Chapter 32

Jasmine




"You are thinking about keeping a freaking human as your mate?" He shouted, " How could a weak, pathetic species who can't even take of their own safety because of the low strength of a human that can never compete with a vampire even be capable of standing beside the rulers of a Kingdom?"

No matter how hard it was to accept and how harsh his words were, It was not a lie that I was not a good fit for being their mate and the future queen of this kingdom because I was a.....human.

"King Elijah! Don't try to address Jasmine that way ever again, we'll not tolerate it." Archer spat.

"Well, you better get used to it because today it's only me who's saying that but soon it's going to be everyone else. The entire world would laugh at how much stupid of a decision you all have taken by deciding to accept such a burden as your mate.'' He chuckled but there was no humor in it but a triggering mock laid somewhere beneath his words that were all against me.

"We don't give a fuck what everyone else thinks or what their opinions are, our mate is meant to be the only woman in our life even if she is a vampire or not and yes, let me remind you one more time—Nothing is ever going to change our decision," Micheal said, the determination shining in his red eyes made my emotions reach a peak.

The sparks were stronger even in this turmoil that was tossing and turning everything into a mess that'd take me days to tranquilize and ascertain the peace back within me that left with each of the things king Elijah was saying today.

"Oh, cut the crap. You all sure regret your decision when you'll begin to see the outcomes. And do you even know any way to mark a human? There is no way in this universe where a vampire and human can finish the mating process because surely none have ever tried to discover it and do you know the reason?" He asked, the rage written all over his face.

"None wants a mate who is weak or may I say, A mate who is a human." He emphasized.

I'd be an utter lie if I had said that what he said did not feel like a fierce slap landing on the face.

My expression could not hide anymore what I was going through. The affliction shrouded my existence and the tears fought to fall but I refused to let it happen. I refused to let anyone see the signs of my weakness but the tears that blurred my vision were too evident to get unnoticed.

Fiona's lips curved into a victorious smirk looking at the tears that betrayed me and rolled down my cheeks without letting me know.

This argument was a catastrophe for me, an unpleasant situation for everyone else but a show of enjoyment for Fiona who had not been bothered the slightest bit and casually sipping the glass of wine.

Of course, I had not even expected her to be bothered because it was me the odds were against, and it was her whose intention was to claim the vampires who were not meant for her.

But were they meant for me?

The sob threatened to tear through but I bit my bottom lip silencing the sound before it could even get out.

Everything felt too much to handle.

"Enough! I don't want to hear another word about our mate." Lucien Lucien dismissively enunciated, fuming with rage, "You have no right to judge Jasmine or her capabilities, if there was another person perfect for us...god wouldn't have given us Jasmine as our mate and this should be enough for the end of today's discussion."

"Let's go, sweetheart," Without glancing at anyone else Lucien grabbed me by my hand, and it was then he noticed my tears that I forgot to wipe away.

His hand slowly released its hold. The unfathomable look plastered on his face, he looked furious, and the next moment the red eyes were flared and ablaze...ready to burn everything into ashes.

Archer and Micheal too noticed what their brother did and I could see nothing less than what I'd seen in Lucien's orbs.

And then King Elijah's voice was heard again.

"Ending the conversation will not bring any solution for the three of you, keeping her as a queen will bring only demolition for you and your realm."

"Then let it be! Let it fucking be!" Lucien's voice was not normal anymore, it was the growl....of a deranged predator that was inches away from stepping out of the cage and can be crush everything.

His gaze dangerously set on his father, the fury evident more than ever, and his hands forming fists as if it was the last attempt for him to control himself from executing something he should not commit.

The surprise flickered in King Elijah's eyes but there was something more to it. He sure could sense the power radiating from each of the vampires who were determined not to let me slip away from their lives.

"How many times do we have to tell you that nothing else matters to us?! It was only her, it is her and it'll always be her!" Micheal stated, loud.

"Now, please excuse us." Archer sent a look in his father's direction, his breathing coming out heavy and resentment remaining as it was.

He then pulled me closer to him, his hand sliding around my waist and cupping my face before brushing away my tears with his fingers. His soft touch instantly melted the ice that had coated my insides but not the unrest.

"I am sorry that you had to hear all these, let's go to our room and talk. Okay?" He asked ever so softly and without needing to think twice I nodded.

I wanted to stay away from this situation at least for a while to calm myself down, to have a moment without these hurtful remarks banging against my eardrums.

"You all are being ridiculous right now, all of these for an ordinary human?!" King Elijah's voice was draped with disbelief.

"Yes, and we are more than happy to have her as our mate," Micheal responded.

"I have a suggestion," Fiona's sudden voice interrupted, and every individual in the room turned to look at her.

A smile that had more to tell than the deceitful female itself slowly took upon her lips. Something about her was beyond the periphery of depravity.

"If you all really need her so much, and want to have her with you then there's a way neither you'd have to disagree with your dad nor you'd need to let her go."

"You all mark me and give me the position of the queen and keep her as a Mistress."

Every cell of my body froze upon her statement. The humiliation hit me like a speeding truck. The insult stung more than anything I had experienced in my whole lifetime.

"Fiona! How dare you even say something like that?!" The vampires' mother who was silent the whole time shouted, the shock draped Fiona's features and she look at the queen in bewilderment.

"I just said what could be the most logical thing to do, your Majesty. Besides, she is not even of royal blood and probably belongs to any cheap human family.'' She shamelessly added, no sign of hesitation present in her as though she was more than sure about what she was saying.

"Get.Out." The utterance of the two words came from Micheal, the command sounding deadly and his red eyes of his daring Fiona to say anything brings the misery of her own.

Archer and Lucien looked too out of control to even say anything, their extended nails and fangs told it more than their unnerving silence did. They seemed like they were ready to tear up into pieces.

