Selene’s eyes grow wide, and her face turns red. “I’m terribly sorry, Mother, Elysabeth. I don’t know what came over me. This is just so interesting.” She meets my gaze with a pleading look. “Please understand, Elysabeth, Chosen are quite rare, so this is all fascinating.”
“It’s okay, Selene.” I offer her a smile then turn to her mother, who still looks stern. “You aren’t upset with me, are you? Or embarrassed?”
Her look softens into a kind smile. “Lys, I have no right to be upset. You are the only one who has any right to be bothered, considering the consequences to yourself. If you do not mind, how can I? As to embarrassment, every vampire knows humans have always had a susceptibility to our sensuality and sexuality. Our Goddesses made it so. Typically, once a vampire has chosen a mate, or has found his or her Chosen, they Bond quickly because of this. We are possessive by nature, and therefore take steps to secure our mates for ourselves as quickly as possible.”
On impulse, I get up and hug her tightly. “Thank you, Mrs. Delanciennes. You’ve made me feel much better.” I let her go and see that she’s smiling widely.
“Good. And we are all honored to be adding you to our family. I think we will know soon how fortunate we truly are.” I don’t know what to say to that. I don’t see a human joining their family to be amazing, although I guess that my being a Chosen means something. As the silence continues, Alyssa decides to help us out.
“What do we need planned, Mother?”
“Oh, of course, thank you, Aly. Lys, we need to decide on a dress for you, clothing must be arranged for everyone else, we’ll have to contact a photographer and videographer, and we will need to choose the location. My husband must officiate, and there are no decorations, so I think that is everything. Let me call in Hilda and see what she thinks would work best for you.” I nod, and Mrs. Delanciennes rings a bell with an odd tone.
A grandmotherly lady comes in a few minutes later looking every bit the seamstress, right down to the measuring tape around her neck. “Ah, but you are beautiful. This will be a fun project. Let me take your measurements, then I shall think of a dress for you.”
She takes my hand and leads me out of the sitting room and down the hall to a smallish room that has a screen in one corner and a pedestal in front of a three-panel mirror. She hands me a thin slip.
“We must have proper measurements, so please change.” I change quickly behind the screen, and come back out rather self-consciously. The small gown is almost transparent. I pad over to the seamstress and stand on the pedestal. She takes my measurements quickly and efficiently then disappears into a small room only to reemerge with a rolling dress form.
“You are a perfect size; a real woman, with curves. I can make the dress on this, and when we are done, young Damien will be very impressed. I think you will leave him speechless.” I giggle.
“Oh, I like you. What’s your name, Ma’am?”
“Me? I am Hilda. I have been serving this family since I was old enough to sew. I will enjoy making things for you as well.”
“Do you make everything, Hilda?”
“Yes, me and my assistants. You will never find the clothes they wear in any other place. Or, at least, never exactly the same. They are often copied.” She looks proud, and rightly so.
“Then, you’re a genius! I love Damien’s clothes.” A sudden thought comes to me. “Did you make my coat?”
“That was for you? You must bring it, so I can see how it fits.”
“Of course.” I smile at her enthusiasm, but know Damien has some more explaining to do. She proclaims me finished, so I change back into my regular clothes and follow her back to the sitting room.
“Hilda, what do you think?” asks Mrs. Delanciennes.
“She will be wonderful to work with. I will have some ideas later today.”
“Very well. Thank you, Hilda.”
“Of course, your Majesty.” Those simple words finally bring everything home to me. All the information I’ve heard all night finally sinks in. Damien, and his family, are vampire royalty, and I’m soon to become a vampire princess. One day I’ll be a vampire queen! It proves too much. The world tips, then goes black.
***
I wake some time later laid out on the sofa, with Damien hovering over me anxiously.
Shawn peeks over the back of the sofa, looking tired. “You know, Lys, I think maybe you need to get some sleep.”
Damien calls my attention back to himself. “Are you all right, Chérie? What happened?”
