Chapter 16 Taliyah's POV I watch their faces as I explain the succession rules and I know they are puzzled. Finished I tell them that Mother was aware of this fact and for that reason I was a Gift, because with a Daughter after two Sons he would never be able to pass the torch to his children. "Unless of course I would die." I say as I look in to Vivyanna's eyes and I see them widen in anger. "But even if I were to die, he would never be able to pass the torch to his Sons." And I see even more confusion on their faces. "Armas, what happens if a Werewolf or a Lycan marks a chosen Mate while their marked fated Mate is still alive?" Vivyanna starts laughing and I know she has figured it out. He tells me that there will be no offspring, because they are not truly mated. I ask him if there is a way for a Pack-doctor to find this out and he shakes his head. I tell them about the day that my Mother died and as I tell them, I can see that they all realize what happened that day. Camden's P.O.V. Suddenly I remember the remark her Lycan made before she got in to the SUV. "That is what you meant when you said that your Mother had stopped him from getting what he wanted. But how did you stop him?" She looks at me and starts to smile "My Father is unaware of the fact that he will never have children with Alena. And by attacking her, he no longer has me around to finish his deal with Alpha Roger." I understand that she is not telling us everything, but I don't point it out to anyone. She has been through enough and I have no intention of adding more to it. "Princess Taliyah, Kaelan, Amand and I were your Mother's personal security detail. We failed to see what her Brother was up to and for that reason she ran away. We understand if you want to choose another security detail. But I hope we will get the chance to fulfill our oath to your Mother, we swore to her that we would protect her and her children." Our heads are bowed as I speak the final words, because we will accept it if she doesn't want us as her personal protection detail. "Camden, Kaelan, Amand. Look at me." And our heads snap up, we couldn't keep our heads down, even if we had wanted to. Her command makes that impossible and I hear Armas gasp as he realizes what she just did. "From the moment I stepped in front of you, I have felt safe for the first time in in a very long time. I don't want another security detail, I want the three of you to fulfill the oath you took." 1/3 Chapter 16 We how our heads once more, but this time it is in acceptance of our new assignment. Taliyah's POV Finished As I say their names and tell them to look at me, I feel something I have only felt once before and I still don't know how to explain it. Armas puts his hand on mine and tells me that I used my Royal authority. He tells me that there is a lot for me to learn, but that I will get all the help I need in understanding what it means to be a Royal. I feel a pull in side of me, that seems to tell me that I should get towards the door. It gets stronger and without warning the door slams open. Everyone gets on one knee and in unison they say "Your Majesty." I see a man storming in to the room and the closer he gets, the stronger the pull becomes. For a moment I wonder if he is my Mate, but Ivory tells me that his scent is not strong enough for that to be the fact. He stops right in front of me and even though I know that he is the King, I don't feel the urge to bow down to him. Instead he is the one going down on one knee in front of me. "My name is Alaric and I am your Cousin." He holds my hands as he looks over his shoulder. "The woman to your left is my Mate, Queen Anayah. The woman to your right is Princess Maleah, your Grandmother." I had already known we were related before he told me, because she looks exactly like my Mother. As soon as he is finished speaking, she walks forward and pushes Alaric away from me. I see from the corner of my eyes that he loses his balance and falls to the floor. And even though I know it is not done, I start laughing as my Grandmother pulls me in to her arms. I get the same feeling from her as I always got from my Mother when she held me in her arms. I feel loved, cared for and I can't stop my tears from running down my cheeks. We just sit like that for a while, until Alaric has had enough. "Grandmother, there are more people that would like to welcome her in to the family. So let go or I will drag you away from her." He says teasingly and we both start laughing at Grandmother's expression. She doesn't make it better by saying "Alaric, you better watch that mouth of yours or I will take you over my knee, Ivory is rolling around in my head and shows me an image of Alaric sprawled over Grandmother's lap, it sends me in to such a laughing fit that I slide of my seat. I shake my head as I try to catch my breath, but every time I look at one of them I start laughing again. Hiccupping I manage to say "Lycan with a big imagination." Both Grandmother and Alaric are staring at me, but it seems that Anayah's Lycan is like Ivory, as she is laughing as hard as I am. I see that the guys have a straight face, but I can see the twinkles in their eyes. The Council-members have retreated to the far corner of the room and have their backs turned towards us. Undoubtedly to hide their laughing faces from their King. 2/3 2:53 pm D DDD. Council's Academy Series (New)