Chapter 18 - Marked

(Paradise POV)

I stared at the mark that made its way up the side of my leg, extending up to my right breast. It was beautiful. The whole mark was black and white but the roses were filled with crimson red color along with vines that were traced with green. I had never seen anything like it. Something that resembled but was not even close to a tattoo was similar to my mark. When touched there was no pain nor did it give off the freshness of a tattoo. The mark felt like it's been apart of me my whole life.

"It is, beautiful," Emrick said as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

He placed his face in the crook of my neck, "I have the same mark on my left side."

Emrick lifted his head as I turned around to face him then placed his face back in the crook of my neck. We were both still naked so I didn't have to struggle to see his mark.

I sucked in a breath and slowly ran my hand up and down the left side of his body, His mark was beautiful, even more, beautiful than my own.

Emrick made a noise in his throat and lifted his head, "Don't say that. The mark looks so much better on you."

He kissed my neck and started to rub my right arm. He heard what I said, no, I probably said it out loud.

"No, I didn't hear what you said and you didn't say anything out loud."

I stepped back a little and looked him in his eyes, "Then how did you know that I said that or that I was thinking it?" I placed my hands on my naked hips.

He shook his head and pulled me back to him gently. "I can feel your emotions and from there I build off of them, at first you were feeling doubtful, so I figured you thought my mark looked better. Then you were feeling shocked, then relief, so I figured that you thought I could read your mind, and then you thought you said it out loud. After that all your emotions were mixed so I figured you didn't believe me when I told you I felt your emotions, and now we are here."

I smiled at him and walked towards the shower, "I'm about to take a shower. Care to join?" I winked at Emrick. Before I could do anything else he was picking me up and getting into the shower. I guess I could go for another session of lovemaking.

"I bet you can," Emrick said as he wrapped my legs around his waist and plunged inside of me. I dug my hands into his back and welcomed him whole.

***

After being in the shower for an hour or two we got dressed and headed downstairs. I walked to the kitchen and grabbed a bowl of strawberries and some chocolate. I turned around to see Emerald staring at me with squinted eyes. "You guys did it, didn't you..", she slowly walked towards me and I slowly walked backward.

"Didn't you." I smiled and nodded as my face started heating up.

"Wow, my brother and my best friend. Strange, cute but strange." She looked zoned out but soon she was back to normal.

I walked up to her with the bowl of strawberries under my right arm,

"Did you just call me your best friend?" I said as I engulfed her in a hug with my left arm.

"Hey, what's going on here? Why's my mate giving you all of my loving?" Emrick said as he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me back into his chest.

I gently lifted my head up to meet his lips for what I thought would be a peck. However, Emrick had other things in my mind leading him to shove his tongue in my mouth.

"Ewww, grosss !" Emerald covered her eyes with her hands. We sealed our heated kiss with a peck and waited for Emerald to uncover her eyes.

"Are you two done?" She said as she opened one eye and peeked through an opening in her fingers. I nodded and smiled,

"Yes, we are done." Emrick placed his face in the crook of my neck and whispered,

"For now." I instantly started blushing while Emerald just took off running and screaming 'ewww'.

"What's going on? Why are you running around causing all this ruckus?" I heard Esmeralda ask Emerald.

I looked up at Emrick who held a proud look on his face as we heard Emerald reply, telling their mother to come in the kitchen and ask us for herself.

As soon as she walked around the corner she embraced us both in a hug.

"I knew you guys could do it. I'm so happy for both of you, now all you have to do is give me some grandbabies. Both, you and your brother and I'll be even happier."

My eyes widened and Emrick gripped me tighter while rubbing circles on my back.

"Baby-steps mother, baby-steps, we just mated..give it some time.."

She nodded and then glanced at our marks.

"Wow, they are beautiful and very unique. I've never seen anything like it." She rubbed the part of my tattoo that showed and then she paused and looked up at me with a wide smile, then she looked up at Emrick.

"Now that you and your brother are mated we can start planning the ball ."

She clasped her hands together and headed for the door.

"Oh yeah, Paradise, you and Angeline will start your classes tomorrow so you girls can be prepared for the ball. I will not have any mistakes what so ever from neither of you."

She gave me a playful but serious look. I nodded and told her that I would be there early and ready to learn.

Emerick shook his head and lead me to the living-room. He placed me on his lap and turned on the television. I stuck my hand in the bowl and grabbed a strawberry and plopped it in my mouth.

"Well, Well, Well.. Look who's finally mated." Emrick and I turned around at the same time to see Leviticus coming down the stairs with a big grin on his face.

