Disclaimer: I dont own the Nine Lives of Chloe King

I hope you guys like this, it's really long, and I had tons of fun writing it!

Chloe had stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. We heard her scream and throw something against the wall. Now it was silent, but I'm sure she was just fighting the urge to scream again. Valentina stared after her for a minute before turning her gaze back to me. I sat on the couch with my arms crossed over my chest. She nodded towards Chloe's bedroom door once. I raised an eyebrow and looked at her confusedly. She nodded towards Chloe's door again. I gave her the same look. She glared at me now. "Go. Talk. To. Her." She said slowly. I mouthed the word "Oh" and then stood to go talk to Chloe. I knocked on the door and waited for a second before letting myself in. She was spread out across her bed sideways. She was on her stomach and her face was buried in a pillow.

"I thought you didn't want to suffocate to death." I said going over to her bed and sliding down onto my stomach next to her. She turned her head to the side and looked at me. Her frown deepened when she looked at me. "Hey, I didn't do anything." I told her moving my arms so I leaned on one elbow

"Every time something happens, she threatens me with going into hiding. It's not my fault people want me dead, why should I change my life for them. They're the psycho killers with a grudge problem." I reached my hand out and played with her hair laying it out smooth on her back.

"It's got to be hard." I said quietly. "Not being able to live your life the way you should because you are the uniter."

"I've lived my whole life under my mom's dictatorial watch, telling me what to do, to be careful and not to go out, she's been training me in everything since I was 4. But she doesn't think I'm ready or mature enough for anything."

"That's rough." I was listening, but I was also thinking how soft and fragrant her hair was.

"If you think she's hard on me, she's worse on Jasmine. Anytime I got hurt, why wasn't Jasmine there? Why didn't you take the knife instead of Chloe? Why didn't you teach her to do that better? That's why when my mom leaves Jasmine disappears, she goes who knows where to let off steam." I nodded, scooting closer to her.

"I don't blame her. Why is your mom so harsh?" I asked her looking into her eyes.

"Because she cares. She's been pride leader here since her mate died 12 years ago, She's always said that part of her died when he did and I think that she covers it up with the cold all business manner. I think she's afraid of losing the last part she has of her mate, and that's why she's so hard on Jasmine."

"And you?"

"Me, Me I'm the hope of her people. I'm here to save them. When I lose a life it's not 'Chloe, I'm so glad you're okay now' it's 'Chloe, you lost another life, you have responsibilities' She cares about me, because she's entrusted with protecting the Uniter."

I shook my head. "I don't think that's it. I think she cares about you, I think she loves you as her own daughter. But Valentina is a woman playing in a man's world especially with the Mai. She has to mask her emotions a lot of the time, I think she just doesn't know when to shut it off. You said it yourself, she treats her own daughter just like she treats you."

"I know, everything is just so topsy-turvy. I dont know what to blieve, people who love me tell me they don't and people who don't tell me they do. I just tend to believe the opposite of what people tell me. Especially when it's about love." I looked at her, my face serious and I put my hand on her cheek.

"Chloe, you never have to worry about that with me. When I tell you I love you, I mean every word of it." she smiled and turned her face away, looking down at her hands. She didn't know what to say, I could see it on her face. Part of her was scared that I was so serious. Which I thought was stupid, why wouldn't she want me to be serious about loving her, She'd just lost a life saving me, she was completely serious. I wasn't just the annoying Brit she'd picked up at the airport almost a month ago, I was more to her than that now.

"You're mom is just trying to her best to protect you, Chloe. She wouldn't send you away if she didn't have to. She's just making sure you are taken care of, she's still considering it. And it wouldn't be forever, just a little while until things calm down."

"Once I start running, it won't stop. The Mai have been running for centuries. The order knows I'm here they won't stop till they've taken all nine lives. If I leave now, I'm never coming back. I'll be leaving everything I've ever known. Her sending me away will only keep me safe until they find out where I am and then I'm on the run again. You never stop, once you start."

"If you are forced to run, Chloe, nothing could keep me from running with you. No force in the world could stop me." She smiled and moved closer pressing her body against mine. I wrapped my arms around her and squeezed kissing the top of her head. She fell asleep in my arms, and it was the best sleep I've ever had.

I woke up with my head tucked under Alek's chin, his arms still wrapped tightly around me. I kissed his chest and closed my eyes again. I thought back to last night. If I was forced to run, it would be more bearable if he was with me. "If you asked me to marry you, I'd never say no." I whispered, I barely even whispered. I didn't see Alek smile; I didn't hear the minimal spike in his heart beat. I thought he was still sound asleep. I kissed his chest again and let myself drift off to sleep.

I'd heard what Chloe whispered. I'd woken when she kissed me and was about to kiss her back when I heard her talk. I froze, not wanting to interrupt her. I have to admit, I blushed. I waited awhile before pretending to wake up. I slipped my arm out from around Chloe and walked to my room to change. I stood for a moment, before walking back into her room and picking up her phone. I closed her door behind me and dialed Amy's number.

"Chloe! So, Oh my gosh, you will never believe-"

"Amy" I interrupted.

"Alek?" She asked confused.

"Yeah, do you have time to hang out this morning?" I asked.

"With you?" She was obviously still confused. I couldn't blame her.

"Yeah, I need your help." I could almost hear her eyebrows shoot up and the smile spread across her face.

"With?" She asked begging for the details.

