We arrived back at the castle as the sun was high in the sky. The vampires would be sleeping.

Good.

Nyx landed softly right outside the patio to my parents room, where I had first met him.

I went in for a kiss and he coughed while stepping back, away from me.

"What? Nyx. Come on." I tried to step closer but didn't when I saw his green eyes looking so forlorn. "Nyx?"

"Princess Amelia, I formally am ending out courtship. The King will be made aware of my intentions, or now lack there of, as soon as possible." He straightened and moved to the door.

"Wait! Nyx?!" I need him.

"I'll always be here for you. Whenever you need me. Whisper my name and I will appear." He winked and a sad smile was gone as quickly as it came. Just like him. I found myself alone crying on the patio.

***

My mother found me a few hours later and scurried me inside, asking all kinds of personal questions.

"What was his home like? Nyx rarely leaves the castle. What do you think of him? What did he do to you? Why does it look like you've been crying? Do you want to see the other suitors? Violet has the list, let me call for her."

All of these questions made me feel like I was a cat being backed into a corner. Scared and ready to pop off.

"No. I mean yes, call for Violet." She continued her phone conversation but had a concerned look on her face. The one she had whenever I'd get the flu or some virus. She would worry herself sick over me.

It's all an act. A lie. My mother loves herself and the sperm donor that is my father.

"Are you alright darling? Maeve and Violet are on their way."

I kept creeping closer to the door that I knew went to the hallway.

"What's. Wrong." She was angry.

"You. You are the problem. YOU knew and you left me with that scumbag and kept me in the dark about our family."

"Now, darling, please just settle down."

"No! You will stay away from me and from Fiona, Rian, and Oisin. If you so much as breathe in their direction, there will be hell to pay." I opened the door and slammed it shut, breaking it off the hinges.

Maeve and Violet met me outside the room. When they saw the broken door, they didn't ask any questions. They bowed, which I hated, and walked by my side in silence back to my room. Violet ran a bath. Nyx had dropped off some dried herbs, flowers, and little dropper bottles of fresh morning dew. Apparently they help with healing old wounds so we can move on, but they expire by the next morning so he said he'll bring more.

He helped Violet put all the ingredients for my bath and tea.

I sat on the bed with Maeve in a robe. She combed my hair and hummed a lullaby that sounded familiar. She was a kind hearted young faerie.

My eyes never left Nyx and Violet. I could see their reflection in the mirror as they went along drawing my bath. Violet's eyes seemed to be fixated on him while he spoke of different herb properties and how to prepare each and every trinket he brought. He brought a lot.

I felt grateful but seeing him light up when she would speak told her everything she needed to know. They had chemistry. Not just alchemy or potions or whatever you want to call it. There was something between the two of them.

"I'll be back tomorrow morning with the drops and maybe some other plants." He hesitated by the door. "Are you sure you can prepare her tea?"

Violet rolled her eyes and shoved him towards the door. "Yes, yes. I'm not daft ya know."

"No, quite the opposite Lady Violet." Their stare was interrupted by Maeve's giggles.

"Tomorrow?" He blushed before he turned and bowed his head to me, "Princess, I hope you feel better soon."

"Until tomorrow." Violet said as she closed the door.

"OH BE STILL MY HEART!" I really liked Shakespeare.

Both looked at me like I had another head. "It's Shakespeare. The famous play-writer..." I was shocked and upset at the education system here. "He's from bloody England! How do you not..."

They broke out into laughter.

To be irritated or to not be irritated , that is my current question.

Getting up they stopped laughing but Violet's smile lit up the room. She looked lovely in love.

"Violet, Nyx and I have decided to not see one another romantically anymore."

She blushed and tried to hide her smile while she added to the bath water. "Oh. Really? I don't see how that is of any interest to me." Maeve played with my hair while I bathed in the warm water.

Violet took a pause before quickly saying that he was a fool and she was here for me.

