Gratitude Part 1

Wondering after their conversation if any of his advice worked. He fidgeted with his collar debating to place it up or down as the thought of what happened lingered on his mind. Was she okay? Did the friendship survive? Did his advice work? Was his advice taking into consideration?

" Probably not." He muttered under his breath. After all the princess could do what she wanted. She did not have to listen to a word he spoke. But still he found himself in his chambers concerned over something so trivial. Yes, the fact that she was his mate, and that was vampire daunted him. He couldn't help himself so to feel indifferent. It was impossible to not feel anything when attracted to someone that was suppose to be the one. The stars were suppose to align and he was suppose to rejoice when given his bride, in a sense he supposed he did. She was nothing yet everything and more he had expected her to be.

The fact the she was a vampire and a princess of the herd was the worst. But if he could take her away, from her kingdom and his, suppose to the mortal world. Could it probably-

Knock- Knock

Knock- knock

The sound of someone knocking brought him back to reality as he spoke, " Who is it?"

" It's your beloved adorable absolutely gorgeous sister." Lenore called out from the other side as he laughed slightly.

" Come in." He accepted as the door opened to reveal his little sister dressed in fitted grey pants, and white long sleeve ruffled shirt with her hair in a ponytail. Similar to how he was for the event. " You dressed up. I though you weren't competing in the horseback riding competition."

Lenore clicked her tongue, " Of course I'm not. I decided to dress up like this because its more comfortable than being in a dress all the damn time." She told as he shook his head. " What! I'm serious you man have no idea how much those things weigh. You lucky bastard have it easy!"

" No one told you, you had to wear a dress all the time." Michael retorted as she opened her mouth to said something but had nothing to clap back. As Michael continued to mess up with his collar putting his long coat on top.

Lenore threw her hands up as she approached him, slapping his hands away, " Here, let me help." She adjusted his collar downward. " Why are you trying to look so fancy?"

He ceased his brow, " What do you mean? I'm just dressing how I normal dress."

Lenore scoffed as saying yeah right, " You're dressing all stuffy and prude. You're not like that, actually the exact opposite more laid back and not caring about the finer details."

" I do too." Michael disagreed whole heartily.

" Michael, we're talking about clothes." She informed as she unbuttoned some of his top buttons. "Unless, maybe it's because you like someone." Lenore teased.

He scrunched his nose, not knowing what she was going on about," What do you mean?"He questioned.

" Oh nothing!" She denied changing the topic.

Michael wanted to know what she knew. Did she know the secret? No. He did recall telling her about sensing his mate the night of the ball, but he said nothing more. "Lenore!" He called out as he followed behind her.

Grabbing him by the arm, " Come on, let's go to the competition!' She cheered as they had stepped outside their room the didn't want to draw any attention as he just played along. Trailing along the dark misty path, the sun was no were near its peak therefore it was still dusk. The way the vampires had planned their festivities. Finding their way to the stables to fetch his horse their his beloved princess stood. Dressed in a full navy dressage tailcoat accompanied by milky white breeches that perfectly complimented her plump back side with ankle boots.

Seeming enamored by her companion, combing her white locks while the horse neighed. The was something so bewitching on how she was so delicate and friendless with such a creature. She would never hurt it. Despite her deathly nature.

"Look there's the princess." Lenore broadcast ed as Michael had know this attempting to dissuade her from any troublesome thought.

" Lenore, don't-." He was interrupted as Lenore gripped his arm pushing him forward.

She waved her hand as she called out, " Hello, Princess Brianna!" Quickly responding to her name being called she whipped her head towards their direction. Eyes meeting them, but in reality her gaze was on Michael. Her heart beat accelerating, her mind a little foggy by his near presence. With his some of his broad chest exposed only seemed more inviting. More natural.

A light smile formed on her lips as she waved back, " Hello Princess Lenore, and Prince Michael." She calmly greeted or so she showed.

"Hello Princess you look very lovely today." Lenore complimented the older vampire as she stood captivated by her youthful beauty. In all honesty she could careless if she was a vampire, she simply just wanted to know more about her.

Brianna felt sincerity in her words as the young girl showed true acceptance regardless of their species. Hopefully, her brother would too. " Thank you. You look radiant yourself, and from now on just called me Brianna."

Lenore grinned ear to ear, making their bond no longer a superficial one rather of true friends, " Of course, and you can call me Lenore as well."

Brianna nodded, looking at her attire,believing she had heard only her brother would play, " I thought you weren't participating?"

" Oh, I'm not. I just like being comfortable." She spoke informally as she continued, " But my brother here will." Michael eyes widened he was so fixed on Brianna. Examining the little features of he movements he didn't know what to say.

The mention of her brother, now meant Brianna and Michael had to interact with one another. It was alright weird being in the same facility, now falsely chatting. That all it was. It wasn't a romantic gesture. They knew all beings had to communicate.And to each others knowledge the other didn't know they were they mate. So all they had to be civilized. They could do that right?

" I didn't know you liked horse riding, princess." Michael began forcing the pleasantry.

She chuckled. She didn't know if it was out of curiosity or to get himself away from her as fast as possible but she answered, " Well since I was a child, I actually loved playing with horses." She paused as she looked at her beautiful white stallion. " As I grew up, I learned how to ride, so any chance I get with this beautiful girl I take it."

