Fear crept into my bones. My eyes darted around but I wasn't particularly seeing things around me. I was stuck in the horrible image of my head.
"Relax, relax. There's nothing." His strong arms were curled around me, my cheek was pressed tight to his chest. I inhaled his earthy scent.
"Thank you for saving me. I thought you wouldn't look at me in the meeting hall. I was going to die there. I wasn't sleeping. I don't know how it happened." I sobbed against his chest. Horror was making my hands tremble.
Worry entered his golden eyes. "You don't need to thank me. Now..." He drew his face close, his nose touched the tip of my nose. "Your fear is giving them strength. Are you getting me, Vida? " He asked.
I nodded my head. It took me several minutes to push the fear away. But deep down I was frightened I would be trapped there again.
"What's happening to me? I'm seeing things a human would never imagine. Is something wrong in my head?" I asked, fearing.
He shook his head. "We have to complete the bond," he said.
My eyes widened in shock as I stared at him. He kept his gaze locked on me. A slow smile appeared on my face but there were also questions rising in my head.
"I'm seventeen," I told him. It was against the rule. Though, I don't particular care.
"We are just going through the half ceremony. You don't need to sleep with me." He said.
"Oh," My lips were in an O shape. My cheeks pinked. I'm truly stupid. "Will it help me with horrible dreams?" I asked.
"Yes, that's the only way to stop them." He said.
"What if..." I wasn't doubting his power but that thing looked powerful.
"You'll be safe and you will be able to fight back."
"I don't wanna fight back. I want them to leave me alone." My throat tightened.
"You don't need to do this. I just want you to be safe wherever you go."
"What if you don't want me in your life." I hesitated.
His expression was softened. "I told you it was by mistake. I was... " He inhaled. "Frightened. I don't wanna endure this again. Are you getting me, Vida?" He asked tenderly.
I nodded. I could only hope he wouldn't change his mind. Am I ready for this? I have to do this one day. "Okay, when are we doing this?"
"Now,"
"Now?"
Getting on his feet, he held his hand out. I stared at his open palm. There's nothing wrong. I'm his mate. Whenever I would be in trouble, he would sense it. I slid my hand in his.
Grasping my hand in his warm hold, he tugged me up to my feet. We went over to the window. The full moon was shedding its light.
"I have to turn off the lights but nothing to fear." He said.
I trusted him. If someone would have asked me alone in the dark. I would have been trembling in horror. With him, I am safe anywhere, even in the dark too.
He flicked his fingers and the lights turned off. I scooted close to him.
He kissed my head as he turned me to face him under the moonlight. "Show some excitement, Mate. We are going to get engaged in the dark realm's way." He flashed an adorable smile.
I blushed. "I didn't know this." I cast my head low.
Something gleamed in his hand as he took it between us. A knife!
It's actually happening. I didn't think to discuss it with someone. It was too late now. I have already said yes.
"Do we have to speak the words?" I asked.
"Yes, the last one." He held it out for me.
So, I'm going to do this. There was no hesitation, no fear in me. Because I was the one fate has chosen for him. I also chose him. I took it from him and thanked the goddess when my hands didn't shiver.
I'm human so I would do it first. His wolf power would heal the wound before the speed of a blink. I had seen the ceremony before. There was no hesitation, only love in his eyes. I love my mate too but he does not need to know.
I made a small cut on my open palm. It hurts and stings. "I, Emersyn Quarlas Dawson, accept you, Darkice Royal as my mate." I held my palm out, open cut facing the ceiling.
He grabbed the knife from me and made a cut quickly. It was bigger than mine and covered his full palm. I scented the blood. I wanted to cover his hand so I could stop the bleeding. I saw it had already started healing.
"I, Darkice Royal, the prince of Dark Realm, accept you, Emersyn Quarlas Dawson as my fated mate." He linked his palm with mine. Our blood mingled
My eyes dilated feeling the rush of his power. I felt as if I was going to fly away. His arm came around my waist. Golden waves danced around us.
