Royal Blood and One Forever : Book Three

by Simone Nicholls

  And like that, I fell asleep with one of Connors arm's under my head and other on top of mine and we both fell asleep holding our son; like it should be.

  “Mom.”

  My eyes fluttered open and Cooper’s big black eyes were an inch from my face. Pulling my head back, startled by his closeness. “Cooper?” My voice was thick with sleep.

  “There is a man in the bed.” Cooper’s eyes were wide, and he moved his head to look behind me.

  Sighing softly, I softly lifted Connor’s hand from my hip and motioned for Cooper to get out the bed with me. Cooper latched onto my arm as quickly as he could. He was still eyeing off Connor when I pulled him onto my lap and wrapped my arms around him and we sat in the big armchair.

  “It isn’t Uncle Chase's mom.” Cooper’s voice was low and he still hadn’t pulled his eyes away from Connor.

  “Cooper. Cooper listens to me.” I softly turned his head around to face me. “Do you remember me telling you about your dad?”

  “Yeah.” Cooper’s interested now solely on me and a smile began to form. “His strong, stronger than Uncle Chase, powerful and he loves me.” Cooper counted each thing on his fingers. Cooper’s smile dropped just sightly “And he can’t be with us.”

  I nodded my head, “And what did I promise you?”

  “That one day I would meet him.”

  “And when did I promise you this?”

  “When we were in Paris, on the big tower.” Cooper looked up from fiddling with his fingers. “Mom when am I going to meet him? And when can we go home?”

  “Your dad is a great man,” I stroked Cooper’s hair “and I think it’s time you found that out for yourself.”

  “He doesn’t want to see me.” Cooper cuddled into me, wrapping an arm around my neck. “Uncle Chase said he was a busy man.”

  “Chase is right, but I have a feeling he would make time to meet you.”

  “You don’t know that mom.”

  “Well he has let us stay in his castle, hasn’t he?”

  Cooper was fully alert and let go of my neck to face me. “We’re staying at dads? Right now?”

  I nodded my head and my eyes drifted over to the sleeping Connor and I had a feeling he was listening to every word.

  Cooper jumped off my lap and his little feet padded over to the bed and he studied Connor. “This is dad, isn’t it?” Cooper turned his head to the side, looking at Connor like he was a magical character.

  “What are you thinking Cooper?” I couldn’t help but wonder as he looked at Connor with complete silence.

  “How am I meant to talk to him?” Cooper spun around and looked at me, “I don’t know him and I…”

  “You want?” I frowned.

  “I didn’t think I really had one.”

  “I’m sorry, Cooper.” Pitty covered my face. How could I have kept him from Connor for so long. I may not like my dad, but at least I always knew him. “But you can get to know him.”

  I was now secretly praying that Connor was going to accept him.

  “Mom, can I keep him?” Cooper’s little face lit up, “Please mom.”

  I controlled myself from laughing out loud, just in case Connor was sleeping. “We will see.” I smiled, “Now are you ready to get back into bed, or did you want to go get breakfast?”

  The dawn was breaking and the soft sunlight was beginning to drift into the room.

  “Nah I want him to wake up.” Cooper jumped on the bed and crossed his legs, his eyes glued on Connor.

  “Well I’m going to get breakfast; I’ll bring you something back, ok?” I smiled at Cooper’s little head as it nodded. Closing the bedroom door softly, I fought the anger at myself which was slowly consuming me. I just hoped that Connor and Cooper could form some sort of relationship, after the distance I had kept between them. Walking down the dim light hallway, I knew I had to come to terms with the fact. Cooper deserved to have a father and I knew I would have to face the fact that with that came the throne.

  Connor

  I couldn’t keep my eyes closed any longer. I felt him staring at me, and I was wondering what the heck was taking Isabella so long to come back! I had hoped that she would return before I pretended to wake up, but the more he stared the more I couldn’t pretend.

  Slowly I caved and opened my eyes, and I was surprised to see my own eyes staring back at me. His little head turned and he studied me closer.