Michael saw the little sparkle in her eyes when she spoke about her steed wondering if those eyes could ever look at him in the same way. " She seems to be your best companion."

" Yes, indeed." Brianna petting the horse as she nuzzled in her neck. " She is my best steed."

" Wait, you mention since you were a little girl. Just how old is she?" Lenore brought up.

" She's one hundred and forty one." Brianna confessed.

Lenore and Michael mouths fell agape asking how?

" Before you ask is because she was feed vampire blood therefore she has the strength, resistance, durability, and abilities of a vampire" Brianna informed as they blinked. She understood exactly their thought process. How? Well, because she was saddened by her champion horse growing weaker and weaker as old age caught up with her. She couldn't bare the thought of losing her. She cried endlessly as her legs gave up. But she thought there must be a way. There had to be a way, so Brianna did research and experimented on her trusted horse as she fed her blood. At first the results were nothing, but a day after her golden steed had risen again. Never again falling.

Michael squinted at the unfairness of winning the competition. " Isn't that unfair, I mean if she has vampiric abilities she would outrun any other horse."

Brianna chuckled at the thought he thought she was unfair, and a cheater before having a chance to explain. But what could she expect he still thought as her as the enemy, nothing more. Michael furrowed his brow lacking to understand what was so funny? It was true if she had always done this then her horse would always win.

" True, but it's fair since all the horses have been turned. Therefore, everyone today as they had always been riding a vampiric horse. " She assured as she quiet his accusation before they started. Lenore bit her cheek from forbidding herself to laugh at their tension.

Michael bit his lips, once again this oddly girl had proven him wrong.

" Would you like to see yours?" Brianna questioned as he meekly nodded.

She lead them over to a stable that stood directly across from hers with a mighty broad powerful ebony horse with memorizing blue eyes. Standing inches above them. Michael felt as if he was looking in a mirror. Brianna brought her hand out petting his muzzle. " He is yours, he still quiet young. I turned him not long ago, but he can compete with Nala over their."

" He so pretty!" Lenore beamed as she put her hand to his mane.

" Yes, he is. We found him in the outskirts of the land. He pretty rough up, he wouldn't allow people to touch him, expect for myself." Brianna said informingly looking at how long the animal has come.

Michael tilted his head, admiring the horse's will, " He must be resilient."

Brianna nodded, that indeed he was. Animals were not that different from beings they felt, have emotions, wanted and needed company. The only thing that was left was for them to speak, fortunately for Bri she could communicate with them.

" What's his name?" Michael asked as Brianna blinked.

" Actually he doesn't have a name. "

" He doesn't have a name?"

" Well you cannot just name the horse. It has to be something that fits them perfectly. I just haven't found the right name." Brianna explained as she stood with her arms behind her. She had been trying for months, deciding upon a name. Hating every moment she called it, it or him. He was more than just pronouns. If only they could help her? But what if they could. " You could name him if you want to." She proposed.

Name him, huh?He stared at the beast with half lidded eyes. A name. A name. Something to name this steed. Strong. Ebony. Eternal. To last forever. Maybe he could leave her something to always remember him. Even if it was a little piece, of fluff.

" Eilam." He stated.

" Eilam?" Brianna and Lenore asked.

" Eilam." He firmly repeated.

Brianna didn't know why, but the name sounded perfect. Maybe it was became her mate suggested it?! Looking back at the horse and Michael. She could she why he liked him so much and vice verse. A grin spread across her face as he caught her creasing his forehead. " I'm sorry, it's just the horse looks so much like you. Or you look like the horse. Wait that came out wrong!" Brianna alleged as she realized what she had just said as she became flustered.

Lenore burs ted out laughing as Michael followed.

He knew her statement was not ill-advised at least that not what his heart told him so.

" Again, I'm sorry Prince Michael." Bri insisted as her cheeks darkened wanting to hide herself from society, never appearing in the sun again.

Michael gave a coy smile, " Its alright. Truly." He affirmed even though that just made her feel more embarrassed. Though her cute embarrassed face with a wrinkle nose Michael found incessantly cute. She wasn't perfect, she showed her imperfect clearly which made her only more interesting.

" Anyways, you haven't touched him." Brianna noticed as Michael pulled his brows together.

" Is it necessary?" He questioned as Brianna swayed her head side to side.

" It helps, so the horse understand you, and you the horse." She insisted.

" If you suggest so." Michael reluctantly held out his hand as Brianna placed his over his. Feeling the sharp electric current that flowed to their nerve endings. Michael slightly jumped at her action never expecting her to be so direct. Brianna blamed her impulsiveness for the situation she was in now. His skin felt honey warm against her.

She had dug her own grave now she had to lie in it or lie to him, " Don't be so reluctant." She began as their hands petted the horse.

Michael gazed at her rather than the horse. Staring at her emotionless face, his heart felt like it would fly out of his chest yet she seemed so calmed. " Why? I can't tell if he likes me or not?" He slyly intertwined the between situations.

" It's about building a connection. Whatever you feel the horse will feel." She paused looking at him. " Once he feels like he can trust you-"

" That trust will never fade." He ended as they gazed at another. The pink that slightly crept on her cheeks, his dilated pupils gave away their true sentiments.Their fingers lingered on the horse, but this wasn't about Eilam. It was about the connection, they were building.

Lenore being the third wheel stood their just smiled proudly of what was unfolding.