Royal shuffle: Vampire’s mate

ANDREA

I cycled down to the little town that was home to majority of humans. Werewolves only came in here for business, their population was that small. They were the most affected during the war. There was a forest full of dead trees because of the potency of the magic that was used there.

I entered the mall and quickly went about my task, shoving all my purchase into the backpack that I had brought with me. I thanked the cashier and exited the small mall, and then the building opposite caught my eye. Why hadn’t I noticed it before?

Maybe because I didn’t have a life.

It was a library. I smiled, and without thinking twice about it, crossed the road, and went into the building. The bell above the door rang when I opened it. I stepped in and looked around. The library had an ancient feel to it. Old fashioned, with tables and chairs arranged in an orderly manner. It was the kind of place to remind you of how your grandma’s house smelt. I took a deep breath and approached the front desk, ringing the bell that was on the table. The middle-aged made looked up at me with a haughty look, which I returned with a smile.

“Hello, good-day.”

Silence.

“I would like to get a membership, please,” I said.

“No.” She replied, and returned her attention to her book.

I was astonished by the rudeness. “What do you mean?” I asked.

She sighed and looked up at me. “No, that you cannot get a membership.”

“Why not?”

“Because this is a private library, sweetheart. Only very particular people are allowed to have that.”

I looked around at the shelves and the books sitting pretty caught my gaze. They were calling me to read them.

“But I want to read a book. I want to read several of the books here,” I said.

“Go to another library, and read then!!!” She swore under her breath. I was taken aback by the outburst.

“Wow. You’re really rude,” I said.

“Leave, if there’s nothing else I can do for you,” she replied.

“I just want a book…”

She looked up at me again, and was about to say something but stopped, and stood to her feet.

“Good afternoon, sir,” she greeted.

My brows shot up in shock at the sudden aura of humility and gentility that she embodied.

“Good afternoon, Lauren. What’s the problem?” A man asked.

Lauren scoffed. “This girl wants a membership.”

I rolled my eyes, and turned around to plead my case with who seemed to be the boss here. My breath stuck in my throat, and my eyes opened wide in wonder as I stared at the magnificent man in front of me. He was tall, almost a foot taller than me, I stand at 5’7 so that was saying something. He had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen, his eye color looked like a cross between bright red and brown. He had a crooked nose, I could tell that he’s been in quite a few fights and have gotten it broken severally.

He was broad, not wrestler broad, but broad enough to know that he was in the gym at least four out of seven days. I gulped and blinked when I realized that I was staring. But then felt better when I saw that he was staring too. And then I began to feel self-conscious. I hadn’t worn my best dress today.

“Hello,” I said, trying my best to sound brave.

“Hey. What seems to be the problem?”

His voice sent shivers down my spine, and my knees instantly began to feel weak. My eyes fell to his lips, and I bit mine when he wetted his lips with his tongue.

“I would like a membership…I just want to read some books…”

Before the words could successfully make it out of my mouth, Lauren had butted in.

“And I have told her severally, sir, that this isn’t a public library. That I can’t…”

“Give her the membership,” Mystery man said.

“What?”

Both I and Lauren said at the same time. The strange man saw the shock on my face and smiled, revealing a set of dimples. Could this man be anymore perfect?

“Give her the membership, Lauren.”

“But sir…” Lauren started, her voice rising in protest.

His eyes shifted from mine and settled on the librarian. The look was so icy and grave that even though it wasn’t directed at me, made my blood run cold. That look was dangerous.

“Are you questioning me?” He asked, the power in his tone eliciting shivers in my spine.

“No…no, sir. I’m sorry.”

I could hear the trembling in her voice, and the papers as she began to shuffle around. He held out his hand to me.

“I’m Leonidas. You can call me Leo,” he said.

I took his hand tentatively. “Hello, Leo,” I said.

He smiled, showing off his beautiful dentition. “My name sounds beautiful coming out of your mouth.”

I felt color rush to my face. What was happening to me?

“Thank you.”

He rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb, and I loved the way his hardened, callous skin felt against mine.

“What’s your name?” Leonidas asked.

“Oh, I’m Andrea.”

“Andrea.”

The way he said my name made certain parts of my body respond. It sounded like a prayer.

“That’s a beautiful name,” he said, smiling.

I blushed again. “Thanks. I was named after my grandmother.”

“I have no doubt that she was a beauty such as yourself.”

I threw back my head and laughed.

“She was indeed beautiful,” I replied.

“You’re werewolf?” He asked, his brows furrowing in confusion.

I couldn’t help it, I threw back my head and laughed again.

“Aren’t we all?!” I asked, surprised that he would ask that.

He laughed, although I could tell that it wasn’t genuine. Even though this was a predominantly human town, it was surrounded by werewolf community. No other creature was allowed here.

“Here you go,” Lauren said, holding out a gold plated card with my name written on it in cursive.

“Thank you,” I said, carefully taking the card from her.

“So, what books would you like to read?” Leonidas asked.

“What would you recommend?” I asked.

Leonidas smiled and gestured for me to follow him. He took me to the third aisle, and waved at the expanse of books that surrounded us.

“This is my favorite section.”

I nodded, and began to browse through the shelf, and decided that I would be taking three books with me. I held them up to him and he nodded approvingly.

“Those are good choices,” he said, smiling, showing off his damned dimples again.

I smiled back, lost in the beauty that was this man, and then suddenly remembered that I was on an errand.

“Oh, shit!!!” I screamed, my sense of time quickly returning to me.

Alarm quickly registered on Leo’s face.

“What’s wrong?” He asked,

“I need to get back to the palace immediately. I’m on an errand, and I’ve been gone a while.”

“The palace?”

“Yes. I work there.”

I quickly shoved the books into my bag, and began power walking for the front door.

“Let me drop you off,” he said, dipping his hands into his pocket.

“That won’t be necessary. I came with my bicycle.”

“Didn’t you already say you were late? A bicycle won’t be much help in this situation.”

“Don’t worry,” I replied.

He stood and watched as I got on my bike.

“Wait…”

I stopped mid-pedal, putting a foot on the floor.

“When am I going to see you again?” He asked.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Um…you want to see me again?”

“Of course. Do you have a number I can call?”

I blushed in embarrassment. What girl my age didn’t have a phone? One who was broke to the tenth degree.

“No, I don’t. I’ll come by the library,” I replied.

Before he could say anything else, I pedaled away and as fast as I could back to the palace.

By the time I got back, thankfully, no one was bothered with my absence. I went about the rest of my day’s work with Leonidas on my mind. Even as I read the books I had taken from the Library, all I could think of was him.

Deep down, I couldn’t wait till I saw him again.