"Meet me at Café Eland?" She agreed and hung up. I returned Chloe's phone to her room and pulled her keys out of her purse. It was only five minutes later that I was at the coffee shop. I ordered a coffee and sat down waiting for Amy. She walked into the shop stopping just inside the door until she spotted me. She sat down and leaned on the table her excitement readable on her face.

"So, what is this about?" she asked.

"Chloe is feeling uprooted and unstable, I told her I'd be there no matter what- but I really want to show her." I said taking a sip of my coffee.

"How can I help?" She asked confused again.

"Help me pick out a ring." I told her. Her eyebrows shot up and she jumped up and down in her seat.

"Is it gonna be a-" She stopped to excited to get it out.

"Engagement, yeah." I nodded. She jumped out of her seat, grabbing my hand and pulling me with her. If not for my agility I would have been covered in coffee. We got into her car and were driving before I could even get my seatbelt on, and with Amy it was necessary. "I need you to tell me if Chloe will love it or not." I explained.

"I've been jewelry shopping with her forever. I know her tastes like they were my own."

"Good. Pull over here." She pulled into a parking spot and looked up, her mouth dropping open as she looked at the store right in front of us. BVLGARI.

"Chloe, is going to die." Amy whispered.

"Good, that's what I was going for." We walked into the store and were instantly greeted.

"Hi, how can I help you?" The attendant asked.

"I'm looking for an engagement ring."

"Any price point?" She asked, frowning slightly at the fact I was so young.

"It's not a factor." I told him. She nodded and led me around pointing out several plain but elegant options. Amy left my side at some point. Now she was practically glued to the glass case.

"ALEK!" she yelled tapping the glass. "It's perfect!" she squealed. "Pull that one!" She said to the man behind the counter. The man handed it to me. I smiled and thanked him.

"You're sure this is the ring?" I asked.

"Uh, yeah. Look at how pretty! It like sparkles- in the dark!"

"It sparkles in the dark, and that's why you want me to buy the ring?"

"Chloe, will like it too." I frowned. I didn't want Chloe to like it I wanted her to love it. It looked like a flower, it was a pretty ring. The petals were covered in small diamonds and then there was a large diamond in the center. I couldn't deny it was pretty. "I don't know, Amy, it's almost too gaudy." Amy looked at me incredulously.

"Are you kidding me?"

"There's just something not right about it." We kept looking, but nothing jumped out at me. They all looked the same; none of them were my Chloe. It was funny how a ring could become synonymous with the woman I loved but it was true. None of them were special enough.

That's when I saw the ring. It was in a case by itself. I walked over and pointed it out to Amy, who squealed and said "pull it out, pull it out. I want to see it!" The clerk did so and handed it to me.

"It's stunning" I said quietly. Amy smacked me across the arm.

"That's not a stunning ring, that's a I will slice off your finger to have that ring, ring."

"Really?"

"Yes, it's that gorgeous!"

"Don't slice Chloe's finger off." He warned

"Oh I wont, I'll just covet it until I get married."

"You are sure, that this is the one Chloe will love?"

"Alek, I'm going to say this slowly because apparently you aren't getting this. Chloe is going to stop breathing when you ask her to marry you. Her heart is going to stop and her brain is going to explode when she sees this ring."

"Alright. I'll take your word, then." I handed it back to the clerk and told her we'd take it. She put it in a small black velvet box, which she then put into another leather box.

She ushered us over to the cash register, and then looked at me and said very quietly, "This is going to be $2900."

Amy's jaw dropped, "D-d-do you have that much Alek? It's a gorgeous ring but Chloe-"

"I have that much, it's alright." People made too big a deal out of money here. The Mai are doing well, Chloe drives a Miada. How bad could it be? I didn't have the normal Mai wealth, however. I wasn't known as the prince-ling in London for nothing. I actually was royalty at some point. When my parents were killed they left me their money. I could live off of that for the rest of my life, without having to worry. I didn't have any problem dropping that much money on something like this, especially on someone I cared about as much as Chloe. I paid the girl and my phone rang. Chloe's picture appeared on my phone and I froze. Amy motioned for me to answer it.

"Hey, babe." I said.

"Here's your ri-" I shook my head at the clerk and she stopped.

"Who is- never mind, I don't like going to sleep next to you, and waking up alone." Chloe said pathetically.

"Hmm, but I had to get something this morning, it couldn't wait." I said smiling.

"Are you coming home soon?" She asked.

"Um, no, I've got basketball practice and then a game. I won't be home until about 7pm." I heard her sigh. I placed my hand over the speaker and spoke barely above a whisper. "Amy, can you keep this a secret?" She nodded earnestly. "I just ran into Amy, want me to send her over?" I lied.

"Yeah, sure, we can go shopping or something." She said. "Love you, Alek" I smiled, I loved hearing that.

"Love you." I hung up and took the bag from the clerk and walked outside. We sat in Amy's car for a minute. "So, she wants to go shopping. Make sure she buys something for when I propose, but don't let her know." Amy nodded and smiled and then drove me back to the coffee shop where I'd left my car. I got out and smiled at Amy. "Thanks, and don't even hint, please." She nodded and smiled and then peeled out of her parking space and headed toward the apartment. I had a fantastic plan to ask her to marry me. Chloe was really going to be mine, forever and always.

So here are two links for the two different rings that I talked about. So the links i had weren't working, so sorry, if you want to see a picture just let me know in a private message!

Let me know how much you love this!