LAST chapter, Peaches, before the Epilogue!

Chapter 165—Family Tree

Raine

**Three Months Later**

Cage and I were preparing to leave Armand's kingdom and begin our own. I suspected the change would feel significant. So much had happened to me here. It was my beginning with Cage, my beginning as a vampire, and a safe haven for us...if there were such a thing in the vampire world. But it was time. We needed to be on our own. Inside both of us, was a compulsion to venture out and start something new.

Kieran and Talon would be joining us, as well as our several pets. And there had been rumors several vampires from varying kingdoms were interested. Vampires we had never met, but apparently they'd heard of us. I'd been startled by the number of requests we'd already received and we weren't even on our own yet. Just as I felt compelled to begin somewhere new, apparently, several vampires felt compelled to want to join us.

We wouldn't turn them away. I wanted to begin a new kingdom, something the vampire world had not seen, one of refuge and respect. Cage was hesitant to believe a certain level of freedom was possible. He felt vampires' darker natures would always dictate the need for strict rule, but he was willing to support me in my endeavor. I loved him for understanding my dreams, and at least trying a new perspective.

"What are you looking at?" Cage interrupted my musings.

I looked up to find his beautiful silver eyes looking at me. I held open the photo album. "I was just looking through pictures before I packed them for the move."

He stepped to look over my shoulder. Reaching around me, he pointed toward one of the 4 x 6 images. "I loved that bathing suit on you...although I don't know why you felt you had to wear one."

I swiveled my head around to find a small pout on his face. I rolled my eyes. "It wouldn't have been appropriate. And you can't keep me naked all the time."

His lips curled up devilishly. That sparkling mischievous look in his eyes made me place a hand on his chest. "Oh no, no, no...that was not a personal challenge. Whatever you're thinking, stop it right now!"

He laughed, the sound deep and seductive. My toes curled, but I forced myself back to the task at hand, refocusing on the album in front of me. The picture he'd pointed to had been taken during our two-week vacation after the Reception Gala. The vacation had been wonderfully relaxing, and just what we needed, before we had to tackle such a big move and endeavor.

After our vacation, Talia and Alaric had come back for Armand and Brialle's mating ceremony. I cringed all over again, remembering. Thankfully, Armand had been respectful of Brialle. But I had kept my head nestled in Cage's shoulder. There was no way I could watch. Listening to it had been bad enough.

Cage had found the whole thing hilarious. Even Talia hadn't been affected, but she grew up in this world. The three of them had enjoyed my appalled response a little bit too much, I thought irritably.

That was another thing I wasn't sure I would continue in our own kingdom—public consummation. On this point, Cage completely disagreed with me. It was so ingrained in vampire tradition. So for now, it was still open for discussion, and we'd just wait and see how things went.

Abruptly, both my phone and Cages' sounded a notification of an incoming text. His eyes tightened. It was either an incredible coincidence that we both received a text at the same time, or whatever it was, required both of us. The latter made me nervous.

As I pulled my phone up to look at it, my concerns were justified. The message was cryptic: Council Room. Felaern is here. Your attendance is needed.

I looked up at Cage. "What do you think it is?"

"I don't know." He frowned.

"Maybe they just want to see us before we leave." Even as I said the words, I knew it was unlikely.

Cage reached for my hand. I stood and gave it to him. We walked hand-in-hand to the Council Room. When we entered, Armand and Brialle were already there. Felaern and Sofielle sat on a couch facing them.

Felaern looked up and met my gaze, but his expression was lacking his normal humor. There was no trace of amusement. My heart beat faster. Cage sensed my increased anxiety, and squeezed my hand as he led me to a third couch adjacent to them. We sat down quietly, neither of us engaging in conversation. It was clear we were here to listen.

"Thank you for meeting with us without prior notification," Felaern began.

Cage nodded.

Armand replied cordially, "You are always welcome. What can we help you with?"

"At the present moment, it is not help that we require. Instead, we come to share information I think you will find most important." Felaern began.

My anxiety rose. What could we possibly need to know that would bring Felaern and Sofielle away from their kingdom? I had been staring at Felaern, but my attention fell to Sofielle, and right away, I noticed several things.

First, she was noticeably stiff and not sitting close to Felaern at all. If anything, she seemed to try to put as much distance between them on the couch as possible. My heart ached. I didn't know the details, but it was obvious their relationship was broken, and from the way they looked, I wondered if it was repairable.

The other thing I noticed was shocking—she still wore the obsidian ore bands around her ankles and wrists! The ones Acheron had used to control her. Why hadn't they taken them off of her? Even more confusing—why was Felaern wearing the ring that controlled the bands?!