I felt a pure rush of power and ecstasy running through my body. I giggled. It felt so good to finally meet him and call him... mine.
He flashed his full smile showing his pearl-white teeth.
He withdrew his hand and I stared at my palm. "My cut. " It was gone but the mark was still there. I saw the same mark on his palm too.
I raised my gaze up to him. He was already looking at me and his golden eyes rested on my lips.
Slowly, he leaned forward and paused looking deep in my eyes. He was asking for my permission. Coyly, I nodded my head.
His warm lips touched mine. An electric jolt rushed through me. His arm tightened around my waist, pulling me closer to his hard body. His lips moved softly. I closed my eyes and followed his lead. He deepened the kiss, and my heart pounded so hard it rang in my ears.
This was better than anything I could've ever imagined. I placed my hand on his stomach and felt his abs. To feel them more I pressed my fingers. A low growl emanated from his chest. His teeth grazed the skin of my lips. They parted, fulfilling his demand. His mouth quickly opened to deepen our kiss.
My body was on fire. I wanted more than just a kiss. I clenched his tee. He broke the kiss. He then started to leave small kisses on my jaw down to my neck. I moaned.
He chuckled softly. He interlocked our fingers and lifted them up to kiss the back of my hand. "We're not alone. They can hear us."
The shock made me look at him with big eyes. "How would I tell them?"
"They already know. I know they're important to you."
"You discussed it with them before.." I trailed off.
"Before asking you." He kissed my head. The lights were turned on. "They're waiting."
He wanted me to face them. I'm nervous. Couldn't I go in the morning? Before I could ask? He made me walk with him out of the room.
"Dinner is ready." Jasper smiled at us.
"Kiddo, are you better now?" Drake asked.
I nodded and walked ahead. He let go of my hand. I opened my palm showing them the mark on it. Tears pooled in my eyes. It was always my family who decided what I would do.
"Hey! Why are you crying?" Jasper hugged me from one side.
"I didn't tell them." I looked at him.
"They already know, Em." He shook his head.
Drake swiped his thumb under my eyes. "You're his mate. They can't object."
"Sure?" I asked.
"Very sure, kiddo. but you're staying with us here. You're just engaged." Jasper said but he wasn't looking sure.
I chuckled, " Yes, I am." My eyes turned to him.
They sighed out and shared a look exchanging smiles.
The front door opened and Jace walked in smiling. "I got you a present, Ember." He snorted seeing tears in my eyes. "It's time for your wedding, soon." He placed the book in my hand. "Read page one twenty eight." He kissed my head. "Congratulations. No one is going to object." His lips flattened. My brothers understood me very well. He looked over my shoulder. "Congrats, Royal."
Darkice nodded his head and his hand landed on the side of my waist. "I should be going. Mom must be waiting." He whispered and leaned in to press his lips on mine.
"Stay for dinner." I touched his arm.
He shook his head. "I don't want you to miss them after our full ceremony." He said and turned to the door.
I watched him go. I hated it. He could stay but he was right. I wasn't going to spend time with my family after the full ceremony.
"I'll place it in your room." Jasper said, taking the heavy tome. He put it on the table.
"How do I smell now?" I asked.
"You smell like yourself." Jace shrugged, walking over to the dining table.
He wasn't looking at me while saying it. I knew it wasn't true. My eyes drifted to Jasper and Drake. "No lie, please."
"You smell like him, too. And it's fully normal." Drake rested his hand on my shoulder, smiling at me.
"Sure? I... I..." My eyes pooled. I was worried that their reaction wouldn't be friendly.
"Kiss?" Jasper asked.
I wasn't regretting kissing him and getting engaged to him if what they called a half-ceremony. I nodded my head.
"No matter if you're the mother of twins or old. You're always our little sister. "
"Promise"
"Yes,"
" He's your mate. That's how this world works. Nothing to worry about. I've got a mate too. Life is amazing. The empty space in my chest is gone. I could feel her." Jace placed his hand on his chest.
"Now," Jasper wiped my cheeks. "He can feel this and Darkice would kill us for making his mate cry."
