Their Fiery Love: A Holiday Special

Chapter 6: Viktor

“Did you know about this?” Our father asks me, as we stand in shock, staring at the door that Victoria just walked out of. 

“No. She never said anything to me. This is news to me too, father. I knew something was bothering her. I just never thought it was something like this. I don’t know who her mate is.” I answer.

He sighs and pours more wine into his glass. 

“Now, what do we do? I will never force her to marry another if she has found her true mate. And from the looks of it, she doesn’t seem to want to share who is for now.” he says to me.

“Father, is it that bad? The threat of anarchy?” I ask him.

“I’m afraid so, son. That rogue warlock bastard,” he says.

“Nikolai,” I say.

“Yes, that worm. He banded so many rogues together. He gave them the confidence and magical boost to do damage. Even though they ran from the meeting of species, a few weeks ago, they are still banning together and wreaking havoc all over all the lands. They need to be stopped. This is the perfect excuse that the smaller clans are needing to band together and try to overthrow us.” Father says as he walks around his room.

“Cna we blame them though? The smaller clans have been the targets of the rogue attacks. We just need to disband and get rid of the major rogue group. Maybe that will be enough to scare the rest.” I suggest.

“Their numbers are just too great and the only way to get back up from one of the bigger clans is to agree to join our families. They want one of theirs on our throne someday.” Father growled.

I growled in frustration as well. Thinking that anybody could withhold their aid to their species in exchange for benefitting themselves was atrocious. 

“I know, son. It is killing me to put this kind of burden on you and your sister.” Father sits on his sofa. The heaviness of this burden on his shoulders can be seen on his face. My father looks tired and ragged.

What can I do, to help my father in this situation? I walk over and put my hand on his shoulder.

“Father. We will find a solution to this. I will not allow our house to fall, under such travesty.” I give my oath to him.

My father raises his tired eyes and gives me a nod.

“I am going to go check on Vikki and see if we can come up with another solution. I will tell the advisory council members that we will convene again later this evening and by then I will have a solution.” I said to him. 

He nodded in agreement. Even though I had no f*****g clue how I was going to fix this. I had one, but I so did not want to go there. I need to find Victoria. 

I walk out fo my father’s room and tell the guards in the hall to let the members of the advisory council know to meet in the great hall in an hour. Then I head downstairs. My sister’s bedroom chambers and mine are on this floor but I know she is not there. I know exactly where I will find her. The same place she has always gone since she was a child when she was upset or scared.

I walked out the back of the castle, through the doors that led to the east gardens. I looked up at a tall elm tree, where our childhood treehouse was snuggled in. I could hear Victoria’s sobs at the top. I climbed the tree quickly and saw her sitting in the center of the treehouse, with her arms wrapped around her knees. 

I maneuver my huge body into the small space of the treehouse and sit in front of Victoria. 

“Vikki, why didn’t you tell me? Who is it? Why aren’t you with him or him here with you?” I ask her softly.

“Don’t Vik. Please don’t ask me. I can’t tell you. Not now. Just drop it, please and I do not need a lecture from you about the hurt I just caused father. I already know that. It kills me to turn my back on him and our family.  If I could change it, I would. If I hadn’t found my mate, I wouldn’t think twice about marrying whoever father had chosen for me. I wouldn’t like it but I would have accepted.” she cries softly.

“I know, Vikki. I know you would have.” I tell her.

“What are we going to do, Viktor? How will we help, father? How will we save our throne?” Victoria asks me with a broken voice.

“We need to get a handle of this rogue thing. For that we need men. We need allies. Father thinks that by marrying you to one of the Draco Clan. Now that, that isn’t possible, we need to think of a plan B.” I inform her.

“What plan B?” Victoria yells.

“I have a plan. But I don’t like it.” I say with a growl.

“What? What is it?” she asks.

“If you can’t marry into the Draco Clan, then that just leaves me,” I say with a sigh.

“What do you mean, you?” Victoria asks quietly.

“I will marry one of his daughters. Then our families will be united. We will become allies.” I say to her.

“But you can’t. Your mate is out there, somewhere. How can you give that up?” Victoria asks me.

“Vikki. You know me. I have never wanted a mate. This just fixes that problem for me. Plus we have no other choice. Don’t worry about me. I can do this and I will.” I vow to her.

She puts her arms around my neck and hugs me tight.

Fuck! This is so not how I saw my day going. I hope, the b***h is at least hot.