Page 63 of Married to the Vampire Prince

“I love you just the way you are. You know that.”

I nodded. “I do. And I love you the way you are as well.”

She gave a content sigh. “Sometimes I think it’s a miracle that I met someone like you; someone who accepts me fully.”

I smiled. “It is a miracle. Love is a miracle. Getting to be mates is a miracle too. I’m grateful everyday that we’re bonded, Grace.”

“What do you think our future will be like? I can’t wrap my head around living more than a hundred years,” she said. “Will my ruby blood work for you? What about me, will I go mad?”

“Bonded humans with ruby blood are immune to insanity, and ruby blood remains ruby blood forever,” I explained. “You’ve got nothing to fear. All you need to do is live alongside me and let me protect you.”

“Sounds like a perfect life,” she said.

“I will make sure it’s all you could ever hope for and more. I promise,” I swore. “As for living for more than a hundred years – after the first hundred years the next ones will come and go much more easily. Slowly you’ll get used to the passage of time until you barely notice it at all.”

“That’s… a strange thought,” she said. “But with you at my side, I think I can get used to such a life.” She thought for a moment. “What about war? Do you think Rosworth will attack us again?”

“Rosworth is now in a state of disarray,” I said. “Their King is gone, and he didn’t have a clear successor. The nobles are fighting each other for the throne now. I don’t think they’re going to settle on a new ruler anytime soon. So Rosworth shouldn’t be in any position to attack us for at least a few decades. As for what might happen later on, only time will tell. A vampire’s life is unfortunately often one full of brutality. I will do my best to shield you from the worst of it, though.”

She nodded. “I hope you’ll never die on the battlefield. Please don’t be reckless anymore.”

“I must do anything necessary within my power to protect our country and you,” I said softly.

“That’s not the answer I wanted,” she huffed. Then she sighed and nodded. “I understand, though. You’re a powerful vampire – the most powerful one in Estone now. You need to fight if there’s trouble. Who else would protect all of us?”

“Yes, as much as I hate going to the battlefield directly and taking the lives of others, doing so when needed is part of my duty to my country and you. I must protect you.”

“Then I’ll just have to hope no other wars come,” she said.

We looked each other in the eyes, sharing a quiet moment of intimacy.

“I love you, Grace,” I finally said.

“I love you too,” she smiled. Her expression was so full of happiness; my heart warmed.

I was so grateful for my wife. I had been drawn to her from the first time I had seen her picture, but I could never have guessed that she would end up being my mate. I hadn’t realized I would get to share my entire life with her. I had certainly never expected to fall in love so madly and deeply.

Grace was my world now. I looked forward to our future together. I hoped it would be a peaceful one in which we could both realize our dreams. From the moment of our marriage, wehad promised to walk through life together, and now we would continue to do so until our deaths.

Grace was the part of me I had always been missing; the better half of my soul. She brought so much light and love into my life – a warmth I had never expected to receive.

Yet, she was here; loving me and making me whole.

The fact that we were different species or that nearly a hundred years separated our ages didn’t matter. I wanted her more than anybody else in the world, and she wanted me too. Our love would overcome any difficulties. We were mates.

Together we would withstand any difficulties and defeat any problems. We had each other, and each other was all we needed.

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