But all of those questions flew out of my mind the moment Felaern said quietly, "Brialle, Acheron lied to you. He told you your mother died. She didn't."

Wait a minute!

What was he trying to say?

My mother was struggling just as much as I was. Her face was stricken. She choked out, "What do you mean?" Armand put his arm around her, his expression fierce and protective.

"I am...your mother," Sofielle whispered, her lip trembling and her eyes swirling with agony.

Silence reigned.

None of us spoke, too shocked by this revelation.

Brialle sat frozen, her mouth formed into a small 'o'.

Finally, Armand gritted out, "How is that possible? Brialle is an Immortal, which means her father was a vampire and her mother had to be a bloodline human."

I understood his question. Cage had previously explained an Immortal could only be conceived by a vampire and a human that carried the scent of one of the ancient vampire bloodlines, referred to as a bloodline human.

"There was a human, a female," Sofielle explained haltingly. "Acheron searched for one for years and paid a high price for her."

Brialle shook her head, her eyebrows furrowed. "So was that woman my mother?"

"No...you were born of...my womb. And I watched you grow...every day," Sofielle's voice broke off, silent tears rolling down her cheeks.

I couldn't swallow past the thick lump in my throat.

"But...how?" Brialle whispered.

Felaern's countenance turned absolutely lethal, his hands clenched. If fire could have shot out of his eyes, it would have. A hard shiver ran down my spine. He growled, "That sadistic bastard found pleasure in his experiments."

Sofielle flinched hard at his words.

I was completely lost and had no idea what to say. Brialle was still struggling to understand. She whispered, "So, are you saying I...was one of those experiments?"

He nodded. "I won't go into detail, but suffice to say, he found a way to use the bloodline human's blood and himself to impregnate Sofielle, your mother."

My stomach churned. The reality of the situation couldn't be denied. I had suspected...it would be unrealistic to think it hadn't happened, but his words had confirmed it—Acheron had forced himself upon Sofielle. Probably repeatedly.

Brialle whispered, "But how can I be half Fae?  I have no Fae powers."

"No, but it would explain why you were able to get pregnant with Armand. Why an Immortal was able to conceive with a vampire when you should have normally only been able to conceive with a human. It would explain why Raine is uniquely her and the catalyst of such a unique combination created an entirely new Vampire Bloodline."

I sucked in a sharp breath.

Could it be true?!

If what he said was true, then I was one quarter Fae!  

Oh fuck, and that made  Killian my uncle! He was also Sofielle's biological child, making him Brialle's half-brother and my half-uncle. I rasped, "That was why Killian kept asking questions about my family."

Felaern nodded. "Killian mentioned he felt a connection to you. He didn't know what it was at the time, but he felt it the minute he saw you."

My brain was spinning. And then a mortifying memory hit me—I had forcibly fed on him while I was in Marku's kingdom. I had purposefully knocked him off the back of the couch, pouncing on top of him to take his blood and when he fought...oh shit, I had inflicted him with arousal!  My stomach turned, appalled at my behavior.

Cage interrupted, asking carefully, "What about Talia? She hasn't shown any Fae traits."

Felaern shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe she doesn't have any Fae traits, or possible it lies latent."

Brialle rasped, "My mother?"

Sofielle twisted her hands together. The agony in her expression increased tenfold as she spoke fervently, "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry for not being there for you during your childhood. But I was always there...watching."

"How?" Brialle mouthed the word.

"He kept me behind glass...a portal. He let me see you, but never be a part of your life. It was just another one of his tortures...always promising if I behaved, sometime in the future...I could be good enough to be let out of my prison...they were all lies."

"The mirror," Brialle breathed in understanding. "The full-size mirror in the living room."

Sofielle nodded. "Not just that mirror, but several around the house."

There was another beat of silence, and then Sofielle's lip quivered. "I'm sorry...I didn't stop him from the physical torment he put you through. He did it to...punish me...to keep me in line, to make me understand what was at stake and what he could do to you if I disobeyed. So I obeyed. But—but he hurt you anyway."

Abruptly, Armand snapped his head toward Brialle. He struggled to maintain control. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

Oh fuck, Armand didn't know. Brialle sat frozen. "Why didn't you tell me that bastard hurt you?!" he repeated the question through clenched teeth, his voice rising, "Did he do anything else to you?"

"No! He didn't...touch me," she answered. "Not like that."

"But he hit you?" he demanded furiously, "Did that man beat you?"

Brialle's face twisted. She answered quietly, "Yes."

Armand was so angry, no words came out of his mouth. His hands clenched and unclenched. Tears fell from Brialle's eyes. Immediately, he calmed down and wrapped her in his arms. He whispered into her neck brokenly, "Why didn't you tell me?"

