Her Forever
Chapter 53

Sadie

“AHHH! DO NOT TOUCH ME!” I bellowed, as Rebecca ripped yet another patch of hair from my arm. “Some hair is OK, you know! It is natural!” I squealed angrily.

“Seth will like it when you get all oiled up,” she laughed wholeheartedly.

“We are already mated. I don’t see the big deal,” I complained and huffed while I let her continue.

“It just means he can be rougher with you, especially since you have your wolf now.” Lela was sitting in the corner, trying to steam the white dress that my mother had brought in from Bergarian. It would look like a regular wedding dress to any human, and the ceremony is like a wedding. Except they don’t have rings, we have our marks. This was just a fancy, “hey, we boned, and we love each other and marked each other for forever,” kind of thing. I shivered at the thought, and people knew we did it. Blushing fiercely, I let Rebecca continue her assault on my arms and legs.

Once Lela was done steaming the dress, she walked over to us. “Hey, we should have a girls’ night and finish up this pampering then. You can’t see Seth until tomorrow during the ceremony, anyway.”

“Does Seth know this? Because I’m pretty sure he won’t like the idea,” I said worriedly.

“He doesn’t get a say. His parents are here, and only you and his own mother can tell him what to do,” Lela laughed.

“You know,” I started while painting my toenails, “I haven’t even met your parents. I probably should go do that before the ceremony tomorrow, right?”

Rebecca rose her shoulders up and down, “It’s up to you. Most of the time, parents don’t see their children’s mates until after, but I know how some of those human rituals are still stuck in your head.” Rebecca started putting the wax away, thank goddess. “We would have to bring them up here, though, and you can’t leave this room now. Everything is to be a surprise for you tomorrow!” Rebecca squealed.

“What about you guys, though? You guys just got marked, too, right? We could do a triple ceremony thing?” Lela and Rebecca wasted no time, and they were marked before I was even kidnapped for the second time. They said they both were so involved in the throes of passion they didn’t even drink anything and heard nothing from the outside world until they emerged two days later, finding out that I was taken. At least everyone let them finish, I guess?

“No, no. This is a big deal. Seth has waited so long, plus you are a princess and he a major warrior. You both deserve a whole mating ceremony to yourself,” Rebecca scolded.

Trying to brush her off, “I didn’t get to ask, how did everyone heal after they took the sleeping stuff? I know werewolves heal fast, but what about Bastian? How did he fare?”

“They were all pretty hungover the next morning, from what Max said, and some didn’t wake until noon. My mate said that Bastian had little after-effects because he saw him the next morning walking around fine from the window,” Lela said.

I let out a small hum and smile in understanding while Lela and Rebecca cleaned up the room. They went downstairs to grab their things and let their mates know they would stay with me.

It sounded like Bastian didn’t have the same issues as the wolves did. Does this mean it was targeted to just wolves and had no effect on vampires at all, or did he not even attempt to drink alcohol that day? Something wasn’t adding up. I hadn’t seen him around at all, actually.

After being lost in my thoughts, I heard a knock at the door. The smell appeared familiar, yet someone I had had little time to get to know. It was amazing with these new skills, and I was still learning how to decipher. I could tell one thing, and it was male.

“Come in. The door’s unlocked,” I yelled as I tied the robe around me. I wasn’t naked, but I wasn’t about to wear my skimpy shorts and tank top around. I don’t need Seth killing someone before we even have the ceremony tomorrow.

Low and behold, the person I was thinking about entered the room, Bastian. “Hello Bastian, how are you? What brings you up here?” I said, while grabbing two water bottles. The odd timing and the newfound information I figured out about him not having much of an effect of the poison had me on edge. Gaia nudged me to let me know she was there.

“I just wanted to see you, make sure you are doing well.” He posed with his hands behind him, and his feet spread apart. Bastian had such an old look about him, sophisticated, wise, regal. He didn’t have the manic eyes that Drago had. He was calm, collected, but a hint of nervousness wafted through the air.

“I’m doing great, thank you.” I turned around and handed him a bottle of water. We both sat on opposite sides of each other in the small living room. I sat on the couch while he sat in the large armchair. After a few moments of just staring at each other oddly, he spoke.

“I wanted to speak with you about something,” his eyes left mine, and he looked at the floor while both his arms squeezed the armchairs. I nodded for him to continue. “Sadie, did you know some people can have two mates?” He was so calm while he said it, and the water in my mouth threatened to be spat out. I held my composure and swallowed deeply.

“Excuse me?” I said nervously while raising my eyebrow. Why was he bringing this up?

“It’s true; you could have two mates if you wanted. You are royal and have the changing gene, which could help with your bonding to another soul.” He spoke plainly, with no voice shaking like mine was.

“Bastian, what are you trying to say?” I knew exactly what he was thinking, and I just didn’t want to believe it.

“I would like to be your mate, along with Seth,” his eyes were open to mine. They were begging and pleading for me to say yes. I had never thought of Bastian in this way. I hardly knew him, and I could never betray myself by taking him as a mate. I had nothing to give to him; my soul was wholly Seth’s. Shaking my head internally, I had to take this somewhere else.

“Bastian, did you poison the alcohol the night where I came back with Seth?” I didn’t even warm up to the question. I spat it out like a foul taste in my mouth. I had to know. Did he start all of this? Bastian blew some hair out of his lungs and put his head down in shame.

