"So what do you think of my stew?" Harley asked me as she collected the dirty bowl and spoon.

"I loved it. Hey, why don't you let me clean up my own mess, Harley?" I asked and stood.

She just shook her head. "Nothing doing, missy. Part of my job is to clean up after I'm done. So sit." She ordered.

I shook my head. "I just can't. I was raised to clean up after myself."

She placed the dirty bowl and spoon in the sink then turned and looked at me.

"I understand that, and I commend your parents but again, this is my job. So vamoose." She said then ushered me out of the kitchen.

"But-"

Harley turned back into the kitchen as the wooden door swung closed before me, cutting me off before I got the chance to speak again. I just looked at the door and sighed. Then something caught my attention: complete silence.

My eyebrows furrowed as I pressed my ear against the thick wooden door. I heard no clanking pots and pans, Harley's humming or the sound of the water in the sink running. Also, no dishes clinked or clanked together.

So what was going on here?

'What are you doing, Angel?' Jay inquired from within my mind.

'Shh! Do you hear that?' I whispered back.

A second went by then she responded.

'No I do not hear anything. Just silence.'

I nodded, although she couldn't see it.

'That's my point.'

'You had a point?'

I rolled my eyes then pushed my hands against the swinging door. I grew more confused by the sight of the immaculate kitchen as everything was like it was when I first saw it. Then I remembered Harley did say that she was a witch.

Well then, that's why everything was back to looking perfect. No pots were on the burners of the stove, no bowl or spoon was on the counter or the island. Now that must have been awesome to be a witch.

I slowly approached the sink and looked inside.

Empty. As I suspected.

'Now I can understand your point.' Jay said within my mind.

'You're still here? I thought you left.'

'No I did not but now that you mention it, bye-bye. For now.'

'Uh-huh. Bye-bye.' I said telepathically with a shake of my head.

"What's the problem here?" Mark then asked from behind me.

I cried out and spun, my heart racing as I looked up at Mark. He stared at me with both hands up in a defensive pose after taking a step back. He looked wide eyed as well. Would serve him right if I scared the hell out of him as he did with me.

"Heavens! What is it with people scaring me today?" I asked, pressing my hand flat against my chest, calming my heart.

"I didn't mean any harm, darlin'. Who else scared you?" Mark asked and stepped toward me.

"Your chef, Harley Monroe." I said as my heartbeat slowed to it's comfortable rhythm.

"Oh? And did she feed you?" He asked and stopped before me, grasping my hands in his larger ones as he looked down into my eyes.

After a moment I nodded and said softly, "Yes."

'With the way she stares at me, she is mine. I've never experienced this before, but I know that I like it very much.' He thought.

My eyebrows rose then I smirked.

'I can hear you, big guy.'

His eyes grew wide.

'Truly?'

I nodded then he bent and wrapped his arms around my waist, lifting me and twirled me around. I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck and held on tight, laughing happily. He stopped and let me down but never let go of my hand. Maybe this would work between us.

"I thought I'd hear pots and pans clanging about, but I heard the complete opposite. I heard nothing so I came back into the kitchen to investigate when I remembered her telling me that she was a Witch. But where did she go, Mark?" I asked finally, looking up at him still.

He shrugged then. "I don't keep the knowledge as to the whereabouts of my staff constantly, Angie."

'Well maybe you should, Sire.' I said telepathically.

He scowled down at me, making me laugh. His lips quirked as a small smirk broke through. He loved her laugh. Now only if I could make her laugh more often.

I eased up in my toes and placed my hand upon his lean cheek then smiled softly, making his eyes widen slightly.

'You will, Sire. I know it.'

After composing himself, he nodded. He then gently tugged on my other hand as he looked down at me.

"Take a walk with me?"

Looking up at him still, I nodded.

"All right."

We proceeded to walk out of the palace and into the lush greenery of his vast lawn. We silently walked away from the brightly lit palace and into the cool evening. I didn't know where we were headed as I looked back at the palace. It was truly a remarkable place to be as it was very beautiful, inside and out.

It was a chilly evening and I was glad I wore a sweater, but it didn't seem to keep me warm any. I frowned. Should I tell him that I was chilly? I decided against because then he would probably want to go back to the nice and warm palace for my sake.

