Chapter 75

After lunch was over, John was left alone with nobles and generals who were aligned with his vision. Unifying the vampire and werewolf lands under one throne would expand all of their land stakes and wealth. They could turn every human within their boundaries and mobilize them and the werewolves to take over the continent with enough time. It was not mere greed, but ambition. It was something that Nicole and the other generals would never understand.

They were limited to the August family’s vision of the kingdom under the moon goddess’ blessings, but John figured out a long time ago that the moon goddess was more an idea perfect for controlling the simple minded masses.

It was how they explained the differences in power and issues they faced they couldn’t explain or overcome easily.

Several of the nobles in the room had lost land and status during the war. Some of them lost family to the front line and the burning hatred for werewolves would not be assuaged with Nicole's oath or the return of Daphne.

Perhaps vampires and werewolves didn't prey on each other, but the enmity that led them to the present was not easily disregarded.

He looked to the lord he spoke most often with, urging him with a look to start planting the seeds of doubt that would make his plan work.

"Is it right to have her take the throne?" a lord asked.

"What are you saying?"

"She has lived among humans within the werewolf's territory. Worse than that, she has lived among them for who knows how long? She is only half vampire and illegitimate..." He shook his head, "Perhaps, we have pushed something that was not meant to be?"

"Her being half-human might help the human population be more comfortable."

"Who cares about their comfort?" John asked. "They rely on us for protection. They should simply be grateful we do not demand blood tribute."

The duchess who had remained in the room stood in the far corner looking out the window. She had the resources and funds to support his efforts. Getting her on his side would go a long way to ensuring his

"You cannot blame her for the actions of her mother. If Nicole believes she can be taught to rule with grace over us, we should trust her judgement."

John regarded her, "And what of her... love for the werewolf king?"

She turned her head sharply, "What?"

"She told me herself. She intends to be with him," he said. "I don't know if she means to leave or to bring him here... Perhaps even try to unite our lands?"

Her eyes flashed with fury and she trembled, "Never would I be so insulted. That cannot be her plan?"

John shrugged, "I don't know what she wishes to do. Nicole is the only one who has been able to speak with her freely... It would seem to me that Nicole is hiding something."

She shook her head, "Your prejudice blinds you and skews your judgement. Nicole is the most honorable of us."

"Then why won't she tells us where she went?"

"Obviously, she is under oath to the late queen to keep her secret," she shook her head. "Her death does not negate Nicole's oaths."

"Maybe," John said. "Or maybe she has her own agenda... In my experience no one is as honorable as they appear."

She scoffed, "I can see your agenda, John. You have always been transparent..."

John eyed her, "And what is it that you think I want?"

"You practically salivated over Princess Rose. Our young queen takes after her mother, doesn't she? With that delightful scent... You can't wait to sink your teeth into her."

John narrowed his eyes at her.

"A lord and failed general seeking to be king," she scoffed. "The audacity and ambition..."

She took a seat, tilting her head, "You need my help on your little crusade."

John narrowed his eyes at her.

"So what is that you plan to offer me for it?" She asked with a sly smile. "I don't support your quest for the throne, but having you at her side isn't as repulsive as the thought of bowing to a mangy wolf. Too much vampire blood was shed and burned for me to ever wish for peace."

John smiled. He hadn't expected this turn in the conversation, but it wasn't the worst.

"Name your price."

"The werewolf king's head on a pike."

John grinned, "You have a deal, duchess."

She stood and glided out of the room with a little smile on her mouth. John and the lord of the neutral zone's border left the room, heading towards the noble's library.

"I didn't expect the duchess to be on our side."

John smirked, "Her husband was lost in the war. She has no desire for peace. She may respect Nicole, but she hates werewolves more."

"How will she feel about unifying the kingdoms?"

"I'm sure as long as we allow her to murder enough werewolves to bring her some measure of peace, she'll be okay... Though perhaps having Arthur's head decorating her manor will be enough for her not to care."

A knock sounded on the door of the library. Daphne looked up as the door opened. One of the werewolves who came with her entered. Mamie glanced at her as the other entered behind her looking shaken.

"What's wrong?"

"We have to leave. Now. We have to warn the king."

Daphne frowned, "Sit and tell me what's going on."

They sat and explained overhearing a conversation about a duchess wanting Arthur's head. Daphne remembered the duchess from breakfast and the warning that Nicole had given her. She knew the woman hated werewolves because of the war.

"What else? Do you know who was talking?"

"They didn't say. There were two men."

One of them nodded, "One of them mentioned unifying the kingdom and allowing her to kill as many werewolves as she wanted."

Daphne gasped, her heart leaped in her chest. She couldn't figure out who had been talking based on the few details they gave her, but the information was important.

Unifying the kingdoms was a good idea, but the way these two seemed to want to do it was the exact opposite of what she would want.

She also knew that such a move was next to impossible with how much the werewolves hated and feared the vampires.

"If you care at all about His Majesty, we'll be out of here before the end of the week," one of them said.

Daphne worried her lip and shook her head, "It's not that easy."

"What do you even mean?"

"You--"

"Do you have any idea on how to get back to the werewolf kingdom?" Daphne asked, looking at them.

They froze and Mamie sighed.

"The luna is right. Without help from a vampire or a map, or something, we'd end up running into vampire forces or in the ocean before we even see anything that looks familiar."

Daphne sighed, "If we're going to try and leave early, then it would be best to get--"

"No!" One of them said, "We can't trust any of these vampires. They want to kill our king!"

Daphne shook her head, "You heard two people talking. They're probably connected to the traitor. That's not enough to say that everyone feels that way, and we still haven’t made any progress on that front."

“What about the threat to the king?” She asked. “We can’t just ignore that!”

Daphne shook her head. She didn’t intend to, but even with the group that had attacked Sharp Armor, they would have to get into the castle and overcome Arthur’s strength. She didn’t think it was impossible, but it was unlikely that they planned to attack so quickly.

From what they spoke about, it seemed that they were trying to gather support to either overthrow her or overrule Nicole’s stance on peace.

Nicole hadn't come to tell her what had happened at the meeting yet, but she bet that her report would help her figure out who they had overheard and maybe what their ultimate goal was. Still, she knew enough to know that John had an interest in her and had developed the militia that had attacked Sharp Armor.

She bet he was at least connected to the conversation, but what could be his motive to unify the lands under one throne?

I have to confess that I have become infatuated with you and would like to court you formally.

She frowned and turned to find the book about the monarchs that had reigned from the August family. There had never been a king. If she remembered from the werewolf kingdom, they only had kings.

Hadn’t Nicole said something about the lands that had been lost during the war? She didn’t think John had lost any land, but maybe she was wrong.

She hoped Nicole came soon, but she kneeled and faced them.

“First, we’ll need an escape plan and a way to keep them off the trail.”

They seemed relieved to hear her considering an escape plan, but Daphne knew that even coming up with a plan would be the hardest part.

She wondered, for a moment, how her mother had escaped the palace.

Maybe she could use the same method if she could figure it out.