A Royal Craving (26 page)

S
pencer waited until the speeches were over and he had enjoyed a few dances with Prosper and Parry, before taking his planned walk into the garden.

Winston had done astoundingly well throughout the night, warning him of approaching dance partners, tugging at his trousers when he needed relief from the crowds.

Davian had agreed to take a walk with Camryn, at the opposite end of the garden to where Spencer would venture. They would begin at opposite ends, meet in the middle for a quick chat and continue walking alone, until their expected visitor made themselves known or Spencer grew bored with waiting.

He walked along the path, trailing fingertips along the roses. His loyal dog walked at his side the whole time he dilly dallied in the garden.

Winston jumped up, as he turned from the rose garden. “What is it?” Spencer asked, holding one hand to his baby and the other to the dog.

If the visitor was someone other than his father, he would not think twice about screaming and running inside. There were many strangers at the party, drinking and enjoying themselves to excess; he did not want to run foul of any of them.

He turned quickly, hoping to catch his visitor off guard. They stood in the shadows, tall and lighting a cigarette. When Winston jumped, he assumed they had attempted to speak.

“I am sorry. If you are talking to me, I cannot hear you,” he explained his condition, convinced it must be his father standing there. Everyone at the party knew he was deaf and had been kind enough to take that into account when talking to him. Hesitantly, he stepped forward. “I am deaf. I have to be able to read your lips,” he continued.

When he squinted, to get a better look into the shadows, he saw the man looked stunned. He stared, looking shocked until his match burned and the flame licked at his fingers. He dropped it, rushing forward with speed to catch Spencer by the shoulders.

He did not hesitate to look the man right in the eye. Spencer was not afraid, though Winston frantically tried to get his attention.

“Winston, sit,” he commanded, in a soft but firm voice.

The dog obeyed, though he did not take his eyes from the man holding his shoulders.

Eyes searched over his face, until tenderness replaced shock.

“May I suggest you release me? The King is on his way, because of my rapid heartbeat and he may misconstrue your concern,” Spencer suggested.

“You carry a child,” he noticed, glowering at him.

“Yes. Prosper…the King's baby.” Spencer knew why the man asked, so he told the truth. The confirmation of who he might be came when the stranger released him, with gentle eyes.

Just as Spencer assumed, Prosper appeared at his side; one minute not there and the next right beside him. Parry came too.

“Everything is well. Winston gave me a fright,” Spencer reassured them.

Parry took a step into the shadows, nodding to his King. He left them, to walk with Davian and Camryn.

“Prosper…this is my father, Braddock,” Spencer introduced them.

The man turned to glance at Prosper, with an appraising look. He neither acknowledged his King's nod of greeting nor spoke.

“Father, this is Prosper, the King and my future husband,” he continued, glad to feel Prosper's steadying hand on the base of his spine.

“You are not married?” Braddock asked, with a glare aimed at Prosper.

Spencer found it adorable, but unnecessary. In case his father harboured dangerous thoughts, he stepped in, as a shield between his father and his King. “No. At my wish,” he explained, though he could see Braddock did not understand.

As his gaze flitted between them warily, Spencer decided to explain. “Prosper is…unique. As I am. Our circumstances would only allow us a child while I am human. I discovered I was pregnant a few days ago. The child is happy and healthy,” he reassured, laying his hand over his child and watching the sadness in his father's eyes.

He could understand why his father found it hard to accept, but he had a million ways to convince him, if Braddock would stick around long enough.

“But since I am pregnant now, I cannot be turned,” Spencer informed him of that one hitch in their plans. “I
will
be married and Prosper
will
turn me when the child is born,” he promised.

Braddock reached out to cup his cheek, only to hesitate.

Spencer caught his hand and held it to his cheek, in reassurance. He wanted to know his fatherly comfort, to have a father in his life who cared and wanted the best for him, even a father who would stand up to Prosper, for him.

“How do you know of me?” Braddock asked.

“My parents told me I had been adopted when I was twelve,” Spencer explained, trying to control his excitement, that it did not disrupt the baby. “I could never wonder about you, until Prosper came into my life. We soon realised I am no ordinary human. If I am even one at all.” He shrugged at the uncertainty of it.

Braddock could give him the answers he needed, but Spencer understood that this was not the time. He watched in a silent amusement, as his father stared at Prosper, who placed protective hands on his shoulders.

“You make a fine couple,” Braddock conceded, though it sounded difficult for him.

Spencer understood it would take time. Prosper had not left his side and had barely taken his eyes from Braddock since he showed up. He hoped his father could see his son had been well taken care of and loved.

Braddock watched him for a long time, with something in his eyes that confused him. “I have watched over you, over the years. You have always been alone, never speaking to anyone and keeping to yourself.” He began to talk, stunning Spencer with the revelation.

“I feared you were lonely or that you were aware of your heritage far too soon. I did not want you to think you were any better than the others you walked amongst,” he said, slowly shaking his head. “Now I see the truth of it. You were isolated and incapable of conversation with most humans,” he lamented. “You say you are deaf?” Braddock asked.

Spencer had hoped he knew that, but the fact that he did not worried him. What would he say about it? Would he be angry?

He nodded, afraid to speak. He looked up at his King, wondering what to say.

“Spencer has not led an easy life, Braddock,” Prosper answered for him.

Prosper knew his fears; that he would be considered inferior or damaged. But he must get out of that thinking at some point and Spencer hoped that having his father here, to reassure him that his disability had not been the reason for his abandonment, would convince him of that.

