Shadow Mate

Richard's POV:

I purred softly as I curled up next to Paris and rubbed my head against his chest as I begun to wake up before him. I smiled and opened my eyes, looking up at his beautiful face and then kissed his lips gently then watched him. I love waking up before him.... I can think anything I want to, and he won't be able to hold it over my head.... I giggled and slipped a hand down to my tummy. I'm kinda glad he asked for another one.... I felt Paris stir by me then and reach out for me then pull me closer. I smiled happily and nuzzled my head against his chest as he did and purred to him. "My love," I whispered quietly and then kissed him again before I rested my face in the crook of his neck. I subconsciously felt my stone sending him impulses full of my love for him as I curled up to his body and wrapped my arms around him. He started to play with my hair then.

"Good morning." He whispered into my ear then kissed my head.

"Morning," I purred against him and kissed his neck. "Liam says good morning too."

"So... we're agreeing that the baby's name is Liam?" Paris asked me and then rubbed my stomach. He rolled me over onto my back then leaned down towards my stomach and kissed it. "Good morning sweetie." I giggled and then ran my fingers through his hair, playing with it as I looked towards him and my belly.

"I thought you said that you wanted to name him Liam.... I think it's a sweet name," I purred.

"I said that it was a name I was thinking about." Paris told me. "There are a bunch of names... Liam is perfect though."

"Liam it shall be then," I mumbled and then rubbed the side of my stomach where his head wasn't as I kept my other hand in his hair. He pulled my shirt up a bit then started to listen into my stomach, placing his head down.

"Liam~ Grimm." Paris whispered. I giggled at him.

"You can't hear our baby yet," I purred to him. "Liam can only speak through me right now," I teased. "But he says he likes his name." Paris looked up at me and purred.

"I'll try." He told me and winked.

"Okay," I purred back and then laid my head back on my pillow. "You can try to hear him. I'll be quiet so you can maybe hear a faint whisper from our baby Liam." Paris kissed my stomach then and started to rub it.

"Who's my son?" Paris asked. I held in a giggle and bit my bottom lip as I watched him. He's such a great dad.... I'm glad we started having kids. He looked up into my eyes and let out a small growl then leaned in towards my lips. "Who's my mate?" I blushed and kissed him then looked up at his eyes.

"Me, Richardo Grimm," I purred to him. Paris let out a small laugh and then kissed me passionately. I giggled and kissed him back, propping myself up on my elbows to lean up to him. I licked his bottom lip teasingly as I closed my eyes. He pulled back then got out of bed.

"Good morning!" He stretched then, showing all his muscles since he went to bed in only boxers last night. He walked over to the curtains and threw them to the side, letting light in. The light wrapped around him, making him look heavenly as it showed his body off... every curve... every muscle... every scar on his shoulders. He looked out the window, letting in a deep breath. I purred as I rolled over onto my stomach, watching him. If I wasn't pregnant.... I smirked and then pulled his pillow to me and propped myself up on it as I watched him, looking his body over. It is, indeed, a good morning. I laughed a little and squeezed his pillow slightly as I watched him. He walked over to our balcony doors and threw them open then, letting a small breeze in. He turned towards me and smirked. "Breakfast?" He asked me and stepped out onto it then. I could smell a nice steamy breakfast on the balcony, waiting for me. I blushed and slowly got out of the bed then walked over to the balcony, adjusting my white lacey night gown and then stepped out onto it and over to my breakfast. I sat down and picked up the fork as I crossed my legs and took a bite of the food, moaning softly at the taste then looked up towards my mate. He gave me a smile and sat down across from me then started to eat as well. "I love you." He whispered. I smiled and took another bite of my food.

"I love you too," I purred. I love you more than words can express.... I purred and then started to look out at the garden below, enjoying the view. He gave a huge smile.

"I know." He winked and then picked up a bottle of blood and opened it then handed it to me. "Drink it."

"Umm..." I looked at the bottle then blushed, taking it from him as I set my fork down. "Thank you," I mumbled and looked at him then at the bottle before I took a sip of it. I purred to him and sat the bottle down. "You're so thoughtful... I was going to have to bite you if I didn't get one." He laughed and then took the other bottle off the table and opened it then took a swig from it. I watched him and then took another sip of mine and picked up my fork, starting to eat the food again. "I might just bite you after I'm done anyways," I teased him, giving him a playful look. "Dunno... I always crave you when I carry your kids."

"I know... I'm irresistible." Paris purred across the table to me. I smirked at him.

"Irresistible?" I giggled and then sat my fork down and moved the food and blood aside before I started to crawl over to table to get him. "Are you really?" I smirked and then reached out and curled a lock of hair around my finger as I scooted his food out of the way and then sat down, dangling my legs over the side of the table and rubbed his knee with my foot as I tugged him to me gently by his hair and leaned in towards his neck. He let out a soft moan then pulled me into his lap and smirked.

"Have at me." I purred in his ear as I adjusted myself on him then bit into his neck, moaning when I got a taste. I wrapped my arms around him as I pressed against him, drinking his blood happily. He rubbed my back then lifted my little night gown up a bit and laughed. I giggled at him and then completely straddled his lap and moved closer as I marked him. He rubbed his hands across my thighs then picked me up and carried me back to the bed. I giggled and kissed his lips as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He laid me down on the bed then got over me, sighing softly. I smiled up at him and kissed his cheek. He leaned in and kissed me once more then growled playfully. I giggled at him.

"Poor you," I whispered to him. I looked him over then got an idea and gave him a playful look. "Lay down beside me," I told him then patted the space beside me. "You'll like this." He laid down by me quickly. I sat up and then looked him over and smirked before I got over him and kissed his neck then slipped my hand down to his boxers and up under them, gripping his manhood. He gasped and let out a moan.

"R-Richard?" He looked at my eyes with lust. I smirked at him.

"Yes my love?" I purred in his ear and gave him a light squeeze. He tensed up under me as he grew aroused.

"W-Want me?" He asked. I giggled.

"I always want you silly... I just can't have you more than this. We can still have a little fun though," I purred to him. "Just that my clothes will stay on." He pouted and looked me over.

"Really.... we're not going to get those clothes off?" I looked him over and smirked.

"Your clothes will come off... and I might let you take my nightie off if you're really good at making me want my nightie off... but my panties stay on," I purred. He pouted and looked me over.

"How come?" He asked. "I think the baby can handle it." I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Paris... sometimes I can't walk straight when you're done," I said and then giggled. "Well... the baby is still really... really young and probably won't get hurt...." I thought it over as I looked down at his eyes. "You really think Liam will be fine?" I asked him softly then kissed his lips. "It's not just your lust talking?" I rubbed him down there and purred to him. He frowned as he started to think about it.

"You better start helping me out downstairs, because I want you... and I don't want to hurt Liam...." He winked and then looked downwards. I giggled.

"I can tell you want me," I purred to him. I started to kiss his neck then and began to trail kisses down his body as I slipped my hand out of his boxers. He moaned and watched me, sitting up a bit. I smirked and pushed him back down with my hands and laughed. "Not so fast lover boy," I teased and then trailed my hands down as I kissed near his belly button and then under it. "Relax..." He started to tense up a bit and let out a small purr. I smirked and exposed my fangs, running them down his tummy to mess with him then put them away when I reached the top of his boxers. I looked up at his eyes and purred, kissing him at the start of his happy trail. "You ready for me?" He nodded quickly.

"Yes!" He purred. "I love you Richardo Grimm. My sexy mate." I smirked and then pulled his boxers down as I started to kiss down his trail....

~Time Skip brought by Hitch~

After we finished, I moved away from him and looked him over before I went to the bathroom and grabbed my toothbrush, starting to brush my teeth and fangs as I hummed softly. I heard him get up and come into the bathroom the start the shower up, humming. I giggled as I watched him then spat the toothpaste out and rinsed my mouth out then cleaned off my toothbrush as I turned his way. "How was it?" I asked him curiously, wondering how happy he was that he got some action from me. He looked towards me and smiled.

