"Your family do not seem at ease with my visit," Lyrus said to Auriana.
Somehow, they have ended up alone with Aur Auriana as his tour guide around the castle of Diric. A few werewolf guards followed them but maintained a good distance as instructed by Auriana. Adrian was busy having a discussion with Edgar and Dahlia which provided the perfect opportunity for them.
Together they were like night and day, one with snow white hair dressed in an elegant white dress while the other, ink black hair and black clothes to match it. It was odd but at the same time, they looked good together like that. They balanced each other.
"I am sorry," said Auriana. She had nothing else to say in that light other than this.
"It is alright, I understand my position and what my presence here is doing to everyone," he walked in front of her and stopped facing her. "I only came here for you, it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks of me here, only your thoughts matter to me," he said.
Auriana looked at him and then looked behind them, her senses keen on their surroundings. She sighed when she realized that they had lost the guards following which was very unlikely.
"Do not worry about them, they will find their way back to us soon enough," Lyrus said as if able to read her mind. "Now, tell me, Princess Auriana, what is it that bothers you?"
"Everything," she replied and took a turn that would lead to the garden at the back. "You and me, Lyrus. It bothers me. Mother and Father do not know that we are mates but it wouldn't be long before they suspect that. The are perceptive people."
"And it bothers you that they should know?" He stopped her to ask. Circling her waist with a hand and the other cupping her face, he closed the distance between them.
"You don't?" Asked Auriana and he gave a faint smile.
"I do not. In fact, I want them to know. How else do you expect anything to change? I am open to whatever would change and I know that I can keep you safe from every harm," Lyrus uttered, certain of his strength and capabilities.
"It is not that simple…" Auriana said but was interrupted.
"I am aware, my darling, but I am ready to have you with me at all times," he stopped and looked behind them at where they had come from. "We should put a little more distance between them," he took her hand and led her into the flower maze.
"They know that I have found my mate," Auriana revealed and he paused for just a second before he resumed his steps. "They just don't know who. I would prefer it this way for a little longer. I am still trying to get used to all of this."
"Auriana…,"
"There," she pointed at a window at the far end of the castle. "That is my room, if you can, please… please come. Right now, we can not get any closer than we are, Father will know,"
"I will be there," Lyrus agreed, taking note of the room she had shown to him. There was a lot more he wanted to tell her. Where they were now wouldn't be right to say those aloud.
"Be careful, Lyrus," she said. Taking the bold step of tiptoeing to peck his lips. "Don't get caught sneaking into the princess's room," he chuckled while she smiled. "I will leave a window open."
They turned around and continued their tour and it was not long after that the guards following them arrived. They looked panicked but let out breaths of reliree when they saw them. Well… when they saw her.
"Are you alright, Your Highness?" Caleb, who happened to be among the guards, asked and she nodded. He knew she would be more than alright being with her mate but he had to ask as that was his role to carry out.
"I am, but you don't look so good yourselves," She assessed.
"Well, we might have lost you two at some point and panicked. We are sorry for our inefficiency, Your Highness," Caleb replied while they all bowed. They were baffled and confused at how that could have happened and so was Auriana. Her instincts told her it was the man beside her but she didn't see him do anything.
"You are here now. King Lyrus and I were just returning inside, he has business to attend to while I need to rest," she said as they resumed walking inside.
"That would be for the best, Princess," Caleb said and they all agreed. It was the only way to prevent what happened from repeating itself.
"Caleb, I want you to help Lyrus to my room later," Auriana mind linked Calbe who nearly stumbled upon hearing her request. She was inviting a man into her room and so late at night too?
"But Princess…"
"Listen to me, I have not had the chance to talk to him or know what his plans are for all of this. I do not want others to hear us, that is a risk that I can not take," Auriana said and poor Caleb had no other choice but to agree. He cast a glance at Lyrus, glared at him before looking where he was going.
They were taken to where Edgar was with Adrian. The guards retreated while they proceeded to enter inside. But just before the last door to open to the king's study, Lyrus stopped, pulled her into his arms and hugged her. After that, he lifted her chin and kissed her, all of which she did not resist or make any sounds so that those behind the closed door wouldn't hear them.
Lyrus knew her scent would rub off on him and Edgar as well as every other vampire or werewolf in the castle would be able to pick it but he didn't care. He wanted to see what Edgar's reaction would be when he did. It would help determine the next step that he would take.
"You shouldn't have done that," Auriana said in a whisper. She knew her scent was all over him now.