"Do I have to go meet him?" I whined. Mom gave me a look "Yes. King Jack has ordered that you see him before the ball." What was I even going to say? King Jack sent my parents a letter this morning saying that he wanted to have me over for dinner to get to know me. So now my parents are livid and trying to make me look presentable. "Stand still! I'm trying to do your hair" Mom scolded. Matt was sulking in the corner of my bedroom. He wasn't happy about me going into enemy territory by myself. I wasn't very eager either. "Are you sure she'll be safe?" Dad fretted. Mom scoffed "She'll be fine, her betrothed would not hurt her." Dad didn't look convinced. "Please let me go with her" Matt begged. Mom shot him a stern look as she pinned my hair back into a loose ponytail. "King Jack requested Amara, not you" She said. Matt scowled and stayed silent after that. "All done" Mom declared. I looked up in the mirror. She put on pink lip gloss and thin eyeliner. My hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail and some chunks were curled. I picked out a long-sleeved pale blue shirt with a white diamond necklace. "Thanks Mom" I said while getting out of the chair. "I'd better go" I murmured. I hugged them all goodbye and swam out of my cave but not before I heard Dad, "Don't you dare get pregnant!"
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"Welcome, Princess Amara" A servant said cheerfully. She had long blonde hair and soft grey eyes. She opened the door to Jack's huge stone castle. I walked in shakily and took in my surroundings. The ceiling reached high above me and torches were lined up along the walls. Huge stairs were set in the middle of the room that led to 4 different hallways. "Follow me please" The servant said. I followed her up the stairs and down a hallway to the right. I couldn't help but feel very intimidated that even though I was invited, I was still on enemy territory. She opened a large wooden door at the end of the hallway and let me in. My heart clenched was I saw Jack sitting at a chair at the end of a long stone table, patiently waiting. The servant bowed and closed the door behind her without another word. Jack's blue eyes bored into me, making me feel very uncomfortable. "Sit" He said while gesturing to a seat next to him. Yeah, not gonna happen. I sat down in a chair across from him. The table was so long that we were nowhere near each other. Jack glowered at me before standing up and sitting down next to a chair next to me. When he sat next to me, I saw that he was wearing black pants, tall black boots, a navy blue shirt and a grey, wool cape that went to his ankles. As Jack stared at me, I couldn't keep it in any longer. "Why did you want to see me?" I asked. Jack was silent for a few moments before responding. "I wanted to meet you for myself, not at the Ball with people smothering us" He said. "And… I just wanted to see you again" He admitted. I blushed slightly and looked away. "And" Jack sighed "I wanted to tell you something that you should know." I nodded to let him know I was listening. "We're Mates" He said. I stumbled very ungracefully out of my chair. "We're Mates?!" I breathed. How could we be Mates? We're from different clans! "I knew the minute I saw you when we first met that you were my Mate, but you don't feel it yet because you're not 18 yet" Jack explained while reaching out for me. His warm hands caressed my arms and he pulled me to sit down again. "I know its alot to take in, but I want you to know that I am willing to be your Mate and I know that you'll make an amazing Queen" His words were so passionate and all I saw was pure love in his blue eyes. "And I'll stay by your side as you settle into our clan" He said softly. My breathing hitched and I nodded slowly. "I'll try my best" I said quietly. Jack smiled softly and rubbed circles on my hand. "I know you will." I smiled widely and I knew right away that I was falling in love with him. "I love your smile" Jack said while giving me his own smile. My face turned even redder which caused Jack to laugh. Jack's head snapped to the door as it opened to a male Servant. "Your Majesties, dinner will be served now" He said while opened the door for a line of servants who all brought in a dinner of cooked chicken and gravy. My mouth watered as they set down the food in front of us and left without another word. I glanced at Jack, wondering if it would be unladylike to start shoving food in my mouth. Jack laughed "Help yourself." I turned back to the food and started piling on food onto my plate. Jack didn't say anything except smile at me as I started eating. "We can have dinners like this every night when you move in if you like" Jack said while taking a bite of his chicken. The thought of having dinner with Jack everynight and living here didn't sound so scary anymore, it sounded… nice. "That would be great" I said. "We have a huge garden here too, I can even grow a tree in our room too" Jack