Someday, this would become our home. I’d already begun to take over business tasks for my father, but moving into this oversized, ornate place? I wasn’t ready for that.
One step at a time. And that meant telling my parents Faith was mine. I dreaded it, perhaps as much as she, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. I worried she would misconstrue a lack of eagerness for a confrontation as a disinterest in her.
I wasn’t hesitant to share that we were mates to my parents because I wasn’t proud of her, of what we now shared, but because I didn’t have time for whatever argument was going to come from it. I knew my parents, knew their high hopes for a match for me didn’t include the upstairs maid. Their ambitions—at least my mother’s—aimed high.
I was all for a highborn mate. The goddesses awakened my cock for Faith. At the time, I’d thought her a maid, not a princess. I hadn’t cared who she was, just that she was mine. My mother couldn’t get any more highborn than princess. If it were destined, then so be it. Maid, princess, it mattered not. My cock knew, grew and there was no going back. There would be no one else. Ever. And the days we’d spent together since, fucking, talking, loving and laughing only confirmed that we belonged together.
I wasn’t changing my mind—as if I could—no matter my parents’ feelings on the matter. And I was sure our arrival wouldn’t be met with open arms or even happiness from my mother. She’d been parading females she deemed worthy in front of me for years.
A servant like she believed Faith to be would not be acceptable to her. And I knew her stubborn ways. She would not change her mind. Therefore, I’d rather spend the time fucking my mate than fighting with my parents.
“Trust me, everything’s going to be fine,” I replied, walking down the central hallway to find them. The conversation with my mother would probably be less than pleasant, but I wouldn’t let anything hurt my mate, even barbed words.
My mother didn’t remain still from morning until night—only my father could pin her down and that was usually beneath him—but he would be in his office. He was predictable enough that I knew he’d be reading at this time of day.
“Hello, Father,” I said, finding him just where I’d expected, in his favorite chair, book in hand.
He looked up and smiled, then his eyes widened at the sight of us together. The last time he’d seen Faith, she’d been taken from this very room in handcuffs by the police. “Son. Faith. What a surprise.”
He didn’t look upset, perhaps a little confused. The Zebcats came prancing into the room and came right to Faith, rubbed themselves on her ankles. Their familiar loud purr filled the room. Faith stared at the animals, then looked to Father wide-eyed.
“I’ve never seen them do that before,” I said, stunned.
“Animals like me,” Faith replied with a small shrug. The corner of her mouth tipped up, pleased at the welcome. She didn’t move, just let the creatures do what they wanted before they abandoned her and went over to my father. They hopped up in his lap expecting to be petted.
“I told you they were a good judge of character,” Father replied, smiling. His hand stroked down the bigger animal’s back.
“I hope you agree with your pets, because Faith and I are mates.” There was no delaying the truth. I was proud of it and my cock swelled, as if it wanted my father to have visible proof. I shifted so that that evidence was blocked partially by Faith. My words were enough.
My father smiled and pushed the animals off his lap so he could stand.
“You and Faith? Why that’s wonderful—”
“What?” My mother’s sharp word cut off my father. We turned as she came into the room. Her eyes were wide and she looked… enraged. Just as Faith had expected. “You’re mates? With her?”
Mother looked down her nose at Faith. We’d agreed we would keep her true identity a secret and I was glad of it. It was the only way she could remain here, otherwise, she would be stalked by our news agencies eager for a story. The entire planet would seek to devour every bit of information they could. She was a princess. We would be mobbed out of curiosity alone and that would most definitely place my mate in more danger. It was clear now, looking back, why she hadn’t told me who she was. Why we were sneaked in a
nd out of the palace through convoluted secret passages instead of the main entrance.
My mother’s anger could be resolved with just three words. Meet Princess Faith. But I wasn’t going to do that. Faith’s true nature was obvious to anyone with a passing interest. And I wanted my mother to love Faith because of who she was on the inside, not because she was royalty. No doubt Mother would be thrilled once she learned the truth, preening and fawning all over her, glad to have the closest of connections to the palace.
“Yes, Mother. Her. She awakened me.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Awakened?” she asked, the word almost whispered reverently. It was a big deal. A really big deal to her. Which was absolutely ridiculous since it was my cock.
“Then you are not thinking clearly, obviously. No wonder you dropped the charges and took her away before she could be properly questioned by Lord Wyse. The awakening has destroyed your judgment.”
“My judgment is fine,” I replied, trying to remain calm. “Faith is mine, Mother. My mate.”
I felt the way Faith tensed next to me, her muscles rigid and her breath quick, yet she remained silent with a pleasant expression upon her face. There was nothing for her to say. She didn’t need to defend herself.
“Not only is she a maid, but I found her, personally, snooping in my room.” My mother spoke as if I hadn’t even responded. “Instead of being in your bed, she should be in jail. Because of your awakening, she hasn’t even been formally questioned!”
“Interrogated, you mean,” I countered. “She’s not in jail simply because my cock is ruling my head, Mother. Faith is innocent and I will not allow her to spend a moment with the Optimus unit. That is the reason I got her out of there.”
“My lord, you see how the awakening has clouded your son’s judgment?” she implored to my father.
“The Zebcats like Faith and they have an excellent judge of character.”