Secrets of Heat to Innocence

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Carmen

"Someone who is so beautiful should not look so sad" said a voice out of nowhere. I turned around to see King Silas watching me. I could not help but smile when I saw his face.    With an exaggerated bow, I faced him, "I am sorry your majesty." I teased  He chuckled, "Forgive  me madam  if I do not believe your exaggerated show of respect since at least three times a week, you eat all my grapes, from my personal cup, while sitting in my throne chair."  He teased with a raised brow. He took a step back from me and he 

frowned, he put his arm around my shoulder  "You do look troubled, you should be happy, we all have been waiting for this for a long time." He said  

I know that he was right, we had been waiting for this day for nearly a year now. I was happy but I was nervous as well, "This time it is going to be different, at the first ceremony, it was just family. This time it is everyone. Even the council is going to be here. What if I fall on my face?" I asked  him.

. "Then I will fall beside you and declare that it was part of the plan." Silas said. I laughed. "Can you imagine Pauline's reaction. She says you are a bad influence on me already." He threw his head back and laughed  I loved Silas, he always made me laugh no matter what was going on.

A few seconds later, I heard footsteps, "I should have known Silas was holding up your time!" Pauline walked in. She looked stunning. She was wearing a form fitting black dress with red trim. There were high splits on both sides with a very deep cleavage. Her long hair was hanging down her back. She looked half her age.

 "Poor Fenris." I whispered. She looked at me with a raised brow. "Your beauty is going cause him to faint in the middle of my ceremony" I said with a smile. I watched her blush slightly, "Come you! You have been spending too much time with Silas and it is showing." She said and rolled her eyes at both of us.

Walking outside, I was overcome by the beauty of everything. The flowers and the candles were perfectly arranged.

There were some faces that I knew and other's that I did not know. I knew I had to walk down the steps alone, and my nerves  were frayed. I had made it near the bottom when a cloth was caught in the breeze and wrapped perfectly around my ankles. Before I could fall face down, two servants ran out and removed it. I heard a collective sigh.

I was certain everyone was holding their breath hoping that I would not fall. I held my breath until Pauline and Fenris took my hands. We walked the four or five steps to the council's table. My heart began to race again. This was not just the blood promise. This was everything, my name, my future, showing my new family was accepting of me receiving a mate and so much more.

The members of the council all gave me a small, approving smile. "Miss Carmen, it brings this council great pleasure to be here today. It is very rare that we get to officiate such happy moments. Yet, that is who you are. From the

day that we all have met you, you have brought joy, peace and hope to so many lives. Today the Spane Family has asked that you become a part of their family by name, by blood, pack and by inheritance. Is this  agreeable to you?"

"Yes it is" I answered. Please step forward he said to Fenris. The elder pulled out a large formal paper with

beautiful gold lettering. "Fenris Spane, Do you welcome Carmen as your daughter, by blood and promise? Will you love and protect her as your birth child? Will you guarantee her future by inheritance? Fenris answered "yes to all". When he gave me such a warm smile, it was hard to blink back the tears.

Pauline Spane, Do your welcome Carmen as your daughter? Will you love her as your birth child? Will you guard her virginity until her marriage to that of her chosen mate? Pauline answered "Yes to all"

The elder removed a gold knife and cut our fingers. I watched our blood combine on the beautiful gold rimmed paper.

The elder placed the royal seal over our blood mark and sealed it with wax. He put a large book over it.

He was handed a second official document, "Fenris Spane and Pauline Spane are officially your family by

blood and inheritance. Fenris and Pauline, you make take your seats.

"King Silas Sullivan and Queen Ahrayna Sullivan, please step forward" the elder said. I watched them step

toward me. "Queen Ahrayna can you please take Miss Spane left hand, King Silas, please take Miss Spane

right hand. "It has been asked of you to be Miss Spane Godparents. Do you accept this honor?" Both smiled "Yes," "Have you submitted her royal inheritance to the council?" They once again nodded. "Do you accept all the responsibilities stated in the manual before us?" They both accepted. He motioned them to step forward signing underneath my signature. He tapped the gavel "It is done."

Everyone rushed around me congratulating me and welcoming me into the family. It did not take long for me to feel seriously overwhelmed. Everywhere I turned there was someone else wanting to hug me.  It had started to feel like the room was closing in on me. 

Before getting completely in the house I had to duck back out. I needed to take a breath. I took a few breaths and heard soft steps coming up behind me. I already knew who it was. Pauline reached over and brushed my hair out of my face. "What's the matter sweetheart." Pauline asked. One thing about Pauline  was that I could never lie to her or keep anything away from her. "I am just feeling a bit overwhelmed." I said honestly. "I don't feel like I deserve all of this. I am not saying that I don't want it. I have never experienced so much.." I struggled to get the right word. "Love?" Pauline finished for me ."Sweetheart, you are feeling so much love because there is so much love here for you. Enjoy it. you deserve it. I felt the tears break like a waterfall. I never really cried because it never helped any situation that I was in. Yet, these tears felt different.  I felt joy. When Pauline embraced me, I could never remember experiencing such warmth in my life.