Victor's POV:
"Do you like the new dress a maid gave me?" Luuna asked as she walked out to me from the bathroom in a new silver dress. She spun around in it before walking up to me and gave a huge smile. "They made this just for me." I smiled and nodded before I smirked.
"It looks great on you," I purred out. "I can't wait to see this on you at the ball we're having. You'll let me escort you, yes?"
"Of course, I will," She gave me a huge smile before walking up to me. "Have you seen that little boy again lately?" She asked curiously. I smirked and grabbed her hand, twirling her as I brought her into my arms.
"Why does that matter? I'm fine now, aren't I?" I purred into her ear and chuckled.
"You might be, but I have my rights as your companion to be concerned," she told me firmly and smacked my chest lightly. "Tell the truth. I can smell lies." I frowned a little and kissed her cheek. She can, huh?
"Not since when I fell over outside," I whispered into her ear. "All the pain has faded. I haven't heard him try to talk to me either. It may be over...." And I learned so many things from it~ I feel enlightened about how vampires are truly supposed to be~ How I am supposed to be. She gave me a huge smile then.
"I'm so proud of you then for opening up to yourself. Now you're not troubled.... well not as troubled as you were. You're better Victor," she told me calmly. I nodded then gave her a playful look.
"Did anyone ever teach you how to dance?" I asked her then placed a hand on her waist, keeping one of her hands in my other one before I started to lead her in a waltz to the wonderful silent music in the air. She stumbled after me quickly and stepped on my feet a few times in the process.
"No," she admitted. She started to keep up in my footsteps after a few minutes and blushed. "Dancing is silly."
"Says who? Dancing is an expression, an art form," I purred in her ear. "I want to dance with you at the ball. I'll have to teach you to dance...." There's no way my companion isn't going to dance with me.
"Only since you want to dance with me," she whispered and eyed me over before smiling lightly. "Art or not... it's still silly."
"You can believe what you want," I purred at her then smirked, pulling her towards me before I dipped her back, holding her in my arms as I leaned over her. She blushed as she looked up at me before moving to get up. I gave her a playful growl then kissed her cheek as I smirked. "What is it, Luuna?" I've made her nervous~ Good.
"I don't want to be stuck in this position," she whispered to me and rubbed at her cheek. I let her up slowly and held her in my arms with a loud purr.
"Is this better?" I whispered in her ear. She nodded and eyed me over before blushing and patted my chest slowly.
"You're a little close companion," she told me and poked me in the chest before giving me a small kiss on the cheek. She pulled away quickly and started for the door. "What happens at balls?" She asked me and smiled. I followed her quickly and smirked.
"Lots of people show up in nice dresses and outfits. Music is played. Sometimes everyone learns something new from the host. We dance the night away together." I moved beside her and looked down at her with a smile. "You'll get to meet my friends." Speaking of friends, I wonder how Dante is doing.... I should go check on him. She waited for me before walking by my side and linked elbows with me.
"Do you like balls?" She asked and giggled. I shrugged.
"They're fine, I guess. They should be better now that the old kings and queens won't be there," I told her then started to lead her in the direction of Dante's scent. She followed by my side and gave a nod in understanding.
"You're in a better mood about that," she whispered. She gave my arm a squeeze then. I nodded quickly then kissed the top of her head before I walked into the main sitting room, finding Dante sitting with Rueben on the couch. He glanced towards me and frowned a little but relaxed as he heard me start to purr.
"Victor came to visit us," he whispered to Reuben and kissed his cheek, Reuben smirked and eyed me down.
"I think he owes you an apology, Dante, for how rude he was being earlier. Whether he remembers or not... he still did it." I frowned a little then walked up to them with Luuna.
"I was only wanting a bite. I don't see what was so wrong about that," I hissed lightly then sat down on the nearby couch with Luuna.
"It's fine, Reuben. I don't need his apology. I have something much better than an apology coming from him soon. He owes me, and I will collect one day," Dante hummed out calmly. Luuna crossed her legs as she sat down next to me and let my arm go to smooth out her dress. Reuben eyed us over before smirking at me.
"I better be there to watch," he told Dante firmly.
"Oh, you will be. Don't worry about that," Dante purred at him then rubbed Reuben's arm. I shook my head at them the laughed.
"You know I'd do almost anything for you, Dante. All you would have to do is ask me~" I hummed out and crossed my legs. Lunna leaned up against me then and placed her head on my shoulder as she watched them. Reuben eyed me down with a clenched jaw before it loosened, and he relaxed a bit.
"Victor.... sometimes you're just too much to ask for," he sighed out. I laughed and gave him a wink.
"That's what you think, Reuben. You just can't handle me," I teased him as I wrapped an arm around Luuna's shoulders.
"You're right. I don't know how Luuna does it..." Reuben chuckled lightly as his eyes lingered over Luuna. "He's nothing but trouble Luuna." I smirked at him and kissed the top of her head.
"Victor isn't nothing but trouble. He's fine, the way he is," Dante told Reuben firmly. "He's been my friend for years. He's fine."
"Says the other troublemaker," Reuben grumbled and smirked at him.
"Other troublemaker?" Dante asked and smirked right back before he leaned over and stole a kiss from Reuben. "Say that to me in the bedroom," he purred and nipped at Reuben's ear. "Whip me like the bad boy I am."
"Whip you? Want me to call you a commoner while I'm at it?" He asked before laughing softly. "I could call you peasant." Dante nodded quickly.
"Whip me like the dirty peasant I am," he purred and then got into Reuben's lap. "I'm your bad peasant."
"My bad peasant?" Reuben raised an eyebrow before shoving Dante into the floor. "Don't sit in my lap." He quickly placed his boot in front of Dante's face. "Kiss that to make up for your mistake, peasant." He let out a predatorial growl. Dante smirked then kissed the boot before he purred and pulled the boot off Reuben's foot and started to massage it.
