Born Regal Book 3: Born Shameless

Book 3: Born Shameless

I watched the council in shock as they made the decision for me. I was there only as a courtesy, to witness the outcome of my predetermined fate. My world was being torn apart in mere moments.

To them, I was just an object, a lost child in the eyes of these ancient vampire queens. Not a single voice was raised in my defense, not a single motion made before the gavel fell.

They unanimously decided to force me to spend eternity under the shadow of another queen.

This is the price I pay for my actions, I thought to myself, recalling the time my mom pleaded with me not to go out alone at night. It felt as if a dark, evil void had entered my life the moment I defied my mother, replaced by this wicked council of evil stepmother lookalikes with fangs.

If only I had been a good daughter. If only I had listened. Maybe I could have lived a human life forever if I hadn’t tasted vampire blood.

Blood. Sex. Vampires. These things had seemed so enticing when I was first turned, after a bit of persuasion. Not that much persuasion had been needed, considering the changes my body was undergoing, which seemed to worsen each day.

It had felt as if I was in control of my future, despite it not being the path I had initially envisioned.

Now?

Now, I felt like a slave being auctioned off to a vampire queen. A queen who wanted to force me to share blood, mold me into one of them, replace my human memories with this new life.

A life that felt fake and false compared to the one I had grown up with. Everything about this room made me long for a life that was no longer mine.

They were going to force a new mother figure into my life. Worse yet, they were going to force me into a blood exchange. An eternity with a stranger.

Three months ago, when I boarded the plane, I had plans to settle into the dorms. Maybe meet a nice boy between classes. Graduate and create an awesome game or work for a cool company.

Maybe even have kids, since Mom would probably love to be a grandma.

But that was a past that would remain behind me as I moved forward from the choices I had made. I was carving a path I wasn’t sure I ever wanted.

“Why didn’t Nonus stop them?”

I glanced at him briefly before forcing my eyes shut, trying to keep my composure. I fought to keep the tears from falling. Everyone in my brood, except me, remained still and attentive.

“The second order of business is an unusual…case. One that requires a formal vote to decide on execution or…release.”

Whispers filled the room as the doors at the back opened. The room buzzed with activity and low murmurs as the creature approached. What I saw initially was not what I expected.

The creature, for lack of a better term, looked inhuman despite his profile. His sunken cheeks, bloodshot eyes, and chalky gray complexion made it seem as if darkness was consuming him from the inside.

His haunted, hungry gaze seemed to burn into everyone. My heart pounded in response, making it hard to swallow. Even in his current state, if he were released, he might tear into every vampire here.

A true monster.

The creature moved forward, his chains made of pure silver rattling so loudly that we could hear the hiss of it on his flesh. Even the well-fed turned vampires were susceptible to it.

The three male guards handling him roughly pushed him down onto the council chamber’s main floor. Suddenly, I understood why the concrete slab in the middle had drains, sending a chill down my spine.

My stomach tightened as I looked at the poor soul below, realizing their laws might not be as merciful as human ones. I wondered who deserved such cruelty, and if today would be the day I saw what the Red Court was truly capable of.

I hadn’t realized until this moment that this was where certain verdicts might be held. Judge, jury…and execution.

“The vampire in question has been defended by an impartial attorney, well versed in our laws and those beyond our jurisdiction, as demanded by those who captured and handed him over. The verdict now rests with this council, to be deliberated upon within three weeks following his sentencing in a prior court.

“He was convicted of five distinct counts of manslaughter against different queens, three of which were previously dismissed by this court due to the nature of the conflict but have now been reversed. Twenty-eight counts of second-degree murder of those bound to a queen, seventy-six counts of manslaughter of humans, and he confessed to the attempted voluntary manslaughter of Anya Chase—”

The moment Claudia uttered my name, a sudden ringing seemed to fill the room. He was completely unrecognizable, with unkempt hair and ragged clothes. A beast. One that appeared starved and wild.

He turned in the room, fangs bared, as if searching for me. As if the realization of who he was finally resonated. That was, until his gaze landed on me.

“Benjamin.”

I lost my breath as I stared at him, unable to tear my eyes away.

Looking into his eyes was like peering through an open window, feeling all the horrific things that were tormenting him in a room filled with blood. In a room filled with queens.

The burning sensation in my own throat was almost suffocating.

“Drain them.” Drain them until there was nothing left—this feeling was consuming him, and it was nearly consuming me. It was madness.

It took all my strength to look away, but the need still lingered. I had never felt this kind of hunger before. I had never felt such a strong desire to help, and such a strong reluctance to even look at him at the same time.

It made my body tremble, forcing me to wrap my arms around myself.

I was fairly certain I was about to throw up, my head spinning as my stomach churned. I turned away from the council, ready to bolt from my seat.

It was Khalid who comforted me, his hand gently stroking my back while he held out an empty trash can. The connection dulled my wild emotions and intense thirst as my stomach churned again.

The sudden shift in emotions calmed me, but my stomach flipped again, threatening to overwhelm me as everything finally settled.

Why? Why? Why is all of this happening!? My mind desperately searched for an answer.

All of my brood were respectfully seated or standing, but it was Nonus who was radiating a hint of excitement as my emotions settled. It was as if he held the answer. Something I hadn’t intentionally tried to learn, the mere thought of wondering why somehow made it easier to follow.

To uncover what was hidden when I felt less.

The truth was this had been orchestrated. The purpose, the method, or the reason, however, was beyond my comprehension. It was just something Nonus couldn’t conceal, not with the slight thrill running down his spine and the background thoughts and feelings I had suddenly being turned down.

“Unable to be properly sentenced, despite most queens automatically being under our protection. This court’s previous ruling on assets, trusts, and holdings will be upheld due to the bylaws signed and recognized worldwide. This vampire’s finances and related attachments are now transferred to Anya Chase before his death as compensation for betraying her.

“Until Anya has formally accepted a mother of the Red Court, his execution trial has fallen onto this court to decide upon due to her unrecognized status of a family.”

Claudia paused, her gaze sweeping across the room before landing on me.

“His lawyer insists he should be set free. After all, there’s no law that says he should be held any longer, especially since he’s paid his dues in full, both in cash and in kind. But the court sees things differently.

“Releasing this blooded male could put lives at risk, particularly that of an unblooded queen, given his past interactions with several queens.

“Without a queen to willingly sustain him, he’s a potential threat to our community. That’s the reality we’re facing.” Claudia paused again, her gaze sweeping across the room before landing on me.

It was as if she was speaking to me, and only me, making me understand the gravity of the court’s decisions.

“Unless Queen Anya decides to take him under her wing and be accountable for his actions until his trial, as is her right, he’ll stay in our dungeon awaiting his final sentence. He’ll be kept conscious for further questioning, but otherwise, he’ll remain undernourished and in custody.”