CHAPTER 19: Forever

The next stop for tonight is the Isle Kingdom castle, where Uncle Davian's office and the archives are. I don't come here often, focusing more on my work on Allistar instead of ignoring the disappointed stares of the council members who find me and my brother ineligible to inherit our places on the throne. But it's nine o'clock at night by the time I get there, so most of those fucks are in their estates, sleeping through the lives they've screwed over.

But what makes it easier to be here—as hard as it is to admit—is that Drew is here with me. He refuses to leave me for his business trip, so he's tagging along.

But I'm not here to give my boyfriend a tour of the castle. We're here to get into those fucking archives.

"Move," I order the guards standing by the archive entrance.

The guards react differently now. Instead of dismissing me like they usually do, they watch Drew warily and comply with my demand. It bothers me that it's Drew they're technically taking orders from and not me, but that will change. Everything will change.

A couple of the Vestige is also with me, and Drew has them escort the guards out of the premises. All that's left is a locked door with a keypad option, so I pull a bobby pin out of my hair and get to work.

"You know how to open locked doors too?" Drew asks.

"I know a lot of things."

"Fascinating, but not necessary."

Drew gently pushes me aside so that he can type on the keyboard. A green light flashes on the box, and we get inside.

"How do you know the key code to our archives?" I demand.

"I have great interrogation skills, love. It's very useful when I use it on the right people."

"Who did you interrogate?"

"You'll find out after our visit here."

"Why can't you just tell me?"

"Consider it a punishment for keeping things from me."

I glare at Drew, and he only smiles. A huff escapes me as I look around the archives. Everything is stacked and organized neatly into several shelves. I don't know where to begin.

"I can finally learn more about my parents and other relatives," I sigh in relief. "But first, did those people you interrogate tell you where to find the information I'm looking for?"

"Of course," Drew leads the way, maneuvering through the stacks with surprising familiarity.

I'm so stunned, I don't move from where I stand. "You know everything, don't you?"

"Aye," Drew is behind a tall shelf, so I don't see him.

"For how long?"

"Longer than you know."

"And you've kept it from me?"

"Of course, I have. There's not enough trust between us. You're not the only one hiding behind walls, love. The only difference between you and me is that I'm willing to take risks."

"You've lived for hundreds of years, and I'm not even thirty yet. So, excuse me that I'm still reeling from tragedies that have happened way more recently than yours did."

"Fair enough, love. We have so much that has hurt us from our pasts, that we're having trouble being vulnerable now. But that can change, love. We don't have to be vulnerable to everyone else—just to each other. Does that make it easier to open up?"

My arms cross over myself. "Maybe."

"Come, love. I have what you're looking for."

I follow Drew's voice to an open safe. Inside the safe are several folders including battle tactics and enemy information. So, of course, I find papers with Brendan's name on it.

"May?" Drew calls when I go still.

"He really did it," my breathing grows heavy, "But he didn't just kill Brendan; he killed my child too! He ordered Sumner and some knights to kill Brendan after his work shift. Then he poisoned me somehow. Not enough to kill me, but enough to kill my child."

"May," Drew embraces me, "I'm so sorry."

I shake my head, pushing him away. As much as Drew wants to protect me, he can't protect me from my anger. I don't want him to. I want this hunger to devour me alive until I'm nothing more than a grieving woman who wants revenge.

But it doesn't have to make me that way, because that's who I am.

"You don't have to be sorry," I tell Drew, "but he will be."

"Your uncle will pay for what he's done," Drew concurs. "And the best part is, you'll get away with it."

"How?"

"When you reach a certain level of power, May, you can get away with anything. I'll help you with your revenge and even assist you in reclaiming your throne. And it will be no trouble for me. Believe me, love, I've accomplished far more difficult things."

"And what do you get out of it?"

"What I've always wanted: you. When I uphold my promise, I want you to marry me. I don't care if we're together for a short while or forever. I just want to call you mine now and for the rest of our lives."

"Wow," my feet shuffle. "I've expected you to ask for a place in court or something."

"Did you really?"

"No."

Drew pulls me into a hard kiss, which I return with equal fervor.

"How about this, Drew," I exhale when we pull away. "We can get married tonight. My brother will officiate us. You're going to fuck me until I can't walk and then go on that business trip. Then, when you come back, we'll kill my uncle."

"Why wait to kill your uncle?"

"I want you to go on your trip. I don't want you to get in trouble or something."

Drew laughs more than chuckles. "Me getting in trouble—that's funny, love. Here's a counterproposal: I'll fuck you until you can't walk, and then we'll kill your uncle. Then, as you're basking in the glory of your revenge, we're going to get married and spend our honeymoon traveling wherever you choose."

"You want to wait?"

"I want a big, formal ceremony. If I'm marrying the woman I love, I want it to be the grandest event in the world."

I stroke Drew's cheek. "I've never thought of you as a romantic, but I guess it makes sense."

"Aye."

"And you love me?"

"With all of my heart," Drew cups my cheeks. "I love you and your generous, violent soul. You're the most stubborn brat I know, but you're my stubborn brat, and I want to love you forever."

My eyes water. "I love you too, Drew. You can also be violent, overly protective, and a little creepy with your use of power, but if anyone tries to take you from me, I'll make them bleed on the floor."