It made me smile softly because that would have been very thoughtful of him as I knew he would do it.

Anyway, we seemed to stop as my mind had successfully eluded me once again. No wonder I considered myself rather featherbrained. That was one trait I wished I could change about myself. I sighed silently then looked around me.

His land seemed rather endless as it was beautiful with flowing hills and flowers that surrounded us. Beneath the bright light of the full moon, they all looked quite lovely.

"Do you like this, Angie?" He asked me deeply.

I shivered from that deep voice of his and with the way he said my name made me want him. So this is what the Ancients has in mind for lonely souls like ours. I felt so strongly for Mark and after I witnessed what had happened to him and his father.

I was to help him with the guilt he thought he needed to harbor for something that clearly wasn't his fault. Also it was the time to end our unwanted solitude, being destined mates to one another.

I should accept him, and I should give myself over fully to this strong feeling I felt within my heart and soul.

"Yes, it's lovely." I smiled.

He smiled as well then bent and grasped a blooming rose from a rose bush that we stopped beside. My eyebrows furrowed. How could they be blooming at night? I found it rather strange but the rose itself was gorgeous; the petals were a deep red with a green stem, the small thorns near the petals were maroon as theirs tips were white.

The stem was a little long, so I could hold it without it piercing me. Mark then straightened and looked down at me as he handed me the beautiful rose.

Wide eyed, I slowly accepted it and stared down at its sheer beauty. Now I was enthralled.

"This rose is for my beautiful Angie. This rose will always bloom day and night as it doesn't need water to live. It survives on your emotions so when you're happy or excited, it thrives. When you're depressed or angry, it will wither. But it will never die." He grew silent for a moment and caressed my cheek while he stared down at me. "Like my love for you will never die." He said softly.

My eyes grew wide and I gasped, almost dropping my rose in the process. He loves me? It felt like all of the air had been taken from my lungs. How could he love me in such a short time?

But the scary part about this whole situation was that I felt the same for him.

"You… Love me?" I whispered, looking up at him with wide eyes.

He nodded. "I've finally found the woman of my dreams in you. I'm happier and more at peace when I am around you. I have never felt so strongly about anything in my life as I do about you."

I stared up at him as my heart pounded. Was this real or was it something I've been through before? I've written many novels of this exact moment; what most women yearn for in life and in a man. I was an expert in what I wrote but inexperienced in reality. I had an A in fantasy but an F in reality.

How awful.

"Mark… I- I don't know what to say." I said finally.

He frowned slightly.

"I'll understand if you don't feel the same yet, Angie."

I looked down and he thought for a moment then lifted my chin with a finger. He looked down into my eyes then sighed softly.

"I've read something long ago that describes this very moment; once you find your true love, to never let her go. Tell me how you feel, darlin'. Because I need to know."

"How do I feel? I'm honored, amazed, confused. But I am in love as well. It's strange because I've only known you for such a short period of time and yet, I'm in love with you. I guess we truly are meant for one another."

His lips parted in amazement. Could this possibly be happening right now?

"How come you have this change of heart?" He asked softly.

"There's something I need to tell you." I said then looked down.

"All right." He said cautiously.

I sighed softly then looked back up at him. I hope he won't be upset at me.

He looked down at me, his emerald eyes searching mine. I then spoke.

"I wanted to find you earlier, to apologize for lashing out at you the way I had but instead of finding you, I found a door with a black handle."

His eyes grew wide then he looked down. I frowned but continued.

"I saw the portrait of your father and when I touched it, I saw visions of long past. They were like flashbacks. I saw what happened, Mark."

He sighed as his eyes were still averted from mine. Was this guilt? And if it was, what did he have to feel guilty for?

"I feel guilty for not saving my father. It should've been me to be killed. Not him." He said and turned as a lone red tear fell down his cheek.

I gasped as a sharp pain pierced my heart. We were really mates for eternity. My heart started to pound as all doubt faded. I stepped beside him and gently tugged on his arm. He turned back to me slowly but still wouldn't look at me.

"Your father wanted you to live, Mark. He saved you, as any good parent would do for their children. If you both had perished, this wouldn't be happening between you and me. Mark, I'm in love with you as well and I believe the Ancients made the right choice."

