***Author’s note: This is a retelling summary of Chapters 211-213 of The Gentle Maiden***
~ODETTE’S POV~
"We’ve been preparing for the war that’s coming, I’m sure you know your mother has been possessed by the evil and we need to find a way to free her. Arya has been working on a way to trap Ezelreth’s soul in a stone." My father said to . He’d let go of the fight he was willing to have in here and got back to the topic at hand.
"That’s good to know. Do we know how to free my mother’s soul, or if locking his up will free her?" I asked him, since no one has been able to answer this on our end, I thought maybe he knew more.
"No, but now that I think I solved the stone problem, we can work on a way to get him out and into the stone, freeing your mother from his clutches." Arya added.
"We have a powerful witch here in our midst, would you be willing to work with her?" Ambrose asked.
As if it would be up to Arya. Artemasia would sooner dance on a grave before work another witch. I wonder how he’ll make that happen.
"Depends on the witch, but I’m willing to give it a shot, frankly we don’t have much of a choice, we need to figure this out before the enemy is ready." Arya was right and everyone in here knew it, like it or not.
Maybe that would be Ambrose’s angle with her.
Working as a team regardless of personal opinion was the only option. Saving my mother and defeating Ezelreth was the only real option for us. Whatever ans necessary.
"Her na’s Artemasia."
"What’s her coven?" Arya asked she had this curiosity to her tone that made question if they knew each other.
"She doesn’t have one. She’s an independent." Ambrose explained.
"Not many of those these days." Arya had a look in her eyes. A skeptical familiar gaze.
"If we set this alliance, I will be drafting a military call for arms. Felines, Wolves, and Raptors will heed the call. I have already began assembling my forces here and the surrounding areas." Ambrose told them of our ground forces. He’d already begun assembling them, but only quietly. Trying not to alert his council.
Grandpa Vlad opened with "We have been establishing the sa plans. Our warriors have been training relentlessly for this. Prince Gabriel and I have been dedicated to this. I think we have quite the impressive force. 800,000 strong."
Uncle Jeremy added "I’ve been working on developing a sunlight resistance mixture for the vampires to consu, to give them short term immunity to UV rays from the sun, so they have the ability to walk in the daylight. As well as finding information on the last war."
Oliver chid in "I’ve done absolutely nothing but run the business from behind the scenes. Lucky , still the lazy uncle I’ve always been."
I stifled a laugh. I was trying hard to be a mature queen, but leave it to Uncle Oliver to make that task harder than it already is by being the comic relief none of us want, but all of us need.
"It sounds like everyone is doing everything they can to prepare for the coming war." Damon said.
"Let us know your decision on the terms for an alliance, this eting’s adjourned." Ambrose stood up, he took my hand in his and kissed it. "You have only one hour of alone ti and then it’s going to be ti to eat, and your family needs to settle in."
An evil glint hid in his eyes when he smiled at and whispered low enough only I could hear, "Can’t risk my queen getting cold feet and running away days before our marking ceremony."
He nibbled on my ear lightly.
I blushed. The way he could make my heart dance was unreal.
He let go of my hand and walked out of the room with Damon. Leaving just my family and so party crashers.
"Now, tell everything, tell the truth." Ash looked at with eyes of concern, but clearly firm on his question. Even after all these months, he still made the sa faces when he ant business.
I sighed.
My eyes shifted around the room before saying, "Can we excuse so people from this conversation....
Making it clear about who I ant when I said people.
"Leave, everyone." My father growled assertively.
"But..." My Uncle Oliver and Mammy started to refuse.
By my father’s voice deepened making it harsh and absolute. "LEAVE."
"Mammy can stay." I raise my hand to wave her back over.
And the mocking look she shot my dad after, priceless.
"Now, tell everything, tell the truth."
I sighed and started with "Promise , and I an an oath neither of you will cause problems over what I share with you."
I knew what both of them were capable of if they knew what I went through here.
"I give you my oath I will do no harm over what you tell ." My father swore.
"I give you my oath I won’t forgive, but I won’t punish anyone for what you tell us either." Mammy struggled to say.
"Okay..." I looked at them both for a long minute and started with a slow deep breath.
"At graduation I was tricked by a girl in my class, Raven... Which I’m friends with her now, so we made up." I added, "She laid a trap for , and obviously I was kidnapped after. They kept locked up in a cell for I don’t know how long. I was tortured, starved and struck." I recalled the first ti Raven used the damn collar on and I instinctually frowned and reached for my neck. I could still feel it’s ghostly touch when I thought about it.
"I had a shock collar put on that restricted my powers and when provoked soone with the remote could shock at different voltages."
"Because I was so hungry, the minute I was released from my cell I devoured so prick that kept fucking with ." I smiled a little, feeling no regret.
Ash and Lilith both looked at appalled, like I just committed a sin.
I raised my eyebrows at them and asked "What?"
"You’ve changed."