"My ruler, my dominus," he murmured and kissed Reuben's foot. Reuben smirked as he watched Dante.
"I didn't think Dante would do it," Luuna whispered to me. I frowned as I watched them then leaned in towards her ear.
"He hasn't gotten sex this entire time he's been with Reuben. He can't get him to go to the bedroom. He's desperate," I whispered to Luuna, earning a sharp glare from Dante before he kissed Reuben's ankle.
"What next, dominus?" He whispered and then nuzzled his head against Reuben's leg. "I'm at your disposal~"
"I wouldn't mind a glass of blood. Thank you for offering to get me it," Reuben hummed out before kicking Dante away lightly. "Bring our friends something back as well." Dante smirked then bit down into his lip hard, drawing blood as he watched for Reuben's reaction.
"I said glass of blood," Reuben whispered before leaning over and rubbed some of the blood off of Dante's lips and licked it off his finger before rubbing Dante's lip again to heal it. "Good try." Dante tsked a little before he kissed Reuben's finger that was near his lips and got to his feet, grumbling as he walked off with his hands in his pockets. That poor king can't get attention from his future queen.... I smirked a bit and crossed my legs. At least he's bringing us all back blood. Reuben's eyes followed Dante until he was out of the room then looked towards us and gave a smile. I watched Reuben with interest before I smirked devilishly at him.
"So, Reuben... how come you shun him? I want to know why Dante, with all his good looks and charm, can't get his future queen in bed."
"It keeps us spiced up," Reuben whispered. "He'd grow bored if he didn't have me to chase all day," he smirked at the thought and bit his bottom lip. I raised an eyebrow at him.
"It's been at least five years. You still haven't really let him have a taste," I told him then leaned forward with a smirk. "You're just afraid of getting in bed with him, aren't you Reuben? You don't want to know what happens under the covers with a vampire king." Reuben frowned as he watched me before moving his hand up to his chin and placed his elbow onto the arm of the couch.
"That's not true," he told me calmly. "Besides, it's none of your business." I chuckled as I watched him then shook my head. He's so afraid of Dante. Dante is too much man for him to handle~ Dante came back into the room after a few seconds and sat a glass of blood down on the end table in front of me and tea in front of Luuna before he walked over to Reuben and held out the glass calmly to him. Reuben grabbed the glass quickly. "Thank you," Reuben whispered and started to drink the blood. Luuna watched him before grabbing her glass of tea and eyed it over before taking a sip from it. I took a sip of my blood and watched as Dante sat down beside Reuben and crossed his legs, looking towards a window in the room.
"After the ball... I want to go back to Germany. We've been here for five years," he told Reuben then looked at him. "You'll come with me, won't you? We still have to get married."
"I thought I was going wherever you go anyways," Reuben told him innocently.
"Well I was just about to come in here and tell you that after the ball I wanted everyone out of my castle and in their own castles," I heard Laurence's charming little boy's voice telling us as he stepped out of shadows that were forming in the room. He was tugging on a white dress shirt and trying to straighten it out on his body. "Not to be mean or anything... but I thought it would be a great idea to send everyone home before they started forgetting who they are and what their responsibilities are. There isn't any danger now that the war is over and if I keep letting you stay here... the others might get jealous." He paused as his head got stuck and he felt around for a button to undo. Dante looked towards Laurence sharply then nodded.
"Yes... we all do need to go home. My castle might be in trouble. It's been a while since I was home.... We also need to set up a functioning government between us and the remaining princes and princesses that survived. I think a council would be a good idea to protect against going back the way we came," he said then pulled Reuben close to him. "A lot is going to happen after that ball... politics wise. We have to figure out how to make the ruins of before into a working government... and I'm the only one around that was an official king." Laurence nodded and gave a small smile.
"We'll be having a meeting before the ball. A whole hour to discuss the war, the victors, and our final decisions. Afterwards, we'll all join hand in hand with a pleasant dance." He pushed his shirt down with a jolt after he broke the button and gave a frustrated look as he fixed his hair. Dante nodded then kissed Reuben's head.
"That sounds alright.... We'll figure it out before the ball then go dance the night away," he whispered. Richard suddenly came in with a huge smile on his face and smoothed out his shirt that looked wrinkled up.
"Hello dear friends~" He purred out then spotted Laurence, going over to him quickly and scooped him up into his arms with a playful growl. "Missed you," he teased him and kissed Laurence's forehead. "You took off rather quickly." Laurence purred and kissed Richard's cheek.
"I know what you did," Laurence warned as he patted Richard's chest to smooth out a wrinkle. "I was just telling our dear friends that after the ball, I'm sending all my guests' home."
"Hm... alright... but you better come visit me often," Richard told him and smirked. "I'll come back if you don't. You're one of my best friends, Laurence. You better stay that way."
"Forever and always," Laurence promised. "I'll have to come anyways to visit Rose," he purred out. "Maybe even babysit her." He gave it a thoughtful look before eyeing me down briefly and gave a small laugh.
"It'll be weird not being here," Reuben whispered softly. "I'll miss dinner time." I frowned as I watched Laurence, wondering what that look was about then tightened my grip on Luuna.
"We'll have dinner time at my castle, don't worry," Dante told Reuben then purred. "We'll eat outside every once in a while, and then we'll have our own balls to plan.... We'll have to think about how we're going to rule our country. We'll also be getting settled in with our marriage~" Dante smirked and leaned his face into the crook of Reuben's neck before he bit in and began to mark him. Reuben let out a quiet moan and gripped Dante's shirt before whispered something to Dante quietly that I couldn't hear.
"Mmmmh," Laurence moved to get out of Richard's arms then. "I've got to go downstairs, I think I'm having eggs," he whispered right before a roar came from downstairs that sounds stressed. Richard gave a small frown then put him down quickly.
"Is it Baylorik and that small dragon?" He asked and crossed his arms. "Oh... a servant probably has Mayloi-" Timothy quickly came into the room with wide eyes.