  “You have my eyes.” Cooper stated.

  “You mean you have my eyes.” I pulled myself up onto the bed, and I was uncomfortable. I had little knowledge when it came to children, sure I had May but she knew me as her dad. Cooper didn’t.

  “Do you live here?” Cooper however wasn’t uncomfortable or even scared. How was this little boy so strong and confident at such a small age?

  “You could say that.” I arched an eyebrow at him, “Do you know who I am?”

  “Your dad.” Cooper’s lips turned into a firm line before he frowned at me, “And you’re important or something.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “You live in a castle. You’re King, aren’t you?”

  “You’re smart a boy.” I was surprised at my own child’s intelligences. “Do you know what that makes you?”

  “A princess.” Cooper’s face covered in disgust as he spat the word out.

  A deep chuckled rumbled through me, “You mean a Prince.”

  “Prince.” Cooper’s disgust fell from his face “That’s not as girly.”

  “No it’s not.” I tempted to remain calm, but I couldn’t stop the building nerves inside me. What if my son didn’t like me? After all, Chase had clearly been his father figure, though as Isabella said I am stronger and I smirked as I thought that.

  “So what are we going to do today?” Cooper pushed his shaggy hair out of his face, with excitement dashing through his eyes.

  “I have a council meeting.” I responded before thinking, and the disappointment coated Cooper’s face and it tore at me. “But I suppose I could have a day off.” A day off from King is impossible, but I could make the interruptions minimized.

  “We could play outside?” Cooper’s face lit up, “The garden’s here are huge and Uncle Chase said I was allowed to play in them.”

  Uncle Chase said that, did he? I kept that comment to myself and nodded my head. Chase once again getting the glory.

  “Can Mom come too?”

  “Can I come where?” Isabella’s sweet voice drifted through the room as she closed the door and balanced two plates of hot breakfast. Her eyes slowly drifted to mine and I was lost in the ocean.

  “Come play with us?” Cooper twisted on the bed, bouncing with excitement.

  “I think Connor has more important things to.” Isabella frowned slightly.

  “Dad said he could!”

  Isabella’s eyes went wide and I was saw the surprise on her face was mirrored on mine. That one word meant more to me, than I thought it would. How could Cooper say that, after only having a small conversation with me?

  “Yes I did.” I put in, my voice stumbling slightly, clearing my voice “You should join us Isabella.”

  Her small smile sent shivers of delight through me, oh how I had missed her.

  Isabella

  Cooper was running by himself in front of us, laughing and playing with a stick, whipping plants as he ran past them.

  “So we haven’t really spoke.” I opened the conversation up, trying to break the silence between us. Not that the silence was awkward, it was peaceful. “I don’t know what to say to you.” I glanced at the man I loved, but hadn’t let myself feel that love in sometime.

  “We hardly know each other.” Connor’s voice was soft as he spoke, and I had noticed he hadn’t taken his eyes off Cooper the whole time.

  “Yes, but you will, I’m sure you will.”

  “I didn’t mean Cooper and I.” Connor glanced out of the corner of his eye at me. “You and me.”

  “Connor, I think I know you.
” I challenged him. Sure we had been apart, but I still know him. Didn’t I?

  “Isabella,” he placed a hand on my arm stopping us both from walking. He was looking down at me, and I missed looking into his jet-black eyes. “We have never been a couple, every time we got close we got ripped apart.”

  “I guess, but..”

  “Isabella, you’re my mate and we are meant to be , but you have fought it the whole time.”

  “I actually remember it differently.” I pulled my arm from his grasp, “I remember our problems coming from you not admitting I was your mate.”

  “And I remember you running from me.”

  “Because you slept with another woman! After being with me!”

  “I’m not fighting with you over the past!” Connor’s eyes were narrowing. I was surprised our voices hadn’t risen yet. “I am sick of it. What I want to ask you Isabella is what are your plans for the future? And am I even in it?”

