Chapter 206

Phoebe sits in silence, frowning at Prince Mano who had a frown on his own face. After the longest, while she finally spoke, “Are you ok?”
“How do you know me?” Prince Mano asked, thinking this woman in front of him reminded him of one of Prince Ra’s wives. He tried to shut the memory of Panya out of his mind, how she helped him get over the death of Zara and his baby.
“The baby is not dead you know,” Phoebe said, seeing his mind.
“Excuse me?” Prince Mano asked.
“We are fated mates so I can see your mind and if you have a look at mine, you will know who I am,” Phoebe said with a smile, tears forming in her eyes, being able to see what her mother looked like through Prince Mano's eyes.
“I, I, I never meant for her to die,” Prince Mano said
“I know, I can see and feel that,” Phoebe said.
“The daughter?” Prince Mano asked but Phoebe didn't have to answer as Prince Mano could already see her mind.
“I guess we should un mate,” Prince Mano suggested, seeing Phoebe’s love for the redhead who he can only presume to be his daughter.
“Do you want to meet her?” Phoebe asked with a bright smile.
“Of course,” Prince Mano said.
“Great, your brother Prince Vasili's daughter is also here,” Phoebe said.
“Vasili had a daughter?” Prince Mano asked.
“Yes, don’t you remember them being pregnant?” Phoebe asked.
“Oh, yeah, my memories are still a bit mixed up and lost,” Prince Mano said, trying to put them in order.
“What happened to you?” Phoebe asked.
“An Enchantress,” Prince Mano said.
“I know all about those, lucky have a good one on my side,” Phoebe said, standing up.
“There is no such thing as a good enchantress,” Prince Mano warned, standing up.
“Well, the one I know is good,” Phoebe said.
“If you say so,” Prince Mano said, following her.
Phoebe picked up that he was nervous and turned to face him, “It will be fine, she will love you.” Phoebe reached out and adjusted his shirt, her finger bruising the skin of his neck. Their eyes met again and both of them were confused as to how to react against the force pulling them together.
Arriving at the cabin Princess Ansa immediately recognized Prince Mano, “Uncle?”
“You know me?” Prince Mano asked confused.
“Not really but there are a few paintings of you at the council,” Princess Anse said.
Michelle looked up at Prince Mano.
“Meet your father,” Phoebe said, smiling.
“Are you for real?” Michelle asked, standing up, not sure if she should hug him or not.
“Daughter,” Prince Mano said, almost crying, pulling her in and embracing her.
‘It feels good to be wanted by a father,’ Michelle thought, tears in her own eyes, wrapping her arms around Prince Mano, their minds linking instantly.
“You two are fated mates?” Michelle pushed Prince Mano away when she saw his mind.
“Michelle!” Princess Anse said with big eyes.
“What is going on? This guy is too young to be a father,” Marco laughed.
“Marco, you are feeling very tired and want to take a nap,” Phoebe compelled him.
“Guys, do you mind taking this someplace else, like the restaurant cart? I feel tired and want to take a nap,” Marco said yawning.
“Don’t you ever compel him again,” Princess Anse whispered angrily, walking past Phoebe.
“You are a hybrid?” Prince Mano asked confused.
“Say what now?” Marco asked before his eyes shut down and drifted off to sleep.
“Let’s go talk,” Michelle said, grabbing Phoebe by her hand and dragging her towards the restaurant cart.
“Why are you rough handling me?” Phoebe pulled her hand from Michelle’s aggressive hold.
“Why have you not un-mated the moment you mated?” Michelle asked.
“It is my first time being fated to someone; can I not at least enjoy it for a moment longer?” Phoebe asked as the train pulled into the next platform.
“Take all the time you need. In fact, don’t un-mate,” Michelle said, breaking her mind link with Phoebe and her newly linked one with her father before storming off, back to the cabin, tears rolling down her face.
“You are being unreasonable, I will un mate,” Phoebe said after her.
“Let her cool down,” Prince Mano suggested.
“No offense, but I know her longer than you do,” Phoebe said.
“Perhaps I should go talk to her?” Princess Anse suggested.
“No, he is right,” Phoebe said, pushing past them to the restaurant.
After ordering a few dishes on Prince Mano’s account, Phoebe tried to find the right moment to bring the un-mating up again. She tried to mind-link Prince Mano but found he blocked her.
“So, um, you blocked me?” Phoebe asked.
“It is not like we are going to stay mates so why should you be in my head?” Prince Mano asked.
“Fair enough,” Phoebe said.
“You seem as if you are dealing with something, uncle,” Princess Anse pointed out at his facial expressions that changed every now and then as if he was arguing with himself.
“My memories are coming back."
“But you obviously escaped, and you have not been back to the council. So, um, what are you doing here on the train to Spain?” Princess Anse asked, wondering if she was walking into a trap.
“That is why I am trying to mind-link with one of my brothers. Instead of having the enchantress give me back my memories, he had her remove some more; some very important memories,” Prince Mano explained.
“Which one?” Princess Anse asked, hoping not her father.
“Deacon,” Prince Mano said.
“Good luck with that, he has gone rogue after Emily killed all of our mothers,” Princess Anse said.
Phoebe explained to Prince Mano that even though Emily did kill his brothers’ wives she did not kill Zara, “I can show you if you let me into your mind.”