"Congratulations Paradise, Emrick, I'm so happy for the both of you."

I nodded and said thank you with a mouth full of strawberries and turned my attention back to the television. There was some kind of vampire movie on and I really liked it.

"Damn humans," Emrick muttered as he shut off the tv.

"You can say that again, nothing about the vampires are even correct. Nothing, other than superhuman strength and blood-drinking,"

Leviticus replied with a bored look on his face. I got up off of Emircks' lap and placed both hands on my hips as I turned around to face both of them.

"For one --" I said as I pointed at the both of them,

"We humans know nothing about you vampires so we just go with what we think we know, -- two you guys should be thankful that we even consider being obsessed with your kind, and three -- the guys on the show are pretty hot so at least that's a very very good upside to things."

I looked towards Leviticus who had a 'run' look on his face and then I turned to see Emrick getting ready to pounce on me.

"What did I do?" I said with the cutest face ever. Emrick slowly rose up off the couch and stalked over to me like I was his prey.

"So, you think those 'fake' vampire guys are hot, huh?" I noticed how he put emphasis on the word fake and I also noticed how he was getting closer by the minute.

Being the person that I was, I decided to make a run for it. However, I didn't get too far before I was thrown over a shoulder and carried back into our room.

"Time for you to learn a lesson," Emrick said as he gently tossed me on the bed and closed the door.

"I'll show you super hot." I let out the loudest laugh as Emrick dived on top of me.

(Angeline POV)

I walked past Emrick's and Paradise's door and shook my head. I was glad these rooms were soundproof. I brushed the string of hair that fell onto my face away and headed downstairs to find Leviticus.

"Hey, love. What's up?" Leviticus asked as he met me at the bottom of the stairs.

"Nothing much," I said as I placed a kiss on his lips.

"Do you want to go out and get some fresh air? Go to the ocean or something. Kind of want to be free one last time before your mom gets a hold on me for these classes."

I laughed as Leviticus picked me up and carried me outside to his car. He placed me into his car gently and walked over to the other side.

"Where to my lady?" He said as he tipped the pretend hat.

"Surprise me, my good sir," I replied with a fake accent.

"As you wish my lady," Leviticus said as we speed off. I threw my head back and let out a laugh as the wind blew through my hair. I was happy, not complete, yet, but I was happy.

We pulled up at the same clearing where Leviticus and I completed our mating session. I don't know why he choose this place but I was glad he did.

Leviticus got out of the car and reached inside his trunk and pulled out a blanket. I got out of the car and crossed my arms as I waited for him to close the trunk.

Once it was closed we walked hand and hand to the middle of the clearing where he laid the covers down for the both of us.

I took my spot on the covers and laid down on my back while looking up at the sky. I wanted to savor every little moment I could with Leviticus, I still didn't know when Damian was going to call to tell me my father was dead so I had to make the best of these moments while I could.

Leviticus reached out and grabbed my hand.

"What's wrong my love? -- I can tell that something is on your mind." He gently tugged on my arm until I scooted closer to him.

I sighed,

"You ever wish time would just slow down, that maybe things are not what they seem to be. Like maybe it does get better after all the bad things have passed."

I shook my head and tried to blink away my tears.

"I always tell myself that. I use to always sit in my room and tell myself that one day I would find my mate and everything would be okay. Just having someone to love me and know the real me would make everything better."

Leviticus whispered as he looked up at the sky while rubbing his thumb up and down my hand.

"I know that you're going through some things and I know that it can be hard, but one thing is for sure... you're never alone. The day I found out you were my mate was the day I made a promise to your heart--."

He gently placed his hand on my heart, "That I would never leave or forsake you. You're my butterfly."

He whispered as he placed my hand to his lips and gave it a lingering kiss,

"Remember that, You're my butterfly and you'll never have to spread your wings alone."

I stared up at the sky as my grip tightened on Leviticus hand. I tried to hold out on the tears but they fell freely.

My heart skipped so many beats and accepted the promise he made to me. This man deserved so much better than me, even though I knew what he was saying was true I knew, in the end, I couldn't t just stop and run from the mess I had created.

That purpose is still important to me and I have to carry it out. I just pray to God that he keeps his promise because once I finish what I'm doing and find what I'm looking for, I'm here to stay with him forever and confess my love.

I wiped a few tears away from my face with my left hand and placed my head over Leviticus heart.

I felt Leviticus shift so that I was able to fit into his side like the perfect puzzle piece. He then placed his hands in my hair and slowly ran his fingers through it.

I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds of his heartbeat and his humming.

Soon enough the darkness overcame me...