"Do you want me to describe it?" He asked and winked. "You'll know in nine months, right after the baby is born." He got in the shower then. "We don't have to breast feed every baby." I blushed and jumped up, sitting on the counter and slid my night gown down a little to cover more of my leg.

"You better wait at least a week after I give you our baby," I whispered. "Delivering is such hard work."

"Awe.... Okay.... A week and then you will find out." He promised. I giggled at him.

"Okay," I purred. "You better keep it all fresh in your mind so you can show me," I told him and then crossed my legs. "Do you feel a little better now that we had some fun?"

"So much better." He told me, humming the melody to the song I play for him on the piano. I smirked and watched the shower. I love him so much....

"Good," I purred and then got off the counter. "You know... I think I will get some practice in on the piano while you shower." I smirked and started for the door, swaying my hips a little. "I want Liam to hear his mommy play."

"Maybe he'll be musical on the piano too." Paris said thoughtfully. "Put some clothes on." I giggled and turned to the shower.

"My night gown isn't enough to stroll down the hall?"

"No....If I can't run around naked then you need to put clothes on too." Paris purred in the shower. I giggled again and then moved closer to the shower.

"Can't stand others seeing your mate in an adorable little night gown?" I teased him.

"Yeah, put some clothes on my love." I smirked.

"Okay," I purred to him. "I'll put on your shirt and shorts." I started for his closet then and picked out one of his t-shirts and slipped the night gown off and put his shirt on then put on his shorts and one of my belts. I walked out into the bathroom and giggled. "This good?" He peaked out from the shower curtain and smirked.

"I love it when you dress in my clothes." I laughed and then slowly turned in a circle so he could see me at all angles.

"I think I'm going to start wearing your clothes more often...." I looked at him playfully. "They feel nice...."

"I'll be down in the music room soon." He promised me and then disappeared behind the shower curtain. I smirked and then walked out of the room and went down the hall towards the piano room then sat down on my bench and placed my fingers over the keys.

"Someday Liam... I'm going to show you how to play piano," I whispered softly as I started to play a soft melody instead of my usuals. "You'll grow up to be musically talented like me... and you'll be strong and beautiful like your father... and you'll be smart like me," I purred. "You'll protect your family and you'll fall in love with your mate and live a happy life. You'll be sweet like your big brother Keegan, and hopefully... the one thing you won't inherit from me is my blood binging habits," I whispered softly as I continued playing the lullaby to my child. Laurence appeared on top of the piano then and purred as he laid down on his stomach.

"Hi Richard~" Laurence purred. I smirked and looked up at him.

"Hello Laurence," I said sweetly and then laughed. "How are you this morning?"

"I'm okay." He started to kick his feet then as he held them above his head. "How about you?"

"I'm doing great," I purred. "Liam seems happy. He hasn't made me throw anything up yet.... Paris is really happy too. How's Ashton?"

"Left him asleep in bed." Laurence told me and then shrugged. "Liam is going to be so pretty." I laughed.

"Is he now? Liam, are you going to be a lady killer? Or are you going to be hunting men?" I asked him, glancing at my tummy with an amused look. "I will be proud of you either way you go."

"You'll be very proud of him." Laurence purred and laid his head down on the piano. I leaned over and kissed Laurence's forehead as I switched the song to his favorite.

"You'll have to learn this one Liam. Uncle Laurence likes it." Laurence laughed and rolled over onto his back then looked up at the ceiling. I smiled at him and continued to play it. "I'm glad you're here," I whispered to him. "It's nice when you come visit me. You don't do it as often as you used to."

"Yes... I know." Laurence sighed out. "I'm getting old." I frowned and watched him.

"We're all old," I mumbled. "Your stone is okay, right?" He looked towards me.

"Hmm?" He gave a small smile. I smiled back at him.

"I'll take that as a yes.... I don't know... I just wonder what happens after we've lived so long.... Does death eventually come anyways even though we're immortal? Is a pureblood stone really that powerful to stand so many centuries and millennias of existing to never just finally dissolve into dust with time? Or are we going to be here until we finally meet a bloody death?" I sighed and kept playing, hitting the keys without having to look at them.

"Well... If death is what you want then your stone can just.... poof." He made an explosion noise and motion with his hand. I smiled at him.

"You'll never want death... right? I'd feel terrible if you finally just got so old and didn't see the point in living anymore," I mumbled. He looked towards me and frowned.

"I don't know." He shrugged. "That's something I can't tell you." I kissed his forehead again.

"Well... if you ever do get that way, promise me that you'll give me a call before you commit stone suicide," I whispered to him. "I'll talk you out of it and make you come live with me for eternity. Maybe after your curse is lifted you will know for certain that you never want to leave us.... You'll be able to have kids with Ashton if you want.... Make him the girl and take him down a notch," I said and smirked, giving him a wink. He laughed and nodded.

"I'd love to make him be a girl just to mess with him." Laurence mumbled, giving a smile. I laughed.

"You should do it. Take him and turn him into a girl. Tease him first and get him interested and in bed, and then right when he thinks he's about to get some fun with you... have your shadows hold him down and make him a girl," I purred, thinking about the idea. That'd be great! Laurence blushed.

"He has powers over shadows though... that might back fire." He mumbled. I smirked.

"You have a wizard friend who would help you for a good laugh," I suggested. "Ask him for a way to restrain Ashton's powers. If wizards created all the supernaturals... Ashton had to be created by them too, right? Or did he just come into existence when children were born?" I laughed at the thought.

"Wizards were first." Laurence told me. "Haven't your parents taught you anything?" He asked.

"Oh they taught me," I told him and shuddered as I remembered getting hit in the back of the head with the book they taught me out of when I had been cocky with them. "Just joking around," I told him and laughed. "Anyways, Hachi should be able to help you."

"I don't know... I feel awkward about asking him." Laurence admitted. I laughed.

"Ask Isaac then," I told him. "Isaac would help you.... Or... there is Isabelle's bracelet. Louis got it replaced for her. You could go borrow it from her."

"I don't know... He's still stronger then me." He blushed.

"That's what shadows are for.... How about you say that you got him a gift and then tell him that you want to put it on him... then you woo him and make him want to stay around you... take his mind off that feeling he'll get from not having control over shadows- make it to where he won't notice... and then when you've got him in bed, snatch his stone," I said and smirked.

"Well.... what about after I place his stone in the girl form... He'll be so upset.... I can't do that to Ashton." I kissed his forehead.

"Well... if you keep the bracelet on him, he can't go home... and you can train him to get used to being the female for when the curse is lifted," I whispered to him. "You can make him your shadow queen."

"What.... if he refuses?" Laurence asked me.

"You're not a pushover," I reminded him and laughed. "He can't stay mad at you for too long. You'll get him to be okay with it after a little bit." Laurence nodded.

"But...." He blushed. "I've gotten so used to him being a male."

"Do you want to be female?" I asked him and watched him curiously. "If you ever want kids... or to be dominate... you'll have to make Ashton female or you'll have to give in and become female yourself."

"I don't want to be a female!" He widened his eyes. "No!" I smiled at him.

"Then get Ashton comfortable with being a female," I whispered to him. He disappeared then through the shadows.

Laurence's POV:

I knocked on Isabelle's door, waiting patiently. Isabelle opened the door after a few seconds and looked out at me and frowned. "Laurence? What do you want?"

"Can I get your bracelet thingy that traps peoples powers and prevents them from using it?" I asked her. "Richard said I could." She looked me over and then gave a nod, pulling it out of her pant's pocket and held out the chain to me.

"Do you know how to use it?"

"Just put it on the person?" I asked and then reached out for it. She laughed.

"Well... you do know that you have to be the one to put it on the person and take it off, yes? Only you can take it off if you put it on. No one else can do it," she told me and placed it in my hand. "Don't lose it. I want it back when you're finished with it... even if that's like... a century from now."

