Defect of Servitude [Book #1]

"I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."
- Jimmy Dean

Exhaustion settled over my bones, a heavy cement that hardened and delayed any attempts to pack clothes into a duffel bag. All I wanted to do was curl up on my bed, though it currently had items strewn across it that I had already deemed useless for this trip. I functioned on far too little sleep, my last complete rest being the day I spent in the medical wing. Despite the fatigue, I forced myself to push on, cramming my bag full as if it were a bottomless pit, each item a reminder of the journey ahead.

As I packed, a swirling eddy of thoughts consumed me. We were traveling to meet the most essential, influential group of supernatural beings. The idea was simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating. I couldn't believe I was not only allowed but requested to be a part of this momentous occasion. Traveling to a place where no human had ever set foot before was deemed both a privilege and a daunting responsibility.

Though I knew I was no longer a simple human, a part of me still felt that way. Most of my life had been spent in that identity, and I sensed that, deep within the innermost sanctuaries of my heart and mind, I was still grappling with what it meant to be a hybrid—a bridge between two worlds.

Suddenly, a slight cough behind me caused me to jump in shock, sending whatever I was holding flying into the air. I spun around, my heart racing, and as soon as I did, embarrassment washed over me like ice water. The fabric I had in my hands—a comfortable, silky pair of panties—landed squarely on the head of the intruder. It must have been some talent, I thought, the way I could embarrass myself to my fullest potential whenever I was around Jaxon.

We stood frozen like that, my face burning with embarrassment. Tantalizingly slow, Jaxon lifted his hand and removed the panties from his head. As he stared at them, I caught the flicker of red that flashed in his eyes, and my heart kicked up a notch on its own accord. Jaxon snapped his gaze back to me, and with what seemed like minor difficulty, the red dulled to a more human hue over a few seconds.

He stepped toward my bed and delicately placed the panties on top of my bag, breaking the awkward silence with a clear of his throat. "Madelyn, I really wanted to apologize for my horrible behavior lately. I know things have been strained to the limit before we truly understood one another. I came to try again—not just to understand you, but to beg for forgiveness if I must."

I instinctively held my hand up to stop him from saying more. "Listen, I know I've been mistreating you, not only as my future King but also as my friend. I was bombarded with information left and right, without even a moment to breathe. First, the Queen of all Supernaturals took me out of my prison because she was friends with my biological mother, whom I never met or remembered. Then, I discovered that the entire life I was prepared for was turned upside down."

"Of course, I'm not saying I'm not grateful that I don't have to go through that, but it was a lot to adjust to. Then I was kidnapped. Only to find out I was no longer a human. Add to that the revelation that my mother was also a defect, and I was already in a fragile state."

As I spoke, his gaze remained unwavering, his eyes locked on my face. I took a steady breath but felt exposed as I turned away, hiding the creeping blush sweeping across my cheeks. "Then I discovered that the one person who helped me hold on to the last shreds of my sanity—who continued to be a huge factor of any hope during the Auctions—was you. The future vampire King."

My arms wrapped around my torso involuntarily, trying to shield myself from the embarrassment of admitting how much he meant to me. He closed the distance between us, though I couldn't force myself to meet his gaze again.

As if sensing my retreat, he gently placed a finger under my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his warm, melting green eyes. I was lost in seconds. "You have every right to feel the way you do," he said softly. "I will give you as much space and time as you need. But I will not stop being your friend."

With a bit more effort, he urged my chin slightly higher. Agonizingly slow, he leaned forward, and I noticed how his eyes tinted toward red with each beat of my racing heart. Then, with a last-second smile, he dipped lower to place a gentle ghosting of his lips against my cheek. The warmth it left behind surged through me, igniting areas of my body I had long ignored. He leaned his cheek against mine and whispered, "I also want you to understand that I will not stop trying. I want to know you."

The pressure of his body against mine disappeared without warning, leaving my head swaying dangerously before I caught my balance. Jaxon stood by the door, his eyes brighter than I had ever seen them. "I requested to join my mother on this trip. I won't be far from you, whether you're interested in me personally or not. You've been in serious danger twice now. I think you need a bit more protection."

I opened my mouth to snap back at him, but he was gone before I could respond. His ability to leave me feeling emotionally exhausted would be the end of me. Torn between hunting him down to demand that I needed no one's protection and the urgent need to finish packing before dusk, I sighed. He had won this round, but I vowed it was far from over.

Moments away from being late, I heaved my bag over my shoulder and went to the main foyer to catch the Queen's vehicle. Before I left, I shut my door and taped a note to the outside for Becca: "Gone for an emergency meeting. Be back soon." I didn't want her to worry if I couldn't be found.

With nothing left to do, I headed downstairs just in time to see the King open the door for Helen and give her a surprisingly loving kiss. My heart ached, longing for someone to feel that way about me. Jaxon looked up as I descended the stairs, and I didn't falter or run away for once. I held his gaze until I reached the bottom of the staircase, where Helen stole it.

