path, my heart starting to pump a little faster as a dose of adrenaline coursed through my body.

We were here. Back to that damned castle where several weeks ago, I'd been forced to wear that damned dress. Where I'd been lied to, and deceived. And where it all ended, the very moment Darius appeared into that room, like a groom that had found his lost bride.

Like a dark knight ready to save his damsel in distress.

I let out a small gasp as a black blur suddenly passed in front of the headlights for the briefest moment, Darius' stance however remaining calm and impassive. Driving at that same levelled speed.

"It's okay, kitten. They know what they're doing. No one's gonna get run over. They're just trying to get a better smell at who's in the car," he calmly explained and I briefly met his gaze through the rearview mirror, letting out a quick nod.

He didn't say anything more and continued to drive until that bumpy path gave way to smooth asphalt, making my nerves skyrocket as I realized that I was about to meet my "dearest in-laws". For a second time.

*Shit.*

I threw that blanket away and put my feet down, rushing to shove them back into my Chelsea boots and get ready. At least I'd been careful enough to dress a little bit more presentable. Unlike last time.

I mentally cringed at that memory of myself wearing that stupid pink hello kitty hoodie and that tiny skirt.

At least I'd chosen a slightly less revealing skirt this time that went along with a pair of black stockings that covered most of my legs, their lacy endings just above my knees. And that childish hoodie had been replaced with a burgundy-colored long-sleeved tee and a leather jacket.

The car finally slowed down to a halt and I thickly swallowed, struggling to contain my growing anxiety as we sat in there for another moment, reluctant to climb out and face what was about to come.

"Come on, let's be over with this shit already," Nate was the first one to exit the car, being quick to open my door as well as he invited me out by holding his outstretched palm.

I hesitantly took it and climbed out, slamming the door behind me before I made my way in front of the car where Darius already stood, my hand still holding onto Nathan's.

I stepped next to Darius and grabbed onto his hand as well, raising my gaze to find his. He gave me a reassuring smile and I offered one of my own, together turning to gaze towards the grand entrance of the castle.

The double wooden doors slowly pried themselves open and I had to swallow again, my knees already shaking as I stood there with both brothers at my sides. Waiting.

A slender, ethereally beautiful silhouette made its appearance at first, that dark brown hair contrasting her floor-length and completely white silky robe giving me a hint at who she was. *Their mother.* The Royal Luna.

She smoothly passed through the doors, like a flowing ghost her footsteps lithe and slow, advancing until her bare feet touched that last stone step, abruptly stopping.

A mixture of growing shock and confusion tugged at her sublime features as she stared at us for another moment, hesitating to react.

Darius and Nathan remained where they were, their expressions though calm and impassive as they stared right back at her.

She eventually willed herself to move and commenced to advance yet again, her features showing more and more of that growing turmoil brewing up within her as she seemed to stare at Darius now.

And the very moment her feet ground to a halt, stopping but a few steps away from him a small, strangled sound tore through her throat, her vivid green eyes quickly filling with unshed tears.

She slapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide though and glassy with tears as she continued to stare up at her presumed-dead son with raw, violent shock.

Shaky and hesitant, that hand that had been covering her mouth slowly reached out towards him instead, daring to touch his cheek. And the second her skin touched his she let out a loud and heartbreaking wail, my own eyes quickly filling with hot tears as I witnessed all that.

I thickly swallowed and watched as she started to desperately cry, loud sobs and wails wracking throughout her as she looked up at him, refusing to move or even dare touch him again. As if she was afraid that he would disappear if she looked elsewhere.

I felt Nathan's hand faintly squeeze my own and I immediately snapped my head in his direction, not at all surprised to noticed those fat tears that were rolling down his cheeks as he too watched that heavily emotional interaction between Darius and their mom, refusing to look anywhere else but there.

There was a sudden ruckus in the background, drawing my attention and the moment I looked to the entrance of the castle I noticed how one by one, the royals appeared.

David's parents were the first ones to descend, their footsteps however few and hesitant as they hung back, not exactly willing to get too close. Christian's parents made their presence known as well, keeping close to the others and visibly aghast by the sight of Darius here. In the flesh.

Until the king lastly arrived, the others parting like the sea to make room for him as he swiftly passed them. There was no hint of fear marring his features. Those features that reflected so much in Darius' appearance. He was his spitting image. His firstborn.

The king stopped when there were only a few steps left to conquer between them, taking but a moment to gaze upon his previously lost son. And with a broken sob, he rapidly crossed that remaining distance between them and wrapped his arms around him, tightly hugging him as he cried his heart out.

I subtly took a few steps away from them, kindly letting them have their space as both parents were now hugging him, crying together. I wiped my own tears away from my cheeks, a sense of joy and contentment filling my entire body as I watched Nathan join his family after his mother's silent and endearing beckoning.

It felt so incredibly heart-warming, getting to witness such a special moment unfold before my very eyes, the love that they appeared to have for each other. It both touched me and broke me at the same time, feeling like a discarded orphan in the face of their special bond. That precious connection they all four seemed to have with one another. It made me realize that I'd never had it, never felt it and never will I. Andrea and I, we were already way too broken for that. And all because of our dearest father.