Chapter 27 - Dresses, Dresses, & more Dresses

(Paradise POV)

¨I don't like it.¨I said as I gave the image staring back at me a grim look.

¨I look like a cotton ball dipped in pink dye.¨ The queen kept encouraging me to come out of the dressing room so I did.

¨You look more like a pink flamingo, not a cotton ball.¨ Em said as her head flew back while she laughed.

I looked over at the queen who had both hands cupped over her mouth as she held in a laugh while her face turned.

I looked over at the bodyguards and saw them trying to fight back their own laughs while trying to keep a straight face.

I let out a sigh and decided to join in. We laughed for a while and then we continued our search for the perfect dress.

After about an hour or two searchings, Em pushed a blood-red dress in front of my chest.

¨Try this on..¨

She stared at me as she could already picture it on me. I walked past the queen and Em as they crossed their fingers while nervously waiting for the results.

I closed the door to the dressing room and gently pulled the dress onto my naked body. Instead of looking in the mirror, I walked outside of the dressing room.

Instantly everyone in the shop silences and starred at me with wide eyes, some slightly bowed and carried on with their day.

¨You are the natural Queen.¨ Esmerelda whispered as she walked over to me.

¨I don't know what happened in that dressing room but look.¨ Em placed her hands on my shoulders and turned me around to face the mirror.

The girl in front of me was no longer the girl I knew, but a woman looking back at me. I let out a small gasp and smiled as I ran my hands over the dress that clung to my body.

¨I love it.¨ I whispered as I grabbed the pair of black heels Em handed to me.

We walked around for a little while longer and then we got picked out a dress for Em and left. After we arrived home I gave the queen my dress and went up to my room.

I dived on the bed and drowned myself in pillows. I tried to keep my eyes open but was unsuccessful, before I knew it darkness took over.

¨Baby..¨ Emrick's voice cooed as I rolled over.

¨What?¨ I replied back with a musky voice.

¨You've been sleeping all day, let's get you downstairs. You need to eat.¨

Before I could respond, Emirck carried me bridal style downstairs to the kitchen. He gently placed me on one of the stools and started grabbing fresh vegetables out of the refrigerator.

I grabbed a word puzzle off the corner and started searching for words. I decided to glance up and I saw that Emrick was making chicken stir-fry.

His eyes connected with mine as he exposed his amazing pearly whites. I gasped and dropped the pencil I was using to find the words on the crossword puzzle.

Emrick caught the pencil before it could hit the ground, handed it to me, and kissed me on the forehead.

¨I'm glad I still take your breath away, just like you take away mine.¨ He winked.

I blushed and placed my head on the counter as Emrick let out a small chuckle and placed the food in front of me.

My mouth started to water as my nose inhaled the most amazing smells ever. Emrick handed me a fork as he sat down beside me.

After the first bite, I devoured everything in under ten minutes. Once I finished Emrick poured me a glass of juice.

I leaned back forgetting that the stool had no back piece.

Before I could hit the ground Emrick caught me, with a smile so gracefully upon his face he placed me on the counter and put the dishes in the sink.

I ran into his arms and he carried me back to bed.

(Emerald POV)

¨You're my mate?¨

He Whispered as I collected the rest of the books and headed towards the counter.

I could feel his heat radiating off of him and seeping into me. I wanted to run to him and wrap my arms around his neck, but I refrained.

"I know you feel the sparks." , He whispered as he came up behind me and wrapped his arms around me.

¨Please don't fight it.¨ He cooed as he held me tighter.

¨Fine, I will stop fighting. I don't know why I was fighting anyway. It's just, you came out of nowhere. It's funny because I always wanted a mate, just never thought I'd have one.¨

I smiled to myself and patted the hands of my mate that still clung to me.

¨I'm glad I do.¨ I turned around so my face was inches away from his,

¨Now I have to go. I will come back Thursday.¨ He smiled, kissed the top of my head, and handed me my books. His eyes held mine until I broke contact.

I turned around and headed for the door. I barely made it down the sidewalk when this urge overcame me.

My feet were already running towards my mate who was standing outside with his arms open ready to welcome me. When I ran into his arms he lifted me up and wrapped my legs around his waist.

