The Vampire King's Wife

Settling In

Alianna looked around her new room feeling out of depth.  Her room in Russia had been fabulous, but this one was amazing. 

The offbeat peach-colored walls were comforting, and with a large open space leading to the balcony, her canopy bed was facing east. The off-white bedding with the gossamer curtains was huge and she didn’t even want to touch it was so perfect. 

As the late evening sun began to shine through the curtains making the room almost glow a rose gold,  Alianna inhaled as she tried to gain her footing. She was in Italy, and right across the hall, her future husband was there. 

And it made her so nervous. She was possibly getting married to Marco if he chose to continue their mating. Feeling her heart race as she just thought about Marco, Alianna jumped when a warm hand touched her shoulder. Looking over, Alianna met Marco’s unsure gaze, “Your grace-.” She started to bow, but Marco stopped her, “You’re going to be my wife Alianna. You don’t have to bow to me.” 

Surprised he was claiming her as his wife, Alianna met his eyes, “Unless someone else grabs your heart. I mean I know we’re betrothed, but you can still-.” Marco gently cradled Alianna’s chin, “I know my past makes you believe I am fickle with my affection. But I can assure you Alianna, you are the only woman in the running for my affection.” 

Feeling her cheeks heat up at Marco’s touch, Alianna’s blush made him grin a little. And he wanted to kiss her, desperately as her plump red lips smiled at him. Feeling his blood heat up, Marco bounced back quick and changed the direction of the conversation, “D-do you like your room?” Alianna nodded as she looked around. 

“It’s beautiful.” Seeing the huge bouquet of flowers by her bed, she grinned, “How did they know peonies were my favorite flower?” They hadn’t, Marco did, and Alianna watched him awkwardly admit, “I ugh…I kind of asked your brother Garrett.” 

Surprised, Alianna looked at Marco amused, “You asked my brother what my favorite flower was?” Marco didn’t want to admit to asking all her brothers and friends what her favorite everything was. It had been awkward enough asking, and with them smirking at him knowingly, had Marco cringing in realization at how dorky he must have looked. 

But when Alianna beamed at him with this pure happiness, Marco knew then, it was so worth it. “I just wanted you to feel at home.” The confession rolled off the tongue, but it was the honest truth. He knew Alianna wasn’t stoked to be uprooted with no real explanation as to why.  

And he knew on this fragile ground they were on, he couldn’t tell her yet.  

So for now he basked in this as Alianna unknowingly grinned actually feeling like he was making an effort. And it was in the spirit of such she relaxed and gave him a Grammy-winning smile. Which made Marco melt as he admitted, “I’ve been nervously waiting for you to come to be honest. Now that you are I guess I don’t know how to act.” 

Watching him move around her room with grace and confidence, Alianna giggled, “You’re doing just fine Prince Marco.” Turning to meet her blue eyes teasing him, Marco smiled as he reminded her, “Marco…you call me Marco.” Alianna grinned as she whispered, “Then you call me Ali.” 

Feeling his lips curl up into a smile, Marco and Ali were grinning fools when Queen Elena walked in, “Well I see you two are getting along.” Jumping, Alianna blushed as she looked at the older queen smiling at her knowingly before casually saying, “Marco, show Princess Alianna around the castle. Dinner will be served in an hour and a half.” 

And then she turned to leave, the brown-haired, olive-toned goddess strutted out in her gold robe. “God she is so flawless.” Ali breathed making Marco chuckle a little, “You’re so sweet. My mother is a very beautiful woman, as are you.” 

Ali rolled her eyes, “Smooth Romeo.” Laughing at being called out, and a female having never done so before, Marco grabbed her hand, “Come…I’ll show you around my home.” And Alianna didn’t mind interlocking their fingers as she allowed him to lead the way. 

Giggles, they were silent, but he heard them. 

Smirking, Marco kept quiet as he walked around the large plum tree in the castle’s maze. The giggle was still there, a little muffled, but Marco heard it plain as day. He pretended to be unaware of her looking at him, but as he suddenly turned around and got under the bench. There she was. 

Ali laughed and hugged him around his neck, “You found me again!” She cheered. Marco grinned widely, “Always, you’re too easy to find.” Alianna’s chin jutted up at the challenge, “I bet I can stay hidden longer!” Smirking, Marco let her go, “Go then, I bet I’ll find you.” Alianna turned and stomped in another direction with determination making the twelve-year-old laugh a little. 

Following after her, Marco walked slower and took his time following Alianna to another part of the maze. This one with a swing set and a little fort made by Nicolas and Valentine. Grinning, Marco was immediately pulled in and snacks and blood were shared. 

Alianna forgot soon enough she had been crossed with Marco and ended up being carried in by him as she slept on. 

Alianna’s eyes were wide as she walked through the spectacular garden. The flowers here were lush yellows and bright pinks, the grass so green and vivid it seemed almost scarily fertile. Walking with Marco’s warm body not too far from hers, Alianna was giddy. But as he held ger hand, a simple thing really. But it made her bubbly as she glanced over at him for a moment making him grin. 

“What?” 

Shaking her head, Alianna blushed as he stopped her using the hand he was holding, “What?” He probed curiously, “I need to be in your head a lot during this Alianna.” Biting her bottom lip unsure about that, Alianna whispered, “And why is that?” 

Marco breathed in her sweet scent as a gentle breeze blew across their skin. Fangs throbbing in his mouth, Marco looked at Alianna’s pulse racing under her soft skin. Skin he wanted to nibble on and turn red from his teeth. Feeling a lump in his throat as his blood burned, Marco struggled to pull it back as he gasped out, “Because this is new.” 

Stepping back a little so he could breathe, Marco admitted, “This is new and I want to do this right.” Looking at Alianna nervously, he confessed almost reluctantly, “I’ve seen what happens if a betrothal goes…bad. I don’t want that for us,” Reaching out, he stroked Alianna’s chin making her blush, “I want us to be happy. To work…and I think I can make it happen. I just need to know what you think…complete honesty.” 

Alianna liked the sound of that, and as she moved closer to him, she asked seriously, “And will you give complete honesty back?” Marco grinned, “Of course.” c*****g an eyebrow at the ready response, Alianna threw out without thinking, “And what about monogamy?” 

Feeling stupid as soon as she said the word, Alianna wanted to take it back. Her ears still burned with some of the rumors she’d heard from her people back at her castle in Russia about Marco. He’d quite the reputation and now she, as his future wife, was going to be possibly looked at as either less than or not enough compared to a slew of women. 

Which bothered her. 

But Marco dashed those thoughts pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, “I know…I know you’ve heard a LOT of things about me. And my…activities with other women. But I can assure you majority of the women or stories stirred around weren’t true.” 

The unsure look, Alianna gave Marco made him chuckle lightly before stroking her head, “I want no one but you mi amore. Can you trust that?” Alianna slowly nodded and he grinned pulling her along, “Good then, sit back and let me prove it.”