"Master! Baylorik needs you," he said, holding Mayloi who was still in his human form. "His little dragon friend is in the treasure room."
"She's having eggs," Laurence said calmly. "Give Mayloi to Richard and you can come with me downstairs- on your way you should get a few towels and hot water." He said calmly and gave Richard a kiss on the cheek before leaving him to go downstairs.
"Dragon eggs?" Luuna asked me softly and giggled. "Little baby dragons?" I nodded.
"Yes, there are a lot of dragons around here," I purred then smirked. "Mayloi over there is the youngest." Richard reached out for Mayloi and smirked.
"My baby~" He purred as he stole him from Timothy then hugged Mayloi sweetly. I watched them for a second then glanced back towards Dante to check on him, seeing he had made Reuben lay on his back with him hovering over him as he kissed Reuben passionately. Reuben grabbed Dante's hair and yanked on it a little before pulling back from the kiss with a shaky breath.
"Dante," he whispered in a warning tone.
"One more," Dante whispered back, looking at Reuben's lips longingly.
"No more," Reuben told him. "That was enough for you," he purred out. "I don't want to get carried away."
"Come on... one more," he purred and leaned in for another one.
"Nope. Denied," Reuben told him and placed his finger on Dante's lips. "You'll have to continue craving it." Dante narrowed his eyes and looked at Reuben's finger before he yanked back and sat up, exposing his fangs before he growled. "Why're you so angry?" Reuben asked and held back a laugh as he eyed his fangs over. "Is it because I told you no?" Dante got off him then and sat down on the other side of the couch, crossing his legs.
"No," he muttered.
"Are you lying?" Reuben asked and sat up. Dante looked towards Reuben then relaxed a little as he watched him.
"Maybe," he whispered.
"Don't lie to me," Reuben warned. "You're supposed to love me because we're mates, right? Don't get upset when I tell you no." Dante tsked a little then turned to look at him fully.
"I do love you. You don't let me touch you though," he growled out. "I do what I can to show you I love you, but you don't let me show you how much."
"I know how much you love me," Reuben promised. "You want to show me so bad, I know you love me." Dante's expression softened a little before he nodded.
"Alright Reuben," he whispered then reached over and took his hand, rubbing it with his thumb. "I won't lie to you about it again."
"Your frustration is admirable," Reuben whispered and leaned in and gave Dante a kiss on his lips.
"No, it's not. It's pitiful. I'm king of Germany, and I can't even get more than a few kisses from my mate," he mumbled.
"What's wrong about that?" Reuben asked. "It's not like I'm a girl and expected to be married to you by now and be having your.... third child by now," he whispered. "Relax and quit worrying." Dante frowned and looked away as he nodded.
"Fine," he murmured. Reuben purred and smirked.
"If you want us to do more than you'll have to wait until we're married."
"It's been five years," Dante muttered and squeezed Reuben's hands.
"We have all of eternity," Reuben muttered and gave Dante's hand a squeeze to mess with him. I heard Dante growl a little before he looked back at Reuben. "If you want me then you better get to hunting down a ring," Reuben whispered. "Or should I ask you? Want me to do it here?" Dante laughed a little.
"Is that all you want? A ring?" He asked then smirked playfully, reaching into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small gold ring. "Like this one?" Reuben eyed the ring over curiously before grabbing Dante's shirt and yanked him closer.
"What's it doing in your pocket?"
"Waiting for the perfect moment to wind up on someone's finger," Dante purred at him.
"You're so complicated," Reuben whispered softly.
"Am not.... I was just waiting for a good time to give it to you," he whispered back. "We have been talking about getting married for so long I thought I would get you the ring. I was thinking about giving it to you at the ball~"
"Well put it in your pocket and save it for the ball," Reuben whispered.
"You don't want it now~?" Dante asked and laughed, smiling at him. "I can get down on my knees."
"Well... You want to get on your knees now or in front of others?" He asked Dante. Dante thought it over then smirked.
"Hmmm...." He laughed then leaned in towards him before he stole a kiss from Reuben's lips. "If only I could ask you a thousand times~"
"Well fine... give me the ring and I'll ask you," Reuben told him and smirked.
"Hey~ no," Dante told him and laughed happily. "I'm not giving you the ring. I'm the dominant one in this relationship~"
"No, you're not. I am," Reuben told him firmly. "You were letting me call you peasant like.... five minutes ago. You're not dominate."
"Want to tell me that in private?" Dante asked and smirked before he started to move closer to him with a predatorial growl. "I'll show you why I'm dominate."
"You wished you were dominate but I rule this," Reuben told him calmly and eyed Dante over.
"Oh no you don't~" Dante purred and knocked him over, kissing Reuben quickly as he moved over him. Reuben yelped and leaned into the kiss a little before pushing up on Dante's chest.
"Yes, I do," Reuben whispered against Dante's lips. Dante smirked a little then tilted his head, pushing down to get closer as he kissed Reuben again and licked his bottom lip.
"Wow, what are we talking about in here?" I heard Val ask as she walked into the room with Alex. "Anything important besides making out on the couch?" Richard looked at her and frowned.
"No, but you missed the part where Laurence came to tell us that after the ball, he wants us to go home and before the ball, we're going to have a meeting to discuss how we're going to set up a government and tackle the future.... Dante and Reuben are thinking about getting married after the ball, I think. Dante has a ring he hasn't put on Reuben yet," Richard told her and adjusted Mayloi in his arms. "Oh... dragon eggs are being laid downstairs too."
"I thought that was what was going on downstairs," she said calmly. "I already knew about the meeting and I was assuming Laurence would kick us out at some point. It'll be nice to finally return home. I haven't been there in a long time. Alex... you get to see where I live." Alex purred and nodded.
"That'll be an adventure," he told her then smirked.
"Hey Val," Richard purred suddenly and smirked. "I got engaged too. Paris proposed to me a few hours ago."
