This mark is pretty damn neat if you ask me. “Does the sky monarch know?” His dad asked.
“What, that she bears the mark? No, I thought we’d surprise him.” As the evening went on I almost forgot about my little vendetta so caught up was I in learning every little thing about my husband from the person who would know best, him mom.
There was light and laughter and nothing at all like I’d expected. Instead of fiendish ghouls his parents were more refined than any royal on earth, with a knowledge of almost everything throughout the kingdom.
Other than the baby the only other topic seemingly off limits was talk of what had happened between his ancestor and mine all those many years ago, but other than that, we had a wonderful time getting to know each other.
Sabrina on the other hand looked like she wanted the floor to open up and swallow her. In my mind I’d built her up to be a worthy opponent, but for the rest of the evening she hardly said a word and only spoke when spoken to. I’d lost the will to annihilate her halfway through the meal and instead concentrated on getting to know my new in laws.
SABRINA
“Get out, all of you get out.” I sent my servants scrambling as soon as I got behind the closed doors of my rooms. I’ve never been filled with such seething rage before in my life, even Drusilla the one who usually calms me down was a bit fearful of getting too close.
I tore the gown from my shoulders leaving it in tatters on the floor. The gown that Lucien hadn’t even noticed all evening because he was too busy fawning all over the usurper. Making a spectacle of himself over someone as unworthy as her and in front of his parents and the servants.
I’d hated like hell having to kowtow before her, how humiliating, but my real anger stems from that mark on her neck. That mark, mine, it was all supposed to be mine. I’d felt my heart shrivel up and die when my eyes first saw it. I hadn’t noticed it that day because her hair had been down and her gown had hidden it from view.
Now everyone will know that I don’t stand a chance. That even if by some miracle I were to talk Lucien into my bed, his heart will never be mine. And she wears the proof for all to see. Until her it was just a legend, a myth, one that had been told from generation to generation.
It was known by all, that the crown prince’s true mate, the future empress of our people would bear that mark and no one else ever will. It was my last remaining hope and it had been dashed in one evening.
I felt the hag’s presence enter the room and turned to her with fury. “What is to be done now? She’s stolen everything.”
“All is not lost!” She came towards me with her haggard body bent almost double, her gnarly pointed fingers leading the way.
I stepped back before she got too close. As much as we’ve interacted with each other I can never forget what she truly is after all; enemy of my people, even more so than the fairy and elf kind.
She didn’t make an issue of it but not for the first time I noticed the subtle flash in her eyes at my distaste. “There’s something else you don’t know as yet, something I held off telling you until now.” I leaned in to listen as she whispered in my ear and my world shifted once again.
“Now I have even more reason to destroy her.” A slow smile began to grow on my face as my heart filled with dark vengeance even as my eyes filled with tears. “I won’t fail this time!”
Natalia
“Oh you are bad, you are s0-so bad.” We had just returned to our rooms after dinner, which had gone rather well if I do say so myself. I was satisfied with the fact that my nemesis had left the table looking like a whipped puppy. Now I’m being accused of what I have not a clue.
He advanced I retreated, looking around for a way to put the bed between us before he caught me. I fought not to laugh, knowing that if I started he’d catch me for sure.
“Why whatever do you mean?” I was stripping as I spoke and so was he, and he had that special look in his eye which meant he want some. He pounced, wrapping his big strong arms around me and I broke out in gales of laughter, the laughter I’d been holding in all evening.
“I’ve got you!” He tackled me back onto the bed but even then I realized how careful he was being not to hurt me, or his child. That, coupled with the look in his eyes as he looked at me, not to mention the way he’d stuck close to me all evening even after we left the dinner table to just sit around in the formal living room with our guests, went a long way to making my heart that much fonder of him.
“I didn’t know the mark meant all that your parents said. I thought it was just a sign of your freaky nature.” I stuck my tongue out at him as he brushed the hair back from my face.
“Why didn’t you tell me that Sabrina had confronted you that day?” I shrugged my shoulders in answer and wrapped my arms around his neck to pull him down to me. I really wasn’t too jazzed about discussing her in our bed.
LUCIEN
She distracted me with her charms and I let her. I’d seen the interaction that day of course and though I’d made up my mind to let her come to me with it, I had no idea she’d planned to handle it herself, and how. She’s a vicious little thing when crossed.
“Stop thinking about her, you’re not allowed, not in our bed; not ever.” I was startled by her outburst and even more so when I realized that she was serious. “You can have no doubt after tonight that the only woman on my mind is you. Didn’t I prove myself well enough?”
“Almost, but you’re not allowed to even mention her name past that door.” She indicated the closed bedroom door, pleasing me immensely with her show of jealous possessiveness.
“I won’t I promise, but you must promise to tell me if something like that should happen again in the future. I meant what I said earlier, no one except the sky monarch and myself can gainsay you in anyway. Keep that in mind when you meet the elders as well okay.”
She didn’t seem too interested. As usual when we’re close together like this, her mind stays on one track and I was more than happy to oblige. I was very pleased with her though for the way she’d handled things tonight, and could only hope that when she goes through another one of her changes that she remembers to keep that same attitude.
She didn’t like even that one second of strayed thought and pulled my attention back around to her by wrapping her legs around me and pressing her body close to mine. “Was there something you wanted princess?” She’s too cute. I don’t think anyone has ever demanded so much of me with such little effort.
I’d half expected my stalwart parents, especially my dad, to be a bit put off by the antics of her nymph, but as the evening wore on it was obvious that he too had fallen under her spell. “I’m proud of you.” She frowned up at me.
“Why? What did I do?”
“You were yourself and they loved you.” From the way she just shrugged it off it was obvious that the thought of behaving any different never entered her head, meanwhile the fairy would probably have had a meltdown. “Who were you expecting me to be? Is there a reason you’re lying on top of me for the last five minutes?”