“No, I believe you,” Prince Mano said.
“Is that not Michelle?” Princess Anse pointed out as the train pulled off.
Phoebe looked outside the window, Michelle giving a small hand gesture, waving goodbye.
For a brief moment Michelle's mind linked with Phoebe again, “You deserve a fated mate, don’t worry about me, see you when I see you.”
‘Please, don’t do this, wait where you are, I am coming,’ Phoebe's mind linked her back, about to use her vampire speed to get off the train.
“Please, don’t. Go find the Redhead seductress. Tell my father that I am going to the council,” Michelle mind linked her before going rogue.
“What is happening,” Prince Mano asked, upset.
“I am sorry, this is all my fault,” Phoebe said, tears flowing down her face.
“I just found her,” Prince Mano said.
“She is going to the council. Guess she longs for a family so much that she does not care that she will be forced to marry some stranger,” Phoebe said.
“I hope she knows what she is getting herself into her,” Princess Anse said.
“Well, then I guess I should get packing to get off at the next stop so that I can return to the council,” Prince Mano said, standing up.
“I ran away,” Princess Anse blurted out.
“Why? Never mind answering that. Let me guess they found you a prince and you have to get married?” Prince Mano asked, not shocked at all.
“No, not yet in anyways. I love Marco and my father doesn’t want me with him, for obvious reasons,” Princess Anse said.
“Because he is human without royal blood?” Prince Mano figured it out.
“Correct,” Princess Anse said.
“Well, just because I am returning does not mean you have to,” Prince Mano said, smiling.
“Phoebe, are you ok?” Princess Anse asked, looking at her teary face.
“I want to go after her, but I know she needs space,” Phoebe said.
“What are you going to tell the king and queen when they see your mind?” Princess Anse asked worriedly.
“What can I tell them? They will see that I knew you ran away since you just told me but perhaps, they will be happy that I have returned in one piece and will forgive me for thinking you should be in charge of your own happiness,” Prince Manor said before walking off.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Phoebe reminded him that they still have to un-mate.
‘If I truly believed you wanted to un-mate then I would have,’ Prince Mano answered her through a mind link, letting her know that they are connected again.
Phoebe smiled at his back, watching him walk off.
“So, you are not un-mating?” Princess Anse asked confused.
“I guess not. You and Marco should probably get off at some random city, I am getting off now so that I don’t know your whereabouts as I am sure it is only a matter of time before the council catches up with me,” Phoebe said before speeding off.
Phoebe wanted to go after Michelle but decided it was best to give her some space. She sped off to Spain to rescue the redhead seductress as instructed by her real grandmother, Queen Zuberi.
Michelle already regretted leaving Phoebe behind but hoped that by the time she got to the council that her father whom she just met will be there shortly after her as she really wanted to get to know her real family.
Michelle looked around to see where she was as she never checked the name of the platform when she made the decision to get off and as she turned around, she looked straight into the face of Cove, the hybrid.
“Hello little rogue,” Cove said with a smile.
Michelle gave a step back and was about to make a run for it thinking that Cove can not use his vampire abilities during the day.
“Don’t run, follow me,” Cove compelled her, feeling his skin boil for a brief moment.
“How are you compelling me?” Michelle asked, following Cove.
“It hurts like a bitch, but it is doable,” Cove answered her.
“We will wait here until nightfall,” Cove said, taking a seat in the shade, and showing Michelle to sit down as well.
Michelle started to plan her escape, looking around and then back at Cove that had his Fedora hat over his eyes, ‘Will he fall asleep?’ she wondered.
‘I wish I was still mind linked with Phoebe,’ Michelle thought, sitting down next to Cove.
***
Phoebe made her way over to Spain while thinking about Marco and Princess Anse, ‘I hope Princess Anse’s father doesn’t catch up with her because of Prince Mano.’
***
Prince Vasili, Prince Bleidd, and Prince Kurt have lost Princess Anse's scent at the train station and after trying to find out more information on Marco they ended up at the church, speaking to the Priest.
“Marco is an orphan, well, was since he is now an adult. Right here is where I found him,” the Priest stood at the bottom of the stairs that lead into the church.
“Any idea as to where he might have gone?” Prince Vasili asked.
“He only left this note but it does not say where he is going,” the priest handed Prince Vasili a note that Marco left him.
Prince Vasili unfolded the note and started to read it, “Father Zackery, thank you for raising me. It is time for me to spread my wings and leave the nest. Love Marco.”
“He always said how he will be the first one on the train, but it took him forever to save up the money for a ticket,” Father Zackery said, walking into the church.
“Thank you for your time,” Prince Bleidd said.
“I hope he is not in any trouble,” Father Zackery said. meaning it as a question.
“Not at all. You see, we believe my daughter ran off with him and we merely want to be sure that it is on her own account,” Prince Vasili said.
“So, your men that attacked Marco meant nothing by it?” Father Zackery asked, hinting that he knew that Prince Vasili was not truthful.
“Good day Father,” Prince Bleidd said, forcing Prince Vasili to leave with him and not say another word.
In their car, back towards the train station Prince Bleidd could not help but asks Prince Vasili about what the priest was talking about, “Please tell me your guards are not going around acting like a gang killing off young men that has their eye on Princess Anse?”
“No young man has died, yet,” Prince Vasili said with a smirk on his face.