The Alpha Kings And Their Stripper Mate

Chapter 186: Chapter 185: So, you’re a succubus princess

Maya was quiet for a long moment. Then: "The construct this morning. That wasn’t a person, was it? It was something....something magical. A threat."

"How did you know about that?" Damian asked sharply.

"I was in the garden early," Maya said. "I felt something wrong. Saw pack members running toward the eastern perimeter. Felt this....cold. This unnatural cold." She looked at Eve. "That was one of the factions trying to intimidate you."

"The Revolutionary faction," Eve confirmed. "Led by the man who killed my parents. He sent a shadow construct to deliver threats and ultimatums."

"Jesus," Maya breathed. "So you’re not just dealing with politics. You’re dealing with people who have already murdered your family and might try to murder you."

"Yes."

Maya stood and began pacing...her usual response to overwhelming information, the need to move while her mind processed. She walked the length of the room twice, three times, her hands clasped behind her back.

Everyone waited.

Finally, she stopped in front of Eve.

"Okay," she said. "So. Magic is real. Supernatural beings exist. You’re a succubus princess trying to reclaim a throne while people literally try to kill you. The brothers are werewolves who are permanently bonded to you. Your uncle is an ancient incubus who’s been playing bodyguard for twenty-three years. Elena is...." She paused. "....Elena’s involved with your uncle, isn’t she? That’s why she’s been glowing."

Despite everything, Eve almost smiled. "Yes. They’re....together. It’s complicated."

"Everything about this is complicated," Maya said. "But....okay. I can handle complicated." She looked at Eve directly. "What I need to know is....are you okay? Like really okay? Because this is a lot. Being hunted, dealing with supernatural politics, mourning your mom....that’s enough to break anyone."

"I’m...." Eve started, then stopped. Tried again. "I’m not okay right now. I just lost my mother. I’m scared about what’s coming. I’m overwhelmed by the responsibility and the danger and everything I still don’t know." She looked at Maya honestly. "But I’m not broken. I’m not giving up. And I have people..." She gestured at the brothers, at Raphael. "....who are helping me become strong enough to handle it."

Maya nodded slowly. "And me? Where do I fit in this? Because I’m just a human. I can’t do magic or shift into a wolf or fight supernatural assassins. I’m just....regular."

"You’re my best friend," Eve said firmly. "That’s not regular. That’s essential. You keep me grounded. You remind me of who I was before all this. You’re...." Her voice caught. "....you stayed. Today, at the hospital, when everything fell apart....you stayed. That matters more than you know."

Maya’s eyes filled with tears. "Of course I stayed. You’re my person, Eve. Magic or no magic, supernatural or human....you’re my person."

She wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. "Though I have to say....this explains so much. The way people react to the brothers, the restricted areas, the general weirdness of everything. I kept thinking I was missing something obvious, and turns out I was missing an entire supernatural reality."

"To be fair," Damon said, "most humans do. You’re one of very few who know the truth."

"Which brings up a question," Damian said, his voice careful. "Now that you know....what do you plan to do with that information?"

Maya looked at him sharply. "Are you asking if I’m going to tell people? Expose the supernatural world to the masses?"

"I’m asking what your intentions are," Damian said evenly. "Because knowledge of our world comes with responsibilities and risks. You knowing the truth puts you in danger if the wrong people discover it."

"I’m not telling anyone," Maya said firmly. "This isn’t my secret to tell. And I’m not stupid....I can see that exposing this would be dangerous for everyone involved, including Eve." She paused. "But I’m also not going to pretend I didn’t see what I saw. I’m not going to lie to myself about reality."

"We’re not asking you to," Silas said gently. "We’re asking you to be careful. To understand that the world you’ve just learned about has rules and dangers that humans aren’t equipped to handle."

"I understand," Maya said. "I’ll be careful. I’ll keep the secret. But I’m not disappearing from Eve’s life just because it got more complicated. If that means I’m around supernatural stuff, then...." She shrugged. "....I’ll learn to handle it."

Raphael spoke for the first time in several minutes. "You’re remarkably calm about all of this."

Maya laughed.....a slightly hysterical sound. "I’m really not. I’m absolutely freaking out internally. But I’ve learned that freaking out externally doesn’t actually help anything. So I’m processing, accepting, and adapting. That’s how I’ve survived everything life has thrown at me so far."

"That’s a good approach," Raphael said, with what might have been approval.

Maya turned back to Eve. "So what happens now? With you, I mean. What’s the next step in this supernatural political drama you’re living?"

"Tomorrow I meet with Lady Seraphine," Eve said. "Leader of the Traditional faction. She’s assessing whether to give me genuine support or just polite acknowledgment."

"And after that?"

"More meetings. Probably a combat trial with the Military faction. Negotiations. Training. Preparing for the eventual journey to the Court to formally claim my throne." Eve took a breath. "And mourning Margaret. Planning her funeral. Honoring her memory properly."

"I’ll help with that," Maya said immediately. "The funeral planning. You shouldn’t have to do that alone."

"Thank you," Eve said quietly.

They sat in silence for a moment....human and supernatural, old friend and new revelations, grief and understanding mixing together in the warm room.

"I have about a thousand more questions," Maya said eventually. "But I think we’ve covered the critical ones for tonight. The rest can wait until you’re ready."

"Thank you," Eve said. "For understanding. For staying. For....for being exactly who you are."

"Always," Maya said. "That’s not changing just because I found out you can glow and feed on sex magic and are apparently supernatural royalty."

Despite everything....the grief, the exhaustion, the weight of tomorrow’s meeting....Eve laughed.

Maya stood. "I should let you rest. Today has been...." She stopped. ".....there aren’t words for what today has been. But you need to sleep. And I need to go process the fact that werewolves are real in the privacy of my very comfortable guest room."

Eve stood as well and pulled Maya into a tight hug. "I love you. You know that, right?"

"I know," Maya said against her shoulder. "I love you too. Supernatural princess status and all."

After Maya left, escorted by Damon who insisted on walking her to her room despite her protests that she knew the way, Eve collapsed back onto the sofa and looked at her remaining mates and uncle.

"That went better than expected," she said.

"She handled it extraordinarily well," Raphael agreed. "Most humans who discover our world react with significantly more panic."

"She’s not most humans," Eve said.

"Clearly," Silas said. He pulled Eve against him. "You should sleep. Tomorrow is going to be difficult."

"I can’t sleep," Eve said. "Every time I close my eyes I see...." She stopped.

"I know," Silas said. "But you need to try. Your body needs rest even if your mind won’t settle."

Eve knew he was right. But the thought of lying in the dark, alone with her grief and her thoughts....

"Stay with me," she said, looking at all three of them. "All of you. Just....be here. I don’t need anything else. Just don’t leave me alone."

"We’re not going anywhere," Damian promised.

They arranged themselves around her.....Silas at her back, Damian and Damon on either side, creating a protective barrier of warmth and presence. Raphael settled into the chair nearby, a book in his lap but his attention on his niece.

Eve lay in the center of her mates and let herself feel held, protected, less alone.

Margaret was gone.

Maya knew the truth.

Tomorrow she would face Seraphine.

But tonight....tonight she was surrounded by people who loved her, who would protect her, who wouldn’t let her fall apart even when everything felt like it was falling apart. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

She closed her eyes and, eventually, slept.

Dreamless, exhausted, grief-heavy sleep.

But sleep nonetheless.

And in the morning, she would wake and continue.

Because that’s what Margaret had taught her.

You continue.

No matter how hard it gets....you continue.