Royal shuffle: Vampire's mate

ANDREA

I've been here for about a week, and everyday I remained indoors. I didn't want to interact with anybody, not even Leo. And by the end of the week, I was already feeling much better. All my bruises had disappeared, the pains were gone, and I was in much better shape than I arrived in.

It sat at the back of my mind that I still haven't seen my sisters. I was putting it off, I was putting off telling them that our mother was dead. How do I look at them knowing that the fault is mine? Leo kept delivering books to my room for entertainment, and even though he wouldn't hear it from me, I was grateful. The books were the only thing stopping me from running mad.

I woke up to the dull sound and the mumbling voices from the television. I opened my eyes slowly, and saw Leo standing in front of the television, staring at it intently. I sat up quietly, and watched. Apparently, the events of that night was being aired, with the newscasters asking if a war between werewolves and vampires was booming. What was worse, my pictures were plastered all over the television screens.

"Are the vampires ready to risk a war over a nobody?"

I sighed, and that got Leo's attention.

"You're awake," he said.

I watched as he came over to me, and sat on the bed, pulling me into his arms.

"Yes."

I relaxed into his embrace, and took deep breaths, breathing him in. His scent was calming to me.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"Much better. I feel brand new. I think I'm all healed."

"Thank goodness. No pain? Nothing?"

"None at all."

"That's great."

There was silence between us for a while, both of us content with being in each other's arms, despite the fact that there was a lot of questions that are to be asked. "Leo?"

"Yes, love."

I smiled sheepishly. Despite everything, I loved it when he called me that. It gave me butterflies.

"The news..."

"Don't worry about it. I'll have my secretary reach out to them and caution them."

"My face is everywhere. Things will never remain the same."

His hand began to stroke my back, and he kissed my head.

"I will protect you. No one is going to touch you."

"Your father?"

"He won't."

"What are the odds that he disinherits you because of this? Because of me?"

He was silent for a while, his silence was all I needed to answer.

"All I can tell you is this: you won't need to worry about anyone hurting you or your sisters. Okay?"

I nodded. I had several other questions to ask, but decided that this wasn't the time for this. I'd rather just enjoy the moment.

"What are you doing tomorrow night?"

"I don't know. Maybe sleeping, eating, watching television, and wallowing in self pity. Why?" I answered jokingly.

Leo moved back a little to look at me, and we both laughed. For the rest of that day, and the next, I didn't catch a glimpse hurt of Leo. All his domestic workers didn't know where he was -some didn't even deem it fit to respond to my inquiry. I was sitting around in my room, watching television, when a knock sounded on my door.

"Come in..."

The door opened and Leopold came in.

"Hey, sister..."

"Um, hi..." I replied, surprised to see him in my room.

"So, what are you doing?" Leopold asked.

I looked around, and shrugged. "Nothing. Why do you ask?"

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"Well, my brother asked that I take you shopping. I'm sure you must be tired of wearing his oversized clothes."

"Not really, but it would be nice to have mine."

"Good. So, get dressed, and let's go."

"I'm dressed."

I got out of bed, and checked myself in the mirror. I had on a rather big tee shirt that came down to mid-thigh, and was wearing one of Leo's boxers underneath.

"I don't think he'll like that very much." Leopold said, pointing to my exposed legs.

"I don't care."

Leopold threw back his head and laughed.

"But what am I going to wear..." Leopold held up a leather bag, and I was surprised I didn't notice it when he walked in.

"I figured you'll be needing footwear your own size." He pulled out a pair of black, leather flip flops. "I don't know your size, but I made a wild guess."

And surprisingly, the wild guess fit perfectly. And it was comfortable too.

"Thanks."

He nodded. "So, you're ready?"

I nodded. We walked out of the house, and into a shiny black Benz.

"What's with you guys and black cars," I asked.

Leopold shrugged. "They're just much cooler, don't you think?"

"I don't know. It's okay I guess."

He pulled out of the compound, and I took the opportunity to see the territory. The place was beautiful. And if the circumstances were different -if I was born a vampire- I would definitely love to live here. "Your place is beautiful," I said.

"Thanks. Look at it, you'll be queen to it soon."

I scoffed, and remained quiet. We soon arrived at our destination. A mall that was larger than life itself.

"Wow!!!"

"Yeah, this is the biggest mall across Americas."

There was a huge fountain of a woman holding a human head on one hand, and a wicked looking sword in the other. "Wow..."

"You like it?" Leopold asked.

I nodded.

"Come on."

We walked into the mall, and began our shopping. It didn't escape my notice that eyes were on us, but I just assumed that they were looking at Leopold. I mean, he was a prince after all. And it might also be because he was a piece of eye candy. If I didn't have eyes for just Leo, I would probably fall at his feet too.

We started off with clothes. The attendants were not happy to see me. The side eyes, and the once overs didn't go unnoticed by me. All the stores we went to showcased some sort of silent hostility towards me, and I could swear on my mother that if I had come here without Leopold, I would have been killed.

I laughed to myself. I wouldn't even be here if not for Leo. I wouldn't even have crossed the border. I would have died. After three hours of uncomfortable shopping, my stomach began to growl in protest.

"You're hungry," Leopold stated.

"You heard that?" I asked, embarrassed.

He nodded.

"Come on. Let's get you some food. I must warn you that the food here might not be to your taste. I mean, we're vampires. We like blood."

I was confused at first, but the second I stepped into the food court, I understood. The whole place reeked of blood.

"No. I'll eat when we get back," I said, deciding that barely cooked meat wasn't something I would be trying soon.

Leopold laughed, and we left.

All through the ride back, I couldn't help but think about Leo and I. One thing was certain, we couldn't mate. I can't be Queen here. His people would never accept me. That, and this wasn't the condition I wanted my sisters to grow up in. We couldn't return home, and I couldn't live here. The more I thought about it, the more my heart fell.

It was beginning to look like we had only one option left.