I blush, deeply embarrassed. I’ve never fainted before. “I think it finally hit me exactly what I’m getting myself into. Just a bit much to take in at once, is all.” The clock strikes, but I’m not sure what portion of the hour the melody represents. “What time is it?”
“Nine-thirty.” Damien still looks concerned.
I glance at Shawn. “You know, we should probably get home and get some sleep. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been up for more than twenty-four hours.”
“I have, too, but I don’t know if I should drive. I’m exhausted.” He does look completely done in.
“Do not worry,” says Mrs. Delanciennes kindly. “Mr. Dooley can stay in one of our guest rooms. Lys, you may stay in Damien’s room or another guest room as you desire.”
“That’s kind of you, Ma’am. I really appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome, Cara.”
Selene volunteers to show Shawn to the guest room and I move to follow Damien up to his room. Instead, he scoops me up like a groom carrying his bride, and speeds to his room like the hounds of hell are after him. The speed jolts a memory of being carried through a dark area with trees. A forest maybe? It hardly matters right now.
I barely register a midnight blue rug carpeting the floor before he stops at a door right at the end of the hall. Damien shifts my weight to his left arm, so he can open it. I take a good look at his room. It’s large with a low, California King sized bed. Everything is black and white with hints of red and brown.
There is a large, flat-screen TV mounted on wooden paneling on the wall at the foot of the bed. There’s a row of cabinets under the TV with some books on top. There are also shelves on the wall next to the door that are completely full of books. A computer is on the side table by the bed, and a large rug with an intricate pattern is under the bed. The ceiling has a “set in” portion that houses the lighting.
“I like your room. It looks really comfortable. It fits you.” It’s easy to imagine Damien lounging in bed, watching TV.
“I am pleased you like it. I can assure you the bed is very comfortable.” I can hear the grin in his voice. He kicks the door closed, carries me over to the bed, and drops me on it.
“You’re right, this is nice.” I snuggle on the bed.
“I can make it nicer.” Suddenly, he’s on top of me. I sigh, he’s read my mind, but I worry about the other occupants of the house.
“What about your parents? I don’t think this is right.” Damien pushes himself up with a sigh.
“As you say, Chérie.” He rolls over and rakes his fingers through his hair. “Thank you for the reminder. This is so hard. I can hardly contain myself. Especially now that you know the truth.”
I roll on my side to face him. “I know. I’m glad your parents explained why I’ve wanted you so much. It had me a little worried.”
His gaze heats. “Elysabeth, Chérie, you are welcome to desire me as much as you want.” He rolls on his side and pulls me up against him. I can feel his erection through his pants. “The goddesses know I desire you all the time.” He whispers in my ear. Despite the shiver of excitement that races down my spine, a yawn rips through me, punctuating how tired I am. “You should get at least a little sleep, Elysabeth.”
“Sounds good.” I drift off to sleep quickly.
***
I am standing in the moonlight in a wide field surrounded by trees that I recognize as a park just out of town. I look down and realize I am in an absolutel
y gorgeous red and white gown with yellow beading. This must be the night of my Bonding.
As soon as the thought occurs to me, Damien, the rest of his family, and Shawn appear, all standing around while Damien’s father reads from an old tome. My parents, however, are not present, and that causes a pang of disappointment. We’re about to exchange rings when the night goes dark, and the moon seems to disappear from the sky. Suddenly, there is a beautiful woman standing beside me. She makes Mrs. Delanciennes look plain. And she is radiant, like her skin shines with the light of the moon.
“Nyx?” I ask. She nods.
“Yes, Elysabeth.” I realize everyone around me has bowed or curtseyed, and I hasten to do the same. Nyx stops me. “That is not necessary, dear. Please, everyone, rise.”
Mr. Delanciennes gazes at Nyx like a blind man seeing for the first time. “You honor us, Goddess.”
“Perhaps, but you do not seem surprised.”
“No. I confess I am not. I had thought something special would happen tonight.”
