Her Forbidden Alphas

7. Private Dinner

Ivy's POV.

The prince was true to his word, we hadn't seen each other since he showed me the way to my chambers. It was now the night of the dinner and my maiden had helped me into a beautiful peach-coloured gown. I wanted to look nice to the prince as well as our first dinner together and have some... alone time.

I was currently waiting in a private dining room for the prince to join me. It was some time since I had arrived and been waiting. The door to the room had opened and in walked a male servant.

"Lady Ivy, Prince Blake has sent me to inform you that he will be running a bit late," he said as he gave a respectful bow.

"Oh okay, that’s fine. Thank you," I replied.

The male servant bowed again before he left the room and left me to my silence. I stared around the room for what seemed like the hundredth time. I knew the sun would rise within an hour and I didn’t know what it was either. I wanted to spend some time with my future husband.

The queen did say, as well as Prince Blake, that they were to be married in two months' time. That is on the night of the blood moon. A blood moon was the perfect time for a royal wedding as that is the only time vampires could mark each other.

I don’t know why that is, but from what I heard, werewolves can mark their partners whenever they want to. While werewolves have a given partner, known as a mate. Vampires can choose freely whom they wish to be with.

It had been about twenty minutes since the servant came in to inform me of the prince running late. I was just about ready to call it a night before I heard the door open.

“Lady Ivy,” Blake said as he walked toward me. “Sorry for running late, I had a few tasks that needed to be completed.” He added as he took my hand and placed a kiss on it.

“It’s fine,” I replied as I blushed from his gesture.

“Shall we get started?” The prince asked me.

“Of course.” I nodded.

Prince Blake guided me to take a seat before he sat down beside me. I was smiling so widely as he stared at me. By stare, I mean that he undressed me with his eyes. My maiden and the prince’s male servant came into the room with food. He ordered them to leave as we sat and began our meal in private.

“So, how was your day?” He asked me.

“The same as the past few days,” I replied.

“I trust that you're finding the lessons with my mother to be great?” Blake asked.

“Yeah, they are quite easy to understand. I have been trained all my life to be a lady, so it’s a similar role,” I answered.

“Good, that’s great,” he replied.

“And you? How was your day? I’m sure you had your hands full?” I questioned.

“Yeah, we have had a few sightings of werewolves near our territory. We took precautions to ensure nobody would lose their lives.” He said. “So, I know you mentioned that you like exploring the forest. Just don’t go wandering off without any escorts.” He added in a serious tone.

“Oh,” I replied. “I had no idea that werewolves were nearby,” I said.

“There is, as far as we know, a pack just on the other side of the forest on the west side. So steer clear of the west side. It is forbidden for everyone to go there, besides those guards that patrol there, of course." Blake explained as I nodded my head in understanding.

"So, your parents will be here tomorrow," he began, "I believe my mother has arranged for you ladies to discuss more of the wedding plans." He said.

"Oh yes, your mother, I mean Queen Ava informed me about that earlier," I replied.

“Your father and my father will be discussing some other things,” he said.

Both of us went quiet for a long while. I honestly didn’t know what to say and it seemed that neither did he. The long silence between us made me feel a bit uncomfortable, this is the quietest he has been around me. I don’t understand why. Maybe he was just exhausted. Instead of continuing to sit in silence, I decided to break that silence.

"So, I was wondering if we would get to see each other again? Or will you be too busy?" I asked.

I saw that my questioning had caught me by surprise, but I didn’t quite understand why. I am currently contemplating whether I should ask why I had caught that little reaction from him or just ignore it.

"Well, tomorrow night is when your parents will be arriving, so my father has organised a dinner for their three-night stay," Blake replied. "Oh, also I'm sure my mother hasn’t told you yet but you and I will be having a reciting lesson. It's just practising the union vows for when we marry on the blood moon. If your parents haven't thought about you, I'm sure that you will easily learn it. It will be anytime within a week." He added as he gave me a serious stare.

"Oh, she hasn’t mentioned it but that will be fine. My mother has taught me but I'm fine with practising with you," I answered.

"Also," he began with a small smile. "I'd like to show you something, now. It's better to show you while the sun is about to rise." Once he said that he got out of his chair and led me to follow him.

I was beyond confused right now that he was running down every hallway like a child. I had never seen this side of him. His smile was of a happy child that had received some sort of sweet treat,

"Prince Blake, where are you taking me?" I asked as curiosity crept in.

"Just wait and see," he replied.

All the turns I took, I don’t even think that I would even remember how to get back to my room. I know that I haven't been down some of these hallways and I have only familiarised myself with the ones I visit every day.

"Here," the prince said. "We are finally here." He added with a huge smile.

As he opened the door, he insisted that he cover my eyes so I could be even more surprised. I heard the door open as he pulled me in with one hand while the other hand was over my eyes. I felt some sort of weird feeling creep onto my skin, I also felt the darkness of my eyes being shut, a sense of some sort of brightness. Slowly, I felt the prince's hand removed from my eyes.

"Okay. Open your eyes slowly." He said and I did as he said.

He still held onto my hand with his other hand as I opened my eyes and freaked out from what I saw. I let out a gasp. I couldn’t believe it... I flinched away at first, but that was on instinct. I moved behind the prince for protection as I slowly began to move out and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was when the sunlight began to rise, it was beautiful with its fiery colour surrounding it.

"It's beautiful," I whispered in awe. "How is it that I can see it through the window without burning?" I asked.

"Well, my father has been at it for a few centuries. That’s the reason for him building new parts of Castle Dread." He answered me.

"But how? Surely the heat of the sunlight would have burnt us by now. This can't be no ordinary glass." I continued my quest for answers.

" OK, don’t tell anyone, but a few years back my father managed to capture a witch. He had him to do some sort of spell on it that it how we haven't burned to ashes yet," he answered as he gave into my light interrogation.

"I had no idea that witches were real. I have only heard fairy tales of them," I said, as I turned to look at him.

"Witches are very real." He replied in a stern voice. "We had better leave before we get caught. I'm not supposed to show anyone this room yet." He said as he let out a sigh.

He held my hand as he led me down every hallway we went through to get to that room. I tried my best to remember the way to that room, but it was no use. Castle dread was a maze, I would have to go to the room hundreds of times to be able to remember the way. One thing I will never forget is the sun. How the mixture of red, orange and yellow made it so beautiful as the sun rises. I don’t think I could ever forget such beauty. I only wish I could see it again.

The prince stopped at the front of my room as he turned to face me,

"I want you to keep it a secret that I showed you that room." He began, "Only my father, Noah and I know about it. It's kind of a work-in-process. Father is planning on installing windows in a few rooms so we can see the sun and not burn." He explained.

"I promise, I won't tell anyone," I said. I know I wanted to tell Charlotte but I just promised my future husband. As the daughter of the Lord, I have been taught that a promise is everything. He nodded his head in appreciation as he let go of my hands and was about to leave.

"Oh," he said as he turned back around. "I had a wonderful first date with you." He added as he tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.

"As did I," I replied with a blush.

I felt both his hands grab my chin in his hands as he gave me a kiss on my lips. I was caught by surprise by his actions and I didn’t know what to do. Before I could say or do anything, Blake gave a huge smile and turned on his heel. I blinked a few times before I opened my door and walked into my chambers. Walking over to my mirror, I looked at my now red lips as I traced them with my fingers. The feeling of his lips was faintly fading, only leaving the redness of the kiss. Oh, my sweet prince, I thought to myself. I cannot wait for whatever the future may hold for Prince Blake and me.