Page 89 of Princess Redeemed

“Good.”He nods and pulls his shirt over his muscled torso.“Any plan on how you’re going to fight a serpent?”

“I’m not fighting a serpent,” I say.“We both know that.”

He nods solemnly.“Eris is strong.She-wolves always are.They have to be to protect their cubs.”

I clear my throat as I pull the laces of my military boots and fasten them securely.“I’m not fighting a she-wolf either, Rogan.”

He raises his eyebrows.“Hannah…”

My name.

It’s always serious when he uses my name.

“She’s not what she appears to be,” I say.“That’s what Alara meant.That’s what the prophecy says.It’s all making sense now.Everything Alara has said, everything she’s taught me.Everything my father did to bring you and me together.”

“Your father’s involved with Eris?”

“Yes and no.There’s no love lost between my father and me, Rogan.You know that.But I am his daughter, his heir.We’re connected by blood, and blood protects blood.”

“What the fuck are you getting at?”

I draw in a breath.“A serpent is a symbol of evil.It goes back to the bible, to the actual dawn of time.”

“So if Eris is the serpent in this so-called prophecy…” Rogan paces across my bedroom.

“She’s evil, Rogan.”I stand tall, meet his gaze.“And she’s not a wolf.She’s a fucking demon.Sent by my stepfather.”

56

Rogan’s eyes go wide.“Your stepfather?The demon king?”

I nod grimly.“Yes.He controls my mother, and he’s always hated that he couldn’t control me.When I learned my true lineage and became bound by blood to obey my father’s commands… God, Richard must have despised that.The vampire king could control what he couldn’t.”

Rogan clenches his fists, a low growl escaping his throat.“And you’re sure about this?”

“I’m sure,” I say with conviction.

Indeed, it all makes sense now.Even my father’s duplicity in manipulating Rogan and me.

“But why send a she-wolf?Why not attack directly?”Rogan asks.

“That’s the cunning part, isn’t it?”A chill creeps through me.“A direct attack would be obvious.It would unite the entire vampire kingdom against him.But don’t you see?”

“No, princess, I don’t see.Eris is not a demon.I… I was with her.She’s a wolf.”

My mind churns.“Maybe she’s half demon and half wolf.Like I’m half human and half vampire.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Isn’t it?Who are we to know what’s truly possible?The child growing inside me shouldn’t be possible, but I know, Rogan.I know in my heart that he is strong.Strong and healthy, and he has a role to play.An important one.”

“How can she be my mate, then?”

“If she’s part wolf?—”

He shakes his head, his unruly hair falling into his eyes.“But I would have sensed something.”

“Perhaps,” I say, my heart pounding.“But you were attracted to her on a primal level, Rogan.You said so yourself.It was part of your wolf nature.Your senses were clouded.”