Page 61 of Princess Redeemed

She smiles at me, and I’m again struck by her ethereal beauty.Her silver hair glistens down here.

“Hannah, your child has no need for blood at this stage in his development.”

I advance toward her, clenching my hands into fists.“You’re wrong.I know when he’s hungry.I know when?—”

She holds out her hand, and against my better judgment, I stop talking.

“Your child is half wolf.”

“Which is why he needs Rogan’s blood.Or at least wolf blood.”

“Wolves have no need to ingest blood.”

I huff.“Don’t you think I know that?It’s his vampire half—or quarter—that needs blood.”

She smiles.“You are indeed in love with the wolf.”

“I don’t need anyone to state the obvious.But it’s over.I accept that.I have no choice.My father’s meddling has broken my heart, Alara, but at least I have Rogan’s child, and Iwillsee to his needs.Right now, he needs wolf blood.”

“Hannah,” she says gently, reaching toward me with her hand.“Take my hand.Know the truth.”

I resist for a split second, but then something inside me compels me to take the vampire’s hand.

And I know.

I know as if I’ve always known.

My child doesn’t require the blood of his father.Those aches, those needs…

They came fromme.

I jerk my hand away.“No…”

“It’s true.The only one craving Rogan’s blood is you, Hannah.Your child is only a quarter vampire.It’s unlikely he’ll even carry the blood gene.”

“And if he does?”

“Then the lust will hit during puberty or after, as it does for all vampires.”

“Mine hit later.”

“Yes, and his likely will as well.”

“Then why…”

She comes toward me, places her hands on my belly, and closes her eyes.She stays silent a moment and then opens her eyes, smiling.

“The child within you is healthy.He’s growing rapidly, but not abnormally.He already loves you very much…and he has no need for his father’s blood.”

I shake my head.“I don’t understand.”

“Youwere the one craving the wolf’s blood, Hannah.You transferred the need onto the child to make it easier on yourself.You no longer wanted to crave his blood, for you now know the truth that you are not his fated mate.Still, you love him, and wolf blood is among the most potent elixirs to our kind.”

I shrug with another huff.“My father did this to me.”

“He did.”

“What a manipulative bastard.”