they aspire to find there one person, their soul mate, and few obtain it. But I had, of course, I had more time on my hands to look, but she fell right into my lap. I took a decent leap of faith and showed her who I truly was and she didn’t leer at me or make me feel ashamed. She let me know I wasn’t alone. She said yes! For the first time since this night started, I was excited. Dressed and ready to go she fiddled with her damp black hair. I slapped her hand away and kissed her forehead.
“You look beautiful. Don’t worry.”
“Well, it’s not every day you get announced as a bride and meet a queen all at once,” She said placing her hands on her hips.
I chuckled, “I can’t wait to spend forever with you.”
I speed walked, carrying us through the halls in haste. My mother met me in the hallway, throwing a disappointed look at our joined hands.
“There you are,” she had on her hostess smile, but I could see underneath she was livid. “Everyone has been looking for you. Where have you been?”
They could have looked as hard as they wanted, but I didn’t want to be found. “I was with my bride,” I said, enjoying the shock on her face. “Mother, meet Candice. Candice, Anastasia Elaine Hansen.”
My mother recovered quickly, shaking Candice’s hand. “Nice to meet you. Will you excuse us?” she said sweetly.
“No Mother. Whatever you want to say, say it in front of Candice. As I’ve said, she is my bride.”
My mother took a moment to pinch the top of her petite nose and take a deep breath. “Ok, I’m just going to say it. No offense dear,” she said to Candice before turning to me, “have you lost your mind? You leave a room filled with wonderful women to do God knows what with this one?” She gestured to Candice, scrutinizing her from head to toe.
“What you mean is a room full of vampire women.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. Is this because of the treaty? Our alliance with the humans is strong, there is no need for this. They do not doubt are loyalty. So why make the wrong choice?”
“I am not doing this as a political move and although I appreciate your advice, I will not take it. I cannot know for sure but I believe I will grow to love Candice. She is smart and funny and took the time to get to know the real me. I cannot say the same for those women who only have stars in their eyes.”
“But,” she shrieked.
“But nothing. Did you love my father?” she deflated, nodding, “and he picked you willingly, did he not?” she nodded again, “so why do you deny me the same opportunity?”
“I’m not. That’s why we have this ball.”
“This charade of a ball is not willingly. Where did these women come from? What are their credentials? I’m sure their resumes are long and their pedigree is high and for what? For me to spout off each bullet point as a means to prove we belong together?” I held my hand up, not allowing her to speak. “No, that is madness and I will not condone it. I have chosen and we are already half mated. If you love me mother, you will support my choice or so help me, I will renounce this thrown and let you rule it.”
She inhaled suddenly having never heard me speak of giving up my crown. “You would do all this for a human? A human girl you’ve just met?” she said disbelievingly.
“Try me,” I said, pulling Candice along and into the ballroom.
At my appearance, women converged on me and I had to tighten my grip on Candice’s hand. Once we were in the front of the room, I asked the band to stop playing music and took the mic.
“Good evening everybody. Thank you so much for coming tonight. I hope you have enjoyed yourself and if not, try the shrimp scampi. I heard it was like tasting heaven.” A few people laughed. “The time has come for me to announce I have chosen a bride and it is my pleasure to introduce my fiancée, Candice Courtney.”
The applause
“You look beautiful. Don’t worry.”
“Well, it’s not every day you get announced as a bride and meet a queen all at once,” She said placing her hands on her hips.
I chuckled, “I can’t wait to spend forever with you.”
I speed walked, carrying us through the halls in haste. My mother met me in the hallway, throwing a disappointed look at our joined hands.
“There you are,” she had on her hostess smile, but I could see underneath she was livid. “Everyone has been looking for you. Where have you been?”
They could have looked as hard as they wanted, but I didn’t want to be found. “I was with my bride,” I said, enjoying the shock on her face. “Mother, meet Candice. Candice, Anastasia Elaine Hansen.”
My mother recovered quickly, shaking Candice’s hand. “Nice to meet you. Will you excuse us?” she said sweetly.
“No Mother. Whatever you want to say, say it in front of Candice. As I’ve said, she is my bride.”
My mother took a moment to pinch the top of her petite nose and take a deep breath. “Ok, I’m just going to say it. No offense dear,” she said to Candice before turning to me, “have you lost your mind? You leave a room filled with wonderful women to do God knows what with this one?” She gestured to Candice, scrutinizing her from head to toe.
“What you mean is a room full of vampire women.”
“That’s exactly what I mean. Is this because of the treaty? Our alliance with the humans is strong, there is no need for this. They do not doubt are loyalty. So why make the wrong choice?”
“I am not doing this as a political move and although I appreciate your advice, I will not take it. I cannot know for sure but I believe I will grow to love Candice. She is smart and funny and took the time to get to know the real me. I cannot say the same for those women who only have stars in their eyes.”
“But,” she shrieked.
“But nothing. Did you love my father?” she deflated, nodding, “and he picked you willingly, did he not?” she nodded again, “so why do you deny me the same opportunity?”
“I’m not. That’s why we have this ball.”
“This charade of a ball is not willingly. Where did these women come from? What are their credentials? I’m sure their resumes are long and their pedigree is high and for what? For me to spout off each bullet point as a means to prove we belong together?” I held my hand up, not allowing her to speak. “No, that is madness and I will not condone it. I have chosen and we are already half mated. If you love me mother, you will support my choice or so help me, I will renounce this thrown and let you rule it.”
She inhaled suddenly having never heard me speak of giving up my crown. “You would do all this for a human? A human girl you’ve just met?” she said disbelievingly.
“Try me,” I said, pulling Candice along and into the ballroom.
At my appearance, women converged on me and I had to tighten my grip on Candice’s hand. Once we were in the front of the room, I asked the band to stop playing music and took the mic.
“Good evening everybody. Thank you so much for coming tonight. I hope you have enjoyed yourself and if not, try the shrimp scampi. I heard it was like tasting heaven.” A few people laughed. “The time has come for me to announce I have chosen a bride and it is my pleasure to introduce my fiancée, Candice Courtney.”
The applause
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