As long as he could remember Van always got up before dawn to watch the sun rise over the surrounding mountains. But this morning he had done his routine just because it was routine, he didn't actually wanted to get out of the soft bed and away from her warmth.
He didn't even watch the sun; his eyes lingered on the small frame of the woman under the covers. Van could barely believe how fortunate he was to have an honor to call her his own.
Last night he had made the best decision in his life, and all he did was gave her the chance to decide.
"How is this possible?" he whispered not being able to talk normally.
"This is my wedding gift you." Her voice was no longer rough as that afternoon but more feminine and seductive "I give you a choice."
"Choice?" Van walked closer to his wife "What kind of choice?"
"You have now seen both by appearances and now you can choose." She smiled and Van felt his heart skip a beat "Do you want me to be ugly witch over the day and a beautiful maiden over the night in out chamber? Or do you want me to look like this during the day so you can show everyone how lovely your wife is but for that you will have the ugly side of me by our side every night while we are alone?"
Van looked at her and after few moments said "This is your life and because of that it should be your choice. I will honor and protect you as my wife no matter what."
"I am pleased with your answer my husband." Van's cheeks blushed on the word 'husband', he might need a bit time to get used to it "And for respecting me as you do I decide to be like this for as long as we shall live."
Young prince smiled and approached the beauty in front of him with one simple attention. Hitomi had only a moment to smile before Van's lips covered hers in a deep and breathtaking kiss. Her arms right away went around his neck while Van pulled her closer. They could barely breath once they parted but that didn't prevent another kiss, and another, and another. And that night, for the first time, both Van and Hitomi found out how it feels to love with the whole being.
Van lied down on his side observing his wife's flushed face and heard her whisper "Dear God…"
Young prince grinned "Nah, it was just me."
Hitomi turned her head towards him and seriously said "Van, in this bed you are a God."
Her words brought dark blush on Van's cheeks and he bend down to thank her with a passionate kiss.
Sound of the rustle of the sheets brought Van back to reality and he noticed two emeralds looking at him and beautiful pink lips spreading in a smile. He couldn't do different but smile back at his wife.
Her voice was a bit muffled but he could clearly understand her as she called "Come back to bed love."
He complied right away but not without noticing she had called him love. That didn't matter right now; all that was important at the moment is to be as close to her as possible.
"Where is the young happy couple?" king Aston asked casually during breakfast. He came on the wedding as soon as the news spread that Van was to marry the 'witch-girl of Fanelia' and had the satisfying grin on his face the whole ceremony.
"Not here." Folken answered simply and continued eating.
"Perhaps someone should check on them." The Asturian king suggested "That thing could have killed your brother and be miles away by now."
"She wouldn't do that after Van reluctantly aggraded to marry her." Eries' voice was calm. She was used to her father's desire to have everything as he wants it.
"Beside, who would be crazy enough to barge in the bedchamber of just married couple?" Merle asked chuckling "Van would have a fit."
"Or would be grateful for getting him away from the witch." Eries had the urge to snap on her father for his words, but instead she placed a hand on her large stomach and took a deep breath, she needs to stay calm for the baby. No matter how hard that might be.
"I hope you don't consider to present her in public as a member of the royal family like it's usual. The people might-"
"Millerna, stop it before you say something you might regret later." Eries looked at her sister sternly. The queen of Fanelia wasn't stupid, she could read her sister as an open book and new Millerna had a crush on Van even though she was already betrothed. Coming in Fanelia on the wedding was like exhibition; she wanted to show Van what could have been his. A bit morbid behavior in Eries' eyes, but that is how her sister was.
"I don't think I would." The blond princess said back.
Eries just sighed; the breakfast was completely ruined. She stood up and decided to go for a walk in the gardens while she could still walk. Merle right away stood up to help her as did Folken. He claimed he wants few more moments of peace before the morning meeting with his advisers.
Giggling that was clearly heard caught their attention so they headed in the direction from which it was heard. Ad what they saw stunned all three of them. Van was standing next to the fountain with a girl who had her hands around his neck. They couldn't see her but they all could see it wasn't the same girl Van married last night, her skin looked healthy and soft.
"Does your wife know you kiss other girls?" Millerna's voice suddenly reached them and they all turned to see her walking closer with her father.
"You kiss other girls?" the green eyed girl next to Van asked him looking insulted, or that is how it looked to the others.
"No." Van answered to her defending himself before turning to Millerna "Why in the world would I kiss some other girl when I married a beauty?"
"A beauty?" king Aston looked at the prince in disbelieve.
Van observed Hitomi fro head to toes and back and then turned to the king "Well I think she's a beauty. But of course everyone is entitled to an opinion."
Folken looked at Van seriously and then at the girl next to his brother "Hitomi?"
A wide smile spread on her face and she nodded shocking everyone.
The neko was first to recover from the shock and she rushed to her adoptive brother's wife and have her a bone-crushing hug followed by a lick on her cheek. Hitomi just smiled as Merle pulled back and Folken and Eries came closer.
"I don't know how this is possible, but I am glad it is." Folken said and hugged his sister-in-law "Welcome to the family Hitomi."
"Thank you." She answered blushing slightly.