said excitedly. I looked at him with confusion. "Our room?" I echoed. Jack's smile faltered "We're Mates, of course we'd share the same room so I can keep you safe." I know for a fact that I wasn't ready to share a room with someone that I just met, whether they were my Mate or not. Jack seemed to sense my discomfort as he shifted in his seat. "I know you're probably not comfortable with that, but I promise you it's only because I would just worry about you all night, I just need to know you're safe" Jack said. I could hear the desperation in his voice, so I gave in. "Ok, but you're sleeping in the bed, I'll sleep on the floor" I said. Jack gaped at me and I wondered if he would force me to sleep in the bed with him. "What kind of Mate do you think I am? You're getting the bed, I'll sleep on the floor" Jack scoffed. I giggled at his distress and took another bite of my chicken. There was a comfortable silence after that, just the sound of our forks clinking against the plates. I was amazed at how comfortable I already felt with Jack. Then a anxious voice shattered the silence. "King Jack! There's been an attack on the southern border!" I turned to see a warlock with shaggy blonde hair to his chin and olive eyes. "Who's attacking?" Jack asked while standing up. "Griselda" He said darkly. I stood up next to Jack. "Who's Griselda?" I asked curiously. Jack turned to me, his eyes dark. "Griselda was a witch that used to live in this clan. She thought that Warlocks and Witches should be the superior clan since we can do magic at will. She used dark magic, and it changed her into… someone else. I banished her from the clan 5 years ago and she's been attacking ever since" Jack explained. I could tell by the pain in his eyes when he said Griselda's name that he had a personal link to her somehow. A past lover perhaps? By that thought, a flash of jealous rippled through me. Geez I was already jealous of her when I don't even know her?
"I have to go sort this out" Jack said apologetically. "This is my top guard, Peter. He'll stay with you until it's safe to go home" Jack said while gesturing to Peter. Peter bowed his head in respect. "I'll keep you safe" He promised. Jack retrieved his staff from the other side of the table and swiftly walked over to me. Jack stared deep into my eyes before kissing me softly. "I'll be right back Mate" He whispered. It left me speechless as he nodded to Peter before running out the door. Peter snapped me out of my trance. "Would you want me to show you the gardens?" Peter asked. "Sure" I said, my gaze still on the door. Peter saw me staring after him and sympathy flashed in his eyes. "He'll be fine, come on I'll show you the gardens." I nodded and followed Peter out the door and after a few twists and turns that left me amazed at how big the castle is. We passed a few witches and warlocks who looked at me curiously. Some watched me with suspicion. We arrived at a small door that Peter opened and let me through. The gardens were beautiful, but I couldn't stop the anxiety nagging me. Was Jack ok? What's the secret about Griselda and Jack's past? I shoved the questions out of my head and looked around at the garden. Willow trees were swaying gently and flowers of every color was scattered across the earth. Peter seemed like the strong, silent type as he just walked next to me through the gardens without speaking. We walked through willow tree clearings, and flowered fields. The gardens were huge. After about one long hour of walking through the gardens, Jack comes running towards us from the castle. Relief flowed through me when I saw him with no injuries. But he had a panicked expression. "Jack? What's wrong?" I asked with concern. Jack looked to Peter and they both didn't say anything except stare at each other, like they were having a conversation in their heads. "Ok King Jack" Peter said before nodded politely to me and running back to the castle. I was so confused "Jack, wha-" I was cut off by Jack lifting me up and throwing me over his shoulder. "Jack! Put me down!" I yelled. Jack said nothing as white smoke swirled around us and engulfed us. "What's going on?" I screamed. Jack lowered me down so I was in his arms bridal style. Sympathy shone in his eyes and he pulled me into his chest. "Hang on" He murmured. I decided to trust him and I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes. In a flash of bright light, we were standing at the edge of the lake that I lived in. "H-how did we get here?" I asked. Jack wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me to him. "Teleportation" He replied. "What about Griselda?" I asked. "She left our territory, but I don't want you anywhere near her until I'm sure that it's safe" Jack said. "Ok" I said quietly. Jack leaned down and kissed my forehead. "You should get home" He said softly. I nodded while turning towards the clear blue water. After looking back at Jack once more, I sprinted for the lake and dove in.