"I always thought you would," Val told him and smirked. "What happened? How did he ask you?"
"Well... we were in the dining room with the children, and I had been flirting with him for a while, and he looked at me suddenly and said 'marry me'," Richard said and laughed. "I wasn't expecting it~"
"That's beautiful~" Val hummed out before looking at Alex. "You hear that? Things are looking up for our friends. Marriage for our friends." She shook her head and giggled. "The only one allowed to wear white is Reuben."
"Not with how Dante has been acting," I spoke up and laughed. "He keeps trying to get Reuben in bed." Dante gave a sharp growl and looked over at me from Reuben before he exposed his fangs.
"Don't talk about my mate like that. He gets to wear white if he wants to wear white," Dante hissed.
"Well traditionally he should," Val giggled out. "Unless you want to be the one in white."
"He will be," Reuben said quickly.
"No, you're going to be in white," Dante purred out to Reuben. "You're going to be the queen after all."
"Well I still rule," Reuben grumbled.
"Prove it," Dante teased and exposed his fangs.
"I will," Reuben told him and exposed his fangs. "Off."
"No," Dante said and purred, kissing Reuben's neck. "I don't want to." Reuben pushed up on Dante's chest and gave a growl.
"No?" Reuben asked. "But I told you to."
"I want to lay here with you," Dante purred and collapsed on Reuben's chest, wrapping his arms around him.
"Well I don't want to be smooshed," Reuben grumbled. "Plus, there are others around," he whispered.
"Are you embarrassed by me?" Dante asked and smirked as he looked down at him. "Do you want to be like the normal couples out there where we have to have a chaperone and we have to keep ten feet between each other and only see each other formally and be all stiff and proper?"
"Well you're a royal," he whispered. "You should be more careful on your image."
"I'm here with other royals. It's not like I'm doing this in front of my own people," Dante whispered. "We could be more formal if you really want that...."
"I want you to be patient," he whispered. "Don't jump my bones in front of our friends." Dante gave a playful growl then and smirked.
"Patient? How patient? Wedding night patient?" Dante asked and kissed his neck.
"Preferable," he whispered. "Unless you can't wait." Dante seemed to be thinking it over then kissed his neck again.
"How about this.... I'll lavish you and spoil you with all kinds of gifts and small signs of affection and not show you anything big till after we're married so you are drooling for me by the time we get married," Dante asked and laughed, sitting up quickly then got off with a wink.
"I don't think you could handle it that long," he whispered.
"Want to bet?" Dante asked and then sat down on the other side of the couch, crossing his legs.
"Yes," Reuben grumbled. "I do want to bet. You're ready to jump me now," he whispered. "I've been making you wait too long. You know you can't wait anymore. If I made you an offer to do it now instead of later, you'd take it now."
"No... waiting is important to you, and I'm sure my kingdom is going to enjoy hearing that their future queen is pure," Dante hummed out and examined his nails. "I'm not going to kiss you like that till we're married. That's married kissing." Reuben raised an eyebrow as he watched Dante.
"Fine... Until we're married." He sat up quickly and eyed Dante over in confusion. Dante gave a nod and smirked a little.
"Until we're married...." He purred out, watching his nails.
"F-fine," Reuben said quickly. "Until we're married."
"Are you two done?" Val asked as she sat down between them. I raised an eyebrow at her.
"Val, I don't know if you should sit there," I told her. "One of them might blow any second now and tackle the other one." I don't think Dante is going to be able to handle it till his wedding... and I know what he's doing. He's trying to get Reuben to want him more than Dante wants to get him in bed. Reuben might end up tackling him if Dante does it right.
"Well I could put Alex here and I could go sit with you," Val suggested before sitting down quickly by Luuna. "Alex, have fun." Alex frowned.
"I'll... stand. I don't want to sit between two guys thinking about sex," he said and slowly moved away from Dante and Reuben.
"I'm not thinking about sex," Reuben grumbled. "He's the one thinking about that. I'm thinking about who I'm going to pick as my best man."
"I didn't propose yet~" Dante teased him and smirked. "The ring is still in my pocket."
"I'm still thinking," Reuben whispered.
"Hmmm... I think I'll surprise you and pick a different date to propose to leave you wondering when I'll take your hand and put the ring on it," he teased and laughed. "Then again... the ball is a perfect time...."
"Well I might ask you then," Reuben said quickly. "Don't take too long."
"You're not going to ask me," Dante hummed out and laughed.
"Why not?" Reuben asked. "I'm perfectly capable of asking."
"Because I'm going to ask you," Dante purred.
"Well I will ask you too," Reuben whispered. "Don't reject me."
"Reject you?" Dante asked and looked over at him curiously. "I wouldn't reject you, but you're not going to ask me either because I'm going to ask you."
"And they're not thinking about jumping each other," Alex muttered, making Richard smirk.
"No.... I'm asking," Reuben whispered.
"You're not going to ask," Dante told him and gave him a teasing growl. "Because I'm going to ask before you can."
"Then you better hurry up and do it before I do," Reuben hissed out.
"Are you upset?" Dante purred and gave him a smile.
"No," Reuben grumbled and got to his feet before he walked out of the room quickly. Dante frowned then before he looked at Val.
"Val... help me plan it," he said quickly. "I want it to be special. He's been waiting five years, and he deserves something so much better than just a simple proposal at a ball. I want to make him happy~ You're the only girl that can help me. Besides... if I'm going to wait till I'm married to kiss him like I want to, then I should at least have fun with the time before it. I want to make him swoon for me."
"I don't know.... I can't specialize in that... Ask Richard," she purred out and looked towards him.
"But... you're the only girl here," Dante said and frowned. "Please Val~ I know there is an inner girly princess in there somewhere~ I already have the ring!"
"Well... I might come up with a clever plan," she said calmly. "Give me a few days to think on it." Dante sighed and frowned, looking at the door.
"Do you think he's mad at me because I'm suddenly not after him?" He asked her and frowned.