King Aston frowned "Only a witch is capable of that kind of deceive."
"Or someone under the protection of the Wing Goddess." Hitomi said back coldly before turning her attention to Eries, or actually her large stomach "How much more?"
"A month or so." The queen answered "And then I will be able to see my feet again. I never thought I could miss the sight of them."
Hitomi chuckled a bit till Van's hand touched hers. She turned to her husband and smiled showing everyone their affection for each other. Folken was first to cut the staring contest "What exactly did you mean that you are under the protection of the Wing Goddess?"
"Oh, it's a quite strange story." Hitomi said and Eries cut her off right away.
"Perhaps we should listen to the story inside, if you are willing to tell us. It is more comfortable." She had a problem with standing to long.
"I don't have a reason to hide anything from you." Hitomi said smiling and they all headed inside. On their way to the parlor Folken met on of his advisers and postponed the meeting for afternoon. The adviser was quite surprised seeing a foreign girl walking next to prince Van holding his hand. But he knew better the to ask any questions, at the moment that is.
"So, let's hear it." Folken said sitting down next to Eries on a soft loveseat. Hitomi was between Van and Merle and king Aston and princess Millerna sat each on a chair.
"It's quite weird actually. She came in my dreams, many times, and every time she talked about a fate that awaits me inside the walls of the palace. I didn't know what she meant by that and I started to believe her with time." Hitomi smiled remembering the beautiful woman she used to see "She explained me that she must hide my real face to protect me from the flux of the fate until I find my place. And one morning I woke up looking… different. She also said some other things I didn't quite understand."
"What exactly?" princess Millerna asked.
"Oh, it doesn't really matter." Hitomi answered.
"But why the choice?" Van turned to his wife "You didn't explained me that?"
"Oh, there never was a choice. I would look like this no matter what you have decided." Van looked at her surprised by the answer "I just wanted to know if you would respect me as a person or just see me as your wife and nothing more."
"Interesting." Eries shifted a bit to be more comfortable and asked "So between what could he pick?"
"My appearance." Hitomi said smiling "Does he want a witch over the day and um… me over the night or opposite."
"And how did you pulled out of that one?" Folken asked his brother grinning.
Van looked at his brother and asked seriously "Folken, what women want the most?"
The king of Fanelia smiled and nodded "I would never consider that."
"Well I did and I told Hitomi to pick herself." Hitomi nodded on Van's words.
The conversation developed and they talked for hours about everything and nothing. If the servant didn't walked in and told them the lunch is ready to be served they would miss it. Folken was glad to see his brother happy and probably deeply in love with his young wife. And if he wasn't he would be very soon. Hitomi was cheerful and constantly smiling and it seemed to be contagious. Never before had any meal passed in such a good spirit.
That night after retreating in their chamber Van and Hitomi went to the wide balcony to enjoy in the night air before the winter comes and covers the courtyard and the garden with snow.
Van's arms were wrapped tightly around his wife's waist and she leaned into him, his warmth warming her "You never answered what else the Wing Goddess told you." Van broke the silence.
"Am I not entitled to my own secrets? I'm quite sure you have your owns." Hitomi answered.
Van didn't say anything for some time gathering courage. Hitomi was quite surprised when his arms unwrapped from around her and Van took her hand to lead her inside their chamber.
She remained silent and just watched as Van took off his shirt and placed it on the chair before turning to meet two emerald eyes that observed him interested in where all this was leading.
"I want you to know my secret." Tears appeared in Hitomi's eyes as two pearl-white wings sprout out of Van's back. He had spread them to their full span just before she hugged him tightly surprising the young prince just for a second. Seeing she accepted who he is Van wrapped his soft wings around them forming a feathered cocoon.
"I love you, you know." Hitomi whispered softly.
"I love you to." Van whispered back before kissing her deeply.
Van pulled back only for a second before kissing her again but then he felt something unusual. Something was pushing his wings away but Hitomi's arms were around his neck. Breaking the kiss reluctantly brown eyes grew wide upon seeing a pair of wings that matched his own behind the woman in his arms.
"This is my secret Van." Hitomi answered his unspoken question "This is why the Wing Goddess hid my face. She wanted to make sure the fate brings me to you and only to you. She wanted me to bind myself to the one who is like me so that her bloodline would continue."
"I'm not sure I understand the last part." Van confessed.
"I am a Draconian from the bloodline of the Wing Goddess. If I was to marry a human the line would have been broken, but with you-"
"It won't be." Van finished "I can't believe how fortunate I am."
"You will be even more when I tell you I am carrying your child." Hitomi said back.
"You are?!" Van looked at her in shock.
"No, love. Not yet. But I know you will be happy once it happens." She said back "Are you disappointed?" she asked seeing his absent expression.
"What? No." Van's eyes twinkled and a grin spread on his lips "Why would I be. It leaves me more time to try."
"Try what?" Hitomi didn't quite realized what he meant but she started to connect things once he lifted her in his arms and moved towards the bed.
"To try and get a baby, what else?" Van's smiled and kissed his beautiful wife deeply. A kiss she returned gladly. A kiss that leads them to the night full with soft whispers, gentle touches and love that would wind them for as long as they lived.