Fangless: The Alpha's Vampire Mate
Chapter 193: The Hidden Child

Chapter 193: The Hidden Child

The spell that bound Lady Maris and Emmanuelle in silence worked like an invisible chain. If one of them broke the spell, the other would instantly sense it, a warning to prepare for the inevitable consequences.

However, the bond was only between them—once broken, the survivor would be free from its grip, but also left vulnerable, with nothing to shield her.

Lady Maris had been clear in her instructions. "When you feel the spell break, run. Leave the kingdom by sea, by land, whatever means you can find. Don’t look back. Disappear, change your name, and make sure no one can ever trace you."

Emmanuelle knew her time in the royal palace was drawing to an end. She had been brought there by Queen Isolde upon her marriage to the king, and now, with the queen gone, there was no reason for her to stay.

Transferring her loyalty to Lady Maris would only raise questions, drawing unwanted attention to their connection—and risking the discovery of the boy.

"How will you manage to care for the boy on your own, My Lady?" Emmanuelle asked, unwilling to abandon Lady Maris until she was certain there was a plan in place for the child.

But Lady Maris shook her head, firm in her decision. "I’ll manage. I’ve been caring for him alone while you were out searching for the witch, haven’t I?"

Emmanuelle remained unconvinced. Hiding a child in a near-empty chamber would be no easy task, especially when King Valentin could decide to repurpose the room at any time. There were too many risks, too many eyes that might notice something amiss.

Sensing her hesitation, Lady Maris pressed on. "The shaman who proposed the original ritual is dead, and the witch who sealed the demon is a foreigner with no ties here. No one knows what happened, and no one can expose us. But if you stay, people will grow suspicious. Questions will be asked. I cannot allow that."

Though Emmanuelle’s heart ached with the thought of leaving the boy and Lady Maris behind, she understood. Staying would only endanger them all. If she truly wanted to protect the boy’s secret, she had to vanish before anyone noticed the web of lies they had spun.

***

Things proved far more complicated than Lady Maris had anticipated.

When she requested permission from King Valentin to reside in Queen Isolde’s former chamber, the king was understandably perplexed.

It was an odd request—after all, the chamber had belonged to the king’s official wife, who, in many ways, had been Lady Maris’s love rival.

But at the same time, it made a certain sense. Moving into the queen’s chamber would elevate Lady Maris’s status at court, subtly positioning her as more than just a mistress.

King Valentin studied her, puzzled. Was this a sign that she now sought greater power or official recognition as his favored consort? He hesitated only briefly before asking, "Would you marry me? My father is long gone, and I can do as I please now."

To his surprise, Lady Maris gently declined. "I appreciate the offer, but my position remains unchanged. I have no desire for power or titles. As long as you love me, that is enough."

Her real motive for wanting the chamber had nothing to do with ambition. She needed to be closer to the boy.

Now that he had grown into a curious toddler, keeping him confined to the dungeon had become increasingly difficult. He was restless and prone to breaking things, and Lady Maris feared that sooner or later, he would wander out of the dungeon on his own, drawing attention they could not afford.

By moving into the queen’s chambers, Lady Maris would be able to keep a constant watch over him. She could access the hidden passageways between the dungeon and the room more easily, ensuring that no one discovered the boy or his dark secret.

What had seemed like a power play to others was, in truth, a desperate attempt to protect the dangerous child.

Despite his bewilderment, King Valentin granted Lady Maris’s request. However, the move was not immediate, and during the transition, Lady Maris was increasingly agitated, consumed by anxiety over what the boy might do in her absence.

Her fears were soon realized. The boy ventured out of the dungeon, and fortunately, it was during the day when most of the palace staff were asleep. Lady Maris, having an ominous feeling, decided to check on him in the queen’s chamber.

When she found him crawling down the hallway, panic surged through her. She stifled a scream and quickly scooped him up in her arms. Casting a wary glance around to ensure no one had seen him, she hurried back to the queen’s chamber and then to the dungeon.

As they reached the dungeon, she noticed she had left the door slightly ajar, allowing just enough light to filter through. "That was dangerous! You shouldn’t do that!" she scolded, her voice sharper than she intended.

The boy burst into tears, frightened by her raised tone. Sighing, Lady Maris cradled him gently, her heart softening as she realized he was simply scared. She began to rock him softly, patting his back while murmuring apologies for her harshness.

"I’m sorry, my dear. I didn’t mean to frighten you," she whispered, soothing him until his sobs subsided.

Lady Maris realized that the dungeon was no longer a safe place for the toddler. At the same time, she still couldn’t decide which family should take him.

The boy was inherently dangerous, and she understood that he needed constant supervision to ensure the seal remained intact. But giving him to a new family would make it nearly impossible for her to keep watch over him.

As she wrestled with her options, Lady Maris made a sudden decision to sneak out of the palace in the middle of the day. She headed straight to Emmanuelle’s house, bringing the boy with her.

When Emmanuelle opened the door, she was very surprised, but she could already guess what had happened.

"Can you please look after him for a bit? Just for a little while," Lady Maris pleaded, her voice tinged with urgency. "I promise I’ll find a solution."

With that, Emmanuelle became the boy’s official caretaker.