I walked through the gates with my mouth agape. The town was mixed with modern houses and then some Victorian styled houses towards the back of the town. On the main road were various shops and restaurants that the people of the town were crowding around. From the looks of the people they all seemed to be vampires, which was no surprise, but I'd have to ask Connor about it later.
We all got various looks of surprise and gazes full of judgement as guards descended the guard towers to escort us after asking what our business was here. I kept my gaze down as I walked, keeping my eyes on Hayden's feet to keep myself from going in the wrong direction. Many of the people in the town, I didn't know what else to call them as of now, began edging towards us and flashing fangs at me causing the guards to quickly send them away.
After what felt like an hour of walking we were climbing the stairs to the castle. My head was now raised to take in the beauty of the castle as we approached it. There were two guards on each side of the door while the king and queen, along with Connor, stood in the door entrance ready to greet us. Connor stood slightly behind his parents in a fancy black suit that made me leave my gaze on him for a little longer than intended.
Connor gave me a small smile that was only for my eyes to see as the guards, Cam, Parker, Hayden, and I climbed the stairs. Once we reached them the guards, Cam, Parker, and Hayden bowed and I followed suit. Once we stood up again the king and queen were smiling at us. The king was also in a suit followed by a black and blue robe while the queen wore a gentle smile with a black and blue dress. Both the king and queen seemed to be in their early thirties even though I knew they were way older.
"Wonderful to finally meet you Hayden, Alexis, and nice to see you again Cam," the king greeted, I noticed that Parker had disappeared, but then the king shook Cam and Hayden's hand and then kissed mine.
"You can call me Lex," I said as the king kissed my hand, "nice to meet you as well, your highness."
The king smiled at me and then looked at the queen who held out her hand for Cam and Hayden to kiss before curtsying to me. I bowed back and then Connor stepped forward. I followed his every move as he shook Cam's and then Hayden's hand, whispering words of greeting before he bent down and kissed my hand.
He then looked up at me, "it is wonderful to see you again," Connor whispered although his accent was still thick.
"You as well," I said, trying to use the proper tone in the presence of the king and queen since I knew they could hear me.
"This way, please," the king said as Connor straightened up to a standing position beside me.
The guards by the door reached out and simultaneously pulled the doors opened. The king and queen walked through first. Connor looked exactly like his dad except while the king had green eyes, Connor inherited his mother's amber-gold ones. The queen was very beautiful, fit to be a queen, while she had long, flowing blond hair that accented her skin and Connor's eyes.
The king and queen led us down a long corridor with pillars lining both sides and extravagant plants between each one. We ascended a stair way that led to the throne room that had two large chairs a little off centered and two smaller chairs to the left of them that I assumed was for Connor and the Princess. The king and queen gave us a short tour of the first floor of the castle which consisted of the throne room, guard quarters that we were not allowed to go in, and a couple studies. Everything else was on higher levels of the castle.
"Southern, Western, and Eastern kingdoms will be here tomorrow to talk with you," the queen said, turning her gaze on Connor.
"Why?" he asked.
"All of them consist of full-bloods as you well know, the princesses of the Southern and Eastern kingdoms expect to see you as well as the prince of the Western kingdom. You know what the conversation will be about and do expect the Kings and Queens to be there as well. You are promised, Connor, you know that," the queen said as the king looked proudly at his son.
"What are they talking about? There's a Western and Easter kingdom too?" I asked Hayden.
"Yes, even though the Northern and Southern kingdoms are the only realms, the Western and Eastern kingdoms help keep balance even though the Northern and Southern kingdoms have most of the rule," Hayden explained.
"And my dear cousin is promised to the Southern kingdom's princess, which is what all the fuss is about," Cam stated.
"Promised?" I asked.
"Yes, he is to marry and rule with her here," Cam said.
I felt as if somebody had just punched a hole in my chest as well as fear crawling up my spine. Connor had marked me, if anybody knew that we would both be in great trouble. I couldn't let Connor lose everything he had for what was apparently a mistake. I knew it was his duty to marry her, he didn't have to tell me for me to of figured that out.
"Lex?" Hayden asked.
"Yeah?" I asked, looking back up at him.
He seemed to have a hurt look in his eye, "are you okay?"
I gave him the best smile I could conjure up at the moment, "yeah, I'm fine, I was just processing the fact that there were two whole other vampire kingdoms," I said.
"Okay, don't worry, you'll get used to the fact that vampires run more than half the world," Hayden said and then flashed one of his rare smiles.
"She bears his mark," the king said.
Hayden, Cam, and I turned to look at the king to see that him, the queen, and Connor were looking at us. Fear took me over once again as I worried if the king could see his son's mark. I looked at Connor who, even though he looked pained, slightly shook his head. I then looked at Hayden who looked back down at me.
"Are they a mated pair? Do they need one guest room?" the king asked Connor and Hayden gave me a look as if he was trying not to laugh.
"No, father, they are just very close friends but you can ask them to be certain," Connor said and glanced at me.
I gave him a curious look as the king turned to Hayden, "no, your majesty, but I would prefer a room near her for her own protection," Hayden stated with a small bow of his head.
"I can assure you she is safe here, but as you wish. Cam, you know where your quarters are," the king said and Cam nodded.
"Yes, your majesty," Cam said in an almost sarcastic tone which earned him a look from the king that made Cam start laughing. Cam then walked off to what I was assuming was his room.
"That boy is a handful," the king said to Hayden and I.
I offered him a smile that he returned to my surprise. "Meghan will show you to your rooms where we will come get you in the morning to reveal your purpose for being here," the queen said as a maid appeared.
"Yes, your highness," Hayden said with half a smile which is what he did when he was trying to be respectful.
"Right this way," Meghan said and started leading us up another flight of stairs.
We went down another hallway with white marble floors and a wide hallway with what looked like gold trimming. We passed a portrait of the king and queen and Connor. Connor looked to be fourteen or fifteen when it was painted, but he had the same smile on his face he would use when in the presence of company. The king and queen had small smiles on their faces as the queen sat in a chair with Connor at her shoulder and the king behind her.
"Truly a great piece of art," Meghan said, startling me.
"Yes, indeed," I said and walked to where Hayden was waiting. "I never thought vampires could have children even though clearly it can be done," I said.
"There are some myths and stories that aren't real and stereotype vampires that lead humans to believe almost nothing that is true about us," Hayden explained and I nodded.
"Your rooms are right here," Meghan said from a little way up the hallway.
She pointed to one door and gestured for me to go inside while she gestured for Hayden to go into the one beside it. I glanced at Hayden who glanced back at me and flashed me a smile that I'd come to love before we both entered our rooms. My room was extravagant, as I expected it to be, with a king sized four post bed with white cloth hanging between the posts. There was a white comforter and two wooden nightstands on each side of the bed and a wooden dresser with a mirror attached on the opposite wall and to my left. I glanced down at the Persian rug at the foot of my bed with a fancy seat just before it.
To my right on the wall to the right of my bed was a door as there was another door on the left wall to the left of my bed. I walked into the right door first and was amazed to find that there was a walk in closet with clothes already in them. I walked out and went into the door on the left wall. Inside was my own personal bathroom.
It was just as extravagant as the rest of the place with white tile and gold and pink to accent it. There were pink towels in there and a gold sink and shower. I exited the bathroom and walked to my bed. I didn't even bother changing clothes before I was under the covers and fading quickly into unconsciousness.
A/N:
I'm so sorry I haven't updated in such a long time, my internet was broken, but I will try to update more now that it is fixed.
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Love you guys!! <3
Byee
~B