Last time on Blind Hope

"He said not to call him Ian." Hope had no idea the relationship between Dorian and his father, but it clearly was not good. "You should eat, father-in-law, and continue this discussion in private. Perhaps when the person being spoken of isn't present. Don't you think?" William had the biggest grin on his face, and Asher shook his head at him. Sometimes William just couldn't control himself. "Now where is this divine smelling chicken?"

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The rest of the dinner passed like any other dinner. Everyone began conversations, spoke briefly to Hope, and left Dorian alone. The fact did not go unnoticed by Hope.

No one spoke to Dorian unless he spoke first. She knew it was because others feared him, but even his brother and sister said nothing. His father was the only to speak, and that was to insult Hope and Dorian's choice of bringing her home. By the end of the night, Hope felt like she was sitting on spikes... one wrong move...

Dorian, however, was quite probably the happiest she had ever heard him. He kept talking to her in lowered tones about what was around them, who came and went, why and who was at the table, where her food was, everything. She listened to his voice and leaned into the comfort it provided. She dreaded the upcoming conversation she had said would be held between her father-in-law and mate.

Eventually, she stopped eating altogether, having simply picked at the anything that wasn't cranberry sauce. She ate all cranberry sauce on her plate, and unbeknownst to her, Dorian had constantly had servants replacing it and told her they were checking on the drinks when she asked about their presence. So essentially, Hope had cranberry sauce for dinner. The chief was delighted. No one ever ate it, and so he had tried a new recipe. And what do you know!? The Queen loved it. Cranberry sauce was now a permanent resident of the Friday menu.

"Are you well, my sweet?" There was a note of worry in Dorian's voice, and Hope smiled to put him at ease.

"Yes, mi amore, I'm fine." She held her drink and sat back in her chair with a little sigh. She wanted to sleep. She took in Dorian's scent. Yes, she wanted to sleep. Just sleep.

Yeah, right.

"Shut up, Red."

"What?" Dorian looked at her in surprise. Her little snarl had come out of the blue. "Red?" Hope blinked, her face flushing.

"Ah, sorry. Red is being... stupid. I didn't mean to say that out loud." Dorian shook his head in amusement. He finished his food, and watched Hope carefully. She wasn't saying anything, but he could tell she wanted to leave. Her eyes looked bored, and no one was engaging her in conversation. Not to mention, she didn't really know anyone here. Dorian felt guilt rake through his body. He had taken her away from her only friend and into a harsh world.

She'd already had to fight his father Basil. At least Captain Asher seemed to approve of her. His own brother and sister had said nothing, not to mention his Betas. Did Hope even know Horatio's mate? This simply wouldn't do. Dorian cleared his throat.

"I would like to host a ball." A spoon clattered to the floor, and his sister stood up, only to sit back down again. She pointed at him, then retracted her hand.

"What?"

"A Royal Ball," Dorian responded, as if it was a perfectly normal topic of conversation. Goodness, his sister Cora could be so stupid. "And, if you don't mind Mother, I would like you, Cora," Dorian lowered his voice, "(my sister), Evelyn (Horatio's mate), and Hope to head it up. I'm afraid my absence has made paperwork and other matters pile up." Dorian took a sip of his drink in everyone's shocked silence. "Oh, and invite all the Alphas and Lunas. We might as well make this an official event. Besides, I know of two packs who've had a change in leadership, and they'll need to make that known. Make it for... two weeks. Yes, on a Friday. Everyone welcomed to stay until Saturday." Dorian nodded, sure of himself. He turned to Hope, and a smile made it's way onto her face when he saw her beaming with excitement. "What do you think, sweet?"

"That sounds absolutely wonderful!" Her eyes were sparkling with plans, and Dorian could picture the gears turning in her mind.

"Majesty," Horatio said thoughtful, looking between Dorian and Hope's clear bond. "If we're going to have all the Alphas in, why don't you go ahead and set the coronation before the ball? I'll help the ladies with it." Dorian took Hope's hand and smiled at her.

"Well? How does that sound?"

"I can't wait!" She had the biggest grin on her face, but of course, Basil had to interrupt.

"Absolutely not!" He stood angrily from his seat, and his hands clenched into fist. "She's too young and inexperienced! Who even is she!? I've never come across her in my travels from pack to pack, and only an Alpha's child could ever be mated to a Royal."

Red was begging to attack Basil and slit him from nose to navel. Hope focused on pushing Red's intense anger back, and let everyone around her fade away. Then the shouting began. Hope winced, and pushed back in chair in an attempt to get away. Red kept pushing. She wanted out, and she wanted out now. The shouting intensified, and her ears began to bleed. William was instantly beside her sensing distress.

"Highness, perhaps it would be best to remove yourself from the situation." He kept his voice lowered, and Hope nodded. She needed to leave before she couldn't keep Red in check. Normally, that shouldn't have been a problem, but Red was unusually strong and had a strong connection to Hope. Despite being blind herself, Red saw herself as Hope's guardian instead of equal. She gave Hope a lot of grief on occasions, wanting to pop out and fight for Hope. But Hope, well, she liked to fight for herself. She let William lead her away from the dinning room.

"Take me outside. Red needs to run."

Asher watched alarmed, as William took the Queen from the room. Clearly, something was wrong. Dorian, however, was fighting with his father and brother on Hope's behalf. He didn't even register her leaving. And he certainly didn't sense her distress or pain.

"Are you asking to be exiled!?" Dorian's fist slammed into the table, cracking it in two. His voice softened into an eerie calm. "She is my mate; she is my Luna; she is my Queen. Nothing is changing that. If you wish to challenge her, you challenge me. If this conversation is ever brought up again, YOU WILL BE EXILED." Dorian's eyes were flashing angrily. He and his wolf had merged in protection of Hope. He looked over at her, and blinked in surprise. He hadn't notice her leaving. William was gone as well, and Hector stood there looking like he didn't know a fly from a flea.

"Where did they go?!"

Hector swallowed hard, remembering what William had mind-linked him to say. "William removed the Queen from a hostile situation, Sir." Hector's eyes remained trained on the King's forehead. He couldn't look him in the eye, but if he looked anywhere else, they would think he was lying. Then the scent greeted Dorian's nose, and he felt sick. "Is that... blood?" His eyes focused on the little droplets that stained the wooden chair. His stomach rolled in worry. His wolf took over, and he shifted without a second thought, following her scent, tinged with copper smell of blood.

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