James pov
All my life I was treated as though I was the black sheep a mistake someone to feel sorry for. Even as a youth it wasn't till my teen years that I had even come to discover who my father truly was: and mother who and what they truly were. My mother, late we said it was to protect me and our interests. She said, "If they or I had known the truth sooner I could have been killed at birth or had been in a lot of unnecessary danger". My mother said, "my father and her story was that of love for my father had loved my mother deeply till heir true mate came and my father lost all desire of her. Casting my mother aside like used rags".
I loathed my father and his little royal family especially the favored son on the court the non-bastard son and as most saw it true heir apparent to the throne. However, by birth order, the throne should fall to me by right. Instead, father wished to see who was more capable. Who was the better? The thought of him and my brother disgusted, and enrages me causing my blood to boil the throne should be mine. I thought as I punched the nearest wall and continued my walk. Luckily no one paid me much attention unless I caused destruction all skirted around me in the halls. Father had set me on my course setting brother against brother. Though I hadn't been raised by my mother I sided well with her due to this snubbing from my brother and father.
I've tried many you may call them underhanded ways to destroy my brother's claim to the throne. Trying to give my father the king Augustus to have no choice but to name me heir apparent and then step down himself. I have had no such luck though the rumors were swirling through the manor that my brother had brought back an unknown woman with him. Louise my whore was the first to inform me of this new rumor. Sad my network of spies needed work. I excused myself from Louise and gathered what intelligence I could when I found they were in the infirmary with the doctor I thought it best to bide my time and gather what I could in the information of the new girl in our midst. I also decided I needed to visit my mother Griselda first.
My mother was considered the coven witch Griselda knew I was coming for upon entrance to the quarters she said 'ah I've been waiting on you dear boy." She had a wicked gleam in her eyes. "We haven't much time and there are ears everywhere come; come to my circle."Griselda opened the circle around her and ushered me in. I did as my mother bid me once I stood in the circle mother clapped her hands the sound resounding within the circle and the light from the spell dissipated. She cast this spell often it made the room soundproof and block people from just walking in on us. Now while locking the door may have sufficed to keep people out it wouldn't stop ease droppers and people constantly tried spying on my mother or me. I suspected that was Samson's doing giving us no privacy not even in our own spaces.
Griselda turned and said "there now I'm sure you've heard of Samson return with a stray." yes as she does seem to be a possibly useful tool to use against Samson." I replied to my mother looking around the room with disinterest. Griselda laughed and clapped her hands with wicked glee "that's my boy but it may not be so simple for I sense something I believe from her powerful ancient aura emanates off her yet her powers are chained. the power feel like that of… of this American line one I've felt before long ago….." My mother's words slowly tailed to nothing as she seemed pensive on the matter he eyes unfocused on the room but her brow was creased as if thinking deeply to understand a matter.
I quirked an eyebrow at my mother. She paid me no attention she couldn't her powers had taken her mind elsewhere. I looked at my mother she was once a beautiful talk woman. Her long grey hair went to her knees and was braided loosely. She had grey-colored eyes though she could easily change their color at will. Or they would change colors depending on the spell she cast as the magic could be seen flowing through her. "I thought the ancients in America were all killed off in the witch trials," I questioned her. She studied me a moment, "yes but not all the descendants a few escaped but they mostly were too weak and did not live beyond having half breed children which make it easier for them to hide from me till now," said Griselda. "This girl is strange and had to focus on I feel her power yet it is as if it is barely there at all as well so strange. I may have research and my work cut out for me to do yet."
"We will use her, what she is, who she is against Samson. Use their bond. You!" she turned to point at James "will drive a wedge between them. Samson's jealousy of you as well as his hatred will drive a wedge between him and your father with his many whining of you from his wife himself and from light mentions from me of his mistreatment of you.' She laughed manically "if we plan and do this well they will never know this was done n purpose they will never know what hit them when part two comes into play, "griseld said. "And what might that be mother what other wickedness do you have planned for them?" I asked, she just laughed again and pinched my cheek. "Just a little fun and possible back up to get what we want. They will never know what hit them and you will become the heir apparent in the process and I even possibly royal queen consort to the king. Instead of that ugly wretched woman how dare she break my spells? And you, my dear son, will become the heir apparent." They both laughed wickedly at their scheming.