“I did, but it was to protect you.” his words were smooth and unwavering.

“I’m sorry?” I whispered. My heart clenched; he had taken me away from my mate. Trying to remain calm, I grabbed the cushion of my seat. Gaia was pissed, and I knew my eyes were changing colors.

Bastian looked up at me. “I did it to save you. Drago said he knew about you being marked. He said he was going to kill Seth and take you while you both slept. I had to remind him if he did that, it would, in turn, kill you. He didn’t believe me. He was going to do it, anyway. When one mate dies, the other follows. I told him I had a way to get you out, to put everyone to sleep, and he could take you peacefully without killing your mate. I may have mentioned to him about getting the mark removed. I was planning on rescuing you afterward, but he took you to a place I couldn’t even find. I didn’t want him to remove your mark, and I know Seth is your true mate. I would never want to see you unhappy!” He let out a quiet sob.

“Goddess, I’m so sorry.” He ran his hands through his hair, pulling on it, making it ruggedly messy. He was honest, and he was doing the best he could to protect me. I could feel the pain in his eyes as they watered with b***d. His face was becoming stained, and he looked like a broken soul.

I got up and put my hand on his while I sat in the opposite chair. “Bastian, it’s alright. Everything worked out how it was supposed to. I got my wolf, fought Drago off, and everything is fine now.” I smiled at him. “Don’t worry, and you won’t be punished for that. I won’t even tell Seth if you think that it would put you in any danger,” I laughed. Bastian gave a small smile and looked back down at the floor.

“Now, why are you telling me this about two mates?” I spoke kindly.

“Sadie, you’re beautiful. You are smart, kind, a wonderful woman in the perfect little package. The way you interact with others with such love and tender mercy, I couldn’t help but be attracted to that.” His hand landed on mine as he ran this thumb across my knuckles. He tried to wash away the b***d-stained cheeks of his face with his handkerchief.

“I was so lost when you were gone, and I didn’t realize how much I truly cared, I mean truly. Feelings I’ve never felt for, for a woman like yourself. I never thought I would ever feel that again.”

“Wait, again?” I said.

“Yes, I lost my mate a long time ago. I met her for a moment before Drago had her killed in front of me. Mate bonds are like that, and you instantly fall in love. She was refusing to cooperate, saying she wouldn’t do his dirty work. She was strong, passionate, just like yourself. You both are very similar, really,” he chuckled. “We weren’t officially bonded, so my heart didn’t break enough, I guess, to let me depart with her.” He had a small, sad grimace on his chilled face.

My heart broke instantly. He wanted to become my mate; he wanted that connection with someone, and he hoped that I would be that person for him. As wonderful as a vampire or person that he was, I knew in my heart I was not right for him. I had absolutely no romantic feelings towards him, and I couldn’t lie to him or to myself as much as I wanted to take his pain away. His desperation made me feel so guilty. I hardly knew him from anyone, yet he knew me so well.

“I’m afraid I can’t give you what you want, Bastian. My whole heart belongs to Seth. It would be unfair and unkind not to return those feelings to you. You deserve more than that.”

“It’s alright, Sadie. You can say no. I just wanted to ask. In my heart, I was hoping for something that I knew wasn’t really there,” Bastian stood up and buttoned up his suit that he had been wearing the past few days. Before he reached the door, I stood up and told him to wait. Bastian turned around, with a small amount of hope in his eyes, to which I slowly shook my head no.

Reaching for him, I put my hands in his and looked into his teary eyes. “Bastian, I’m sorry about your mate, but you will find someone that will complete you. Mate or not, there will be someone that will fill our hearts with so much joy you will combust. You may not believe me, but in my heart, I know this to be true. There is someone there. Just please have patience,” a few bloody tears left his eyes. “Trust me, I know she’s out there. Will you please believe me?” Bastian nodded and turned his back to me, and shut the door gently behind him.

This was too much. I turned to sit down on the couch only to have the door open again, which was, thankfully, Rebecca and Lela. “What was Bastian doing in here?” Rebecca questioned. She set down the massive tray of food on the small coffee table so we could start eating dinner.

“Princess stuff,” I said, chuckling. Lela and Rebecca looked at each other, knowing I was lying, but let the issue drop. I should say princess matters more often; people don’t try to get information out of me.

“We told Seth he couldn’t talk to you or see you until tomorrow,” Lela said proudly. “He was pissed.”

“He wasn’t throwing anything, was he?” I took a bite out of my sub sandwich, trying not to laugh.

“No, but he said he had needs, but his mother that just arrived said he better stay away and let you rest. He just gruffed and went to the game room with the boys. He’s having a guys’ night smoking cigars and playing video games.”

“I heard little Max was trying to get in on it too, saying he was part of the ceremony since he is your personal guard once he is of age,” Rebecca said, cooing while I laughed.

“Yeah, he has a special uniform. I had my mother bring over. It was the one thing I demanded out of the whole ceremony. He’s going to look adorable.”

We all finished our sandwiches and decided on watching 27 Dresses and wore our face masks with cucumbers and all. We had the perfect ending to our night while we all curled up on the bed while they tried to calm my nerves of the big day ahead. I laid there thinking of Seth, my wonderful mate, as I finally drifted off to sleep.