Mated Enemies

“Once everyone sees that you’re carrying the heir and that you bear my mark they’ll fall all over themselves to please you. If all else fails I’ll be there, now go to sleep. You haven’t slept all night.” I am so not getting used to him reading my mind and knowing everything about me.

“Stop worrying, the servants have orders to get your family settled, you’ll see them soon enough.” He mumbled something about me acting like I hadn’t seen them in years instead of just a few short days. It was only when he said it that I realized it really had only been a short while since we parted.

How could that be? So much has happened since we came here. As my mind started to wander I suddenly felt tired beyond belief. Like all the energy had been sucked out of me at once “Quit it!” Too late, I was out like a light in two seconds flat.

Lucien

She was beautiful everyone said so. I don’t know if we lucked out or not when the elf showed up later that morning when I finally let her out of bed. We were almost late to the ceremony because of it.

The day had been very taxing for someone in her position with all the many twists and turns involved in the ceremony but she aced it. Starting with the walk through the royal highway, where only royalty are allowed to ride in a carriage while everyone else must walk off to the sides. On this day though, she was meant to walk down the very center of that highway as her subjects lined up on either side to get a glimpse of her.

I was worried that her pregnancy might make the long trek too much, but as I stayed in her mind while I sat on the throne waiting for her to join me with the officials gathered around the throne room, I saw and heard that she was doing just fine.

Just as I’d suspected, the sight of her pregnant belly, which seemed even bigger now than the day before was all anyone could focus on. And once they got a look at the crest on her neck that was even more pronounced, it was easy acceptance; whatever misgivings they’d had before about a vampyre and fae mating, just seemed to vanish in the blink of an eye.

Now the reason I’m elated that it was the elf princess that showed up for the occasion is because that is the only one of her personalities that could handle the day’s events with such aplomb.

Her regal bearing as she walked through the midst of the crowds, head held high and that look of superiority to those around her as if their adulation was her due with no hint of fear made it seem as if she were born for this day. That’s something my people can appreciate, vain as we are.

The elf has a natural grace and elegance that was broadcasted easily in her every move as the crowds looked on. The way each step was precise, the way she seemed to float gracefully, as the gold cape attached at the shoulders with golden chains trailed behind her with a six- foot train over the gown of blinding white.

Even the way she held her herself, head straight, her eyes looking neither left nor right, gaze fixed forward as if she couldn’t wait to reach me. It was going much better than even I had expected had her nymph or fairy shown up.

Still, I listened to the whispers and murmurings of my people and was pleased with their ready acceptance, and it was not just because of my son in her womb either I found, or the mark I’d claimed her with, but for varying reasons.

Her majestic bearing and astounding beauty entranced some but even more were excited about the changes she would bring, they were looking forward to new beginnings between fae and vampyre.

As I watched her move slowly through the streets accepting their praise and well wishes everyone else just seemed to fade away; there was only her. “Come to me!”

“I’m coming, almost there!” She turned the corner just then and I heard the murmurs of the officials who were seeing her for the first time as she came to stand at the foot of the steps that lead to the throne room, where I was waiting for her.

I stood at the head of the marble steps of a hundred looking down at her with pride. As she began to kowtow before me her fairy wings appeared and flapped in the air before standing upright, causing those around her to exclaim in wonder.

A rainbow appeared overhead and a dozen golden pheasant took flight in perfect formation, circling above her as they called out their welcome. Flowers bloomed and opened along the path she’d just taken, stopping only at the place where she knelt. And the atmosphere was rife with an element of joy not felt since my birth.