"No," Val sighed out. "But if you're concerned you could go after him." Dante frowned and looked at her then at the door before he got to his feet.
"Alright... I'll go check on him."
Dante's POV:
I walked down the hall, smelling Reuben out before I found him then walked up quickly. "Reuben," I purred out softly. He blushed as he was about to open the front door.
"What?" He asked.
"I love you," I told him then put my hand on the front door to stop him from opening it. I don't think I tell him it enough... not like this at least....
"I love you too," he whispered and eyed my hand over. I smirked a little then leaned over and kissed his forehead. You know... I think I'll propose tonight. He'll love it.
"Meet me outside tonight in the garden. I want to show you something." I can figure out how to make it perfect by then~ "An hour after sundown."
"Okay," he whispered and frowned. "Is it because you're going to propose?"
"Yes," I told him and purred. "But don't tell yourself or else you'll spoil it."
"Too late," he whispered and smirked.
"Hey~ You can't spoil it for yourself," I told him and laughed. "I want you to be surprised and happy and jumping in joy."
"I'm not a girl, why would I jump in joy?" He asked.
"Because I want to marry you and be with you and only you," I purred then leaned in a little to tease him.
"Well I don't jump in joy," he mumbled.
"Okay... then I want you to be excited for your wedding day. You should pick a best man," I told him and smiled.
"I will," he whispered and bit his bottom lip. I purred and gave his forehead another kiss.
"I think I will pick Victor to be my best man...." I told him then laughed. "I really do love you, Reuben. I want to be together for eternity. You have been with me for a little over five years, and I have never been so sure about anything in my life. You are who I want to be by my side for however long this eternity lasts." I looked him in the eyes lovingly and gave him a small kiss. It's not just kisses and physical affection I want from him. I want to have everything with him. He is the one I see sitting in the throne next to mine centuries down the road. He is the only one that I can't live without... Reuben gave me a smile as he brought me closer to him.
"Are you sure?" He asked. "You've been so impatient with me Dante and I'm sure you're eager.... We haven't been like Richard and Paris as a couple. We slept in separate beds and I've forced you to hold yourself back. This better be you being honest and not just trying to get more intimate with me.... I've never known men to be the way Richard and Paris are... or the way we want to be." He blushed lightly. "I'm a little afraid." I purred and wrapped my arms around his waist.
"No, this isn't a lie, I promise. I really do want to be together for eternity, Reuben. I have waited five years. I can wait one more for a wedding ring to be on your finger first. I know the idea of it scares you right now and giving you one more year will make you more comfortable with me. I do want to experience what it feels like with you, but I can wait a little while longer.... I love you for more than just physical affection. I want to marry you not just because you are my mate. I want to marry you because somehow you have gotten me all wrapped up around your finger and I'm deeply and madly in love with you. I love the way you care for your horses. I love that you carry a whip in your boot. I love that you get flustered when I want too many kisses. I love that you are willing to go home with me to Germany. I love the way you smile and laugh~ Everything about you is wonderful, and I can't picture anyone else sitting on the throne beside me, Reuben. You're the love of my life~ I want this so much- just to be able to call you mine and my queen and to hear you say you love me too," I purred softly to him and blushed as I leaned my forehead against his. "I love you, Reuben~" He let the door go and moved his hands around my waist.
"Well.... we have been together for five years," he whispered and laid his head down on my shoulder. "If you had any ill thoughts about us then you would have gotten rid of me by now." He gave a soft laugh before sighing. "Only after we get married Dante," he whispered to me. "I want that for us. I think it'll mean more. Marriage... if we wait." I nodded and purred. He's right. It would mean more.
"I understand," I whispered and kissed his forehead with a laugh. "I can wait for you, Reuben~"
"Good because I want to wait for you," he whispered. "I was raised up to wait for marriage." He hugged me tightly and let out a small purr. I nodded and leaned in, giving him a small kiss before I laughed.
"I can't wait to dance with you at the ball and announce our engagement~" I gave him a playful smirk then growled. "You will say yes, won't you? That would be so cruel to tease me and say no."
"You'll find out when you ask me," Reuben purred out to me and laughed. I smirked then went for his neck with a low growl to mess with him and pulled him closer.
"I won't take no for an answer~" I purred out in his ear. He leaned into my neck slowly before I felt him bite me and start to drink my blood. I moaned and pulled him closer as I tilted my head then kissed his temple with a loud purr. "Reuby~" He pulled back slowly and looked me in the eyes.
"Reuby?" He asked softly. I smirked and nodded.
"Reuby~" I purred and then leaned in and kissed his cheek. "My sweet Reuben~" He blushed and yanked me closer to him.
"That's a girl's name," he hissed out. "My name is Reuben." He leaned back in and bit down into me again. I gasped and gripped the back of his shirt, a small moan escaping me.
"R-Reuben," I whispered and instinctively tilted my head for him as my body trembled from the pleasure of his fangs. Would it be wrong to ask him to bite in deeper? I blushed at the thought and held him close. He gave me a small purr and pushed me up against the door and gave a small purr. I moaned and sunk a little against the door before I ran one of my hands through his hair and gripped it. "Reuben~ bite me a little deeper," I begged, blushing as the words left my mouth. Oh man.... He's going to pull away. I felt his lips rise into a smile against my neck before he pulled away.
"No," he told me and rubbed his finger against his lips. "I want you to wait for that feeling," he whispered as he brought his lips close to mine before the door came out from behind me and caused me to fall down. He smirked as he stepped over me and started for the stables. I groaned and looked towards his feet before I reached for them. HE'S SUCH A TEASE! He laughed as he dodged my hands. "I want a silver ring," he told me firmly.
"For the wedding ring or engagement ring?" I asked and frowned. I already bought the engagement ring.... I eyed the whip over sticking out of the top of his boot and went to snatch it to give him a reason to stay. He tsked and stopped my hand just in time.
