“Arcane,” Novak growls, glaring at him furiously. “What is the meaning of this.” He pulls me close showing my mark, my eyes wide with panicked shock.

Arcane glares back walking over to us, I’ve never seen him so angry. He takes me from Novak, handing me to Arabella. Novak glares at Arcane angrily, Arcane glaring right back with a cool expression.

“Last time I checked I didn’t need to explain anything to you,” Arcane says with venom in his voice. “She’ll be mine just as much as yours. I have a right to know who put the first mark, who had no right to!” Novak practically growls with anger “I have honor and respect for the process of the chosen. Your mark was supposed to be the first, so, who did it first.” Novak's eyes narrow with deadly intent.

Arcanes eyes soften only slightly “It’s complicated…” Novak gives an offended look “Complicated? What the hell is complicated about it Arcane?! Someone overstepped their place! Why haven’t you told the queen?!” Novak throws up his hands in anger, he looks so different from the man who was in my bed less than a couple of days ago.

I don’t want anyone to get in trouble, and even though I don’t like how Erebus marked me. I don’t want him to get in trouble with the queen, after all, it’s all been said and done.

“I already said, you have no place to ask Novak!” Arcane speaks up in anger himself. “We have everything under control. Why the hell are you even here with MY queen.” Arcanes wings start to appear, he flutters them aggressively. 

Novak tries to hide a hurt expression, before looking at me, then back to Arcane. “I don’t want any trouble, Arcane. I came to see her, I want her if she’ll have me. When I saw the mark on her chest, I knew it wasn’t yours and it sent me over the edge. You know my race Arcane.” Novak gives him a deep look, one that I’ve never seen. Have they known each other before this?

Wait! Novak is the Chief and Arcane is the prince, so of course, they must have known each other. But why does it feel like it goes deeper than that for them?

I can feel their emotions and they run deep.

“If she wants you I have no right to stand in her way,” Arcane says, stepping back and turning to me slightly. “Erebus was the one to mark her,” Arcane admits, turning back to Novak to see his reaction.

Novak's eyes widen “Erebus?!” he asks, looking puzzled and off guard. He turns to me, looking at my mark before glaring. “Why the hell would he mark her?!” He straightens up in defensive mode, looking very intimidating, but I know he's only angry at Erebus.

“Why else?” Arcane tilts his head in question. “He fancies her, and who wouldn’t.” He states, looking down at me with caring eyes. My face flushes from his golden stare, I wiggle slightly, having to turn away. The way these men look at me sometimes would make any woman's blood burn. 

Novak huffs, trying to calm his anger, at the moment I’m able to read him so easily. For whatever reason, he let his guard down, before there was a bit of a wall. One I couldn’t easily fight my way through.

He walks past us, stopping before reaching the door. “I’ll be back, maybe not anytime soon, but I will return for her.” He declares before leaving all of us in silence.

Arabella sighs “Too much testosterone for my liking, my lady.” I couldn’t stifle my giggle if I tried, leave it to my maid to break the tension.

“Are you ready?” Arcane gets straight to business, gliding his hand to my hip, causing me to shiver in delight. Why does his touch have to do me like that, I swear I was never like this before I came here.

I nodded, scared to use my words at the moment. He leads me to my mirror, standing behind me before saying “I’ll place it at the nape of your neck.” He claims his fingers brushing over my bare skin there. I shiver again, not sure what to expect. The last time this happened I passed out, I hope I won't fall to the ground.

Before I could even prepare myself, a bright golden light fills my room. I gasp feeling a warm gentle sensation on the back of my neck. It’s such a fulfilling warmth, like every part of me is being caressed by this light sensation. I could sense emotion from it, love, care, content, and pure joy.

It’s all such bright emotions that it takes my breath away. I’ve never felt it all so strongly at once. Is this Arcanes magic?

All too soon the warmth dampens and Arcane moves his hand away. I look back at him, tears that I hadn’t realized before fall from my cheeks. He looks at my tears in shock, caressing one off my cheek. “Beatrice wha-” I bury my face into his chest, the mark on my neck warming up once again. I can feel his emotions so strongly now, it’s all so bright and warm. It feels like home…

He holds me tight, warping my arms around him, my hand holding onto his right shoulder tightly. I feel such a strong pull, one I can’t understand, but I feel like I just need-

A bright aqua sea blue light shining from under my hand. The light grew brighter and brighter before it filled the room. Arabella gasps before the light reseed back under my hand.

I look up at Arcane in shock, his face no different from my own. Something feels completely different between us.

We pull away from each other slowly, Arcane pulls off his royal coat. Revealing a turtle neck with cut-off sleeves, showing off his defined muscular arms, and a mark of blue sea aqua.

We all stare at it shocked, I can feel a warmth in my chest from seeing the mark. “Oh my goodness! My lady, you marked the prince!” Arabella covers her mouth in shock.