"No," I panicked.
Drake punched him on his shoulder. "He didn't mean it this way. Your mate, we don't like when you cry. Your life with your mate it's personal. No one can judge you." Drake said.
I nodded and smiled. Jace tugged me away from them. "Read the page I told you first. You've stepped into a new phase of your life."
"Okay," It felt awkward.
I shut the book looking surprised. Half-Ceremony actually means engagement. King Dastien was betrothed to Princess Emersyn when he got his full powers at the age of fourteen. His parents got betrothed when they were ten. These kinda ceremonies are performed only in Royal families. Wao! They didn't do it in a simple way but the day of the half-Ceremony was celebrated like a festival by their people. I'm wondering. He hasn't invited anyone to our ceremony. I don't want them to take offense of it.
I reclined my head on the pillow and pulled the duvet up. The weather was changing. At night, it was getting cold.
A smile crawled on my face as I opened my palm and looked at the small cut. I drew it close to my lips and pressed them softly on it. "Good night, my dark king." I pressed my hand to my chest and closed my eyes.
"Good night, Mi Vida." I bolted in a sitting position and looked around. I did hear him clearly.
"Darkice?" I said out loud, drifting my eyes around. There was no sign of him.
I plucked my phone from the nightstand. I was a little scared. This was a magical world, all kinds of creatures live here.
I dialed his number and put it against my ear. My heart was running inside my chest.
"Syn," His nickname always calmed me down and drew a smile on my face.
"I heard you in my room. Are you here?" I asked, nibbling on my lower lip.
"No, you heard me in your head." I heard him chuckling.
Shocked! I paused waiting for him to tell me it was a joke. "We haven't completed the bond, yet."
"The book that Jace has given you would answer all your questions. Half-Ceremony allows the couple to communicate in their heads so they could understand, and know each other very well before the full ceremony."
"Oh, I don't know, it feels like you're sitting next to me and speaking. Everly told me this once. She's my twin, older than me and she's a shifter." I never told anyone about her before.
"I know."
"Of course, you're the king." I discounted the call.
'Are you upset, Vida?' He asked in my head.
"No, it's the first time. I'll get used to it. Hope you won't mind."
'I won't.' I waited for more but it went silent.
I am so glad. I want to tell my brothers. It was ten o'clock. They won't sleep till twelve.
I climbed down the bed and sauntered out of the room. The television was on. I remembered the days when my brothers watched cartoon movies with me till the end and I slept before I could see the end on the screen. The next day, I insisted on watching the rest again and they never denied me.
"Pumpkin, it's already late. What are you doing out of your bed?" He asked with a frown. He was coming out of the kitchen carrying three cups of coffee in the tray.
Jasper and Jace looked at me over the couch head. A show from Netflix was running on the screen.
I walked over to the couch. Drake strode with me. He handed the tray to Jace who grabbed it and placed it on the table without peeling his gaze away from me.
"I... I heard him in my head." I blinked.
Jasper smirked. "And our little sister is here to tell us." He asked.
I nodded my head, smiling ear to ear.
"Do you wanna know something?" Jace asked.
"No, um, what are you watching?" I asked.
"Cartoon movie?" Jasper rolled his eyes.
"Yes, Angry bird." I rounded the couch and sat on it.
"That was my place, kiddo." Drake said.
"It's a five-seater couch. Enough space for us." I said, looking around for the remote control.
"Are you sure? What if your mate doesn't like it." Jace smirked.
Was he pulling my leg? "He won't know if you'll not tell him." I faked a smile and confiscated the remote control from Jasper's hand.
He chuckled and ruffled my hair. "We won't tell him." He took it from my hand as I fumble with it.
Jasper played it. "I like the fastest running bird."
"Me too. And that bomb one too."
"Would that we could do this to Jace?" Drake wiggled his brows.
Jace laughed. "I would be in shape again, it would be you two who would burn. I don't mind, you know." He winked at us.
We chuckled. They care so much about me. I feel loved.