"Come here."

This time, Drew and I don't just kiss; we strip our clothes and fuck in the archives. Our screams and moans echo through the expanse as we both climax. The Vestige outside is close enough to hear us, but I don't give a shit.

I love Drew, and we're going to take what we want. Together.

~.~

I collect and make copies of the files from the safe as Drew seals the archives upon our exit. We drive to my mansion soon after and find Max drinking bourbon in the parlor. He hops out of his stool when we come in and hugs me.

"Holy shit, May!" he exhales. "Thank god you're alright!"

"You ratted me out to Drew. Again."

"I had to," he pulls away and addresses Drew as well. "I'll do anything to save you. Thank you for saving my sister."

"And thank you for letting me know what she was up to," Drew raises an eyebrow at me, and I roll my eyes. "But I'll be keeping an eye on her from now on. I'll be damned if I let anything happen to my wife."

"Wait, what?"

"I'm not your wife yet, Drew," I correct.

"Well, then let's amend that, shall we?" Drew places a hand on Max's shoulder. "Would you officiate our marriage tonight?"

"Tonight?" I blink. "I thought you wanted to wait so we can have a big ceremony."

"We will have a big ceremony, love. I just don't want to wait to call you my wife. Especially not in front of family."

"But we don't have a certificate, and Max needs to be ordained as a minister."

"We don't need that at the moment, love. The important thing is that we're together and that your brother approves–is it not?"

I smile. "Yeah, it is. We can work out the details later. If being your wife now makes you happy, then I'll do it. Max, what do you think?"

Max shrugs. "Sure, how would you like to do it?"

"Oh sorry, hold on, Drew," I usher my brother out of the parlor so he and I can speak privately in the hallway. "Let me ask you again here, so you're not being intimidated by Drew: do you approve of me and Drew marrying tonight?"

Max sighs and pushes his glasses up his nose. "Yeah, May, I do."

"You don't think it's too soon, or a bad idea because Drew is a vampire?"

"I mean, there are couples who've known each other for two days and stay together until they die, and couples who date for ten years and stay married for three. It's about the couple, not how long they've been together. And..."

Max sighs again.

"I almost lost you tonight. I couldn't stop thinking about it—knowing I could lose you and that there was nothing I could do to stop it. The only reason you're still here is because of King Andrew. No, I don't think he's perfect, but if he'll protect you like he did tonight, then I'll look past the, uh, other things."

I leap into Max's arms, my eyes misting. "Thank you so much, Max! You don't know how much this means to me."

Max holds me tightly. "You love him too, don't you?"

"I do."

"Good, then that's all I care about. I want you to be happy, May. Maybe with him, you finally can be."

We pull away with bright expressions before returning to the parlor. I leap into Drew's arms this time, and he spins me around before returning me to my feet.

"Is that a yes from your brother?" Drew asks.

"Yes," I kiss him. "Thank you for caring about what he thinks too."

"Of course, I do, love. If you care about him, then I'll care about him too. And when we marry, he'll be my brother too. So, if there's anything that he needs, then I can be of service."

I give Max a look, and Max clears his throat.

"Th-Thanks, King Andrew."

"Call me Drew."

"D-Drew, right. So, uh, how do you guys want to do this?"

"I would like Rosenfield to witness this moment," Drew takes out his phone. "He's the closest I have to a family member. He's my best friend."

"I didn't know that," I gasp. Then again, with Drew's parents and his brother out of the picture, it also makes sense. I haven't realized how lonely Drew is until now. I've been pushing him away at every turn when all he wants is for me to love him.

I take Drew's hand as Rosenfield enters the room. Rosenfield gives me a big smile and a friendly hug.

"Thank you for accepting my friend, Princess May," he says. "I've never seen anyone make him as happy as you do."

"Thank you for being there for him when no one else was. I'll try my best to support him as well as you do."

"I'm sure you'll do fine."

"And since you're Drew's best friend, you're technically going to be family too. So, call me May."

Rosenfield grins. "Thanks, May. I'm honored to be part of the family."

I grin too and look back at Drew. "Ready to start?"

"Ready."

Max and Rosenfield shake hands and stand beside each other as Drew and I stand face to face. Getting mock-married with Drew in a crisp suit and me in a biking outfit is not either of our ideal ways to get married, but I also can't think of a more perfect way to do it. We see each other for who we are–flaws and all–and still choose each other.

"May, my love," Drew begins, "I've lived for hundreds of years and yet never loved someone as fiercely as I love you. You make me feel alive in the worst and best ways, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I promise to love and cherish you for the rest of my life if you'll allow me to."

"I do," I hold him tighter. "I know I can be difficult to love, but you've never stopped giving me yours. You've never given up on me even when I've given up on myself. I know I'm not perfect, but I promise to give you the love and support that you deserve too. I vow to be your partner, your wife, and your family for as long as we're together. I'm terrified as hell that you have my heart, but if you'll allow me yours, then I will treasure it forever."

Drew returns my grip. "I do."

"Will you kiss me?"

"Gladly."

Drew pulls me into his embrace, giving me that kiss. Max and Rosenfield cheer and applaud as a nearby clock chimes at midnight.

Drew and I pull away, our foreheads leaning together.

"I love you, Drew, my husband."

"And I love you, May, my wife."