"Cool cool." I disappeared from her then, moving through the shadows. I arrived back in my bedroom then walked over to Ashton then crawled into bed with him, straddling his stomach. I leaned in, giving him a kiss. I placed the bracelet on his wrist then. He groaned and then opened his eyes, looking up at me.

"Laurence," he mumbled and gave a happy smile. "Morning...." I reached under my pillow then and pulled out handcuffs then snapped them on his hands quickly, handcuffing him to the bed. He frowned and looked up at his hands then at me. "Laurence? What're you doing? This isn't some kinky thing... right? I just woke up," he complained and tugged on the cuffs.

"No... I'm turning you into a girl." I told him and smiled. His eyes widened.

"No!" He struggled and then widened his eyes when he looked at the shadows and they didn't move to help him. He started to panic and rocked his hips so I fell off him and then twisted around in the bed, trying to get to his feet as he tugged at the cuffs. I pulled his shirt up and then started to reach into his chest. He screamed and then looked at me. "Laurence, don't do this," he begged me. I giggled and then pulled his stone out. I licked it clean then put it in my pocket and used my shadows to head into town. I glanced around for a pretty girl for him. There were quite a few people out this morning. Some were walking with coffee to their work and others were going into stores lining the street. I saw a small, cute girl with black hair and pretty brown eyes bundled up in a green pea coat with black buttons and a plaid scarf as she held hot chocolate in a cute little travel mug with the flag of England on it. She shivered as her breath turned white in the cold and she glanced up at a store's sign and smiled as she walked towards it. I had my shadows take her then and bring her to me without anyone noticing and then had us taken into a nearby alley. When we arrived I took the stone out of my pocket then shoved it into her through her stomach. She screamed out in pain and dropped her hot chocolate as she fell to the ground. I could sense Ashton taking root in her quickly, not hesitating as he tried to get a form, any form. In seconds, she turned into a female Ashton and looked around with a confused look. She looked up at me and then started to sit up, yelping as the body was still healing and she felt the pain. I laughed and then bit my bottom lip. I waited for Ashton to notice he was now a girl. She touched her stomach and looked down at it then frowned as she saw she now had a chest. She screamed as she realized what kind of clothes she was wearing and shot up to her feet. I frowned as I remember I forgot the bracelet on my bed. I yelped and then took off running. "LAURENCE!" I heard her scream my name, sounding beyond pissed. I gasped and looked over my shoulder then used the shadows to hide myself. The shadows quickly parted, revealing me as she waved her hand. She growled and started to walk towards me, but it was kind of funny seeing that amount of rage in a cute looking girl. I blushed and then backed up quickly.

"Hey~" I waved innocently. She stormed up to me and grabbed me by my shirt, pulling me to her.

"You... are in so much trouble," she hissed at me. "Fix me right now." She exposed her fangs and then looked at my neck. I shook my head.

"No... You need to get used to that form." I told her. She narrowed her eyes and tore her gaze away from my neck to look me in the eyes.

"What?" She said, her voice dripping with danger. I started to tremble.

"Ummm... Incase I was... to want kids." I told her.

"Then you be the girl," she growled.

"Nu-uh! That would ruin my reputation. You're the girl."

"I am the Shadow KING!" She shoved me back then and glared me down.

"I- I love you?" I looked her over. She narrowed her eyes slightly and then went to take a step but tripped in the heels she was wearing. She yelped as she fell down and skinned her knees.

"Oww...." She growled then and ripped the heels off, throwing them across the street and went to stand as she trembled from the pain and fall. I rubbed my arm then and looked at my feet. I felt her shadows start to wrap around my ankles as she stared me down from where she was standing. I yelped and looked towards my feet. They snatched me up and dumped me upside down as she walked up. She looked me over and smirked. "Cute," she whispered and then kissed my lips passionately. "I'll teach you a lesson when we get home."

"A lesson?" I asked and blushed. "We're going back to the manor right?"

"No... we're going back to your castle," she told me and smirked as she looked me over. "I'll get a servant to fix me and take a finger prick from you to do so," she said and laughed as we appeared back in the bedroom. The shadows dropped me and she looked me over. "Let me just go get one," she purred and started for the door. I got off the bed quickly and started for my bathroom. She glanced back at me and then walked out of the room. I watched her then stopped as I remembered the bracelet then used my shadows to take me to Paris's manor and to the room I use. I picked it up off the bed then went back to my castle to wait for my queen. After a few minutes, she came in with a butler and looked towards me with a smirk before she walked over and exposed her fangs as she held a cup in her hands to catch my blood. I walked up to her then, hiding the bracelet behind my back. She watched me and stopped walking as she smirked. "You look like you've accepted the punishment I'm going to give you," she purred and then laughed. "Good mate." I grabbed her wrist and then snapped the bracelet onto her and took off running for my bathroom. "Laurence! Get back here!" I heard her gasp after a second. "Why the heck isn't.... Oh my shadows..." I heard the glass break as she dropped it. I ran up the walls instead to the ceiling since they were high and out of her reach then sat down on it, watching her. I felt like a spider. She looked at the shadows in shock as she tried to get them to move then looked at the bracelet in panic. She tried to take it off but found that she couldn't. "L-Laurence," she whimpered out. "Laurence, take this off...." She looked up at me pleadingly.

"No... You're the girl." I told her. She frowned.

"Laurence... we're mates.... Take this off me," she mumbled and waved her wrist my way, showing me the bracelet.

"No... Richard said you need to get used to being a girl." I told her. "So that when I can bare kids and want them or whatever he said.... You'll be ready to be the girl." She narrowed her eyes.

"I'm not supposed to be a girl. I was born a KING."

"I was born a prince." I told him, playing with the bottom of my shirt.

"Laurence... I am the Shadow King... and that makes me somewhat your king," she hissed up at me. "Take the bracelet off." I shook my head.

"You'll punish me." I mumbled.

"Get off the ceiling."

"Nu-uh." I shook my head.

"Take me to my realm then," she said and crossed her arms.

"Why?" I asked curiously. She frowned up at me.

"Because it's my realm...."

"Do you miss it already?" I asked. She blushed slightly.

"N-no..." she admitted. "I see it almost everyday...." She sighed and then turned around and started for the door.

"Don't leave me!" I shouted and fell off the ceiling and onto the bed. I crawled out of it and ran over to her. She looked at me and frowned.

"Why?" I ran up and wrapped her in my arms.

"Because I don't want you mad... You have to get used to this though. You're going to be the one pregnant and having my kids."

"I'm older than you," she mumbled in my ear. She sighed and kissed my cheek. "I'm not mad that bad.... I'm just going to ask Paris to fix me."

"NO!" I shook my head. "Please stay in this form and learn to love it?" She looked me over and then frowned as she began to think. After a few minutes, she sighed in defeat.

"I don't see how I'd get to Maine anyways... I'm all the way in England," she muttered. I leaned in and kissed her cheek.

"So you don't want to be a male?" I asked.

"No! I want to be a male!" She growled at me and then moved back. "Why on earth would I want to be a female?!" I whimpered and started to sniffle.

"To have my children." Her eyes widened slightly as she saw me sniffle.

"Are you about to cry?" I shook my head then ran off to the room to the side and into my teddy bear room then jumped into a pile of them that Richard got me and curled up in them. I heard her follow me after a few seconds and then walk over, sitting down on the floor in front of the pile. "I guess... if this matters to you that much... that I could try this out for you," she whispered after watching me for a few minutes. I curled up to a teddy bear and watched her, sniffling.

"Really?" I asked. She sighed and watched me for a few more minutes and then gave a small nod.

"Really.... I'll try it out for a little bit," she said, barely getting it out.

"Promise me?" I asked, grabbing her hand. She looked towards my hand and then smiled softly.

"I love you Laurence.... I promise that I will try this for you," she told me and then leaned in, kissing my lips softly. I smiled and then wrapped my arms around her, hugging her.

"YES~! YOU FELLL FOR IT AND PROMISED ME!" I laughed and nuzzled my face into her neck. She gasped at me.

"What?! You were playing me!" She pulled back and then looked me over. I laughed and got to my feet then skipped off to my bed.