"Maddie, I was getting worried. I thought you had changed your mind about coming with us." With one foot out of the door, she gestured for me to hurry beside her. I quickly obliged, and in a fluid motion, she snatched my bag from my shoulder and effortlessly deposited it into Gustav's hands. Not giving him a moment to object, she grasped my hand and led me toward the SUV that had first brought me here.

Helen helped me climb into the vehicle, and I hated admitting it was much more challenging than anticipated. She settled beside me, leaving Jaxon beside his father across from us. I braced myself for the tension to build as we began to move, but before I knew it, I was being jostled awake by the Queen's gentle voice. "We're almost there. You can see the castle now."

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and looked out the window, blinking in disbelief. I had to rub my eyes again; calling it a castle felt like an understatement. The town-sized structure dominated the horizon, its towering walls rising majestically against the sky. Dense woods surrounded it, leaving only a narrow opening for the road. A sturdy wall of terracotta brick blocked the ground view, but the building soared high into the sky, so tall I could swear it was brushing against the clouds.

The sheer number of guards made me uneasy as we passed through the open gates. It made sense that the council of Supernaturals would require protection of the utmost standards, but I couldn't shake the uncertainty that they might see us as the enemy. Their armor was designed to invoke fear, appearing as impenetrable as the walls they were sworn to protect. I fixed my gaze on their groups until the car pulled into a cul-de-sac in front of an elaborate entryway.

Magic seemed to be at play as the doors swung open the moment the SUV stopped. My heart raced again, betraying my worry. Jaxon turned to me just as the King and Queen stepped out of the back of the vehicle. "There's nothing to be afraid of here. The majority of the council deeply loves my family and is very interested in meeting you." He quickly squeezed my hand and followed his parents onto the stone driveway.

Taking a steadying breath and holding on to the warmth from his brief touch, I climbed out after him. The door shut behind me, and I allowed myself one last glance at the towering exterior of the enormous building. It almost made me sway, straining to look up at its height; I couldn't see the top from this close. Before disappearing across the threshold, Helen beckoned me with a "come here" gesture.

The moment I stepped inside, I was met with a whirlwind of activity. Person after person scurried around us, unpacking luggage and attending to our every possible whim. I declined any help; it felt unnatural to me. Their movements fascinated me, weaving in and out of the group while remaining in the background. My attention was drawn away as a polished-looking man entered the room, his arms outstretched in greeting.

"Queen Rothschild." He embraced Helen, who encouraged it, refusing to let him disengage sooner than she wished. Finally releasing him, she held him at arm's length, her gaze inspecting him with a motherly eye. Though boyish, he stood tall, his suit tailored to accentuate his form.

"Elliot, my boy. I'm so sorry to hear about the former council member. However, you've trained long and hard for this; you'll do amazing!" He glanced away, embarrassed but pleased.

"Is that Helen I hear?" a questioning voice called from another part of the entrance hall, hidden behind one of the many doors. Even out of sight, her tone caressed my ears with its femininity. I could tell she was stunning before she turned the corner to greet the Queen.

Her face was doll-like, round, making her appear ageless. As she joined the embrace, envy coursed through me without permission. Her curves flowed perfectly, embodying the ideal of womanly beauty. If the realm had goddesses, she would surely be one.

Gustav cleared his throat loudly, cutting through the pleasantries and earning a pointed glare from his wife. "Excuse my husband. Pleasantries were never his strong suit, as I'm sure you remember."

The two exchanged professional handshakes, and the woman wrapped Jaxon in a warm hug. My heart jolted with jealousy, but I struggled to maintain a neutral expression—or so I thought until I caught Helen's scrutinizing look.

"I would like to introduce Madelyn Vagen, the newest addition to our inner guard and personal friend," the Queen announced, gesturing toward me. The pride that wove into my soul filled me with the courage to grasp the hand extended toward me in greeting.

"A pleasure to meet you! I'm Sir Elliot Rothschild, the vampire representative on the council, though I'm quite new to the title." My eyebrows rose at the mention of his last name. "I'm one of the King's many bloodlines. He has quite the family lineage if you look into it."

The King grumbled something under his breath, but the woman embraced me before I could comment further. I hugged her politely; while I didn't know her, there was nothing uncomfortable about the contact. In fact, it felt all too natural, as if my body was meant to respond this way all along. The woman pulled away but didn't fully release me. Holding me at arm's length, she studied me intently.

"Also a pleasure. I've been looking forward to this for quite some time. My name is Dame Charlotte Holmström, and I am the succubi representative. Queen Helen and I go way back." She gave me a quick wink before dropping her hands to her sides.

"The others are waiting for us in the tribunal room." Elliot took the lead, gesturing toward the grand staircase before us. We followed, with Jaxon bringing up the rear of the procession. I briefly wondered what he thought of the view but was quickly distracted by the breathtaking beauty of the interior. Stunning art pieces adorned the walls and pedestals, each as grand as the works they displayed.

Elliot opened the nearest door when we reached the top of the staircase. Two more figures sat at a large, elegantly curved wooden table in the room. The moment we entered, they stood, their heads bowed in greeting.

