Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 217: Stripped of the Blackthorn name (3)

Xavier sat down, giving Orlork a moment of his time before he would go back to Selene.

"What is the meaning of this? You called upon all of them and you were going to call his wife here? The Blackthorns have not accepted her yet," Nathaniel argued.

"They certainly won’t when you are behaving this way. Sit, Nathaniel. You are the one who needs to hear what I say the most. Sit, before I force you into a chair," Orlork warned.

Jasper worried his master was pushing himself too much when he had not long woken up. Why did Nathaniel need to be so stubborn?

Nathaniel avoided his siblings and son’s gaze as he sat down. He had been doing well for his father and many of the relatives agreed with him about Xavier’s marriage only for his father to be like this.

"I will meet with Xavier’s wife and make my judgement of her. I will take into consideration how hard it has always been to get him to pick a woman to carry our name. I am certain that has not changed since he turned down the suggestion to be with the princess. Truthfully, I don’t care for him to marry the princess," Orlork revealed.

"Father!" Nathaniel exclaimed. Where was this coming from now?

"We started the existence of mixed-bloods but that doesn’t mean I like all of them. Your grandfather never liked all the others," Orlork informed Nathaniel. "It isn’t needed for us to marry anyone from the other families. I have already done it with your mother so it is enough."

"It was all the elders ever spoke of. They expressed disappointment when I presented Josephine," Nathaniel said, confused as to why it was different. He glanced at Xavier. "You are bending your plans for him."

"Your marriage to Josephine has shown that there can be great results when it comes to children. Xavier is proof that our line will not be ruined so I see no point in pushing for him to be with the princess. Unless you wish to tell me that you regret your marriage with Josephine?" Orlork asked, willing to change his plans if Nathaniel changed his mind.

"Oh," Camilla leaned forward so she could better hear Nathaniel’s answer. "I’m glad I showed up."

Like his aunt, Xavier was eager to hear his father’s answer.

Nathaniel could claim he regretted the marriage with Josephine thus ending it now and getting his way for Orlork to be against Selene or he could say he loved Josephine and had to leave Selene alone.

Either way, Xavier was going to remain with Selene but his mother would love to know the answer.

"Speak," Orlork commanded Nathaniel. "Do I need to strip Josephine of the Blackthorn name? Since you’ve gathered the family, everyone will be there to see it."

Nathaniel bit his tongue. He and Josephine weren’t seeing eye to eye now but he couldn’t do this to her. Their marriage was going to go back to normal once he sorted out Xavier’s marriage.

"I don’t regret my marriage to Josephine," Nathaniel answered. It pained him to say it since Xavier would have his way but he couldn’t lie and lose Josephine.

"Good. That means we give Selene a chance and see what comes out of it. I would have expected someone who was once in Xavier’s position to be a little bit more understanding. Stop trying to make up for what you failed to do by forcing your son into a marriage. That only angers me," said Orlork.

Orlork briefly looked at Ragnar and Camilla. "Anyone who gathers the family concerning a marriage will be stripped of the Blackthorn name. No one wants to be bothered by this. I don’t care if it is my children who I must throw out of the Blackthorns, I will do it."

"I am not interested in Xavier’s marriage. I am only here because Nathaniel said I needed to be here. Truthfully, he wanted me to attack Selene. The same man who acted concerned over me losing my mind wanted to use me," Camilla said, giving away Nathaniel’s plans. "You should keep a close eye on him, father."

"You! She is spewing lies, father. I only gathered the family and I thought since she had been well-behaved, it was time she returned to town. Now you speak of these fake plans to make a fool of me before father," Nathaniel accused Camilla.

"Make a fool of you?" Camilla laughed. "You’re doing a good job of that by yourself."

Ragnar sat quietly while the two went at each other’s throats. Nathaniel was a fool in his eyes since Nathaniel had spoken of the plans for Camilla to attack Selene when Ragnar was around.

’Does he think I am on his side and will stay quiet?’ Ragnar wondered.

If Ragnar had to pick sides, he would be on Camilla’s side since she was the sibling he could trust to turn his back to and not be stabbed.

Xavier was no longer amused by the conversation. All that crossed his mind was the fact he left Selene’s side for this. Still, it was good news that his grandfather was stopping the family from interfering with his marriage but he knew it wouldn’t last long.

Nathaniel Blackthorn hated to lose.

Xavier wouldn’t be surprised if his father would secretly push for others to be against his marriage since he most likely didn’t believe Orlork would strip him of the Blackthorn name.

Orlork rubbed his temple, trying to drown out the noise of his children at it again. Would it be wrong of him if he attempted to force them into coffins and ordered that no one wake them up until he was somehow dead?

’Only one should be awake at a time,’ Orlork thought, trying to decide who he would put to sleep.

Orlork first thought of Camilla and Nathaniel but he had done enough to Camilla already.

Orlork looked away from the siblings to Xavier who seemed equally annoyed. "Xavier, is it true you can prove what Camilla did wasn’t of her doing? That someone messed with her leading to the attacks?"

"I can. It’s been happening to other purebloods around the town. Humans have started to attack vampires again. They started with the mixed-bloods but it won’t be long before they come after us. It’s very possible Camilla was unfortunate to be involved in one of their tests to mess with our minds," Xavier shared.

Camilla felt relieved hearing someone backing her up to her father and more importantly, for Nathaniel to hear it.

"She’s always been a wild card. It was only a matter of time before she hurt someone. I see now that you two have been working together," Nathaniel said, not believing what Xavier spoke. It made sense now why Camilla was so slow to get rid of Selene.

Jasper kept watch of Orlork’s behaviour and since he knew his master so well, Jasper knew right away that Orlork was angry.

"Nathaniel, all this time there has been a war starting between us and the humans again yet you have been more concerned about a marriage?" Orlork questioned, deciding Nathaniel needed to be put in a coffin. "Our family should be preparing for war. You, you disappoint me and I fear there is no coming back from this."