"W-What?" She stuttered in disbelief, "You are asking me to get out for an ordinary cheap human-like her?"

"Say one more disrespectful word toward our mate, you will no longer be able to flex over the royal blood you are so proud of because..... I'll not even leave one drop of it in your body.'' Lucien dangerously took a few steps towards her and she visibly cowered away, pushing herself against the chair in reflex.

"Lucien, calm down," King Elijah said as he watched his son being close to losing all of his restraints.

"Don't tell me what to do or not, I'll not stand here withstanding my mate being insulted by some self-proclaimed worthy vampire like her who is too confident to even get it straight that she is not the one who's desired." Lucien harshly retorted.

Fiona's embarrassment became evident on her face as well as the anger that was supposedly prompted due to the insult that landed on her with Lucien's statement.

"Okay, so if you really want to stick with a crappy weak human mate then there's no point in arguing. I'll better leave from here." Fiona snapped, her eyes sending daggers in my direction before she got up.

"You better leave soon before we do something that'll destroy your pride," Archer's emphasis on the word 'Destroy' made something flicker in her orbs but soon that went overshadowed by the anger that seemed to fully consume her.

She did not utter another word instead she speedily walked past the bar, the sound of her heels clicking against the floor dragging all the way but before she could reach the exit King Elijah to my surprise stopped her.

"Fiona, wait." King Elijah walked past us and stood in her way, "You know, you can't leave like this."

"Your Majesty, I know why you had brought me here but I can't tolerate disrespect and the way I am constantly being compared to a mere human," Fiona responded.

What was my fault in it that I was a human? She was addressing it in an insulting manner that was hurting me in the most helpless way that I could not even describe.

Micheal's fist clenched, he seemed way too close to losing it nevertheless he kept himself contained.

"I apologize to you on their behalf. You need to stay Fiona, you exactly know I'll fulfill my promise." King Elijah spoke.

"But...."

"I insist, stay. You'll not need to speak in this matter anymore, just bear with me." He said

For some reason, I had a feeling that Fiona's actual intention was not to leave. It was something else that was easy to use though but hard to clarify, but once she glanced back at me after hearing King Elijah's request  I could have sworn I saw her lips twitching upwards in a taunting way.

As if, she wanted to show me how much importance she held.

I couldn't help hating her at this point. Didn't know why I felt like I could rip her head off her body.

"So if you all are done with disrespecting me, show Fiona the room she'll be staying in." King Elijah ordered them.

"Well, she is not welcome to stay here anymo...." Micheal began speaking before unexpectedly being interrupted by his mom.

"Let it end here, Micheal. Ask a maid to show her a room, let's not talk about it anymore." Her request could be seen through her eyes, she looked like the one who was torn in this fight between the father and his sons.

"But mom...'' Micheal once again could not finish his sentence as his mom spoke again.

"Please. We are only here for a couple of days, I don't want thee days to be spent watching you and father arguing the whole time." She requested with tear-filled eyes.

Micheal's eyes softened and he emitted a sigh before he walked over to his mother and engulfed her in a hug.

"It's okay, we won't push it further. Now, please don't cry." He softly spoke and she nodded wiping her teary eyes.

In the meantime, Archer called a guard and told him to show Fiona her room, whilst King Elijah too was shown the room that he and the queen will be staying in.

As everyone was out of the room, I felt soft fingers brush on my cheek and immediately recognized as Lucien's.

The next moment, I felt myself being pulled into his arms and my body accepted the comfort without any denial.

"I am so sorry, love. I am so sorry," His guilt-filled voice broke through.

"It's not your fault." I sniffled burying my face into his chest, his warmth engulfing my body.

"He shouldn't have said all these things to you, we shouldn't have allowed his arrival.''

"Can you blame him? He wasn't wrong that I am not a good fit for being the queen of your kingdom." I managed to utter despite the sob that fought to break through to the point my throat burned.

"Don't ever think that you are not meant for that position, Okay?" Lucien sternly said and made me look at him, "If anyone's ever going to sit on that throne it's going to be you or else none."

There was no space left for any argument after what he said, I knew nothing would change his mind and somewhere a mere speck of happiness did sprout in me at this.

I don't know how much more I am going to fall for these vampires.

"Jasmine, I really want to apologize for Elijah's behavior. I don't know what he is thinking but trust me he is not how he seemed, but I know this does not justify what he did today. It was very wrong of him to disrespect you and the mate bond." The queen spoke in a motherly tone ad walked over to me.

"Please do not take any of his words to your heart, he is angry at this moment but once his anger calms down I am sure he'll be able to understand this situation." She assured me and caressed my cheeks.

"I understand, your Majesty." I nodded forcing a smile on my face and a soft smile made its way to her lips too.

"Thank you, my dear and another thing don't address me like that. Just call me by my name or if you prefer you can call me what every daughter calls their mother-in-law."

"You are okay with me calling you mom ?" The question left my mouth before I even knew it.

"Of course, why won't I be okay with it?" She smiled at me, for some reason the warmth in her smile reminded me of a woman whose no memories were left in my mind except for a voice that often rang in my ear, and why I felt that it belonged to that woman only remained unknown as many secrets that laid in the darkness of an unknown past.

"Thank you, thank you so much," Without thinking twice I hugged her, or you could say threw myself at her.

"You are welcome," She chuckled and kissed my forehead.

It took two seconds before Lucien, Archer, and Micheal joined the hug too.

"Group hug, is it?"A small giggle automatically left my mouth.

"Yes, it is." Archer emitted a small laugh and soon all the effects of the previous incidents were washed away and the room got filled with the waves of our laughter.

But deep down I was still aware that this temporary halt was not the end of our problems.