Chapter 27

Jasmine


"What?!" The question in the disbelieve that needed to hear the reality twice in order to get washed away left my mouth.

"You heard it right, Jasmine," Archer said, "He banished us only because we refused to agree on being his puppets who would follow him blindly without thinking about the right and wrong and decided to rule the way our morals told us to. He wanted to force his decisions on us and once he saw we were not going to fulfill what he wanted, he banished us the day before we were supposed to take over the kingdom."

Behind the anger-filled tone of Archer, I could see the sorrow residing somewhere at the corner, being disowned by their own father must have hurt all of them but how could a father even do that?

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, it seemed hard to digest the reality they were unfolding in front of me.

"What made you all decide to do what you all did?"

"When we had returned from our training, we were supposed to understand the duties and terms before we could finally take over the empire, and when while we were doing so spending months and more to prove ourselves worthy of the position one day our father decided to plan on an attack on the rival kingdom," Lucien began.

"But in that era, the strongest kingdoms of all the time were getting attacked by an unknown group of rouges, the packless vampires who had no land or anything. But their huge force was quite untamable even for the kingdoms of that time." Archer said, looking lost in thoughts as though he was looking at the collection of his reminiscences turning each page that had a darker story to reveal.

"Even the Vaidel Dynasty ruled by one of the greatest vampire lords Frederick, could not fight the attack and all the people there were left dead and the land was left soaked in blood and crashed in fire.....Even the princess did not survive, everything was " As the words left Micheal's mouth my entire word seemed to be screeched to a halt.

The lost pieces of my memories fighting to join back, a pain that stung my chest upon hearing the tragic description as though it was something I was deeply related to. The name of the vampire lord, it felt like I had known him for.....years.

My mind began drifting into the memories that still were not complete, the same garden and beautiful flowers, the very known yet unknown soothing hold of a lady around me, and the chuckle of a man, and then the fire and neverending darkness before all my cluttered flashbacks rapidly fell back into the opaque corners.

No....I wanted to see more, but there were no memories left except for the feeling that began rising in the middle of my chest, a pain I could not fathom the reason for.

At the point where I was drowning in the scary depth of the unseen past I wanted to see through the blurred visions, Lucien spoke again.

"We told dad that attacking a kingdom with the risks of our own getting attacked in our absence was the worst decision we could take but he did not listen. And the attack sure happened and only the people inside of the palace and some natives survived and even that was because of the strong security of the unit we as the future rulers of kingdom decided to enforce before we left for the battle."


"On one side he occupied a rival's territory, on the other side his own empire was left into pieces yet he did not have a bit of the remorse he should have and that's when we finally understood....many things he had taught us till then was wrong in so many ways," Archer added.

"And that's when we decided to not follow him anymore and the outcome was being banished from our own kingdom." Michael chuckled, there was pain behind it that I could feel.

Deciding to ignore my thoughts as the need to comfort them became my priority, I slowly turned to face Micheal.

Even though he had not let it be evident, I could feel him. He was sad, the remembrance was the reason behind it or I could say the reality of an event.

"You all have done what is right," I murmured brushing my thumb on his stubble before I leaned it placing a soft kiss on his lips.

He closed his eyes at the contact and I felt his shoulders relax, I got the sight of his beautiful eyes again once he opened them after I pulled away.

I moved towards Archer and brought my hand to his cheek, he surprisingly leaned in my touch as his eyes closed on their own as if the unrest in him had finally begun calming down.

I placed a gentle kiss on his forehead then one on his lips, "Don't stress over what is over, you all have achieved a lot more than anyone in the whole world and most importantly you all are great rulers."

His eyes opened at my words and a small smile crept its way on his lips, I found the happy news stirring awake at the sight of his smile, and then my eyes drifted to spot Lucien.

There was no change in his expression, as private and cold Lucien once seemed to me before I knew him now as I know him, I knew...deep down he was the one who would get affected by even the smallest things.

And I couldn't even imagine the amount of sorrow it might have caused them when they received that kind of treatment from their own father.

I shifted towards Lucien and sat on his lap finding it the easiest way I could grab his face in my hands.

"Forget about the past and focus on what you have today, and I am sure you all certainly have tons of people who sleep without any worries only because of how protected they feel being in the dynasty of three great rulers who will always protect the people of their kingdom no matter what." I smiled at him before I gently pressed my lips against his and he kissed me back instantly.

"I don't know how did we get so lucky that we got you as our soulmate," He breathed out looking at me in adoration.

The smile on my face grew big and pecked his cheek, "Because I was supposed to have some extremely handsome vampires' existence in my life."

A chuckle broke through their throat and the prior unrest was no longer to be seen in them and this caused the peace to seep within me too.

I was so ridiculously in love with them.....

"Now can I have my massages back, please?" I giggle motioning my hands toward Archer And Micheal and the amusement draped their expression.

"And what do you get for that?" Archer mischievously asked.

I knew what he meant by that question very well but feeling a little bold I decided to hide my blush and speak, "Nothing until the soreness in my body goes away."

Their eyes flickered with something and a grin spread on each of their lips.

"Come here, then," Micheal tapped on his own thigh, motioning me to take my seat again and I quickly obliged and shifted on his lap from Lucien's.

"So the queen likes to get massages, huh?" Lucien teasingly asked and brushed his fingers on my cheek.

Without a doubt, I nodded my head meaning exactly what I was silently saying.

Their hands-on me felt amazing, in all ways.

"Okay then, she'll have what we want," Archer chuckled and began massaging my feet again but this time he let his sly fingers tickle under my feet and a giggle tore from my mouth.

"Archer, no!" Horrified, I moved my legs from his hold instantly, the one single attack had got my stomach hurting with laughter I had suppressed in that single moment alone.

Archer burst out laughing at my reaction," Sorry babe, I couldn't help checking if you are ticklish or not."

"Now you know so don't try to tickle me, at all," I said and he emitted another laugh.

"We might try it later though," Micheal added and my eyes widened in horror.

"No! If you all try something like that...." Before I could finish my useless threat, Lucien lightly grabbed my jaw and turned me to face him.

"Calm down, Queen," He spoke against my lips, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards," None is going to tickle you, my love. We can finish this argument later but before that let's get out of the bathroom and pack our things."

The closeness awakened the warmth but as his words replayed in my head the realization was drawn upon me.

Their father was going to visit us and we needed to get back to the palace before his arrival.

"When are we going to leave?" I asked.

"Right now," He answered flashing me a small apologetic smile.

The mere disappointment washed over me, but I shrugged it off and smiled back at him.

"Let's start packing then, home is calling us," I stood up with them and Micheal wrapped me in a towel before Lucien scooped me in his arms.

"Let's go," Lucien said and we exited the bathroom.

At that moment I had no idea what the palace had waiting for me and what storm was waiting for us and what secrets were to be revealed that were going to turn everything upside down forever.