Last time on Blind Hope

Have fun dealing with His Royal Highness Mr. Crazy.

Blake bit the inside of his lip to keep from laughing. He watched as the King slowly opened the door and stared inside. Vivian shifted from foot to foot nervously, not sure how and if she should step in, and certainly not daring to talk. The King let out a little breath and stared at Hope. Her red hair framed her face and the covers hugged her body tightly as she curled into a small ball. She always slept as small as she possibly could and wrapped in covers like a mummy.

"I'll sleep here." The King said and entered the room, shutting the door with eerie quietness behind him. Everyone's mouths dropped--including his guards. Vivian squeaked

~~~~~~~~~~

Vivian was both externally and internally freaking out. A man had just blatantly said that he would be sleeping with Hope. WHAT DID THAT EVEN MEAN?! Vivian went to open the door when a guard zipped down the hallway and grabbed her hand. He looked vaguely uncomfortable doing so.

"His Majesty is not to be disturbed."

"He just went into a single's woman's room who is currently sleeping in said room!" Vivian hissed, keeping her voice quiet. The last thing that needed to happen was to wake up Hope. "I'm the protector of said single woman and cannot let this be!" Vivian grabbed the guards hand, tearing it away from her and squaring off. "Are you going to move, or am I going to move you?" Blake laughed nervously, coming to step between them.

"Now, now. Let's think about this." He had no idea what to think. "I don't think," he looked at the guard, "you can back me up on this, that His Majesty is the type of person to-"

"Blake," Vivian said, strangely calm. "I need you to lower your voice and step away. I am going in that room to retrieve either His Royal Pain or Hope." The guard's face flushed angrily at her name for the King. Blake looked between the two and then lifted his face up, praying.

He stepped away.

The guard watched as the Alpha of the pack stepped away from the woman in front of him and hesitated. He didn't know what the King was doing, but he knew the King would have an explanation.

Whenever, and if, he cared to explain the matter.

"I apologize, but this is a matter that can be addressed in the morning." He stood firmly in front of the door, and Vivian grit her teeth.

"I would like you to know that you are making me do this." She stepped forward using her other foot to swing around and land a solid blow to the guards side. Not expecting it, the guard gasped in surprise and tumbled away from the door just enough for Vivian to open and enter.

The King was fast asleep beside Hope. He hadn't taken the covers from her. He hadn't taken his clothes off. He hadn't done anything besides quietly lay down on the bed. They weren't touching - nothing. Vivian cocked her head to the side. She knew this wasn't exactly right, but how on earth was she going to fix it was the problem. The guard appeared beside her, and he tilted his head to the side.

They both just stared. Then looked at each other. Then back at the two people. Vivian quietly approached the bed but stopped a mere foot away. She rubbed her hand down her face and groaned into her palm.

This would either go really well. Or would backfire horribly. Either Hope wouldn't wake up and Vivian could get her to a different bed. Or Hope would wake up and freak out, waking the King. No one wanted the King awake. On the other hand, if she did nothing, then Hope would wake up and freak out that someone was sleeping beside her.

And a male at that.

Vivian gently placed her hands on the bed and went to scoop Hope up, when she glanced up to see very angry, very black eyes staring at her. Not only was the King awake, but he was furious. Vivian remained perfectly still. Was he faking sleeping earlier?

"She's practically my sister," she mouthed. "You can't sleep with her."

"She's my mate," the King mouthed back. "I'm sleeping with her."

"She'll freak out in the morning when she wakes up next to a man!" Vivian mouthed, completely ignoring the mate part. They'd figure that out in the morning. Before the King could respond, Hope stirred in her sleep, mumbling, whining, flinching. The King gently put his arm around her, and Hope instantly relaxed. The King smirked, and Vivian rolled her eyes at him.

Of course, she'd react. Stupid mate bond. The guard tip-toed over and picked Vivian up by the waist, pulling her out of the room. Right as the door was pulled closed, the King's smirk got even bigger.

"Blake!"

"Sorry, angel." He took her from the guard, with a glare at the guard. "You two can sleep in the rooms around the King." He pointed to the two bedrooms surrounding the one and the guards nodded. Blake physically pulled Vivian away.

"You said you'd help protect her!" She cried out once Blake set her down on his bed. "But you're letting a man take advantage of her!" Vivian pulled away from Blake. "Is this who you really are!?"

"It's the King-"

"It shouldn't matter!"

"They're mates!"

"Doesn't matter!" Vivian dropped her head, crying. "Mom and Dad would be so disappointed in me." Blake flinched and sat down beside her.

"Listen, angel-"

"Don't call me that," Vivian snapped, wiping her tears away. "Hope's going to freak in the morning. Hasn't our lives been stressful enough lately?" Blake looked down at the ground.

"The King won't do anything to Hope, of that I'm certain." It was no consolation for Vivian, and Blake knew it. He bit his lip, and looked up at Vivian. "Would it help if you also slept in the room?" She looked over at Blake and nodded slowly.

"Yes, but it doesn't make up for the fact you did nothing to stop this." She stood up, grabbing a pillow, and marched out of the room. Blake sighed, exhausted and lay back on the bed. It would take forever to make this one up.

"Maybe there was something I could have done." He bit his lip and thought over what had happened. Should he have been the one to fight the guard? Vivian was the one who told him to step away. Blake placed his arms over his eyes and sighed. They'd have to figure out something in the morning.

He heard a plop beside him and turned to see Vivian crawling under the covers. "May I ask to whom I own the pleasure?"

"Very funny." She hesitated, then huffed. "He was sleeping on the couch." She curled away from Blake, and Blake grinned into his arm. He turned over and pulled Vivian to him, nestling his face in her neck.

"Goodnight, angel."

"Goodnight, mate."

~~~~~~~~~~

The King curled on the couch and watched, both amused and angry as the bedroom door opened. He closed his eyes just enough to appear to be sleeping, but open enough to see who it was. That girl poked her head in the room, and looked over at him. She frowned, looking back at the bed. She left, and the King sighed.

He wasn't heartless. He had never intended to sleep with the girl. The King was nervous to see if the girl would accept him as her mate. He was hideous, covered in scars, and routinely referred to as "heartless," "cold," and "cruel." Just like with the woman who kept coming into the room, most people always assumed the worst about him. That was precisely what he admired about the Moonshire pack. He was always treated like family, and was always received warmly - even when he showed up at midnight.

The King curled his large frame as best he could to fit the couch and eased into the best sleep of his life.