¨Come back to the castle with me.¨ I said while breathing heavily.

¨The Castle?¨ He questioned while giving me a questionable look.

I shook my head.¨Right you don't know. Uh, I'll explain everything to you later.¨

He smiled and nodded. ¨ Before we go I need you to meet my mother.¨

I pushed myself off of him gently.

¨Right now?¨ I ran my hands through my hair. My mate pulled me back into the book store.

¨Stay right here, I will be back in a few. Let me lock the store up and then we will head over to my moms' shop.¨ My mate went to the back of the bookstore and then he locked up the front.

¨So, you said that your mom has her own shop?¨ I asked as I placed my hands in my pocket and walked to his car.

"Uh yeah, she has her own shop. Why what's up?¨

He asked as he opened the passenger side door, and wait for me to get in. I smiled and watched him make his way to the other side of the car.

¨My love, continue with what you were saying.¨ I nodded and reached for his right hand while his left was on the wheel.

¨I thought, well just assumed that this was your mothers' shop.¨ I turned my body around to fully face him.

¨Oh, no. That's my shop. Well, it was my grandmothers' shop, but she passed it down to me when she died.¨ He squeezed my hand lightly.

¨Guess I'm asking too many questions, Sorry.¨

¨No, No.. it's fine, you are supposed to have questions.¨ He smiled and got out of the car, motioning me to follow him after he opened my door.

¨This must be your mothers' shop.¨ I said with a hint of nervousness behind my words. My mate smiled at me and reached for my hand.

¨Come on she knows we are here and she's waiting.¨ He tugged my arm lightly.

¨Wait ho-¨ before I could get anything out my mate cut me off hurriedly.

¨You'll find out later.¨ I nodded and smiled 'right'.

I kept my head straight ahead, my nerves were getting the best of me.

¨Ahh, you must be Emerald.¨ I tried to wiggle away from my mate and turn towards the voice, but he kept a stronghold on me.

¨Mother you're scaring my mate, enough of your witchy tactics for a minute, please."

¨Oh, honey. Wait - come here, you beautiful girl.¨ A beautiful woman with long black hair and piercing blue eyes appeared out of nowhere and reached out her arms and pulled me into them.

¨Welcome my dear, welcome to the family. Excuse my silly behavior I thought it was you, but I wasn't sure. You're so much more beautiful than my vision.¨

She gave me one last squeeze and motioned for us to follow.

¨Come! Come! My dear family come.¨ She said excitedly. I smiled and looked up at my mate who looked down at me with gleaming eyes and mouthed the word 'family'.

I nodded and squeezed his hand tighter.

¨Have some tea, you must be thirsty.¨ She placed the warm tea in front of me and watched me as I took a sip of it.

The taste exploded in my mouth and sent my taste buds into overdrive.

My eyes went from the color red back to its normal green color.

¨I am so so sorry about that, your tea was so good.¨ I patted my mouth with the cloth she handed to me and smiled nervously.

¨Matthew your mate is so wonderful and she's a royal.¨

'Matthew' I repeated, loving the way it rolled off my tongue.

¨A vampire royal mated with a royal witch.¨ I looked up to his mother who held an old book in her hands.

"Royal witch?" I said out loud with a hint of confusion in my voice.

¨Matthew, your mate, my son, is a royal witch.¨ I looked at Matthew and back at his mother.

¨Is that bad?" I tried to pull my hand out of Matthews but he held it tighter.

¨Oh no dear, everything is fine. You guys will have a normal life ruling and guiding the witches together.¨

She clapped her hands together as I released a breath I was holding in.

¨Oh, honey don't be sad, your future looks great. Oh by the way my name is Mary, it was so nice to meet you Emerald.¨ She smiled as my eyes expanded.

¨Now, go! go! go! Make me some crossbreed babies.¨ I laughed and smiled while she pushed us towards the door.

I looked up at Matthew whose face was bright red, ¨I like your mother, she's like a mystery.¨ Matthew smiled, picked me up, and twirled me around.

¨Family¨, he said as he kissed me.

I laughed and kissed him back.

¨Family.¨