Chapter 203-What is destined

Chapter 203: 203-What is destined

"Everything I have worked for was meant to protect the people I love and preserve the future of our kind." Velanora squeezed her hand. "If surrendering the crown is what it takes to accomplish that, then the crown has already served its purpose."

She leaned closer to her lover. "And besides, I would rather spend the rest of eternity beside you than sit upon a throne while the world burns around us."

Kheamossa looked at her for a long moment before a small smile appeared on her lips.

"You’re going to make me fall in love with you all over again."

"Excellent. I was beginning to worry that my efforts tonight were insufficient."

Kheamossa shook her head, laughing softly. "Once Maisa and the girls come together, everything will change," she said. "The flower of fate will bloom, and the humans will have no chance of stopping what follows."

Velanora’s gaze drifted toward the distant palace, where white lights shimmered against the towers.

"Then we shall take it as an early gift from our daughter."

"Varitreya," Kheamossa repeated softly.

There was something almost disbelieving in her voice. The princess will be most hurt to lose her birthright and mostly about what was coming.

Maisa was not her daughter by blood in the ordinary sense. She was a redblood, a girl whose existence had become entangled with ancient powers, dangerous prophecies, and the fate of every supernatural species.

Yet Velanora spoke of her with the quiet certainty of a mother who had already made room for her in her heart. She had no choice, Maisa needed to sit on the throne for the plan to work.

"I’ll crown another in her place... Varitreya will hate me."

"We focus on the mission. We can comfort Varitreya later and she’ll reign for generations to come... She can suffer a little delay," Kheamossa said.

"Right. The mission, it’s more important."

Kheamossa rested her head against her wife’s shoulder. "May the Mother bless us with enough time to see it happen."

Velanora kissed her hair. "She will."

Neither woman noticed the brief shadow that crossed Kheamossa’s expression.

The Mother had returned and with her return, even the oldest certainties in the vampire world had begun to tremble.

’Maisa’s child... forgive me, Vari...’ her heart bled when she thought of the contents of the plan.

---

The royal carriage eventually left the main streets and followed a winding road toward Sweet Valley River.

Unlike the bustling capital, the valley was peaceful, its broad river reflecting the moonlight in long silver ribbons.

White roses had been arranged along the riverbanks, while small lanterns floated upon the water, drifting gently beneath the stars.

The celebration here was more intimate, reserved for the royal family and a select group of students who had been invited to spend the evening at the valley.

Among them stood Princess Varitreya, the blood heir to the throne. She was impossible to overlook.

Dressed in a beautiful white gown that flowed around her like water, Varitreya stood beneath the branches of a flowering tree. Her pale hair had been arranged elegantly, and a delicate flower crown rested between her hands.

She had made it herself. Every flower had been chosen with care, every stem woven into place with the patience of someone who wanted the gift to mean more than its appearance.

When she heard the royal carriage approaching, her face brightened.

"Mommy!"

She hurried toward the arriving carriage, lifting the flower crown with both hands.

The moment Kheamossa stepped out, Varitreya rushed to her. "Mommy, I made this for you!" Her smile was radiant.

For a heartbeat, Kheamossa looked at the crown, then at her daughter. She reached out and touched Varitreya’s cheek, her expression full of affection. But before Varitreya could put the crown on her head, she stepped forward.

Her smile remained in place, yet something in her gaze changed. It was subtle enough that most people would have missed it. Varitreya did not.

"Mommy?"

Kheamossa walked past her. The students gathered near the river fell silent.

They had been laughing moments earlier, admiring the fireworks and exchanging gifts for the Week of Hearts.

Now, as the Queen Consort approached, the atmosphere changed so abruptly that even the river seemed quieter.

Kheamossa’s heels clicked against the stone path. One student lowered her head, another stepped aside and the others followed.

A clear path opened before the Queen Consort, every vampire instinctively moving out of her way. No one dared meet her gaze for long. Greetings caught in throats, and conversations died before they could begin.

Kheamossa did not acknowledge them. Her attention had settled on one particular student.

Addessa, the blackblood stood among her classmates, her posture straightening as the Queen Consort approached.

For all her courage, Addessa understood the difference between facing an ordinary opponent and standing before someone who could ruin her life with a single decision.

She bowed. "Your Majesty. I greet you."

Kheamossa stopped before her. For several seconds, she simply studied the young woman and then her expression softened.

"Happy birthday, dear. And happy Hearts."

Addessa blinked. The greeting was so unexpected that she almost forgot to respond.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." A faint blush touched her cheeks. "Happy Hearts to you too."

"How lovely."

Kheamossa glanced at the other students, then returned her attention to Addessa.

"Since you’ve thanked me, perhaps you will grant me and my wife the honor of hosting you and your friends at our home tonight."

Addessa’s lips parted. "That..."

"Is not up for negotiation."

The Queen Consort said it pleasantly. Somehow, that made it far more frightening.

Before Addessa could gather an appropriate response, Kheamossa took her hand and turned toward the waiting carriages.

"Delah, dear, please bring the others."

Delah, who had been standing near the royal attendants, immediately bowed.

"Of course, Your Majesty."

"Wait..."

Addessa barely managed the word before Kheamossa began leading her away.

The blackblood glanced helplessly over her shoulder at her friends, who stared back with expressions ranging from astonishment to outright alarm.

Within moments, Delah had gathered Lumi, Zolani, and Maisa and ushered them toward the royal carriages.

"What is happening?" Lumi whispered.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Zolani replied, looking delighted by the sudden chaos. "Perhaps we’re receiving a royal birthday present."

"Being abducted by royalty isn’t a present," Lumi muttered.

"It is if the food is good."

"Zolani!"

Maisa said nothing. Her attention had been drawn to Kheamossa, who was already speaking to the attendants and arranging for the girls to board the carriage.

The Queen Consort’s smile was warm, but Maisa had learned enough about powerful vampires to recognize that warmth did not always mean innocence.

Why had Kheamossa singled them out? Why Addessa first? And why did the Queen Consort look at them as though she had been waiting for this opportunity?

Maisa’s instincts urged her to be cautious. Still, she allowed herself to be guided toward the carriage. Whatever Kheamossa wanted, refusing a royal invitation in front of an entire gathering of students would accomplish little beyond drawing unnecessary attention.

’She has the same friendly smile as Taratoya and that vampire is always upto no good. I should be careful of the queen consort!’ Maisa thought.

Kheamossa felt her caution and smirked. ’There is no point in being careful, Maisa. What is destined will be regardless of your caution!’