She let him hold her for a moment and then pulled back. She wiped her eyes. "Because you already saved me. You loved me. I was just happy to be free, I didn't want to start a war." She reached her fingertips to his face, her voice lowering, "All I wanted was you."

He held her close for another long moment. When he pulled away, Brialle locked Sofielle in her gaze. "You cannot be blamed for Acheron's violent tendencies. He did what he did to me because he wanted to, to satisfy his sadistic whims. He would have done it regardless of who was watching, or what you did. I didn't know you were there...but I know him."

A soft sob came from Sofielle's throat.

"What has been done to punishment him?" Armand demanded angrily, his eyes flashing.

Felaern's crystal blue orbs darkened. His lips curled into a frightening smile. "I assure you, his screams do not stop. Not for one second, not for a single breath, is he silent. You are most welcome to visit and extract your pound of flesh."

Armand nodded, responding with his own feral and cruel smile of anticipation. It was clear he planned to take Felaern up on his offer.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Brialle flinch. Felaern must have caught it as well, because his expression softened. "I'm sorry it's your father, but I will not change my mind on punishing him. You don't know...what that monster has done."

Felaern's words were ominous, so much so, they scared me. Acheron had kept Sofielle locked up for centuries...hundreds of years to inflict any number of vile afflictions on her. And from Felaern's expression, it sounded like Acheron had indulged himself completely. I thought I might be sick.

Brialle wiped another tear from her cheek. "I know, my friend. I trust you. Always."

Cage interrupted, his own voice hard, "What about Skoldr?"

Felaern snarled, "We are still looking for him."

"Why would Acheron allow you to know your son and not me?" Brialle whispered. "You knew Skoldr."

Sofielle hissed, "That abomination is no flesh of mine!"

Felaern's lips were set in a thin hard line. "Skoldr is not her child. He is the byproduct of another bloodline human and Acheron."

I asked quietly, "Do you have any other children?"

Apparently, that was not the right question to ask, because Sofielle reacted as if I'd slapped her, recoiling. Tension rolled through Felaern, his eyes flashing once again. I spoke quickly, "I'm sorry! I don't need to know."

Sofielle swallowed and blinked back her tears. "No, I do not have any other children. I made sure of it."

Oh no! Her words caused my heart to clench and my belly to hurt. What had she done?? I didn't dare ask.

"Um, is it okay if I...hug you?" Brialle asked softly.

Sofielle's expression broke. She couldn't speak but she nodded. Instantly, Brialle was on her feet and stepped to the couch where Sofielle sat. Felaern stood at the same time to give Brialle room to sit.

I sat, frozen, unable to stop the constant stream of tears falling from my eyes as I watched them.

I wanted...

They both must have understood, because at the same moment, they looked up and both motioned for me to join them. I couldn't stop the sob from my throat as I eagerly knelt on the floor in front of them. Both leaned forward and wrapped their arms around to hold me tight, as the tears flowed.

I didn't know how long we held each other and cried, but I had an overwhelming sense of completion...of belonging. It was hard to wrap my head around. It wasn't that long ago, I was an orphan. I had no one, no family at all.

But now...

Now, I was held in the arms of my mother and my grandmother. And their love was strong. It was a tangible bond that tightly wrapped around me, and it was powerful.

When I finally pulled away, I caught Armand's eye. He gave me a deep nod, his way of reaffirming his affection and loyalty to me. I gave him a small smile, before turning toward Cage.

I found him waiting for me with open arms.

And the look of love on his face was almost enough to bring me to my knees.

My family was complete—I had a sister, mother and father, and now a grandmother, who loved me.

My life was complete—I had Cage. And if all else failed...if I lost everything else, but had him, it would be enough. He was more than enough.

Destiny had a plan for me. I fought her. I even called her a bitch. Repeatedly. But she hadn't relented. She pushed me, kicking and screaming, but she had been right.

And as I stared at Cage, I would forever be thankful.

The End

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Wow, Peaches, I can barely believe it, but we have come to the end! There will be an Epilogue soon, wrapping everything up. It's a little peek into their future, to see where everyone is a few years down the road.

From the bottom of my heart, I don't think I can fully convey my deepest appreciation and love for ALL of you who have read this story. You laughed with me. You cried with me. You yelled at me. lol.  You supported me. And your comments had me rolling with giggles. It's a very unique experience to create a story very dear to my heart, and get to share it at the same time. I felt as though we did this together, because I know I couldn't have done it without you.

You made this the best experience!

For that, all my love!

Much love, Emie