“You are a clever man, Donovan. However, my visit is not what is special. I am merely here to represent my family.”
CHAPTER 18
Before anyone can ask her to clarify, I wake up. Damien isn’t in the room with me. Desperate not to lose my dream, I quickly find some paper and write everything down, then set about sketching the dress I had been wearing. I’m able to draw it easily, which astounds me, as I’m not usually able to render fabrics.
As I draw, I think about the implications of my dream. My parents weren’t there. They won’t be able to see my Bonding. Obviously, my dad won’t be walking me down the aisle.
That thought hurts more than I expected. I’ve never been traditional, but I guess I always assumed my dad would walk me down the aisle when I got married. Then again, this isn’t a wedding. There’s no church, no reception, no gathering of friends and family.
Will I get a wedding, too? I’ll have to, won’t I? Otherwise, my parents will think Damien isn’t willing to marry me. How will that work with Damien being heir to the throne?
I suppose if I can have a regular wedding, it isn’t the end of the world that my parents won’t be at my Bonding. It’s not like I really have time to explain everything to them right now. It still sucks balls, though.
About the time I finish the drawing, Damien comes back into the room. I hurriedly hide the paper, and, although I’m certain he saw my movements, he doesn’t comment.
“Ah, Elysabeth, you are awake.”
“Yeah, do you have an extra toothbrush?”
He nods. “In the bathroom cabinet.” I brush my teeth quickly, then go back into the bedroom. Damien is sitting on the bed, but stands as I come back into the room. At least now I know why his manners are so old fashioned.
My little nap has cleared my head, and I want to clear the air of a few things. “Damien, there are two things I need to get out of the way right now.” My tone is brusque, and devoid of most emotion.
He looks hurt, and somewhat guilty. “What?”
“First,” I slap him, hard. His head snaps to the side, and a handprint slowly appears. I poke his chest with my finger, punctuating my point. “You deserve that for everything you put me through yesterday and several of your previous actions.” He rubs his cheek, guilt, and remorse obvious in his eyes. “I can’t believe you slept with me, cementing your claim on me without my knowledge or consent. What the hell were you thinking? I also think you were incredibly stupid not to tell me all of this sooner. Relationships are built on love and trust. You may be over two hundred, but you have a lot to learn.”
Damien hangs his head. “I know, and I truly am sorry. Thank you for waiting until we were alone.”
“Don’t think I did it for you. I didn’t want this . . . ” I gesture between the two of us. “ . . . to start with your family upset. It was hard enough with everything going on. I mean, seeing you yesterday really hurt me.” I pause for a moment, swallowing hard to keep my voice from breaking. “When I saw you with . . . when I thought you had betrayed me; I could literally feel my heart breaking. My world seemed to be falling to pieces. I couldn’t even think straight.”
Damien closes the distance between us and lifts my chin so I’m looking him in the eyes. “Elysabeth, I cannot ask for your forgiveness for what I put you through. It was a heinous betrayal, and I can hardly forgive myself. But I can swear to you, on my very existence, that such a thing will never occur again, if you will only give me another chance. Can you do that?”
I nod. “I can. Because yesterday also made me realize something.” He looks at me hopefully. “When I found out the truth, the warm, happy feeling that infused my very being made me realize how much I love you, Damien. I love you, really and truly, and always will.”
He picks me up and whirls me around with a whoop of joy before setting me down and kissing me deeply. “You have no idea how happy you have just made me, Elysabeth. I have loved you since the first moment I saw you sitting in that library, and hearing that from you has just . . . has made this the happiest day of my long life.” He circles me with his arms, hugging me close.
I pull away far enough to look him in the eyes. “Don’t you dare do anything that stupid ever again.”
“I swear to you that I will not.”
I smile and kiss him again. “Great. Now, since that’s out of the way, I met Hilda.” He grimaces. “She’d like to see my coat.”
“I knew that would come back to haunt me. You understand why I did it, at least?” He looks hopeful.
