My bags sat at the edge of the room. I was pushing myself out of bed and I heard a knock. " Come in!" I called. Duchess stepped in and closed the door. She pushed the covers off of me and grabbed my hand. My hand took hold of hers and I got up. " I'm here to help you get ready, you have a meeting with the king, love." I nodded immediately. My parents and I were flown in late last night by Duchess and we got here much smoother. I was almost afraid that we'd be shot down but we made it here safely.
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I sat down as he was looking outside of the window, almost not noticing me all together." What did you want to meet with me personally about, your majesty?" I asked, cautious. I recognized this room. It was remodeled but It held the same curved ceiling and long table... The conference room.

His eyes met mine, knowing and there was... There was fear. But what was he afraid of? " I called you here... to make a deal. This isn't custom, but it's necessary." He came and sat on the other side of the table." You're the only person I trust to do this."

" What is it?"

The fear resurfaced and I could see the conflict in his eyes " I'm stepping down as king."

Everything got quiet. Not even the wind outside dared to blow. " And you called me here to offer me the crown?" He let out a deep sigh. " Precisely. I know you haven't trained, but there are... questionable methods to fixing that." I felt a little bit uneasy but I think I understood. The sun was peeking from the horizon, signaling dawn." Okay... But what do you want?"

" For you to maintain a good relationship with the wolves. They live close and if we don't want war, its best that we stay on their good side." I could agree to that. The last thing anyone wanted was war. There was too much at stake and he understood that.

He looked relieved and came around the short side of the table. " I have to... Imprint..." He mumbled almost nervously. That meant he had to almost drain me. It was only done out of trust and was usually only done between mates but I wanted the crown. It didn't matter. His hands rested on my shoulders " Relax and don't make this harder for me." It was almost as though I heard " Don't make this weirder for me." I almost chuckled until I felt the sting of his bite.

The important part was that I had to trust him with my life. It was difficult, but necessary.

His hand at the base of my neck was calming and I was losing blood quickly. I was almost panicked but he was doing this for a reason. The whole point of this was trust. But now I knew what he meant by questionable because I started feeling him. Feeling what he knew bond to me. He had a soul and it wasn't pure at all, but it was at the very least an honest one. I trusted him but everything began to fade white when he pulled way. I had seen and knew a lot more than I needed or wanted to know. He had to lick around my wound to make sure it healed properly. I would need to hunt later.

" Hey get up and hunt. You're literally battling life or death." I nodded. He passed me a rag and a new shirt. I quickly changed and gave him my thanks before leaving.

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I had dressed today and pulled my hair back into a low ponytail. Duchess accompanied me to the conference room. She pushed open the doors to the meeting room and closed the doors behind her. " Sit. We have something to discuss." My parents sat close to me and his siblings sat nearby. Duchess sat at Tristan's side and what looked like a council stood along the edge of the conference room. I had no clue of what was happening, but I wouldn't interrupt. " Council, I'm appointing the Grimme family back on the seat, with Blake as the new king." The room had atmosphere before but almost all of it was sucked out. The council didn't like it. The oldest member stepped forward. " On what grounds? Why the sudden change?"

" I am not fit for this. Blake however, is the only other royal blood who was trained."

The oldest council member so straight through him " You're not telling us something."

" My father sold you all a very big lie." He sighed. " Mother, come in." She stepped in the meeting room, also closing the doors behind her. The council looked stunned. He resembled her a lot more than I thought he would.

His gaze was dark but he was honest " My mother did not die." He sighed " She was left to die before it got out that my siblings and I were not pure blood vampires." The council was almost confused, them each looking at each other . " My mother, who was once dead, if you'd call it that, is here to attest to the fact that none of my siblings and I are pure bloods, much less full vampires.

The council turned to her, still chalk pale to see the woman they believed to be dead.

She sat down not too far from the head of the table " It is a fact."

The council turned and talked among themselves for a full minute and a half. I wasn't sure of what was happening at all. I felt like the only one that had come unprepared.

" We've concurred. Proceed." Antón murmured.

Tristan let out a deep sigh " Thank you, council." The council members left, some of them still glancing back at his mother and paling even more. She had dark tan skin that was dewy and flawless. Her lips were full and her eyes took on a more wide almond shape. She had thick and wavy curls that were loose and heavy, tied down. My mother raised her hand, looking perplexed.

" Yes?"

Her instinct was to stammer but she shut her lips toghtly, let her breath out and spoke." If my husband is king... That means I'm expected to produce his heirs." Tristan had remembered something, most likely that she was unable to have children.

Tristan's mother nodded " Well, naturally yes."

" Mom, she's a turned vampire, she cannot have children." Tristan pointed out. His mother looked almost unphased by this news, as though she was aware of something that we weren't." Yes she can. She has... Three options."

We all looked at her, not understanding.

" She can, by tradition have a surrogate child. She can retort to Chaos chemistry or have a child by way of help from a witch, all of which come with their own individual risks."

" This can be discussed between you, Melody and the new king. Raymond, Garnet and Kaden, you all successfully brought back our mother which is amazing. Natasha, Melody, mother and Duchess I need to meet with the four of you at around 6. Raymond, back to your station, Kaden, dismissed, This meeting has come to a close. " He spoke quickly but everyone nodded and left. His eyes met my own softly " Katherine, accompany me." I got up and fixed the chair. I didn't touch him or even look at him, because I wasn't certain of how to code switch with him. I never had to deal with Tristan as a king.

His new bedroom was grand and was decorated in burgundy with gold accents. His bed was much bigger and his bed was covered  this sort of silky brown curtain. I closed the door behind him and turned. He already lie in bed, looking stressed. I climbed into bed with him and I lie down next to him. I hooked my pinkie through his own and he squeezed. I squeezed back. He pulled me to him and grabbed my face. " There's something you aren't telling me. Talk to me."