"Uh-huh!" I yelled over my shoulder. "Enjoy being a girl!" She chased me back into the room and growled at me.

"Okay, but I didn't say how long. I tried it out. Change me back." I tensed up and shook my head.

"Not long enough. Nine months." She narrowed her eyes.

"You're not making me be a girl for the length of Richard's pregnancy."

"But I am dear beloved." I winked. "You'll like it too." She narrowed her eyes.

"Why would I like being a girl?"

"I didn't say you had to like it you just have to get used to it because one day my child is going to be growing in your stomach." She glared me down then paused and smirked at me.

"Oh? Is that so?" She walked over to the bed with a plotting look in her eyes. She purred and crawled onto the bed with me then pushed me down gently. She stole a kiss from my lips then snatched a pillow and put it in my face. "CHANGE ME BACK." I yelped and struggled under her.

"I'M YOUR MATE!" I yelled under the pillow.

"AND I WANT TO BE A MALE!"

"BUT I AM THE MALE!"

"I'M YOUR KING!"

"I'M A PRINCE!"

"EXACTLY! KING IS HIGHER THAN PRINCE!" She screamed at me.

"You're not a male so you can't be a king!" I pointed out. I felt her pause but then she growled and pressed the pillow down harder on my head.

"THEN I'M YOUR FREAKIN QUEEN UNTIL YOU CHANGE ME BACK! THAT'S STILL HIGHER!" I struggled, feeling it getting harder to breath and focus.

"YOU'RE SMOTHERING ME!" She sighed and moved the pillow off my face, looking down at me.

"Change me back," she muttered.

"No!" I hissed. "Stay a girl for us."

"How about you try being a girl?" She asked and smirked, looking towards my chest. I shook my head quickly.

"No... No... I can't be a girl." I told her. She laughed and set the pillow aside.

"It'll only hurt for a moment," she purred and started for my stone. I yelped out in fear.

"I'll change you back!" I said quickly. She paused and then looked up at me with a purr.

"Then do it," she told me and watched me. I reached in towards her stomach then took him out as promised then bit down into my wrist and gave his stone my blood. He pulsed to life and then started to form. I got up quickly and snatched the bracelet from the girl and got ready to put it on him. He breathed and came back to life. He looked up at the ceiling, blinking a little and then slowly sat up, looking himself over. I put it on him quickly and then slipped off the bed. He widened his eyes and looked at the bracelet then at me. "Laurence," he mumbled and then grabbed me and pulled me into a kiss. "Please?" I shook my head quickly as I looked him in the eyes, scared about taking it off of him. He sighed and then looked me over. "Did me being a girl matter that much to you?" He asked me softly.

"W-well Richard said that you should start getting used to it..." I mumbled.

"Did you want it?" He asked me quickly. "Did you like the idea of me being a girl?" I blushed and shook my head.

"But it's to help you get used to it..." I mumbled. "You're gonna be having the kids." He sighed and laid back on the bed.

"Well... taking kids is what I've been doing my whole life.... I guess having my own is a little different but somewhat the same," he muttered. "Fine... I guess I will be the girl if you want kids at some point on conditions. First is no bracelet." I nodded.

"Does that go for right now too?" I asked him. He picked his head and looked at me thoughtfully.

"Still want me to get used to being a girl?" I shrugged. He looked at the girl who was passed out on the bed then at me. "Well... if you want me to get used to it or you want to ease me into it rather than jumping me later in life and taking my stone then having to go through all this again... you better keep the bracelet on me and switch me back," he mumbled. I whined and then took the bracelet off of him and sat it to the side then curled up by him. He laughed and kissed my cheek. "What's the matter? You were getting so ballsy earlier and now you're acting like a wounded puppy."

"You're upset with me though.... now I feel kinda bad." I told him and then bit my bottom lip. "Plus girls are kinda... too much to handle." He laughed and gave a small smirk.

"Laurence.... you might as well make me a girl again. You need it more than me. You're going to end up putting up with a pregnant female version of me in the future, and that is worse than me as a female and nonpregnant." I blushed and shook my head.

"Maybe I don't want kids anymore since you put it that way." I wrapped my arms around him and burred my face into his chest. "I like you better as a guy anyways." He purred in my ear and then kissed my cheek.

"But I'm Shadow King... What if I want my own kids?" He asked and gave a soft laugh.

"Too bad. I can't have kids!" I smirked. No way am I giving him kids now. He nodded and then kissed my cheek again.

"Well... I can just keep taking kids from this world. I've been doing it almost all my life... and the kids find a nice life, and I get to play a game with the old guardians of the child," he purred and then pulled me closer. "You can be my Shadow Prince though...."

"Wait... why am I prince?" I asked him. "Can't I be a king?"

"No... I'm king," he reminded me and smirked. "You can be my prince lover." I pouted.

"I want to be a king..." I mumbled then leaned in for a kiss. He laughed and pulled back before I could, looking me over.

"You want to be a king?" He asked me and smirked, raising his eyebrow at me.

"Of course I do." I smirked. "I was never crowned a king, remember?" He purred as he looked me over thoughtfully.

"Well... you haven't moved to be king in this world," he mumbled to me and then kissed my lips. "If you will promise yourself to me for the rest of your life... and you will take no other... then marry me in the old way of vampires," he whispered in my ear. "I'll crown you a king in my domain and we'll rule together." I blushed and bit my bottom lip.

"I thought I was going to be yours anyways for the rest of my life." I whispered to him, looking him over.

"Promise yourself," he purred. He ran a hand through my hair and then to my chin, tilting my face up towards his better as he leaned in slightly, looking from my lips to my eyes.

"I promise myself to you." I whispered, leaning in towards his lips and kissed him passionately. He kissed me back quickly and then leaned me onto my back as he got over me and I felt the shadows envelop us into the darkness as the world faded away. I clung to him quickly and looked around us. "Ashton?" He purred to me and wrapped his arms around me.

"Yes?" He asked and looked into my eyes.

"Where are we?" I asked him. He glanced around.

"Well... this is one of my other places I go to when I don't want to be seen.... It's the shadowland," he whispered to me. "It's a part of my kingdom." I blushed and looked around then hid my face against his chest. He purred to me. "I have to make you a shadow king to rule by my side," he murmured in my ear. "You won't need the necklace anymore after I do this." I looked up at him curiously and leaned in for a kiss. He kissed me and then tugged on my hair, tilting my head to the side. He kissed my neck softly and then gently bit into it. I gasped and tensed up as he bit me.

"Ashton, what are you going to do?" I asked him. He pulled back from my neck and looked into my eyes, licking his lips clean.

"I'm going to make you a proper shadow king," he whispered.

"How?" I asked softly, looking him over. He smiled at me sweetly.

"Well... you have to promise formally on the shadows and then if you are not true in your promise... the shadows will take you," he told me and then kissed my cheek. "I'm not worried about it, but the shadows know when someone lies... and then if you get past that... we'll go through the process of crowning you king in my kingdom and have a traditional royal vampire wedding and then we'll be mates in the darkness... after all that, you'll wake up my personal shadow mate and king of shadows with me," he purred in my ear. I blushed and leaned up, kissing him.

"Alright... This is going to be some night then." I mumbled. He smirked and then moved back from me and stood up, pulling me to my feet. He looked around the shadows and then at me, his eyes darkening. I could see the shadows swirl around him, hiding a little of his skin that was glowing slightly like the moonlight. His fangs sharpened and gleamed against the darkness as he watched me. "Ashton... My dear soul mate I promise you myself. If I'm not true to my words... then let the shadows take me." I whispered, giving him a loving look. He looked directly in my eyes.

"You'll love me and only me for eternity- be completely and forever mine? You'll never want another?" He asked me as the shadows snaked away from him and towards my feet. "You'll do anything... to be with me forever and forsake all others if it comes down to it?"

"I promise Ashton. It'll only be you." I looked into his eyes, giving a small smile. He looked me over and watched as the shadows slowly started to go up my leg.

