Chapter 3My Vampire Ex Returned To Claim My Husband’s Son

Elena's POV

Partway through the banquet I took Lucas out to the garden beside the hall.

There were a few older children out there. Lucas soon picked up his little wooden horse and ran after them onto the grass.

I sat a short distance away watching him, and before long I saw several of the children close in around him.

One of them asked, "Was that man they threw out really your dad?"

Lucas shook his head.

"No."

"But my mom says he's your real dad."

"I have a Daddy."

"They said your dad didn't want you and ran off with a maid. Now he's back and your mom won't let you call him Daddy."

Lucas froze.

He was far too little to follow any of it, but he understood the part about a dad who didn't want him.

"My Daddy does want me."

"But that's what everybody's saying."

"Yes, he does!"

Lucas's eyes went red fast.

He hugged the little wooden horse against his chest, turned, and ran to me.

"Mommy."

I stood up at once and gathered him into my arms.

"What happened?"

Lucas wrapped his arms around my neck, and there were tears in his voice.

"Daddy didn't stop wanting me, did he?"

My hand paused.

"Of course he didn't."

I stroked his hair.

"Your Daddy is taking care of something very important in the North. When it's finished, he's coming to bring us home."

Lucas was still unsettled.

"Is Daddy really coming back?"

"He is."

I kissed his forehead.

"Doesn't he call you every single day? Yesterday he promised to bring you a present."

Lucas thought about it for a moment and finally nodded.

I had the servants return those children to their parents, along with a reminder to remember their place.

The children meant no harm. They were only repeating what they had heard from the adults.

But once word got out that Cassian had claimed a son in public today, there would only be more talk like it.

After the banquet ended, our butler, Mr. Hale, came to find me.

"My lady, shall I send word to the Lord of the North?"

I looked down at Lucas, already asleep against my chest.

Hunters had been sighted in the North, and Lucien had been dealing with it for a long time.

My plan had been to wait for my parents, stay a few days with Lucas, and then go home.

Cassian turning up was a nuisance, but not something I thought I couldn't handle.

"No need."

I tucked the blanket around Lucas.

"Lucien is handling the hunters. Don't trouble him with something this absurd."

Mr. Hale nodded.

"And Cassian?"

"As of today, he and Seraphina are not allowed onto the estate. If anyone says again that Lucas is his son, write down every name, visit each household, and issue a warning."

I looked down at my sleeping son, and my voice cooled.

"Cassian wants to use Lucas and me to repair his name. Then I'll make sure every last person hears how he turned his back on his own clan five years ago."