Royal shuffle: Vampire's mate

ANDREA

"Get dressed. We're going to dinner..."

I smiled at the message, and immediately jumped out of bed. I rushed into the closet, and it occurred to me that I hadn't even bothered to ask what sort of date it was. I shrugged, and decided to wing it anyway. I wore a long-sleeved, red romper with a V neckline. Of all the clothes we bought, this was my personal favorite because of the material, and the way it contrasted with my skin. I paired it off with a pair of flat, black sandals, and brushed out my hair. I stood in the mirror, admiring myself when I heard the door open, and Leonidas came in.

"Hey..."

"Hi."

"You look beautiful."

"Thanks. You look tired."

He laughed wryly. "I am. Are you ready?"

I nodded. He stretched out his hand, and I immediately took it. He pulled me into his arms, and wrapped both hands around me. Burying his nose in my hair, and inhaling. I began to rub the back of his neck in gentle strokes. He finally pulled back, and looked at me.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

He nodded, and kissed my forehead. "Let's go, love."

He put his hand around my waist, and guided me out of the room, and out of the house. I sighed as my nostrils took in the wonderful night air.

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise, my love."

I began walking to his car that was parked, but he diverted us and we began walking towards the backyard.

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" I asked.

He didn't respond. He just smiled. We walked around the backyard of the house, and much deeper into the woods. As the sun began to set over the forest, we walked hand in hand, deeper into the heart of the woods. We walked hand in hand down the small path leading deeper into the forest. The sounds of our footsteps muffled by the soft carpet of leaves beneath our feet.

We soon came out to a clearing, and I gasped in awe at the sight before me. We were at a pond. A pond right in the middle of the forest. It was beautiful. A table had been set at the water's edge, draped in white tablecloth, and adorned in flickering candles and roses in shades of pink and red.

I couldn't believe my eyes as I saw the spread of food waiting for me, and I just knew that this was going to special evening for us. A memorable one regardless of how we ended.

"I'm guessing you like it?" Leo asked.

I clapped my hands together, and giggled like a child. "I love it."

I grabbed his face, and stood on my toes, planting a soft kiss on his nose. He laughed, and kissed me on the side of my lip. Leo walked us to the table, and pulled out my chair for me. I thanked him, and sat as graciously as I could. My mouth watered as the delicious aroma of steak hit my nostrils. There was chicken, and salad, and fruits.

"Who is all this food for?"

"Us," He answered, and sat in his chair.

"Between the both of us, I doubt we'll be able to eat this much."

"We'll find out."

He smiled, and poured wine into our glasses. In the short time that I had known Leo on a closer level, I have learnt that he can't be separated from his love for wine.

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He wasn't an alcoholic, but he loved it.

I immediately opened up the food trays, and began to help myself. We both ate in comfortable silence, both is us regarding each other with some sort of new, raw emotion. We ate, we talked, we drank, and we laughed. More than happy to forget the responsibilities, and troubles that we're waiting for us where we were from.

Tonight wasn't a night to think about the war, or that my mate was betrothed to someone else, or that my mother was dead. Tonight wasn't a night to worry about my sisters, and how I still haven't told them about our mother. Tonight, it was just us. In our own little world. It was in this moment that I realized that we were the things holding us back from fully loving. Opinions, and responsibilities. Expectations and anxiety.

The meal came to an end, and Leo stood from his seat, and came around to assist me out of mine. He pulled me into his arms, and held me lightly around my waist. I placed my hands around his neck, my fingers playing with the nape of his neck. We stayed that way, gently swaying with the breeze. Looking deeply into each other's eyes, as though trying to imprint this memory into our very brains so we wouldn't forget.

"I love you," Leo said.

I smiled as I watched the words flow from his mouth.

"I love you too."

He smiled, and leaned his head downwards, claiming my lips in a soft kiss. I went up on my tip toes to bring myself closer to him. Our lips meshed, and our souls felt the connection. He pulled back and we both smiled.

"I will protect you. Regardless of any situation. I will love you always. We will get through this, I promise."

I smiled, and nodded. My eyes getting moist with tears. Such few words yet that was all the reassurance that I needed to hear.

"Don't leave me, Andrea. Please..."

I nodded again, and he kissed me again. "I won't..."

"I want to give you something..."

He put his hand inside his jacket, and brought out an antique box. He opened the box, and I let out an audible gasp.

"My goodness...it's beautiful."

He smiled. "It is. It was my mother's engagement ring. It's been in my family for generations."

The ring was a rather simple, antique Diamond encrusted ring.

"Are you sure I can have this?" I asked.

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

"Okay."

He picked up my left hand and gently slid the ring on my middle finger. And then he brought me my hand up to his lips and kissed it.

"I want you to have this ring as a promise of my commitment to you. I love you, and I want you to remember that every time you see this ring." He paused and took a deep breath. "The next few weeks are about to be tough, but we'll be fine. Before we wade this storm, I want you to know that we're in this together."

I nodded, and leaned up to kiss him.

"We'll be okay."

"We will. I'm not letting go of the one that was specially gifted to me."

I smiled, and hugged him again. None of us in a hurry to let go.

The moment was too serene, we weren't ready to leave it just yet.