  “Of course you are.” The words slipped from my mouth before I even thought of a response. For once, I actually said what I wanted instead of hiding it. “I thought I could live without you.” My head dropped and I was honest, “And for a while I thought I was. But I was dead. Without you Connor, I’m shell.” I looked him in the eye, and no emotion was displayed on his face. He reached out for me but I took a step away.

  “Connor, I did things I can’t take back. I treated your son in the way that…” my voice broke, as my mind drifted back to the earlier years of Cooper’s life. How could I tell him I ignored his child for so long? “The years away from you were the hardest.”

  “Isabella, you don’t..”

  “No let me finish.” I raised my hand to stop him. “I didn’t want to come to you because I didn’t want the throne and I didn’t want Cooper to have the burden of the throne. But then I realised, we don’t have a choice about the throne. It’s in our blood, well it was in mine.” My fingers drifted over the scar on my arm. “But it is most defiantly in Cooper’s and he will need his father to guide him. I understand if you don’t want me to be apart from his life because I know the throne has more of a right to him now than I do.”

  Years I had feared losing him, but the day had come to face the fact. Cooper was a Prince and future King. Whether I wanted him to be or not, he was.

  “Isabella,” Connor reached out for me this time, I didn’t escape his grasp. “You’re always going to be Cooper’s mother and I will always want you.”

  “But..?” I was ready for it, I was ready for the heart ache and I was ready for the pain. Just like every other time I knew something was going to come. How could I not expect it? Just glancing at mine and Connor’s relationship it was riddled with heartache.

  “But I think it would be best if you both moved here.”

  What? He wasn’t taking Cooper away from me? After everything I had done. As I studied his face more, I couldn’t believe it.

  He was giving me a choice? Had he thought I was taking Cooper away from him? I thought once I walked through the gates…..but I didn’t walk through the gates. Questions began running through my mind and they had to be answered, though I think I already know what the answer will be.

  “Connor, there is one thing I have to ask.” He nodded his head for me to continue “Did you have something to do with us being kidnapped?”

  I knew it in my heart he did, and I didn’t feel anger. Though my hand did brush across my cheek, which was still swollen.

  “Yes.” His answer was firm and I was already expecting it.

  Should I fight with him, I knew I could. But honestly, I was tired of the arguments. He had pulled us all here against our will. But I knew there would be more to the story.

  “Okay.”

  “Okay? That’s all you have to say?”

  “Well to be honest, I’m not surprised.”

  Connor looked a bit disappointed and we began to walk slowly again. Both watching Cooper who was now attacking a large tree, with a stick pretending it was a sword.

  “You’re done a good job with him.”

  “Not really.” I shot Connor a small smile. “Chase, Nick, Serenity and Ryan are an influencing factor in his life.”

  Connor seemed to enter into a deep thought and we remained silent for a while. The more I looked at Connor, the more I realised he wasn’t the same man I once knew. His shoulders were slightly boarder and clearly he had more worries on his shoulders then he did back then. I could say, it could be seen he was no longer a Prince but a King.

  I was suddenly realising I wanted to be the Queen at his side. But would it ever happen?

  Chapter Nineteen

  Isabella

  “Cooper seems to be adjusting.” Serenity stated, while watching Cooper play with Nick in the courtyard. “The same however can’t be said for his dad.” Serenity gave me a weak smile in sympathy. Clearly she had noted Connor’s disappearance.

  “I’m assuming he had duties to do.” I attempted to defend him, but in all honesty, I too was beginning to have my doubts in him. Since the walk yesterday, I haven’t seen him. He didn’t come to our room last night, like I was expecting. The sun was setting behind a dark cloud, and the day was coming to an end. To say that I was surprised to not of seen Connor all day as well, was an understatement. Surely he would want to see his son?

  “Give it time, Is.” Serenity wrapped an arm around my shoulder; bring me in for an embrace. “It’s a big thing to come to terms with.”