"I know, I know. But perhaps it's for the best."

She nodded and her grin doubled. "I need to start the tea." Violet ran out of the bathroom leaving Maeve and I giggling like school girls.

"Would you allow Lady Violet to date one of your suitors?" Maeve was braiding dried baby's breath into my hair.

"He was, past tense, a suitor of mine. His name was on the list my father agreed upon. But Nyx is free to court or date anyone."

We heard the tray with tea and biscuits on it shaking. Maeve was up in a flash and took the tray from Violet who looked as if she'd seen a ghost.

"Violet, come here please. Let Maeve pour the tea." I nodded to Maeve who was so giddy, while Violet looked like she was about to get fired. Or worse: executed.

I reached out my hand and she took it. "Lady Violet, you have my permission to date Nyx."

She had my hand in a vice grip and only let it go when she saw I wasn't kidding. Violet exhaled loudly and thanked me profusely.

It's a tad archaic for her to fear me, or any other royals, just because she has fallen for someone that I went on a few dates with. But I didn't want to ruin the moment she was having so I didn't get up on my soapbox and preach about equality for all and how backwards this kingdom really has turned out to be.

After bringing me my tea, Violet cleaned up my suite while listening to my pop music and shaking her booty. Maybe she would like the 21st century. Maeve joined in after helping me to pick out a dress for tonight.

Every woman needs a LBD, aka little black dress, but tonight I needed a red version. It was perfect. Sexy, but not too sexy. Fuck it, it's sexy as all hell and was made to make men's minds think very dirty thoughts.

"WOW!" Both of them stared at me big eyed and then went about looking for accessories. "Are you sure you want to wear that to see the Prince?"

"I was...why are you doubting it?" I started to look again in the mirror. It had a scoop neck that showed off a little cleavage, with thick straps that dipped low on my back and a rose patterned lace covering my back with a gold zipper down the dress. It was tight. Did she think it was too tight? Was I too fat? Was my hem too short?

"Stop fidgeting, Princess. I only mean you might need an overnight bag so you have clothes to wear whenever you come back."

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. My brown long hair looked similar to Rachel McAdam's in The Notebook looked like when she was on proposed to by the other guy.

Maybe that was a bad omen. Maybe I should change my hair. Or my dress or just not go.

"Violet is it too late to cancel?"

She brought over an overnight bag and my phone as there was a loud knock at the door.

"I'd say so. Go get 'em!" She pinched my butt! Violet was full of surprised.

Lady Maeve opened the door and didn't move. She looked shocked.

"Shit. I'm new at this and you are very bloody handsome. Like fuckably handsome. Oh WOW! I hope you two have babies together..." Violet ran over and put her hand over Maeve's mouth and announced Prince Oisin's arrival.

Maeve wasn't lying when she said he looked 'fuckably handsome'. I definitely need the overnight bag.

Oisin smirked and I heard his voice in my head.

'I don't sleep with someone on a first date.'

'Mmhmm sure...stay in your own head mister master sir'

My bottom lip already hurt from the naughty things I bit away in my mind. Oisin's eyes went to my lips, wetting his own and walking to me. This huge hunk of a man made me unable to think or look away from him.

If we had a true mate bond would it be this powerful? More powerful?

I still feel drawn to him. No matter what other men have caught my eye or taken me on a date. Oisin was so much more. He exuded confidence, sex, and passion.

As he reached me he bowed and took my hand, kissing the back of it.

"Is this what they did when you were growing up?" I teased him.

"No, that was later when everyone became more civilized." His smile made my knees week and he knew it too. Oisin winked and I wanted to roll my eyes but I enjoyed his playfulness and confidence.

He guided me out the door and I swear everything melted away. Just like I've seen in the movies. No one, no surroundings, nothing but just us remained as we walked. I kept my eyes on him the entire time. I had no clue where we were heading but I trust Oisin so much that I know I'd go to hell and back with him, for him.