I marked Arcane, is that what it is? My mark?

Arcane looks at it with a sparkle in his eye. “I’ve never seen a mark so big…” He says in awe, lightly touching it with his other hand.

Arabella walks overlooking more closely. “It’s so pretty, my lady. I’ve never seen such a pretty mark!” She says cheerfully, looking truly happy. “This is big news! Before long the whole kingdom will know that you two are marked!” She wiggles slightly with excitement.

I giggle watching her, Arcane looks back at me with affection in his eyes. He picks me up, swirling me in his strong arms. I squeal with shock and delight, giggling with warmth from his happiness. I can feel it radiating off of him in waves of pure joy.

I hold him tight, loving the feeling of him in my arms. This man is very special to me, I can’t explain it. But, I’d do anything to make him happy, he deserves it.

He sits me down on the floor again, fondly staring into my eyes. “Everyone in the kingdom will know we belong to one another. A bond that can never be broken.” He nuzzles my nose with his own gently, causing me to giggle.

You’d think the thought that we are forever bonded would terrify me. But it does the complete opposite, knowing that this man is all man makes me feel special. It makes me feel powerful knowing that I have him by my side, supporting me all the way.

“The whole fairy kingdom will be celebrating for days!” Arabella giggles with happiness, frantically looking through my dresses.

Arcane and I both smile at each other like we're on our very own honeymoon. I bet this fairy prince would love to get me alone with the look he is giving me.

“Tonight my lady, you will go to our kingdom!” I turn to Arabella, already packing my things. “So soon?” I giggle watching her “Yes! We must celebrate!”She says, her beautiful butterfly wings fluttering with joy.

Arcane rests his finger under my chin, tilting it up slightly to look into his golden eyes. “My people will want to welcome you fully into our lives as our future queen. Many have already asked when we’d be celebrating. I told them when we both were marked.” I see, so his people have been waiting to meet the chosen of the fairies.

I guess if I was in their shoes I’d be curious as well. Who wouldn’t want to meet their possible future queen? I giggle to myself helping to get everything packed. I’m excited to meet all the fairy people.

At the moment I’m sitting and having tea time with Sona and Willow before lunch. Arcane and Arabella have prepared for our departure later today. I wanted to make sure I caught them up on everything before I left.

“You’ve been marked by two different beasts and now you're going to one of their kingdoms?!” Sona declares, shock written all over her exotic face.

I giggle “It’s Arcane’s kingdom, his people want to meet me.” I say smiling at her, I haven’t been able to stop smiling all day.

“Like that makes it better Beatrice! You were bedridden for three days!” She looks at me like I’m stupid. “Now calm down Sona. Look how happy she is, you can see that.” Willow speaks up, beaming herself. Something tells me she’s been hiding something from us.

Sona huffs “Yes, but I’m worried. We don’t know what this could mean for her. She has two marks, and one of them is from a snake!” She glares like she has a bad taste in her mouth. “Don’t fight it, till you try it,” Willow says cheerfully, swinging slightly from side to side.

Sona looks mortified, having no words to speak. I cover my mouth, trying not to laugh. Willow gives Sona a mischievous smile, wiggling her eyebrows, and that does it for me. 

I’m bending over, laughing my ares off, trying to bring air into my lungs. Willow laughs along seeing Sona’s face. “You both are crazy! I bet they fed you something to lose it.” She glares, turning bright red from ear to ear.

“Sona, don’t act like you’ve been so innocent.” I give a pause, making sure Willow can listen as well. “From what I heard, you're supposed to represent the dragonkin.” Willow gives me a knowing look “From what I’ve heard the dragon king is a nice piece of a man.” Willow practically purrs out, Sona turns completely red. “What are you two talking about?!” She sits up straight in her seat, taking a big swig of her tea.

“You both are being reckless, I never said I was innocent and that beast is the ugliest thing ever!” She growls, looking angry at the mention of the dragon king.

“That's not what I’ve heard.” Willow sips her tea innocently like she doesn’t care when she does. I giggle watching her, who would have thought that she’d come out of her shell so much. It makes me happy, watching them both bicker over the dragon king.

Sona turns red glaring at Willow “We’ll you’ve heard wrong. That monster is just a big snake!” She barks, I have a feeling she has beef with the dragon king. I wonder why though, he is the leader of the race she is representing.

Did he do something to her? I sure hope not, she hasn’t said anything about it. Then again she doesn’t talk much about herself often.

“When you get back we will have that ball everyone is talking about.” Willow changes the subject, leaving Sona alone. “Yes, I’m excited to see the men you're all interested in. I heard you had to invite the ones you wanted to attend.” I say smiling at both of them, Sona nods “Yeah, but there will still be eligible men attending as well. For the girls that are having a hard time with-” She pauses, looking triggered. “With finding men for their harem…” She looks disgusted with the word. 

Willow and I both nod, it will be an interesting ball.