  “Yes, but time is running out.” I exhaled sharply, watching Cooper. Any day he would chance, and any day we would be faced with the decision. Will Cooper be Prince of the Blackmore throne or Prince of the Griffins throne? Or should I take back my royal blood, therefore binding the thrones together and becoming one. If I took my place as Queen, by Connor’s side there wouldn’t be a decision to make. Cooper would just be Prince.

  But the looming question was, would Connor have me back?

  “Maybe you should go find him.” Serenity smiled. “You two have a lot to talk about, and it’s not like you can put it off forever.”

  “Thanks for reminding me.”

  “Come on Is, it’s Connor, he loves you. Go find him.”

  “He did love me.” I corrected her, “Now I’m not so sure.”

  “Love doesn’t disappear, please go do everyone a favour and go find him.” Serenity let go of me and gave me a firm push towards the entrance into the castle.

  Rolling my eyes at her direct manner, Serenity was never one to hide her opinion. Gritting my teeth and turning my back to my playful son and sister, I headed for the door. Perhaps Serenity was right, Connor and I needed to talk now. Well, I suppose if someone didn’t push us to talk, we wouldn’t do it on our own.

  As much as I hated to admit it, Connor and I were always pushed together. Never being able to meet on our own, someone always influenced it. Walking up the castles staircase, its fault weird to be back in a formal setting, especially after spending so much time living with no formalities. My fingers trailed down the scar on my arm out of instinct. The lingering reminder of what I did.

  More importantly of what happened. Sometimes I wished it was different, that we didn’t end like we did. Grating my teeth together. If only I had listened to Connor, and not my father. After all, now I knew my father had more to do with my situation than I was aware.

  Pausing at Connor’s study door, I raised my hand and knocked softly. He would have felt me approaching, just like I could feel that he was on the other side of this door. After only a short time in each other’s presence, it was hard to not deny that the pull between us had indeed got stronger.

  “Come in, Isabella.”

  Closing my eyes for a split second, I prepared myself before I entered. Containing the nerves I felt entering a room where I would be alone with him.

  “Connor.” I closed the door behind me, taking in his lightly lit study. He was positioned behind his desk, and mountains of paperwork surrounded him. Finally he drew his head ou
t of his and looked up at me.

  Striding across the room, I was suddenly consumed with worry by the tiredness in Connor’s eyes.

  “Are you ok Connor?”

  “Fine.” He sighed while moving aside a stack of papers. “What’s brought you here?” He glanced at me briefly before returning his eyes back to a new stack of papers in front of him. Clearly he was swamped with royal duties, like my first guess was.

  I chewed my bottom lip, feeling guilty for doubting him again. I was once a Princess if anyone should understand the work load, it should be and I was sure being King only brings more stress and work.

  Pulling up the chair in front of him, I looked over the stack of papers in front of me and glanced at what he was doing.

  “Paperwork.” Connor grunted “The really duty of a King.”

  I smiled lightly, amused by his grumpiness. I had to admit, Connor wasn’t the type of guy you would see sitting at a desk. “Can I help?” I offered, knowing very well what sort of mood paperwork can cause.

  Connor looked up at me, clearly astonished by my offer. “Help with the paperwork?” he didn’t hide the surprise in his tone.

  “I used to help my father all the time. But only if you want me to, I don’t have to.” I confidently smiled at him, “I remember how unpleasant it is.”

  “You don’t have too.” He furrowed his eyebrows together.

  “I want to.” I smiled gently, watching the confusion flash in his eyes. “Connor, do you want my help or not?”

  “Yeah.” Connor rose from his chair, finally accepting my offer. “I’ll bring your chair around to this side.” Suddenly eager, Connor was up and moving my chair in a second. I barely had time to get out of the chair before he lifted it.

  Giggling at his eagerness, I followed him to his side. “Do you have a spare pen?”

  “Over on the bookshelf.”

  I walked over to the bookshelf and picked up a pen. Pausing, my eyes took in the photo frame that was sitting next to it, and I slightly grasped. “Where did you get this?” I turned around, looking at Connor, while holding the picture frame in my hand.