Last time on Blind Hope

"Hear that?" Dorian whispered, brushing past Blake. "Better get yourself a parlor."

"Oh, I'll get myself a parlor," Blake muttered, following behind. "It'll be a big parlor. A grand parlor. Better than any parlor you ha-" His words were cut off when he entered the small room. It was small and cozy, but nearly as elegant as the throne room. "Ah, dang."

~~~~~~~~~~

Blake and Dorian sat uncomfortably close on the sofa as John had the only other piece of furniture that could fit in the tiny room meant for consultations between the King and Elder presiding over the court. It was a plush chair, and Dorian couldn't help but think that was meant for him - as it was.

"Blake, Blake, Blake," John laughed, clapping his hands as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his legs and clasping his hands. "So you met my daughter. You marked my daughter. You mated my daughter?" Blake heard the inflection of a question and paled. What was one to say when a father asked if his daughter had sex with him?

"Well," he said careful, trying to choose his words carefully, "we... did complete the, uh... marking, yes." John nodded as if he was taking it well, but his eyes darkened. It was a never a good thing when a were's eyes darkened.

"Did you please her?" Blake whimpered, a small thing only noticeable to Dorian who stifled a laugh. "I mean, of course, it wasn't all about you. It isn't always about the men, gentlemen." Blake wasn't sure if this was advice or a warning.

"Yes? I mean! She, um, lead..." his voice dropped to barely a whisper, "a couple times..."

"You use protection?" Blake's pale face turned a unique shade of white not uncommon to the dead, and John's jaw clenched. "Are you saying she could be pregnant already?" Blake passed out. "Alright, I guess you're up, Dorian."

"Shouldn't we call Jeffery?" Even as Dorian said it, his words became fainter and fainter until Jeffery was barely a brush of wind against the lips. John held him in a gaze so impaling that Dorian felt naked. He felt the sudden urge to run, but caught himself before he could move.

I'm the freaking King! He can't do intimidate me! Unknown to Dorian, this though had been broadcasted though his link with Hope.

You tell him, Dory. He could heard her giggle, and he flushed. John finally spoke.

"You met my god-daughter. You marked my god-daughter. You mated my god-daughter?" Blake started to come to, but remained impossibly still on the floor when he heard John begin interrogating Dorian.

"Yes." Dorian didn't beat around the bush. He had mated with Hope, and he hoped to do it again. There was no use in being shy about it with John. John's eyebrows rose, taken back slightly at the admission, and a smirk appeared.

"Did you please her?"

"I wouldn't be a man if I didn't."

"Protection?"

"Of course. I wouldn't dare try anything unless she was ready and said so." John nodded, pleased with the answers. He watched Dorian not squirming under his gaze, and Dorian felt pride when he noticed John's eyes show an amount, however small, of respect.

"Dorian, I'm going to be honest with you. Hope... She's a sweet girl. Kind. Smart. Beautiful. Maybe a little scary. Has the perfect Luna appeal. But she's a lot of work. I know because I watched how Vivian and Tam, eh, Tammy handled her." He paused, as if thinking about his next words. His hands, still clenched, tightened, turning the knuckles white. "She gets anxious and nervous. She's sensitive - absolutely no screaming or her ears will bleed. She's deadly allergic to pineapple. If she comes across something unfamiliar - like a sensation, you know? - she'll freak out. As King, can you commit yourself to that?" Dorian felt a surge of anger flow through him.

Did this man dare doubt his love for Hope?

"Sir, if you love someone, you don't abandon them for something so trivial! It is my honor to take care of Hope and cherish her. I think this conversation is over." He stormed from the room, slamming the door behind him, but not before he heard Blake ask,

"Is it really possible to get pregnant that fast?"

"Are you an idiot, son?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Tammy, happily between Vivian and Hope, lead them from the courtroom talking a hundred miles an hour. "Oh, it was such a romantic venture. You know, your father and I punched Castiglione at the same time." She nodded as Vivian and Hope reacted appropriately. "Yes, right at the same time." She headed up the stairs as if she had known the castle her whole life. "Anyway, there has to be a private room around here somewhere, huh?" She spotted two elaborate doors and went straight for them, throwing the doors open. "A library!" Immediately, she located seating and went for it, setting Hope down before cuddling with Vivian in another chair. "Ah, sweethearts, I was devastated knowing you would think we were dead."

Vivian sniffled and clenched her mother tightly. "I thought you would never meet Blake." Tammy held her like she had when Vivian was little and scraped her knee. Hope smiled from chair and looked down at the ground, picking at her dress.

"Tell me about him. He's pretty hunky."

"Mother!" Vivian flushed, but melted as she talked about him. "He's the sweetest person, but I have to straighten him out sometimes."

"He wouldn't be a man if you didn't." They chuckled, and Tammy looked over at Hope with a sad expression. She desperately wished she still had the family or pack bond to mind-link with Vivian. Noticing this, Vivian placed her mouth as close as she could to Tammy's ear and whispered so Hope couldn't understand.

"Did you notice? Neither Victoria or Bruce acknowledge her when they left with their mates."

"They probably are just feeling guilty, the idiots," Tammy whispered back carefully. Hope lifted her head, sniffing the air. She smiled at the comforting smell of musky old books and closed her eyes. "She looks peaceful." Hope giggled randomly.

"I think something happened with Dorian before I got here, but she didn't say anything."

"It was nothing serious," Hope said, smiling at the ceiling.

"You little eavesdrop!" Vivian chuckled, sliding off her mother's lap and settling next to Hope. "You heard every word." Tammy smiled as the two's familiarity and remembered how happy that had made Victoria. They had been close friends. This turn of events was horrifying to even think about. "Well," Vivian demanded, "what happened?"

"I'm not exactly sure myself, Viv," Hope whispered. "I had supper with his family for the first time, and they started arguing. His father, Basil, hates me. Dorian started yelling at him in my defense, and Basil was yelling," Hope whimpered just thinking about the incident. "William - that's the man who fought me at my coronation - took me outside because it was too much." She paused, thinking carefully about that night. "Red went crazy..." Hope's voice could barely be heard. "I think I killed people." And that's when Dorian made his appearance, desperately needing to see Hope after his conversation ended with John.

"Dorian, Dorian, Dorian," Tammy laughed harshly, and he shivered, wishing he was back with John.