"Engagement," he told me. "I want a silver one with little diamonds melted in it. Put some real effort into it or I'll say no." He walked off then with a small hum. But... I already showed him the ring. I frowned and looked up at the sky. How am I going to get a ring like that in time for tonight...? Shit. I got to my feet quickly then went inside.
"LAURENCE! DO YOU KNOW WHERE I COULD FIND A DECENT JEWELRY MAKER?!" He'd know.... He lives here... and he knows the future. If I get my hands on that ring, he'll tell me where.
"I DO!" I heard him yell back from his throne room. I teleported into the throne room and looked towards him quickly.
"Where? I need to get Reuben a new ring," I told him and walked up to his throne as I watched him. "He wants a ring I don't have yet." Laurence was sitting upside down on his throne with a small red box sitting on his stomach that he had his hand holding.
"There are several places in town," he told me calmly. "But I don't think you could get one made in time for tonight." I tsked as I watched him then crossed my arms.
"Do you think I could find something prettier for him?" Maybe my mother's ring? I'd have to find it....
"This might work," he told me calmly and tapped the red box. I glanced at the box then frowned.
"Are you sure about that?" I asked him then looked down into his eyes. "I don't want to take something of yours from you...."
"This is yours," he told me and smirked. Wait... what?
"Laurence," I mumbled and glanced at the box. Did he go into my castle? He sat up quickly and paused as he faced the back of his chair before he flipped around quickly and stood up. He eyed me over before smirking and knelt on one knee and showed me the box. He opened it slowly to reveal a ring that fit the exact description of the one Reuben was expecting. I heard someone gasp before a heavy thud sounded behind me and the smell of Victor's blood reached me. Oh fuck. I glanced behind me quickly to see Victor had fainted with Richard standing close behind him with wide eyes.
"W-well... I didn't see that one coming. I thought you loved Reuben, Dante," Richard whispered as he eyed over the ring then looked between the two of us. Laurence's lips grew up into a smirk as he eyed them over.
"Richard.... I need to talk to you with Paris." He eyed me over then. "I took the time to put your initials into the ring." He told me and eyed it over. "I hope you don't mind but I got bored one night." I nodded then gave him a small smile.
"Thanks Laurence," I purred to him and took the box from him. "I owe you a favor~" I'll have to repay him for this somehow. Richard walked up and looked the ring over then laughed.
"Oh, you're going to propose to Reuben with that, aren't you?" He asked then smirked. "Good luck, Dante~" Laurence stood up slowly and gave a huge smile.
"Awe it was no problem Dante." He gave a small purr. "I got the ring size and everything." He paused in his smile and walked towards the window then slowly. I frowned and watched him.
"Laurence?" I asked him curiously and followed him. "Is something the matter?" Reuben's out there.... Maybe he's watching Reuben ride a horse.
"Yeah," Laurence whispered before looking at us quickly. "Richard, go find Rose and Vlad and get them somewhere safe. Dante, wake up Victor." I nodded and went over to Victor quickly, nudging him awake as Richard took off running.
"Laurence, what is it?" I asked him as I helped Victor sit up as he groaned. I heard some bells go off then.
"We're under attack," Laurence whispered. "The town grew suspicious of us," he muttered. "What's left of it anyways. It's hunters," he sighed out. "Grab some weapons and be prepared for their attacks. They're going to sting a little." I widened my eyes then yanked Victor up to his feet.
"Where's Reuben on his ride?" I asked him quickly. I have to get him out of here to where he can safely relax.... He could get killed if I'm not watching him!
"Outside in the stables still," Laurence whispered before seeming to snap out of the small daze he was in. "I'm getting Baylorik. His scales will be of use to us and the weapons. These are hunters not regular humans we're going up against," he warned us again. "If they get us in the stone it's over and if their poison get in our system and in our stone... we're dead. Basically, heal your wounds quickly if you get one. Also... If Reuben gets hurt and it reaches his heart.... he's dead. We can't heal that but with a stone it can be convinced with holly water.... I think that covers it." He gave us another confused look before smiling. "I love you guys." I frowned as I watched him.
"You love us? You never say that... not often," I muttered. Something major is going to happen... and why would he tell me about- OH MY LORD, REUBEN! I widened my eyes and ran up to the window to check on the stables. HE'S NOT GOING TO DIE, IS HE?! NO! I'M SUPPOSED TO MARRY THAT MAN! The fires in the caste went out suddenly as soon as I looked outside and everything became pitch black until my eyes adjusted to the dark. I caught Laurence's reflection in the window disappear behind me from the shadows. I caught quiet voices around the castle start up about the darkness. I frowned and then glanced behind me, seeing Victor had disappeared as well then glanced back at the stables before I teleported out to them. "Reuben," I called quickly, shoving the ring box into my jacket. "Reuben, you can't ride today. I'm taking you home to Germany for the afternoon. Something came up."
"Dante?" I heard Reuben ask quietly. "Why is the bell ringing?" He asked before I felt him wrap his arm around my waist. "The lights went out and the horses are a bit spooked." He leaned in and gave my cheek a kiss. I wrapped my arms around him quickly and kissed him before I glanced around nervously.
"We're under attack," I whispered into his ear. "I want to get you somewhere safe." I can't let my mate die. I'll protect him from whatever Laurence saw.
"I thought we won the war," he whispered to me quietly. "Let me put my horse up first so he doesn't get free," he whispered and pulled away from me. "It'll only take a second."
"Reuben," I muttered and went to grab his wrist. "No... don't do it. It'll be fine. Trust me. The horse won't get too far. I'll get him when I come back here. It's hunters. They'll kill you on sight. I don't want that."
"It's fine," he told me as he walked up to his horse and started to bring him into the stable. "I said it would only take a second. I'll remove his saddle when I get back." I frowned and went after him quickly. I'm not letting my future fiancé out of my sight.
