BLOOD LEGACIES
Chapter 456: The New Lioness

Chapter 456: The New Lioness

I watch as she inhales and exhales before walking towards us. Here comes trouble...

I kept my eyes on her as she stalked towards us elegantly in her black slender gown hugging her body perfectly. With diamonds decorated at the breast area and the sleeves. Her golden hair allowed it to fall in a straight style, over her back. Her lips were in a deep shade of red and her makeup thick and sharp just like her features.

Just as Dace is done speaking with the men they left us alone and she speaks.

"Alex"

I hated when she said his Alpha-given name like she owned it. It made my skin crawl with anger I didn’t know I had, sweeping my body in a wave. But on the outside, I looked calm and collected.

"Isabella," Dace said sternly, and without looking at him I could tell he wasn’t smiling.

She looked shaken at him when she finally saw him more and I guess it was because of his eye color.

She clears her throat. "You’re here"

"Of course"

"We weren’t exactly expecting you"

"I have businesses to run"

"That is why I am here, to support you," she said with a sweet loving smile.

"I told you before I handle my business myself. You should have let that stick in your head. It’s a family business"

Her smile fades instantly "I am your family, Alex!" she snapped and then looked at me. "You brought your vampire pet" she mocked. "You keep shocking us with your games, please tell me when you will be done with her"

Dace looked like he wanted to murder her now but I couldn’t let him make a scene so instead I said. "Shouldn’t we start the meeting?" I asked close to his ear, letting my palm relax on his chest knowing it would irk her if I did it.

Dace remained pissed, glaring at Isabella like he was about to rain hell.

"Alexander," I said smoothly, and instantly he snapped his gaze to him, the corner of his lips twitching.

"How dare you! You have no right to-"

"Isabella we have more important things to do, I am sure you agree," I said without looking at her.

Dace’s eyes gleamed and I knew he was mindlinking the others for the meeting. He leaned to my ear.

"If you keep speaking like a boss lady I will find the nearest table and fuck you against it" he would have said that to my thoughts but instead he choose to say it verbally knowing everyone will hear.

He led me away after his action and Isabella looked like she had seen a ghost.

~

We walked to a private conference room, with the others already occupying it. The room held silence as Dace and I made our way to the head of the table. He took a seat and stood awkwardly. I didn’t know if I should just stand beside him or behind. But I was snapped out of my thoughts when Dace pulled me to sit on his lap and I blushed.

Someone cleared his throat.

"Alpha" he began and I looked over to him. Dace gave me a briefing of who owns a seat on the council so I knew who he was. Kael Yearwood. The oldest person here. "Would you care to explain why you have brought your vampire here?"

"She’s a hybrid"

"What?" he blinked and murmurs filled the table.

Dace grabbed a cigar on the table and then reached for his pocket and handed me the zippo.

"A little help, baby," he said with a wink. And a small smile found my lips and I help him light the bottom of it. "Thanks love" he faced the awaiting men, all sharing an unpleasant look and it suddenly felt like we were being judged by heaven and earth. It might as well be.

"Emma is my female"

That was all it took for chaos to ensure.

"That’s outrageous!"

"What are you talking about, Alpha?!"

"That’s impossible!"

"This isn’t a game"

"Alpha!"

Dace raised his hand to stop them and their mouths shut, but nevertheless one spoke.

"Alpha" Boris began. "What you say is impossible, we all know it. We all know you passed the age to find a Female, she doesn’t bear your mark unless she does"

I felt a sting in my chest but I pushed it aside, not wanting Dace to be distracted with my swirling emotions right now.

Dace took a drag from the cigarette , keeping his eyes on the three men. "She doesn’t bear my mark" he announced.

"Then why do you claim she’s your female then?" Kael questioned his narrowed eyes on me, like he was trying to understand the situation.

"Because I choose her to be"

Silence followed.

Noah Dominguez speaks next. "My House is only known for that Alpha Dace. Are you willing to forsake my daughter for that thing?!"

"Call her a thing again and I will slice your tongue many times until the pain is unforgettable"

The murderous intent warped in the air and Noah paled and sweated like a goat. He couldn’t hold Dace’s gaze now and he brought them to the table. I could see him shaking from here, mostly of anger.

I slowly turned and glanced at Dace. His eyes gleamed a very dark gold, the vein on his forehead looked like it was about to pop out and his sabertooth was out.

"None of you will object to my decision. Do I make myself clear?"

"What about the Vampires, Alpha?" Boris speaks. "You planned to get to Luther Zalatoris through her. Or have that change"

Dace: Don’t hate me for this.

I already hate you.

"She was gifted to me to spare them... As a hybrid in their possession now in mine"

They talked between themselves. "A Hybrid? I have never heard of one... nor seen one before. No wonder her scent is unique" Kael mused. "And judging from the mixture of your scents you must have consummated this new bond?"

I chewed the inside of my mouth.

"You have led us fearlessly for years, your decision has never been doubted. You outsmarted the vampires by taking their Hybrid as you said and now she’s yours" he speaks. "And does she honor this with you?" he looked at me now and grinned almost like he got his answer. "But I guess that is between you two" he chuckled. "I vote for her as our new Lioness" He looked at the rest of them.

"A hybrid mated to our dark Alpha, I never thought I would see this moment or even believe it," Boris says with a sigh, leaning against his seat. "This is another history to be made. I vote"

Boris and Kael now look at Noah who now kept his menacing gaze on me. His golden orbs held anger slicing through me but I forced myself to keep eye contact so instead he was the first to look away.

"I do not," he speaks. "Surely you won’t cut me in half for my free-willed decision. I still stand with my decision. I say our bloodlines should not be tainted. It’s two against two. Diana isn’t here and even though you make the decisions you need the Houses to support your reign. That has always been the law"

Dace smirks. "You want a vote? You have it"

At that moment the doors opened and Diana stepped in. They turned and shock filled their features.

"I believe I told the rest of you she was in a critical decision" Dace spoke.

Diana walked to her seat like the brave girl she was and took her seat. "I vote for Emmaline to be our Lioness," she said and then faced Noah who had a look of crumbling defeat plastered against his features. "That rules all now doesn’t it and then it is decided. She’s the new Lioness"

She faced us and offered me a smile and then a slight nod.

"You have your vote now, anything else?"

Noah couldn’t speak and swallowed whatever he hoped to see knowing that the odds were against him.

I didn’t know how to feel right now and it all felt like a dream too. Was this really happening?

"Now..." Dace begins in a stern tone. "One of you here is responsible for what happened weeks ago at the engagement, targeting not only Diana but my Female. What say all of you?"

Silence followed.

Dace chuckled darkly. "I really wish it was the vampires," He said, giving my thighs a firm squeeze so I rose to my feet and he did too. I sat in his seat. Dace’s footsteps echoed around the conference room, his intimidating aura making the air tighter than it was before. "Diana is a young heir. Smart, wise, powerful, and capable of ruling her House. So tell me why one of you would disagree?"

He settled behind Noah, placed his hands on Noah’s shoulder and leaned to him.

"Is it you Noah? You were like an uncle to me growing up but I don’t know what I will do if you’re responsible..."