Chapter 200
RYKER’S PO.V
For that one split moment, I thought I had my mate back. It was amusing to say the least how I could have her and not have her at the same time. She still laughed the same way, she spoke the same way, hell, she even walked the same way but I knew deep down that this was someone completely different. She was still the woman I had fallen in love with but she also wasn’t. The part of her I knew was buried deep down somewhere and I didn’t know how to get her out.
I had hoped that bringing her to the palace, bringing her around Audrey would spark something in her but the only thing that came to light was how awkward and uncomfortable she looked holding our daughter, the same daughter that she loved fiercely and would have died protecting- she couldn’t remember her.
“When do I have to meet the rest of the palace?” she asked snapping me out of my thoughts. It was a testament to how different she now was that she could not remember a thing. “I presume I will have to give an announcement sooner or later to explain why I haven’t been around.”
“Yes, but that can be arranged for a few days from now. You might want some time to-”
“No,” she cut me off. “I want to do this once and for all. I don’t want to spend any more time thinking about it or I will psych myself out. We can do it tomorrow.”
I raised a brow in shock but said nothing. If there was one good thing that was going to come out of this it was that Camilla wasn’t afraid to say her mind anymore. Before she would have cowered or agreed simply to make things easier for everyone else but now she was putting herself first. It was undeniably s exy to say the least.
“Whatever you want,” I agreed finally. “It is your choice but the pack aside, you have to see the girls. You don’t have to but it would be the right thing to do. I know Audrey is excited to see you.”
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Just like that, her face fell and tension returned to her shoulders. I knew it was a lot to put on her shoulders but something told me that the longer she spent with the girls, the more likely she was to have her memory back. She just needed a little push, she needed something that was going to spark a memory.
I thought she was going to disagree. She looked obviously uncomfortable and out of place but after a moment of deliberation, she nodded. “I can’t avoid it for so long, can I?”
We started to leave when the door to the council room opened and Caius walked out. Before he shut the door behind him, I didn’t miss the sight of the other elders arguing. Caius looked between Camilla and I before finally settling his eyes on me.
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“Can I borrow you for a moment, your majesty?” he asked and I looked to Camilla for confirmation. She just waved me off and walked over to stand awkwardly in a corner. I turned to Caius who was looking at me with a mixture of sadness and pity. “She doesn’t remember anything, does she?”
“What do you mean?”
“I might be old, your majesty, but I am not blind. She looks confused and out of place. She is sticking out like a sore thumb. It might not be obvious to the naked eye but it is in every move she makes. Your secret is safe with me but you need to keep an eye on her. This isn’t something that you would want to get out.”
I gave Caius the best confused look I could er. “I appreciate your concern Caius, but once again, I have no idea what you are talking about.”
An understanding look flashed across his eyes and he gave me a nod. “Of course, your majesty. I must have been confused when I spoke. Please, pardon me.”
He walked away before I could say another word and I immediately went to Camilla. She had questions in her eyes but I had no intentions of telling her what had just happened. There was no need to make her panic more. She was already having a hard time adjusting, I didn’t need her watching her back every other second.
“The girls are with Christine and Juan in Aurora’s room.”
“Wait,” her voice was soft but it was enough to have me halting in my tracks. “I cannot be in an isolated area with all of you. It is going to overwhelm me. Can I have Marie there at least?” I frowned. That was not the response I was expecting from her at all. I wanted to refute but she cut me off. “Look, I have done every other thing you have asked of me. I am here against my better judgment and I am trying. I cannot do this alone. I need my family.”
“We are your family.”
“I don’t remember you. I don’t know a thing about you save for the fact that you are meant to be my mate. This is a lot to put on someone. One second, I was running from Tyson and the next you are telling me stories about witches and vampires and a family that I cannot remember. I want to do this but it will only happen on my terms.”
I let out an exasperated sigh before waving her off. I watched her take off before finally realizing that she had no idea where to go. She slunk back over to me and silence hung in the air as I called for a guard and sent him to retrieve Marie. It felt childish and stu pid to be jealous of a girl that I didn’t even know but she had somehow won Camilla’s trust in a way that I knew I was going to work for. Camilla sought her approval and loved her, she considered her family. I wasn’t sure what she did to gain that or what I would have to do to gain it too.
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Once Marie arrived, it seemed like a weight had been taken off Camilla’s shoulders. She looked relieved and more at ease and even my jealousy couldn’t deny that she made her feel
more secure.
“As I said earlier,” I said wanting to change the subject fast. “The girls are with Juan. Remember, they have no idea what is going on and the moment you start to feel overwhelmed, I can step in.”
“Who is Juan?”
“Christine’s mate,” I explained before walking ahead of her. I could feel her curiosity down the bond and I knew it was selfish of me not to wait and answer her questions. Regardless, I walked over to Aurora’s room and pushed the door open.
All eyes turned to us and I could see Audrey trying to keep still. Christine must have told her something because she kept glancing at her every other second. I kept my gaze on Camilla, trying to figure out what she was going to
processing everything before finally tako. She stood there for a full minute, as if
a step forward.
I watched with baited breath as she crossed the length of the room and made her way towards Aurora who was being held back by Christine. Once Christine saw where she was headed, she let go of our daughter and I watched as she wobbled over to Camilla.
“Mama!” she exclaimed and I could have sworn I saw a flash of recognition in Camilla’s eyes but it was gone before I could decipher what it was. Camilla picked her up with ease and smoothed her hair back.
“Hey, you’ve grown so big, I think,” she sounded a bit awkward. “You look just like me.” Camilla tore her eyes away from her and to Audrey. “What are you still doing there? Don’t you want to give me a hug?”
That was all it took for Audrey to leap off the ground and into her mother’s waiting arms.
For someone who seemed tense, Camilla seemed to be handling herself well. She made sure to stand next to Marie the entire time and she barely spoke. The kids didn’t seem to notice, they just wanted their mother. Nothing else mattered.
The others in the room had their eyes on me- especially Juan- and I hated it. I could almost feel his pity and I didn’t want any part of it. I knew the exact moment he stood to his feet and I knew he was headed for me. I wanted to get up and leave but it would have meant taking Camilla out of my line of sight
“She will remember,” Juan whispered but I ignored him. “She seems to be handling her own with the girls. It is only a matter of-”
“Please,” I cut him off. I didn’t need any of his positivity at the moment. I just wanted to
Chapter 200
watch my family and pretend like it wasn’t going up into flames.
“Mummy,” Audrey’s voice cut through my conversation with Juan. “Why didn’t you come back? Did the bad woman hurt you?”
“She did, but I’m fine now,” Camilla beamed wide. “Can you see? I don’t have any injuries at all.”
Audrey wrapped her arms around Camilla’s legs. “I love you.”
Camilla stilled. “I-” I could tell she wanted to say the words but she couldn’t bring herself to. Instead, she looked up at me and I saw pure panic in her eyes.
I leaped up immediately steering Audrey away from her and handing Aurora over to Christine. “Mummy has to do something right now.”
“She didn’t say she loves me back,” Audrey pouted and I pressed a kiss to her head.
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“You know she loves you,” I whispered turning over my shoulder to look at Camilla but she was already high tailing it out of the room. I rushed after her and managed to grab her by the arm. “What happened?”
“I can’t,” she managed out trying to even out her breathing. “That little girl wants her mother and I am not her mother. I cannot lie to her, I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”
“You don’t have to say that you love her,” I began but Camilla shook her head.
“I’m sorry, Ryker, I really am. I can do the whole Queen thing but I cannot lie to that girl.”