Helen smiled brightly in their direction and spoke, "Sir Ranael Creighton, the werewolf representative." Her arm gestured toward the first man on the left. When he glanced my way, a chill ran down my spine. He offered no greeting of his own. Helen's glare burned my skin before rearranging her expression into a more regal demeanor.

She moved her arm to the man on the right, already beaming back at us. His eyes held a mystical gleam reminiscent of Blane's mirth. "Sir Douglas Whitmore, the wicked representative."

Sir Douglas approached us without wasting a moment while the other man sank back into his seat. Ranael's animosity prickled the hairs on the back of my neck, but I couldn't focus on that. Sir Douglas stood before me, his hand outstretched. I forced a smile, determined to remain civil, as I placed my hand in his.

"So nice to meet you, child. Queen Rothschild has spoken of you for many years now. We've all been eagerly awaiting your arrival into her care—if only to get her to stop blathering about it." His laughter was infectious, and Helen joined in, the warmth of their camaraderie drawing a genuine smile to my lips, even as I caught Ranael rolling his eyes in our direction.

The King did not tolerate such disrespect, especially for his wife rather than me. His deep voice rose above the chatter in the room, but its intent was unmistakable. "Ranael, have you lost your civility while serving on the council? The least you could do is properly greet your Queen."

"She is not my Queen," he growled.

Tension hung in the air like a thick fog, heavy and palpable, but the door behind us swung open before anything more could be said.

"Now, now, let's not start a fight here. I'm assuming that is not why this meeting was called so suddenly." A trilling harmony wove its way around the room, a magical sound I could listen to for a lifetime.

The voice belonged to a woman who transcended humanity. Her very essence radiated pure light, compelling me to fight the urge to bend my knees and pledge my loyalty. It felt as if a living deity had descended among mortals. Her hair was a swirling cascade of light cotton pink, flowing past her knees, interspersed with strands that glimmered like starlight. Her eyes mirrored the same shade of pink, adorned with silver rings lining her pupils.

Ranael instantly appeared ashamed, bowing his head as she glided over to us, blowing kisses to everyone before stopping directly in front of me. "Madelyn! I'm so happy to finally meet you. I've been fascinated by your extraordinary destiny for quite some time now."

"My destiny?" My voice caught in my throat, starkly contrasting her melodic tones. Even her small chuckle was enchanting.

"Yes, darling, you have quite the future ahead of you." Her eyes grew distant, the silver within them swirling further into the light pink. After a moment, she blinked and shook her head. "But enough of that. My name is Theodora. I'm a Pixie of the Fae and one of the last of my kind."

My mouth dropped at her revelation. Pixies were supposed to be mere children's stories, rumored to be the architects of the supernatural world before the other created a gateway. They were not human and had never been. No historical information existed about them, equating their tales to supernatural mythology.

"I usually don't involve myself in council decisions. However, I had to see for myself when I heard you were part of this." Without waiting for my response, she clapped her hands, signaling the council members to take their seats at the table. Theodora positioned herself at the center, clearly asserting her importance.

"Queen Rothschild, would you please address the reason for this meeting?"

Helen took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "Dear Ladies and Gentlemen of the council, we are here to request an alliance. Denallsh Cathcart has declared a Blood Feud against the Rothschild rule."

"He's already breached territory lines twice, attempted to kidnap Madelyn, and murdered a significant number of our personal guard," Gustav added, his tone steely and resolute.

"It has been reported that these actions were retaliatory, a response to your plans to oust him and your incursions into his territory," Ranael interjected, earning a snarl from the King.

"Sir, that was merely a plan to prevent him from inflicting further terror within our walls. The attempts on Madelyn occurred within a week of us bringing her home for the first time," Jaxon spoke up, maintaining a respectful tone. However, the anger simmering beneath the surface was evident in the red creeping from the center of his pupils.

"Who is this Madelyn to incite such turmoil among our leaders?" Elliot asked, his curious gaze roving over my body. I lowered my head, unable to meet his eyes.

The King and Queen exchanged a silent conversation through their glances before Helen continued, "It has come to light that Madelyn is not an ordinary human as we once believed. She possesses the defect gene."

Gasps rippled through the council, and if Ranael had been defiant before, now he radiated unmistakable waves of disgust. I longed to escape, to divert the focus away from my non-human status. My gaze flickered toward the Pixie, eager to gauge her reaction more than the others. To my relief, her gentle smile remained unwavering; I suspected she already knew.

"It seems we have much to consider," she mused lightly. "Queen Rothschild, if you don't mind, we would like some time to deliberate. You and your guests may step out."

As she finished speaking, the doors behind us swung open again. A few servants from the foyer gestured for us to follow them out of the room. My heart sank in my chest as I glanced back at Ranael. His glare pierced through me, following every step as we exited the chamber and descended the staircase. The vibrant art that once captivated me faded into the background, overshadowed by the tension in the air.

Will the council decide to aid them in their war? Why is the werewolf representative so antagonistic against Maddie? What destiny was the pixie talking about? Find out next time!

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