His eyes then lifted to mine as his lips parted once more. His green eyes searched mine then he reached out and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pulling me close. He buried his face in my hair, holding me tightly against himself. I hugged him close as well, wrapping my arms around his waist and laid my cheek upon his chest.

"I want to help you live with your past, Mark. I want to make you happy. I want us to work on one another so our lives can be bearable." I said softly.

His arms tightened around me, as if in telling me 'of course'.

"I'm glad you can love something like me." He said then softly.

I pulled away slightly and looked up at him.

"I'm happy because we aren't so different. We aren't so different because we're so unique. I never really fit in anywhere because of the way I look at life and how I present myself. And you are not a what, Mark. I understand who you are."

He looked shocked as he stared down at me. Why does he look so shocked? Has he never heard the truth before?

"No one has ever put it in that aspect before. Also no one has ever understood me before."

He cupped my cheek with his big hand and gazed down into my eyes, squeezing my other hand with his other.

"You really accept me for who I am and the horrid past I carry?"

I smiled softly and nodded.

"At first, I was scared of how strong my feelings are for you boy now that you've opened up to me, I'm jumping in with both feet. I want to get to know more about the man I'm in love with." I said softly and blushed.

His eyes grew wide as the hand cupping my cheek stilled and his other hand that gripped my other hand squeezed. I didn't seem to notice as his swirling gaze grew darker and I grew mesmerized by them.

Okay, I could somewhat predict what emotions he must be feeling. When his emerald green eyes grew darker like this, it was either from desire or possessiveness. So which one of those emotions played a part now?

"I don't think I have the power to stay away from you any longer." He said softly.

"Then don't." I whispered.

He shook his head then smiled. I gasped as he bent and wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted. I quickly wrapped my arms tightly around his neck as he twirled me around. I held onto him tightly because my feet didn't touch the ground.

Now would be the time to wish oh-so-desperately-then-grow-jealous-of Jay's five foot eight stature opposed to my five foot one stature.

He stopped his celebration then placed me back down upon my feet. My arms slid from his neck on down his hard chest and it was like me to notice such a tempting feature on him. What would Jay say about this? Now that, that I would never know.

Mark cupped my face softly within his big hands and smiled down at me. His eyes danced with happiness as I smiled up at him as well, all of this feeling so right with him and the way we felt about one another.

I could feel his feeling for me and I was blown away by how pure they felt. I've never felt that before. He then bent and brushed his lips against mine. I knew I would never tire of this. I just couldn't tire of it.

Would this always feel so right?

I kissed him back, unable to think of anything else but this moment. The way his lips felt and moved against mine, the seductive way he smelled of Sandalwood and Mark, the mind-blowing way his tongue teased mine.

This Vampire was just wicked. His touched and kiss were wicked. They were so dominant and it made me quickly grow desperate for more than just a kiss.

She felt like she was a fire and that alone made him thrum with anticipation and his soul flourish with pride. His female finally accepted him! She wanted to know more about him and she shall know more about me.

He wanted to give her anything her pounding heart desired. Jewels, money, anything. But aside from all of that, she'd receive his unconditional love and his heart. All of it and know that he was hers and she was his.

She rubbed her smaller body against his larger one and he groaned as his penis hardened even more for her. Since he was as hard as fucking steel for her, was her sex wet for him? He shivered at that sexy thought.

What would it feel like to have her beneath him, her beautiful body glowing and naked as he pounded her sweet sex? To have her scream his name from a powerful orgasm he brought forth?

He groaned in anguish and ground his relentlessly hardening penis against her soft belly. She must have liked it because she purred and gasped, arching her smaller body into his and he couldn't ask for more.

He growled when she ran her tongue against his aching fang. It wasn't hard enough for blood to be drawn as he so desperately wished for.

"Mark…" I moaned as his big hands slowly lowered to my behind.

When he placed them flat on my behind, the wind suddenly blew at us out of nowhere.

We broke the kiss as I clutched him and my rose close to me and hid my face against his chest. He sensed evil and held me close and straightened as the wind continued to assault us now from every direction.

I thought back to the beast and cringed against Mark, wondering what the hell was going on. Now I was truly scared. What was going to happen now?