"Are you afraid?" He asked me. I looked down at the shadows and then at him.

"No." I whispered. "Not really." He smiled a little at that and then looked up from the shadows going up my legs.

"Then, I, Ashton the Shadow King, take you as my official shadow mate," he said firmly and took a step forward, walking up to me. "You are worthy. The shadows and darkness suit you," he purred and then got in front of me. "Lean your head to the side," he ordered me. I blushed and leaned my head to the side then, exposing my neck. He gently touched it and trailed his head down to my shirt collar, pulling it down slightly as he leaned his face into my neck. He breathed on it as he smelled me and then kissed my neck softly. The shadows held onto my legs then and started to snake up my body, holding me as he wrapped his arms around me. I gasped softly and grabbed his shirt then closed my eyes tightly. He purred and then kissed under my ear before he moved back to my artery and then bit down into it hard. I let out a small moan and brought him closer to me. He growled softly at me and then started to mark me, his venom traveling quickly through my veins. It felt like I was being marked for the very first time in this eternal darkness that moved around us. I groaned and felt my knees buckle under me and made me collapse, clinging to him so I could stand. He pulled back after a few minutes and licked his lips clean as his eyes had a dark gleam in them. He looked me over as he held me up and then smirked, leaning in and kissing my lips passionately. I wrapped my arms around his neck then kissed him back, deepening the kiss. He purred comfortingly to me as his bite was sore and wasn't healing like it should've been and got my bottom lip, gently sucking on it. I pulled back from the kiss then rubbed my neck, letting out a hiss from the touch. He looked towards it without surprise then moved my hand back from it. "Don't touch it," he whispered to me then licked it clean. "The shadows are going to sense your blood and recognize that you're mated to me. Keep it pure."

"What? Why isn't it healing Ashton?" I asked him and then went to touch it again. He growled at me and held my hand away from it.

"Don't touch it," he hissed. I whimpered and leaned my head up against his chest.

"It's not healing though." I mumbled. He purred then and kissed the top of my head.

"The shadows want to test you," he told me softly as the shadows danced near the bite. "They're learning about you, wanting to know if you're truly worthy like I declared. They will accept you in a few minutes." I nodded slowly as I looked out into the shadows.

"You still didn't tell me why it's not healing." I mumbled. "The test can't be the reason why."

"It'll heal soon," he murmured. "The bite is setting in as part of all this. See, it's starting to, just barely," he said and gently touched near it. It wasn't as tender anymore and didn't hurt as bad. "It's partly because I just officially marked you as my shadow mate, which is a step above what other vampires are used to," he purred in my ear. "It's better. A shadow mark is slightly different and takes a little longer to heal to etch it in your soul that you're my shadow mate. That bite is forming itself in your very core, so it will take just a little longer to heal."

"It's going to stick to my core?" I mumbled. "My stone?" I looked into his eyes. "What exactly do you mean by that?"

"It means that beings that don't recognize vampire marks or werewolf marks will recognize this one.... After you die, if you ever do, you'll still have it and it's more powerful. It will stay with you forever and it can't be taken away, even with magic because it's going to become a part of you." He kissed my lips softly. "The shadows are starting to like you," he whispered and looked towards the shadows as they began to let me go and swirl around us, dancing around me and brushing up against my skin, especially near my new mark. I leaned in towards the kiss, licking his lips and then bit down on his bottom lip softly.

"I'm always going to be yours?" I asked and then smiled. "Sounds romantic."

"It is highly romantic," he purred against me. "Your going to be mine down to your very core... not even the devil will be able to change it. You'll be apart of both worlds from now on." He reached towards the necklace around my neck then ripped it off, breaking the chain and tossed it to the shadows who caught it. They quickly wrapped around it and took it away, dissolving it among them. "You won't need that anymore." I looked towards where he threw it then at him.

"You're not trapping me here.... right?" I asked, tilting my head. He smirked.

"No... you'll be able to have equal control after tonight," he murmured in my ear. "After you are completely mine and the mark is complete and you are crowned a shadow king and made into my shadow mate. They'll listen to you just as well as they listen to me. I will no longer be able to trap you in my realm. You'll be able to come and go as freely as you want." He pulled me closer and then kissed my bite with a playful growl. "However... if you ever break your sworn oath to me... the shadows will consume you on the spot."

"I'd never cheat on you." I whispered, leaning up and kissing his lips. "I love you." He purred.

"I love you too," he whispered back. "The shadows would know if your intentions weren't pure. They would've already have taken you and consumed you in this darkness around us if you weren't sure when you said your oath to me." I felt a shadow brush up against my leg, a silky like feeling as it slipped up between us and around Ashton then back to me. I looked Ashton over and then grabbed his shirt.

"What're we going to do next?" I asked him.

"Well.... next we will get married in the old vampire tradition and you will be crowned a shadow king. Then we will proceed to complete... this," he told me and then gently kissed my bite mark. "When you wake up... you will be powerful like me, and you'll understand the shadows and they'll obey you like they do for me... and you'll be a shadow king with my abilities."

"Ashton... I don't remember the weddings..." I whispered.

"I do," he said and smirked. "I'll let you invite some people to the ceremony if you'd like to be surrounded by your friends when you do this. As soon as you say their names, they'll be right here with us. I'll have my shadows go get them."

"Ummm.... what is the wedding like?" I asked, thinking about how I don't want to be embarrassed if it was going to be too embarrassing. He kissed my lips then.

"The wedding is a little like the human's versions," he mumbled. "You hear about how the first two vampires fell in love and became mated and had children and that the children grew into the kingdoms that we had. Then we say our vows that we'll love each other- it's not as serious and intimate as what you just did for me because the shadows aren't really going to care about this ceremony- and we will promise to be with each other for the whole of existence and then instead of how the humans exchange rings... we exchange bites which are the normal marking ones that you're used to because there isn't a shadow marriage. The closest thing to a shadow marriage would be like how I had you swear and bit you with the shadow mark.... Then we are formally married," he said and then kissed my lips. "After that you will go through the Coronation of Shadows and then we... will be together," he purred that part and pressed his body up against mine. "Then you wake up and will have the same abilities and we will be equals."

"Do I have to marry you in the old vampire way?" I asked him, blushing. "It's a little unnecessary." He smirked at me.

"I want to though.... We don't have to, but I want you to.... It makes you have to wait and it will keep you on your toes.... Plus I already planned that if I ever made another shadow king as my mate for life... that I was going to marry them in the traditional way. I honestly was wondering if I should make you my shadow mate about.... a century back when I remembered about it and my plans for if I ever decided I wanted a partner." He kissed my cheek. I blushed and looked at my feet.

"Okay... Let's get married if that's what you want." I looked up into his eyes then. He purred a little louder then and gave me a loving look that made me go weak in the knees.

"Then we will.... Privately or with friends?" He asked me and then pulled me closer.

"Privately." I whispered as I felt my knees give out again and I clung to him. He smirked and then kissed my lips before he pulled back and looked me over.

"Then privately we shall," he said and then began to tell me about the first two purebloods and how the vampire kingdoms came to be which I had heard before from my parents as part of my education. When he finished with that, he looked me over and then reached out for my hand. "Laurence, I love you more than those two purebloods ever could have loved each other. You're my perfect other half, and I am happy that you will become my shadow mate for the rest of our existence. You complete me.... I take you as my vampire lover and I promise to always protect you and love you like you deserve," he whispered as he grabbed my hand and leaned in, turning it over and then kissing my inner wrist before he bit in and marked me normally. He pulled back and looked at me expectantly as he tilted his head to the side a little. I blushed then looked him over as I grabbed his hand, pulling his wrist closer.

"Ashton, I'll never leave your side through the rest of eternity.... We will be together. I love you. I promise that you'll never have to worry over anything as long as I am with you." I pulled him closer then and bit down into his wrist, letting my venom run into his system and marked him as my mate. He moaned slightly and looked at me with pure love and leaned in, kissing my lips quickly as I pulled back from his wrist. He wrapped me up in his arms and deepened the kiss for a few minutes before he moved his face back from mine and gave me a gentle kiss on the forehead. He looked towards the shadows and then at me before he stepped back and smirked.