“Yes, but promise me something.”
“Anything, mon coeur,” he says, eyes locked on mine.
“No more lies or half-truths, okay?”
He nods. “Of course. I can easily promise you that now that you know my secret.”
“You realize I have lots of questions for you, right?”
He grins at me. “I would not expect anything else.”
I smile. “First, what time is it?”
“A little after two. Are you hungry?”
“Not really. I’m more interested in getting answers to some of the questions that have been floating around in my mind, and then I need to speak with your parents and Hilda.”
“Very well.” He sits on the bed and pulls me with him. We lean back to relax against the headboard. “What would you like to know?”
“About our Bonding.”
He nods and waves for me to continue.
“My parents won’t be there. I’m assuming there is no problem with us having a normal wedding ceremony at some point in the future?”
“Of course not, Chérie. You are human. It is only right you have whatever kind of wedding you have envisioned for yourself.”
The tension I hadn’t even realized existed disappears, and I relax against him. “Oh, good. That’s a relief. Oh, one more before I ask about vampires.” Wow, I can’t believe I just said that. “I haven’t wanted to mention your speech patterns because I assumed they were due to English not being your first language. But now that I’ve met your family, and none of them speak with the same precision, I’m confused.”
He sighs. “Understandable, Chérie. The short explanation is that as heir to the throne, it is expected that I comport myself with a certain level of decorum that is not expected of my siblings. Growing up, I did not find it easy to switch between mannerisms in the way that my siblings do. Several times, I made mistakes, embarrassing my family.
“To mitigate the problem, I simply decided to maintain my ‘heir’ mannerisms at all times. Of course, when I met you I had to behave differently, which was difficult, but I found altering my speech impossible. My joy at finally meeting you, and then being near you, took far too much of my concentration.” The tender smile he offers me makes my heart swell.
“You occupied most of my thoughts for quite a while, too. But now that you’ve been acting differently with me, will it be difficult for you when you go back to your duties as the heir?”
&nbs
p; “Possibly, but perhaps now that I am older and wiser, it will not be so bad. Besides, it would be completely worth any difficulties I face.”
I grin. “Glad to know I’m worth the trouble.”
“Always, Chérie.”
My cheeks heat at his serious tone, but I ignore them to satisfy my curiosity. “Okay, let’s start with the most obvious. Aren’t you supposed to have problems with the sun?”
He grins. “Myth. Remember, one of our creators was the Goddess of Day. The belief developed when vampires were new and preferred to hide in the shadows as there were so few of us.”
“Oh, right.” I smile sheepishly. “Good point. So I’m assuming the garlic, holy water, crosses, and coffins stories are myths?”
“Yes, of course, Chérie. We do not fly or turn into bats either.”
“And . . . apparently you aren’t venomous?”
He laughs. “Of course not. Just like we do not sparkle. We are very fast and very strong, however. And we have exceptional hearing.”
“Yeah, I’d noticed that. And you have a reflection.”
“Yes, we do, thank goodness, otherwise my sisters would have terrible trouble.”
“Do you sleep?”
“Yes, but not as much as humans. We are quite refreshed with three or four hours of sleep a day.”
“Awesome! I get to add more hours to my day.” Maybe I can finally pick up some of the hobbies I’ve been interested in for a while. “Wait! You couldn’t come into my parents’ house because my dad forbade you from entering! You need an invitation to enter?”
Damien’s obviously trying not to laugh. “No, Chérie. I was trying not to anger him further. It is simply polite to wait to be invited in.”
“Oh. Do you cry blood?”
“No. You can safely assume that all ancient myths regarding vampires are, indeed, myths.
“Um, what about children? Are there any laws governing the number you can have?”
“To enforce laws on the number of children resulting from a union would be an insult to our Goddesses who gifted us with the ability to reproduce. Those of us who are born vampires, like myself, can have as many children as we desire. However, those that are turned humans, like you will be, are limited to two. One each to your new goddesses.”
The Most Special Chosen Page 25