Seraphina and Achilles walked in a comfortable silence. Achilles tentatively watched Seraphina take in her surroundings, he was in awe as he watched her marvel in the delicate bird song that was floating through the air. His heart swelled as she closed her eyes and tilted her head up towards the sun, drinking it in. She sighed as she felt the warmth on her skin.
“You are just perfect” her whispered to her as he leaned over and kissed her cheek. Seraphina smiled gently, “Achilles, I want to know about your life” Seraphina told him. “I’m not sure what to tell you my love, I’ve spent the majority of my life on the battlefront.” Achilles said solemnly. “Why do you insist on going to battle? From what your Mother said, it is not one of your duties as Prince but something you have volunteered to.”
Achilles stared into the direction Seraphina had flew off, he contemplated shifting and going after her but, he decided it was probably best to leave her to gather her thoughts. He knew her outburst was because her and her dragon’s personalities were morphing but, her words were the truth. He was wracked with guilt at having wasted time with other women. He always knew his past indiscretions could affect their relationship when he eventually found her but, knowing what she had endured, having to fight to keep her virginity. He felt disgusted with himself. Achilles didn’t know what to do to make amends, no number of apologies could change the past. He just wanted to make everything right and continue to start a life with Seraphina. He pulled himself out of the lake and returned to his room to dress, he needed to speak to someone, he needed advice and reassurance that he hadn’t lost Seraphina after only just finding her.
When Achilles arrived at his room, he saw Seraphina was nowhere to be seen, she was still avoiding him and he understood why. He sat on the chaise lounge at the foot of the bed and sighed with his head in his hands. It really was his intention to marry Seraphina, he picked out her engagement ring when he was 15. He had searched relentlessly for her but by the time he turned 18, he had lost all hope of ever finding her. Since then, he had spent the better part of 10 years whoring himself about.Achilles stood and walked to a chest of drawers in the corner of the room and open one, he took out a small leather box with a pearl on the clasp. He opened it and looked at the ring inside. It was a large pear cut diamond surrounded by small sapphires. The band was woven like a vine with small amethysts cushioned into it. The large diamond was Seraphina’s
Ethena titled her head as she spied Seraphina’s bare feet. Seraphina blushed “I have never worn shoes before, I tried a pair on when I was getting dressed, they were terribly uncomfortable, and I struggled to stand in them” she explained shyly. Ethena laughed and picked her dress up to reveal her feet which were also bare. “I share the same distain for shoes.” Seraphina joined in laughing with Ethena when she remembered her question from earlier. “Ethena, Achilles mentioned that you are very knowledgeable with familiars, I was wondering, do you know what my extra elemental mark is?” Ethena frowned “Truthfully, I hadn’t noticed it.” She moved towards Seraphina and leaned down to look at her marking. “I have never seen one like it before, actually, I can’t recall ever learning of anyone with anything other than earth, wind, air or fire markings.” Seraphina’s face fell sli
Seraphina looked around at the faces watching her expectantly. She felt a bead of sweat begin to from on her brow. “You want me to shift…now? Here?” she asked. “Yes! Of course, we do!” Aurelia shouted at her, her excitement brimming over. “Whilst it would be an honour to witness your dragon, only do so if you feel comfortable to.” Ethena told her sweetly. “Thank you, mother,” said Achilles, “Seraphina is not a show pony, you can just demand tricks from her!” Achilles shouted at his siblings and father who were all jumping up and down in their seats waiting to see the dragon. “It’s okay.” Seraphina said tentatively. “I do not mind however, it made me feel quite…trapped to shift indoors. Do you mind if we go to the gardens?” Seraphina hadn’t even finished her sentence before everyone started to rise from their seats.
Seraphina realised what was happening, she looked back down at Achilles who looking at her as though she was the only woman in the world. “Seraphina, from the moment of your birth, I have loved you. I was only a boy, just 9 years old yet, I loved you so fiercely. I didn’t think it was possible to love anyone or anything more but, you proved me wrong. In the 6 months I got to spend with you, I loved you more each day. I would do anything and be anything for you. When you were taken from me, I never thought I would recover from that, a part of my heart died. Everyday for the last 18 years, I have thought about you, about what you would look like, how you would have grown. I was so so wrong. I never in my wildest dreams could’ve imagined you be to as beautiful and simply perfect as you are,” Achilles paused to take a breath.Serap
After the proposal and their love making, Achilles and Seraphina felt on top of the world. Achilles picked out Seraphina’s dress; a cream coloured silk dress, decorated with gold floral embroideries, that sat off the shoulder showing off all of her markings. She twisted her hair back into a loose chignon and fixed it into place with amber coloured pins. She opted against wearing any jewellery except for her engagement ring.During the proposal, Achilles had been so swept up in emotion, he forgot to open the ring box and give Seraphina her ring. He was silently thankful though, as this gave him to opportunity to explain her rings origin in private, more specifically so, the diamond. Seraphina had cried when she learnt that, not only had her mother given Achilles the large pear shape diamond, when Seraphina was a baby, to give to her, he had desig
Seraphina thought she may be the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Seraphina saw all the colour drain from Achilles face. “What are we celebrating?” the stranger spoke, her voice sounded like a song. Seraphina felt a pit form in her stomach, she gulped. “It seems my invitation didn’t quite reach me?” she spoke again as no one had answered her previous question. There were scowls all around. “Who are you?” Seraphina asked softly. The stranger glared at Seraphina, the newcomer didn’t recognise her as a noble girl and her anger immediately rose. “Who am I? Who the hell are you? How dare you speak directly to me; do you know who I am? I will have you lashed 1000 times for your insolence!” the stranger screamed at Seraphina. “Hold your tongue you slut, you are speaking to your future Queen!” Aurelia roared, slamming her hands down on the table. The stranger paled for a moment befo
Achilles ran after Seraphina in his snow leopard form. “Seraphina, please stop running away from me,” Achilles asked her through their mind connection. “I’m not running, I am flying,” Seraphina responded coldly. Achilles rolled his eyes. “I felt you roll your eyes!” Seraphina snapped at him. “Seraphina, my love, my sweet flower, please just talk to me,” Achilles pleaded with her. “This is just as much of a shock to me as it is to you, we need to talk about this, please.” Achilles begged her.Seraphina could feel her heart aching for him. Achilles was starting to catch up with her, he could tell Seraphina was slowing down, he watched as she started to descend into a small wooded area. As Achilles reached where Seraphina had landed, he saw she had shifted back to he Dhampir form. Achilles