“The family your scientist left him with were full of love for years, but they were poor,” Prosper continued, running his hands over Spencer's shoulders. “Spencer suffered because of his deafness and because he starved to feed his sister,” he explained what Spencer would never say.

Braddock did not approve. “Sister? There is no sister. I delivered you myself,” he insisted, with a hint of worry.

“My adopted parents had a girl of their own, seven years ago,” Spencer revealed.

“I told the damned man to place you in a barren family,” Braddock said, with a look and posture that suggested shouting.

“Why?”

Why did it matter if the family were barren? What did it matter if he had siblings growing up? Did Braddock want him to be alone his whole life?

Prosper gently turned him, yet he never took his eyes off Braddock. “He did not want you to live the life you have. He did not want their focus being on anyone but you. He did not want them to cast you out, because you were the son of two vampires,” he explained, as though he understood those reasons more than he could say.

When Spencer turned, he could see Braddock grinding his teeth. He stepped toward him, Braddock's look a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

Spencer stepped into his arms and hugged him tight, too astounded by the love and protectiveness he showed to speak.

His father froze for a full minute before wrapping his arms around him.

Spencer did not want to let go, but Braddock pulled back from his hug and cupped his face, so he could see him talking.

“Your mother. She is here,” he explained.

Stunned by that news, Spencer watched Braddock let go and vanish in a blur. He turned tearful eyes to Prosper and stared, in disappointment that his father had left him, too soon.

Prosper held Spencer, sure Braddock would return. Barely a minute passed before two bodies occupied the space where his father had once stood, relieving his mind.

He placed a kiss on Spencer's forehead and turned him to see his parents.

Braddock was a typical warrior, broad shouldered, dark haired, dark eyes and a brisk manner. The woman who stood by his side appeared every bit as sweet and innocent looking as Spencer. Tall and elegant, she had blonde curly hair to her waist. Her eyes were the vibrant green of Spencer's.

He could easily see how his future husband had become an equal mixture of both his parents.

“This is your mother, Yalena,” Braddock introduced them, taking her hand. “Your son, Spencer. The King's companion,” he explained their relationship with a hint of pride.

Yalena turned to Braddock with wide eyes. He nodded, to confirm some unspoken question and Yalena stepped closer, to touch Spencer's face.

“He is deaf,” he continued, making her eyes fill with sorrow.

“What you must have suffered without your father and I with you,” Yalena guessed, heartbroken for her son. Even Spencer cried at the unfairness of it.

“His parents were kind, but grossly poor and unattended. And they have a daughter.” Braddock sighed, as he explained.

“We
are his parents,” Yalena shouted.

“No, my love. The humans who raised him are his parents. We are strangers he must now get to know,” he corrected her.

Prosper was grateful for his considerate nature, though he could see Braddock wanted nothing but to be the only father Spencer knew. “We would like you to stay at the manor, for a time,” he offered, seeing that this situation would be difficult for Spencer and his parents. “Spencer and I will shortly be moving to my estate, but we would be happy for you to stay here with us in the meantime,” he explained the present living circumstances, unsurprised that Spencer turned, hopefully.

“He hears you?” Braddock frowned.

“No,” Prosper corrected the assumption. “I am not marrying your son because I am King and can court whoever I wish. I love him because he is my life mate,” he clarified.

Braddock raised his eyebrows and turned his gaze to Spencer. “Truly? Then we will gladly accept your invitation.” He nodded.

Spencer offered his hand to his mother and smiled as she took it. He led the way from the garden to the party, probably planning to introduce them to Parry and Davian.

Prosper waited until Spencer and Yalena had turned the corner, before catching Braddock's arm, stopping him. “You should know Spencer stayed with me a week, before he returned to visit his adopted family. He wanted to be settled before telling them of his future. But they refused him. They acted like strangers and it hurt him.” He wanted Braddock to know how Spencer had been treated.

Though Braddock looked surprised, he had a deeper emotion in his eyes. Something that suggested he had always feared this would happen. A boy born to ancient vampires, the first in centuries, with a simple beauty, a gentle heart and deaf; there were too many aspects of Spencer's life that humans could never understand.

“I believe they considered his deafness a burden, until their own child came along. Then they hoped to gain money from him, once he began working,” Prosper continued, downhearted, as he recalled the way Spencer had cried over the people he thought of as family. Just because he had biological parents did not discount the affection he had for his adopted family.

“I made a grave error in judgement and had my man leave money with them,” Prosper confessed, consumed with guilt since he heard the family's reaction to Spencer's return. “I thought it would please him, to see them happy and healthy, until we could relocate onto my property.” He sighed, as Winston bounded over. He had forgotten all about him, he had been quiet and well behaved.

Prosper patted his head and waved him away.

Winston did not question him; he ran off, to follow Spencer.

“They considered Spencer sold to me,” he revealed. “They never expected, nor I think wanted, to see him. It hurt him to witness their indifference. He cried many tears. But I believe he can mend, now he has his true parents.” He wanted Braddock to know he could have a hand in healing his son's broken heart, but only if he intended to stick around. If he planned to leave, then he had best do it before Spencer developed an attachment.

“I have noticed certain instincts in him,” Prosper continued, deciding this needed discussed, without his sweet companion there to witness it. “I believe he has always longed for and needed you. Perhaps, with you in his life, he can now be truly happy,” he suggested.

“You are a good life mate, to think solely of his happiness,” Braddock approved.

Prosper bobbed his head, glad he understood the warning and knew he meant it. He would not allow anyone, even Spencer's own parents, to hurt him.