"Fine, hurry. I'm not losing you tonight," I told him worriedly. Oh devils... if he doesn't hurry.... I clenched my jaw at the thought and listened for hunters, trying to hear if they were close to the castle or not. I heard a struggle already in the castle and a few female screams. Reuben came out of the stables and locked the door before looking behind me with a small frown.
"Dante," he spoke up quickly before I felt someone stab me in my stomach quickly. Reuben's fangs exposed as I felt a surge of pain rise up and spread through me. I groaned and fell to my knees as my vision started to blur and spat up blood. FUCK.
"R-Reuben, run," I cried out, looking towards him in a panic. "Get out of here and don't look back! Please!" I can't let him die! I exposed my fangs quickly and looked behind me as my stone pulsed in a panic. No, no, no, no, no, no! Reuben widened his eyes and eyed me over before giving a slight nod and took off running.
"Where are you going?" I heard a girl's voice ask as she dragged the sword out of me slowly and started after Reuben. "Come and play with me." She giggled as she kicked my head hard to make my vision give out. I heard her chase after him then with a louder giggle. I groaned and held my head before I struggled to get to my feet and started for the sound of her giggles. FUCKING BITCH!
"GET BACK HERE!" I snarled, tackling someone to the ground then sunk my fangs in. I growled and ripped a chunk out quickly as my vision started to come back.
"Owe! Bite me? You're a vicious monkey. I just killed you. Roll over and die." I heard her hiss at me. I heard Reuben let out a cry of pain as I smelled his blood hit the hair. "Jeffery! That was my kill," I heard her hiss out.
"Yeah? Well he was getting away, you- pathetic bitch."
"I am not a girl dog," she hissed out in her defense.
"No, but you could be," he grumbled, and I heard a heavy thud before footsteps started our way. "I think I'll leave you here to die this time. You're becoming like them... blood thirsty... the only difference is you don't have fangs." I widened my eyes and yanked away from her neck, looking towards Reuben.
"R-Reuben!" I got to my feet and ran past the man as I saw him crumpled up on the ground and kneeled beside him quickly. Fuck! Maybe it's not that bad? I looked down at him in panic, grabbing his body as I looked for the wound. "Reuben, come on," I begged and tore at his shirt a bit to find the wound as my hands shook.
"D-Dante?" Reuben asked weakly. I felt his wound was close to his heart. "I'm scared," he whispered.
"Dante!" I heard Paris's voice shout from a few feet away as my vision started to get a little better. I heard the guy starting for me before he let out a scream as Paris hit him with a knife. "Hurry, teleport away and get help. You're both hurt. I've got this." I glanced behind me then looked down at Reuben before I teleported us back inside the castle to my room and laid him down on my bed. I glanced at his wound as I felt my eyes start to sting then looked up at him quickly.
"Reuben, did it pierce your heart," I asked him quickly, ripping his shirt off him. Maybe there's something I can do about this! It can't just end like this!
"Dante... it feels like something is eating at me," he explained and gave me a scared look. "It hurts." I was having the exact feeling. It was eating it's way towards my stone. Poison. "It burns," he mumbled and started to close his eyes like he was growing weak. I widened my eyes and snatched his shoulders.
"Reuben, don't you dare close your eyes," I told him quickly then shook him. "DON'T YOU DARE!" I snarled then looked his body over before I glanced towards the wound. It's poison.... Maybe I can suck it out. I leaned over him quickly and started sucking at his wound, trying to get it out of him. I can't do this. I can't live without him. We're supposed to get married! He's supposed to be my queen! I felt his hands going up my shirt then before slipping inside and grabbed the ring.
"Marry me," he whispered softly as he pulled it out, but it slipped out of his fingers and fell onto his chest. He spit out some blood then and leaned up to give me a kiss. I felt a tear slip down my cheek before I quickly kissed him and gripped his shoulders. This can't be happening. He's going to make it. He can't die today.
"Of course, I'll marry you," I whispered. "We're getting married in two weeks, I promise." He gave me a smile against my lips before he opened his eyes to look at me. His smile started to fade then.
"I'm not going to make it," he whispered to me. "It's at my heart," he whispered, and I felt him gripping my shirt. "It hurts so much..." he clenched his jaw tightly before it loosened. My eyes were clear enough to tell his life was slipping in his eyes. "I love you." I widened my eyes and held onto him tightly.
"I-I love you too," I told him quickly then leaned my face against his chest for his heart as I felt my stone pulse in pain from the thought of losing him and then a shiver of pain went through me from the poison in my own body. "You can't die," I told him quickly, biting back a cry of pain. "You're queen of Germany!" He spit up more blood then and let out a poor cough.
"Dante..." he whispered. "You're king of Germany... if we both die.... there won't be a ruler.... please get help," he whispered as his fingers shakily reached up to my wound. "Don't die too," he whispered to me before his hand fell back down and grabbed at his chest before he let out a gasp of death. The strong and bold colors in his eyes faded as the life left his body. The features that made him a vampire disappeared as he became nothing more than.... a corpse with my ring in his hand. I widened my eyes then grabbed him before I shook him.
"REUBEN!" I cried out then crawled into the bed with him. "NO! DON'T DO THIS!" I felt the pain in my body spread from my movements before my stone pulsed in fear as it eased closer. I yelped and fell over before I started to feel hot. Shit... I'm going to die... but then... maybe I'd be with him finally. I looked towards Reuben's body then curled up to him, gripping his arm. If I die, we'll go to the same place, right? I heard the door open quickly before Val rushed into the room.
"Dante," she said quickly before eyeing over the situation and rushed up to my side before pressing her hand into my chest quickly and started to pull my stone out. "I'm sorry I can't ask, there's not much time." I widened my eyes and felt a scream escape me before I grabbed her hand, feeling my stone pulsing rapidly.
"V-Val!" I cried out and felt a tear slip down my cheek. She'll bring me back to a world without Reuben!