"Down on one knee." I bit my bottom lip then got down on one of my knees. He looked me over as his eyes darkened again and I saw his fingernails turn a dark shade of black slowly as they sharpened a little. He sharpened his fangs again and his eyes, like the sky at night when you can't see the moon or the stars, looked me over. "Laurence Wayte.... Do you swear to uphold what is right... protect the people of the shadow kingdom... and take in the unwanted children that are offered up by parents without question and keep them safe? Do you swear to use the shadows for what is good and never use them for complete and utter destruction of the innocent?"

"I swear." I looked into his eyes and gave a small smile. He looked deep into my eyes for a few minutes as the shadows brushed up against me more, acting interested in me as they waited on him.

"Then... by the power vested in me as the eternal and forever Shadow King, I pronounce you as one of my own. From this moment forward, you will join me and rule by my side as a Shadow King," he said firmly and then smiled as the shadows rushed up to me and surrounded me. They washed all over my body and I lost sight of him as they circled around me like they were welcoming me.

"Ashton~" I reached out for where he had been.

"I'm here my love," he purred and I felt his hand grab mine just as one of the shadows brushed up against my bite mark on my neck, sending a shiver through me. "They like you," he whispered. I stood up then pulled him to me and hugged him.

"Ashton..." I nuzzled my face up against his neck then. He purred to me as the shadows moved back from us, surrounding us both. He kissed the top of my head and pulled me close, pressing his body against mine.

"Where would you like me to complete this all? Here, my castle, your castle, or the manor?" He whispered in my ear as he trailed a hand to my lower back and ran his other hand through my hair.

"Uhmmmm we could do it in my castle." I suggested, biting my bottom lip. "The manor wouldn't be a good idea... Paris and Donnie would hear most likely." He purred and gave a nod as he tugged me with him and we walked out of the shadows in my bedroom in my castle. He laughed and picked me up bridal style before he laid me out on the bed then crawled over me, kissing my neck where the bite was still trying to heal. I gasped and hid my neck from him quickly. He growled then and kissed my lips instead. I kissed him back passionately and leaned up towards him. He laughed and slipped his tongue into my mouth as he started on my shirt, pulling on it. I blushed and grabbed his hand quickly. He paused and pulled back from the kiss, looking down at my hand then up at me.

"Laurence?" He frowned. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing." I shook my head.

"Then why'd you grab my hand and stop me?" He sat up on my stomach then and narrowed his eyes slightly. I let his hand go quickly.

"I dunno." I said innocently. He still looked upset with me. I leaned up for a kiss. He pulled back slightly and looked me over.

"Are you not ready for this?" He asked me and then moved off me and sighed. I looked him over and shook my head.

"I never said that. Stop ruining it." He watched me and then nodded before he leaned in and gave me a soft kiss and pulled back slightly, looking into my eyes. I gave him a loving look then pulled him back on top of me and kissed him. He purred a little and kissed me back as he relaxed and wrapped me up in his arms, deepening the kiss after a few minutes. I slipped my tongue into his mouth and started to explore his mouth, kissing him deeply. He moaned a little and then got a hold of my tongue and started to suck on it, sending a shiver through me as I involuntarily moaned. I wrapped my arms around his waist then and leaned in towards his mouth. He gave me a small moan, and he tilted his head, deepening our kiss as he pressed his body down into me. I smiled against the kiss then pulled back, kissing his cheek. He purred to me and then kissed my neck before he reached a hand down to my leg and grabbed it, adjusting me so he could get between my legs.

"I love you Laurence," he mumbled into my ear and kissed my cheek before he gave my lips a small kiss. I looked him over and smiled softly.

"I love you too Ashton." I whispered, leaning back towards his lips and kissed him deeply. He purred softly as he kissed me back and then gave me a playful growl as he nipped my bottom lip and started to grind his hips into me. I gasped as I felt myself become aroused in my pants. I blushed and grabbed his sides, digging my nails into him. He groaned and kissed me passionately as he teased me by slowing down. I let a moan slip out and then buried my face into the crook of his neck. He laughed and then pulled my shirt off, tossing it towards the shadows. I heard fabric ripping as the shadows tore it to pieces, making Ashton smirk at me. He leaned in and kissed my lips before he took his shirt off and dropped it in the floor and rubbed his face into my neck against my bite mark that was still healing. He licked it and gave it another kiss as he growled into my ear. I blushed as I looked towards the floor where his shirt had gone then looked over his shirtless body and ran my hands down his shoulders. He watched my eyes curiously and then kissed my lips passionately again.

"Do you like what you see?" He asked me teasingly. He grinded a little harder against me with that question. I moaned and threw my head back into the pillow then closed my eyes, giving a nod.

"Ashton," I moaned out his name seductively. I felt him getting a little aroused at it and he leaned in and kissed the middle of my neck quickly, starting to trail them down my throat. I ran my fingers up his shoulders then and towards his hair, gripping it as I felt it under my fingers. It was soft and silky like the shadows had been and ran through my fingers easily as I felt him purr against my body like a cat.

"Laurence," he mumbled to me and rubbed his face against my neck. I let out a moan and rested my hands down by my sides. "Do you want me?" He asked me, his voice coming out with a warm texture that wrapped me up and made me want to say yes. I nodded quickly.

"Yeah~" I whispered. He purred at that and then looked down at my pants before he started to unbutton them for me. I watched him and sat up a bit, moving towards his pants. He laughed and didn't make a move to stop me as he got the button undone. I grabbed his button and pulled it undone then started on his zipper, unzipping it before he could do mine. He growled at me playfully and then did mine and shoved my pants down, dropping them in the floor by his shirt. He looked towards my boxers and smirked before he looked up at my eyes and started to push me onto my back as he pulled his pants down and kicked them into the floor. I blushed as I watched him take off his pants then pulled him down into a kiss. He kissed me passionately before I could react and pressed down into me, not letting up an inch. I gasped against the kiss then pressed into the kiss deeper. He moaned and then tilted his head as he started to grind against me again, getting aroused further. He slipped his arms around me and moved a hand to my butt, giving it a small squeeze. "Ashton!" I begged, feeling myself throb against him. "Please..." He looked me over and then nodded.

"Okay," he whispered, looking down at my boxers before he slipped a hand down to them. I grabbed his boxers then and started to push them down. He purred and did the same for me, giving me what I wanted....

~Time Skip To Morning~

I felt Ashton stir beside me in the bed as he began to wake up and groaned, pulling me closer as he kissed my shoulder. I opened my eyes, watching as light flowed into my room through the open windows. The curtains was being stirred by a small chilling wind. A little bit of snow was falling into my room. I sat up slowly and looked around then rubbed my neck. The bite had healed and was gone, replaced by my smooth skin. Ashton wrapped his arms around my waist and curled up to me. "Laurence," he mumbled sleepily. I looked down at him.

"Uh-uh?" I asked him, giving a small blush. He purred and then rubbed his head against my back.

"You're my shadow mate," he said happily and opened his eyes, his dark eyes looking up at me with joy and love. I blushed and crawled out of bed quickly then stood up, pulling a blanket with me. I felt a funny feeling rush through me then and I was suddenly dizzy. I stumbled back to the bed then fell into it and curled up. He was by me in seconds, leaning his face over mine as he gave me a sweet kiss. I smiled and kissed him back then felt my body start to ache. I let out a groan and pouted. He pulled back and looked at me with a frown. "Are you alright? Was I too rough last night?" He whispered, pulling me into a hug as he laid beside me.

"Yeah.... my body hurts." I whispered and curled up to him, resting my head against his chest. He nodded and kissed my neck softly.

"I'll be a little nicer with you next time then," he mumbled. "The mark is complete though... and you're also a shadow king now," he purred and kissed my cheek. I nodded and closed my eyes, trying to fall back to sleep.