Mark looked around us through squinted eyes, knowing what was ultimately fucking with them: the beast. It just wouldn't cease its torments on Angie until she was no longer here. Anger surged forth within him and his eyes flashed to black. He growled low as a maddening snarl flowed through the air around us. I screamed and trembled harder in fear against Mark.

His arms tightened around me and he ordered telepathically, 'Hold on.'

I nodded against his chest and suddenly my feet were no longer on the ground. Before I had a chance to panic, our feet made contact with solid ground once more. I squeezed my eyes shut tighter and clutched him tighter as well, no doubt crushing my lovely flower in the process.

But I was scared shitless. He slowly released me and gently pried my arms from around his waist then stalked to the large window some ways before me, glaring down upon his empty vast lawn. This was he exact reason why Angie feared on staying here.

That motherfucker!

I opened my eyes and swayed on my feet. I immediately missed his strong arms around me because I felt protected and safe. I looked around my surroundings and recognized it instantly. This was the room he had given me.

I then looked back at him and knew how we had gotten up here. He flitted is here. So I wasn't going to bother him with such a silly question. But other questions filled my mind and I had to have them answered before I went insane.

I held my rose close to my chest and looked at him as he growled then punched the wall beside the window he stood in front of. I jumped, afraid of his strength. I looked around me warily as that punch shook the palace.

He seemed to try to regain his control but was struggling to do so. His big frame trembled as his bloody fist lowered to his side. I didn't knew what to do or say. If I said something wrong, would he do something to me?

Heavens help me.

"Was that the b-beast?" I asked shakily.

"Yes," he growled then turned to me.

My eyes grew wide when I saw his eyes. They were black! Ancients… I wasn't in a fantasy like those of my novels. This was hard reality, of which I knew. I slowly backed up to the bed and sat down upon the edge, unable to fathom his eyes and the course of which all of the events took place.

I looked down as I thought. Was I in shock before when I so easily accepted him and proclaimed my love for him? I didn't think so because I still felt strongly for him.

But those black eyes…

I had never seen that before in my immortal life and it was scaring the hell out of me. I lifted my head and looked at Mark because he gave me strength. For the reason of us being connected, he gave me the courage to face anything and anyone head on.

I've seen instances like this where both parties drew strength from one another and I was always in awe of such. So this was what true love felt like? As in we were truly made for one another?

It had to be true love because whatever emotion he felt, I answered that feeling. My soul would forever yearn to ease the sadness or anger or whatever he felt within him. Now my soul yearned to soothe the beast within him.

But was this man a beast? From what I've seen from other Vampires and what I've read and wrote, Vampires were suave and sophisticated beings that, when forced, would fiercely protect those of whom they loved dearly. So I was well protected, right?

I watched as he paced/flitted about the spacious room with auburn red eyebrows furrowed over the blackest eyes I had ever seen. He wrung his hands together before him and soon both became bloody.

I grimaced then placed my rose upon a pillow then stood. I calmly walked to the bathroom and grasped a nice sized towel and turned on the hot water faucet on the sink, wetting it with hot water. It would be cooler when I wiped his hands off, I knew.

I turned the faucet off then wrung the excess liquid from the towel and turned, walking to him. He didn't seem to notice me as his eyes were distant. Was the beast affecting him this badly? Anger now rose within me and I welcomed it.

It was fucking with him and as a result, Mark was going insane. Damn that fucker! It will not ruin this for either of us. Hate was such a strong word, but it applied to that fiend.

Damn bastard.

I shook my head then gently grasped his injured hand within the wet towel. He stopped his pacing and looked down at her. Throughly the recesses of his mind, he knew it was Angie who was helping him.

She cared and as for that… Thing, it never cared for anyone in its life. His anger seemed to subside with his female's soft touch. He watched as she wiped the blood from his hands while softly talking to him. He knew why she was talking to him: it was to bring him back to the here and now.

Slowly the blackness receded from his eyes and I smiled softly up at him. When his knuckles were clear of blood, I looked back down at them and watched as the cuts began to mend themselves before my very eyes.

Intrigued and amazed, I watched as his broken skin became smooth since again. Soon slightly tanned skin looked back up at me and I smiled again. He looked down at her then at his mended hand.

There was no doubt about it now. She was the one, of which he already knew. She was able to soothe the mad beast within him with only a touch and soft words.

He knew he was looking down at his queen.

"Marry me, Angelica St. John…"