"It'll be okay," she whispered. "You'll come back and we'll all help you." She promised before yanking my stone straight out without hesitation and everything darkened. I was now stuck in darkness.... in a safe and calm darkness... with a spread of sadness.
Victor's POV:
I smirked as I slit a vampire hunter's throat and watched them go down, laughing darkly as I licked my knife then nudged his head with my boot. Heh... they don't put up much of a fight, do they~? I looked up then spotted a man sneaking up on Luuna, just a few feet was away from me. He had his eyes narrowed as he pulled out a sword from his side and snatched her arm, dragging her to him then went to stab her in the stomach. She yelped and grabbed the blade quickly to stop it just in time. I smelled her blood hit the air as her hands was cut quickly. She winced and fought off the blade- letting her hands dig in more to the blade to prevent it from stabbing her. I snarled and teleported over to her side, biting into the man's neck and tore a chunk out as he shrieked and dropped the sword. I felt someone strike me in the back of the head before an arrow whizzed by me and got Luuna deep in her shoulder. She let out a scream of pain before breaking the arrow and tore out both ends. She transformed quickly into her wolf form and got the person behind me quickly- tearing into the person. I snapped the man's neck then looked behind me just in time to see a woman stab down into Luuna's back with a sword, twisting it as the tip of the sword went all the way through and down to the floor below her. I widened my eyes then snarled loudly, going for the woman and tackled her to the ground. "DON'T YOU TOUCH MY LUUNA!" I hissed and ripped her throat out with my nails. I heard Lunna let out a cry of pain like she had transformed back.
"Victor," she begged. I glanced behind me for her then widened my eyes, crawling over to her.
"L-Luuna," I whispered and pulled her into my arms as I looked at her bloody chest. Fuck! "L-Luuna, it's going to be alright. We'll take care of this," I promised her then licked her chest to get my vampiric saliva on it to heal it. She shivered and grabbed at my hair.
"Victor, I don't want to be here," she said quickly. "I want to be in the woods." I looked her in the eyes quickly then nodded. For while she heals... the woods will be alright. I teleported us outside and deep into the woods, laying down under a tree with her as I held her close and kissed her cheek before I leaned down to her chest and licked it again. This will work.... It has to work. "I don't think it'll work," she told me softly. "The wound is too deep. Some things can't be healed by saliva, and I can't heal this quick enough.... my wolf is telling me it's time... It's time Victor for me to run with the moon goddess. I don't have a lot of time left. I'm not strong enough to change into her form. I think I'm leaving you, my sweet companion," she told me and rubbed my cheek. "Hold me until I go." I widened my eyes then looked up at her. W-what?
"No... it's not your time," I told her quickly. She can't die.... She's my companion. Who am I going to chase around the castle in Russia?
"Victor..." she whispered and gave a smile. A calming one. Like even now at her worse... she was still concerned over me. Over my feelings she was sensing and was trying to help me. "It's okay." She whispered and rubbed my cheek again. "I'll be fine. I'll be running with a pack and Luna- the moon goddess soon," she promised me and looked up at the sky where a bit of moonlight was shining down on us. I frowned then gripped her.
"Luuna you're not going to die," I hissed then exposed my fangs. "You're my companion!" I looked her over then leaned over and licked her wound again. I won't let her die. Screw death! She can stay here with me till she's old and then she can go chase squirrels with the moon goddess. "The moon goddess doesn't need you right now," I growled and felt my stone pulse, afraid of her leaving. She placed her fingers on my lips then.
"You shouldn't do that... What if you start to die because you're licking up some of my blood?" She asked me. "It's okay Victor," she whispered to me softly and looked up at the leaves. I frowned and gripped her before I looked up into her eyes.
"L-Luuna why are you so calm?" I asked her, my voice barely coming out as I found it hard to breath as my eyes stung.
"Because death isn't the end," she whispered to me. "I'm going somewhere special... and maybe one day I'll get to come back here and teach a wolf like me everything there is to know about being a wolf. This isn't the end of me," she whispered and rubbed my cheek. "I think that's why I'm so calm.... because I'm not so afraid." I frowned and sat up a little, looking down at her.
"But you're dying.... Even if you do come back, you won't come back as you. We won't be able to chase each other around anymore," I growled out. "You're not allowed to die."
"I'm a werewolf. Death was bound to happen for me," she whispered. "Victor.... I wasn't born to live forever and I'm glad I got to know you... but I'm dying now." She gave me a sweet smile. "It's okay to be mad and upset though. Just remember where I'll be when you get like this." I felt a tear slip down my cheek before I leaned my head against her chest and reached for her hand.
"You swear you'll be with the moon goddess?" I mumbled.
"I don't know where else I'll be," she told me sweetly. "All wolves end up with her." I frowned then leaned for her wound again with a growl. She placed a hand over my lips then. "Please don't hurt yourself doing that. I told you that my blood is as good as the poison on those weapons. Victor, you're going to have to let me go." I looked up at her then frowned before I kissed her hand that was on my lips.
"I don't want to let you go," I mumbled as another tear slipped down my face.
"It's okay. I'll be there," she told me and pointed up at the sky. "That's where you'll find me at dusk." I glanced up towards the sky then looked at her as my eyebrows furrowed.
"But that's not here with me," I told her. She nodded as her eyes closed then.
"I know. I wasn't going to stay here forever though," she whispered. "Death was on my path."
"Not for another twenty years at least," I hissed then pulled back from her hand, looking down into her eyes. "I need you here!" She let out a calm breath as she looked up at me and gave a small smile before it faded. Her eyes looked past me then and it seemed to brighten up around us a bit. A trail of blood started to fall down her chin as she opened her mouth a bit. I could hear her heart stop beating suddenly as I focused on it. I widened my eyes then looked down at her chest before I looked up at her. "L-Luuna?" I called softly then felt a few tears fall from my face before I glanced up at the sky then at her. She's gone.... I felt my stone pulse before I leaned over her, my eyes stinging as I buried my face against her chest and held her tightly in my arms.