"I went through a lot here." Odette began again. "Ambrose was pure evil when we first t. He humiliated , assaulted . Even killed once. But... That changed pretty quickly, after so ti I was given my own room next to his, and then he started to keep in his room." I saw the look on her father’s face drop and turn malicious; his body was radiating killing intent. "He never raped dad. I promise. My first ti was 100% my choice. And in fact, saved my life and created the bond."
I began to explain the circumstances. "His pack was attacked by rogues, and I got injured helping, but I saved a little girl, and dad she was just the most perfect little girl." My heart ached; I missed Evie.
"Anyways, I was struggling to heal because I wasn’t feeding as regularly so my energy was depleted. As a result... I fed from him, but it wasn’t the usual way. I will spare you the details, but without such extremities I wouldn’t have found the bond between Ambrose and , I feel like a part of my goddess soul wouldn’t have been unlocked without Ambrose, and his wolf Onyx. Which he’s the first wolf and my protector in my first life."
I smiled; warmth filled my heart. "Speaking of goddess, you two have so explaining to do. You kept my identity from my whole life. You lied to ."
"It’s funny, my kidnapper gave more freedom than my family ever did." I narrowed my eyes at them both. Ready to hold them accountable for the lies I was told my whole freaking life.
"I know, I’m sorry. We were scared for you. When you were so powerful, it was the only solution." My father confessed. Guilt had made itself a ho on his face.
"Oh, co on, don’t bullshit daddy. You were scared of ."
"I’m serious, princess, think about it. You know you are now, you know what you can do. Divine Fyre, your goddess given gift. You do know about it don’t you?" my father asked worriedly.
"Yes." I nodded.
"What do you know about it?" Mammy asked.
"That it’s a really bad ass white fire, and its deadly." I answered with a basic summary, I didn’t know much about it really.
"It’s more than deadly, Odette, the goddess gave you sothing different in this life, your past life had divine fyre, but this version, it’s directly from her. You’ve had even in utero." My father told a truth I never knew.
"Divine Fyre doesn’t just kill Odette, it burns soone’s soul for eternity. It will never know peace; it will never know true death. It will never stop burning. She gave you her power, not your own version of it this ti."
I started trembling when reality dawned on .
I’ve used it before. I killed a man nad Ezra with it. A man who tried to rape , and hurt so many other won before . Sothing about n like that has always had a twisted spot in my soul.
"We binded your powers and hid your identity because when you’re mother was pregnant with you, at the coronation..." my father paused, awkwardly. I could see mories in his eyes. Ones it looks like he tried to bury.
"Your Uncle Riley, he tried to kidnap your mother, but you, even in the womb, were so powerful you didn’t let him. And you exacted revenge of your own and you set him on fire. Using your mother body to deliver the death sentence."
"No way, is that even possible?" I asked in disbelief.
"Yes, now do you see why we did it? I know it doesn’t excuse it, but it explains it. We couldn’t have a 4 year old running around with the ability to burn souls at the whim of a temper tantrum..." He tried to make light of the truth.
It worked.
Even in utero I had an issue with n taking advantage of won.
I giggled, my expression softened. "Okay that’s fair. But you could have told sooner, I shouldn’t have found out from a stranger."
"You’re right, we were scared though. Your mother hoped if she delayed your powers, she could delay the prophecy told to her by Artemis." My father willingly confessed.
"Still not okay dad."
"I know. I’m sorry."
My eyes widened "You’re apologizing more now than you ever have my whole life."
"Well, I have a lot to apologize for." He jokingly admitted.
"So, tell how are things now? Are you actually okay? Does he treat you well? You can tell ."
"Yes, dad. He is amazing to . He lets be free, I choose to stay now, I’m not a hostage or a captive. I’m his fated mate and soon to be Luna. I have everything I could want, and even love." I blushed heat crept up my cheeks.
"If he ever bullies you, you let your Mammy know, and I’ll turn into a dragon and eat him." Mammy acted like she was teasing with her threat, but she ant every word.
I laughed, and my dad frowned "You know she’s serious right? Your great grandmother is literally a man eater."
This only made laugh harder. I wasn’t worried about Ambrose being eaten by Mammy, but the idea of my great grandmother devouring n just made giddy inside. It runs in the family I guess.
"Daddy, you well accept the terms of our alliance treaty, right?"
"Yes, I just wanted to talk with you first and confirm that you are okay, it’s why I asked for this little bit of alone ti with you. I needed to know before I accepted this ’political marriage’ your safety is more important, and I’d burn the world to protect you and your mother." I felt his pain seeing it written on his face and hearing it in the way he hid his shaky voice.
"Daddy, you didn’t fail her or , this is the will of fate, and you aren’t burning the world for her, but you are waging a war for her." I hugged him tightly.
"You are perfect, my little princess." He pulled in for a deeper hug. "You know I have so presents for you. I missed Christmas, but just barely."
"I have presents for everyone too."
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