"Master Laurence.... I need to ready you for the day." I heard Baleen say as he walked into the room, carrying a tray with him. I could smell the fresh blood from the bottle. "Good morning Ashton. I didn't expect to find you naked beside my master." Ashton growled softly towards Baleen.

"Baleen," he muttered and then started to get out of the bed. "I forgot about you...." I heard him picking up his clothes and putting them on as he shuffled around.

"Please, you don't have to get dressed for me." Baleen laughed out then grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the bed, putting the tray in my place then started to drag me towards the bathroom. "Time for a bath, master. You're filthy." He looked me over and then smirked as he pushed me into a tub that was ready for me. I moaned as the warm water touched my skin. Ashton walked into the bathroom with his pants on and sat down on the edge of the tub, watching me and Baleen. Baleen smirked towards Ashton and then leaned in towards him. "Want to bathe my master while I go arrange the room and clean up your mess?" He asked. I sunk into the tub then. Ashton watched him then picked up the shampoo bottle and dumped some on Baleen's head. Baleen frowned. "What's the matter Ashton?" He asked and then grabbed some of the shampoo off his head and flicked it into the tub.

"Go take the day off or something," Ashton told him and smirked.

"You want me to take a day off?" He turned towards me, popping the question my way.

"Ummmm....." I sunk down to my nose then in the water. Ashton sighed and stood up, walking out of the room to the bedroom where it got silent after a few more footsteps.

"What I thought." Baleen purred and then started to shampoo my hair for me, massaging my head. He bathed, died, and clothed me then started to brush my hair and teeth. When he finished he brought me over to the wall where we took measurements on my height incase there was any change, like if I had been growing or something slowly through the centuries and made me stand up against the wall then frowned as he looked towards the wall. He pulled out a pencil and then wrote something down on the wall. I widened my eyes and tensed up. He never done that before.... why is he frowning? I went to turn and look but he stopped me. "Young master." He whispered. "Don't look just yet." He told me and then got out a tape measurement.

"Baleen?" I asked, becoming uneasy. "What are you doing." He pressed the tape measure from my foot to my head then let it go and wrote something down on the wall. He pulled back from me and then looked towards my feet and then up at my eyes.

"Now you can look." He told me and then stepped a few feet back and pulled out a phone from his pocket and held it out to me. I grabbed the phone then turned slowly to face the wall and gasped. I looked over the pencil markings then started to do some math in my head before I opened up my phone and called Paris.

"Laurence?" Paris asked, groaning. "What's the matter? You never call me..."

"Paris have you been reading in that book?" I asked him.

"Honestly... no..." Paris told me. "I've been doing things for my mate... what's the matter?"

"I grew a few inches." I whispered into the phone.

"What? I didn't hear you... did you say shrunk?" Paris asked me. "Shrinking and growing are two different things Laurence."

"I SAID I GREW!" I yelled into the phone and then busted out into small giggles. I haven't grown since.... since.... a very long time ago...

"You grew? Richard.... Laurence grew a few inches. Laurence, was this overnight?"

"Uh-huh." I nodded.

"TAKE ME TO MY LAURENCE!" I heard Richard yelling and the phone got dropped. "Please? Take us... I wanna see my Laurence," I heard her begging Paris on the other line. "I got a Teddy and everything."

"Laurence, I'm going to go get Louis, Val, Rose, and Victor then we will be over sweetie." Paris hung up on me.

"WAIT! I DON'T NEED ANOTHER TEDDY BEAR!" I yelled into the phone then frowned.... He didn't even hear that. I looked up at Baleen as he gave me a bottle of blood then kissed my forehead.

"Aweeeee you're going to start growing again." Baleen laughed and rubbed my head.

"LAURENCE!" I heard Richard call from my bedroom. She rushed into the bathroom and past Baleen to get to me. "You grew! I'm so happy for you!" She giggled and tackled me into a hug, showering my face with kisses. "You're getting all grown up on me!" I blushed as Val and Rose rushed in, running up to me and showering me with kisses. Paris walked in slowly and laughed with Victor coming behind him. Richard picked me up and spun me around then sat me down and placed a cute little black teddy bear in my hands before she picked me up and started to carry me out of the bathroom and out to my bedroom. She sat me down on the bed then sat down by me, giving me a huge smile with a hug.

"So~ How is it you're growing?" Val asked as she skipped over then sat down on the bed, pulling Rose with her. Paris followed out with them and sat down on the bed.

"Tell us." Paris insisted, with a smirk. "What'd you do last night?" Richard giggled then, putting a hand over her mouth.

"Awwww... I think I know what you did last night~!" She giggled and brought her knees to her chest as she watched me. "How did Ashton take being a girlie girl?"

"Um.... I didn't..... do that...." I whispered. "Ashton is a male."

"But I thought you went and made him a girl," Richard said and pouted slightly. "Well... what DID you do last night then? Did you go talk to a witch or something?"

"No... I got um.... married." I told them.

"You didn't invite me!?" Paris growled, moving towards me with a predator look in his eyes. I yelped. Richard exposed her fangs then.

"You're supposed to invite us to these things!" Richard started for me then. Ashton walked out of a shadow with an irritated look but stopped when he saw everyone and slowly backed into the shadows.

"ASHTON DON'T LEAVE ME!" I yelled, reaching out for him. Val looked towards him with amusement then ran up to him, grabbing his arm and forcing him out of the shadow. His eyes widened as he was pulled out and he looked at everyone then at me. I pouted. Paris sat up and looked towards Ashton.

"Does he know?" Paris asked.

"Not....yet..." I mumbled. Ashton frowned and walked over, looking us over.

"Know what yet?" He asked us.

"Go check the bathroom wall." Baleen suggested, coming out from the bathroom. He looked at Baleen and then slowly started for the bathroom then walked into it. It was silent in there for a few minutes before he walked out quickly and looked at me wide eyed. He walked over and pulled me to my feet, looking me over and then stood beside me, seeing how tall I had gotten on him then kissed the top of my head.

"You're taller!" He laughed and then pulled me into a hug, giving me a kiss on the lips. I moaned and then leaned up, deepening the kiss.

"Awwwweee they're so cute." Rose purred. Richard giggled and then hugged Paris, watching us as she gave him a kiss on the cheek and whispered something in his ear that made him laugh as Ashton purred and pulled me closer, tilting his head as he kissed me. I pulled away from the kiss then looked everyone over.

"I love you guys but I want some alone time with Ashton, get out." I looked towards Baleen. He blushed and disappeared.

"Aweeee! Party over?" Val asked and then frowned. "Let's go guys..." Ashton frowned as he watched them leave the room then looked at me.

"What is it?" He asked me softly and went over to the bed and sat down on it, watching me. I walked over to the bed then sat down on it and gave his cheek a kiss.

"Nothing... I want some time with you." I explained. He purred happily and then pulled me down into a laying position with him and moved his arm around me, pulling me close to him.

"Okay," he said and then kissed my lips softly. "There is a new child that was offered up...." I purred and nodded.

"Sounds like you're happy about that." I kissed his cheek. He laughed.

"Yes, I am.... You should've seen the surprise on the teenager's face when I came for her baby sister," he whispered in my ear. He kissed my neck and nuzzled his head against me. "How's my shadow mate this morning?"

"Growing." I giggled out and hummed happily. He laughed and then kissed my neck again.

"That's good," he purred and then tugged my body closer by my belt loops. "Come here...." I blushed and scooted closer then got on top of him, straddling his stomach. He smirked up at me and leaned up, giving me a kiss. "Did the bath help make you feel better?" He asked me softly, looking me over as he laid his head back against the bed. I shook my head.

"No... not really... I've been ignoring the pain though." I explained and looked down at him. He frowned and then reached up, rubbing my cheek.

"I'm sorry.... I was really caught up in the moment. I should've thought about the morning for you...." I laid down on him then, groaning as I felt my body ache from my movement. I moved to the side of him and rubbed my cheek against his chest. He watched me then kissed the top of my head. "Would you like it if I helped you with the pain?" He asked me and looked me over. "There's an advantage to being Shadow King."

"No... I want to embrace the pain." I told him and closed my eyes. He nodded and then kissed my lips.

"You want to keep it to remember it?"

"Ummm... I'm not sure how to answer that." I kissed him back. He laughed and then rubbed my head.

"Mhmmm.... Would you like to go to your people tomorrow?" He smirked and looked me over. "I told them that I have taken you as my shadow mate. They're happy."

"I guess I should." I whispered, looking him over then nodded. He gave me a playful growl and nipped at my ear.

"Oh... sorry about your fingernails," he whispered and laughed. "I'll teach you how to fix it later." I looked towards my fingernails to see what happened to them.

"What'd you do?" I asked him. I saw that they were pitch black and a little longer than usual.

"Well... sometimes you get black nails... I'm going to teach you how to make them normal. It's just part of your Shadow King form," he explained. He showed me his fingernails as they changed from black to normal to black. "See, I have good control over it, but I keep it normal for everyone else." They changed back to normal. I looked my nails over and then looked at him.

"My nails are long like a girl's nails." I mumbled and then started to chew one off. He hissed at me and then sat up, grabbing my hands. The shadows in the room came over and covered my hands for a few seconds then slithered back to their places, leaving short, beautifully trimmed black nails. I looked my nails over then frowned. "Hey..... That's so cool but not cool! I was going to chew them off...." He laughed at me.

"They'll dress you too if you ask them to. I've had them brush my hair out and pretty much take care of me," he whispered.

"I have Baleen for that." I told him, smirking.

"Hmmm...." He smirked and then crawled over me, giving my neck a kiss. I blushed, exposing my neck more for him. He tickled my neck with his breath before I felt his sharp fangs against my skin as he slowly dragged them down and paused in the crook of my neck before he slowly bit into me, sinking them in. I yelped and then tensed up under him. I grabbed his sides and pulled him closer to me.

"Hungry?" I asked him. He purred in response as he started to drink my blood, moaning at the taste. I growled playfully and pulled his shirt up a bit on him. He growled and then smirked against my skin before he sat up on me and took his shirt off, dropping it by my head. He gave me a predatory look before he took my shirt off and threw it across the room then leaned in and kissed my chest. "W-what are you doing?" I asked. "Are you ready for me again?" He smirked and looked up at me from my chest with a devilish tint in his eyes. "Ummm... Yes?" I tilted my head. He kissed my chest again and then placed another kiss right under it, slowly doing it like he was testing me. I blushed and tensed up a bit. He gave me another one, lingering his lips on his skin as he ran his hands down my sides, gripping my hips. I shook my head and grabbed his pants loops then pulled him closer. He purred and gave me another kiss. I leaned in and kissed him deeply. After a few seconds, he pulled back from the kiss and looked me over.

"Can you handle another round?" He asked me curiously. I shrugged.

"Not sure... wanna find out?" I asked him. He nodded quickly and then reached down, unbuttoning my pants and unzipped them, pulling them down. He kissed my lips passionately and ran his free hand through my hair, gripping it and then pulled my head to the side and kissed my jawline as he made me expose my neck. He growled dominantly and then bit down into me, drinking my blood as he started on his belt. I moaned and melted under him, letting out a purr. He pulled the belt off and then let go of my hair and went for my hands, wrapping them up in his belt and then trapped them in it as he sat up on my stomach and began to work on his button. I looked up at my hands and let out a small gasp and then looked up at him, becoming slightly aroused. He smirked at me and then slowly started to unzip his pants, adjusting himself on my stomach to allow me a better view of it. I blushed and watched him, trying to hide the hard bulge in my pants. He purred to me, not noticing it yet. He slowly started to tug his pants down and then stood up on the bed to pull them down all the way. He tossed his pants away and then sat back down on my stomach. I leaned up for a kiss from him, giving a small smirk. "Ashton~ I didn't know you was into this...." I tugged on the belt. He kissed me and smirked.

"Do you like it? If you don't... then I won't do it again," he purred to me. "I thought you might, but I'm not sure."

"I- I like it!" I blushed as I admitted it. He laughed a little and then kissed me passionately.

"Hmmm... I'm glad it didn't upset you. I'm called Shadow King for a reason," he purred seductively and gave me a wink. I bit my bottom lip, wondering what that reason was. He leaned in and kissed my neck before he started to give me a love bite and then laid out on top of me, getting between my legs. He tensed up for a second when he did and glanced down, his eyes widening slightly. "Laurence... you're already excited for me?" He laughed a little. I looked away from him and felt slightly embarrassed.

"Uh-huh..." I looked back towards him longingly. He leaned in and kissed my lips softly.

"Don't be embarrassed," he whispered against my lips. "I'm happy that you want me. I love you...."

"I love you too." I leaned in towards his lips and kissed him. He purred and deepened the kiss, slipping his tongue into my mouth and gave a slight moan to tease me. I gasped and then pressed my body up against his. He smirked and then got a hold of my tongue and began to suck on it to pleasure me.

"Would you like to be on top this time?" He asked me as he pulled back breathlessly from the kiss, looking down at me with a seductive look. He kissed my neck and started on another hickie.

"D-do you want me to u-ummm..... Be on top?" I asked him, letting out a moan. He laughed.

"I thought I'd be nice and offer it to you since I was really rough with you last night," he purred.

"I want you on top though..." I mumbled. "I like you on top." He smirked and then moved back to my lips, stealing a kiss.

"You like me on top?" He teased.

"Uh-huh." I nodded.

"You like this?" He chuckled and lightly grinded against me, keeping it slow. I let out a small moan and nodded. "You want me?" He asked and then leaned in towards my lips but stopped right by them, hovering to keep me waiting. I growled playfully and tried for a kiss. He pulled back when I did and smirked down at me. "Say please." I tilted my head then shook it.

"Give me a kiss!" He laughed.

"That's not how you ask for one," he purred and then grinded a little harder against me, making me moan. I laid my head back against the pillow and moaned louder. "Now try saying please," he whispered to me.

"P-please?" I begged, looking into his eyes. He gave me a loving look and then leaned in, kissing me passionately as he cupped the side of my face and then ran that hand through my hair and played with it as he used his other hand to prop himself up and not crush me. I started to grind up against him then, playing with him. He moaned against me and then pulled back from the kiss as he looked me over with lust.

"Laurence," he whispered seductively and shoved me down onto my bed. I blushed and looked him over.

"Yes?" I blushed. "What?"

"Mine," he mumbled in my ear and then nipped at it before he started to kiss my neck. He reached down for my boxers slowly, pressing down into me. I could feel him aroused as he grinded against me. I arched my back and let out a loud moan.

"I'm yours~" I moaned out to Ashton. He purred and then bit down into my neck as he grabbed the top of my boxers. I bit my bottom lip, watching his fingers. He hesitated for a second and then pulled them down and kissed my lips, getting my blood on me. I leaned into the kiss, licking my blood up and then pulled on the belt a little. He glanced at the belt then at me before he reached up and undid it, letting my hands free. I smirked and wrapped my arms around his neck, trapping him then kissed him. He laughed and kissed me back, licking my bottom lip teasingly as he smiled against my lips. I smiled back then bit down on his bottom lip, drawing blood. He yelped and paused as he looked down at me in shock and then purred, letting me have a taste and then pulled away from the kiss and exposed his neck.

"You can have some if you want my love," he mumbled to me. I leaned in towards his neck then bit down hard, marking him again. He moaned loudly and melted on top of me. "Laurence~!" He kissed my cheek and nuzzled the side of his face against me as I let my venom run through him. I moaned as started to drink his blood. "I love you," he murmured in my ear. "When you're ready... I'll teach you the shadow mark if you'd like." I pulled back from the bite and licked my lips. He smirked at me and kissed me. "Good mate," he mumbled and then reached down to his boxers to take them off.

"I love you." I whispered, kissing his lips. He smirked against them and kissed me back as he gave me another round.