Chapter 4

Willow POV

As I am leaving the spa, I notice there are a lot of people watching us.

"Laz, why are all these people looking at me?" I ask.

He smiles. "They want to see their queen," he says.

Thank goodness he fixed me up. I would have been so embarrassed to have been seen the way I looked when I left home. Now here I am, standing on the steps of a spa I could have never afforded to go in before. I am clean. My wings are clean. My hair is braided beautifully and clean. The dress Lazarus purchased for me is a beautiful purple. I look like a beautiful fairy. I feel like a beautiful fairy for the first time in my life.

"Thank you," I whisper to him.

"For what?" he asks.

"For taking a scared little fairy and making her a beautiful fairy vampire queen," I say.

"You are not queen yet, but you are definitely a beautiful fairy," he says.

The driver opens the door to the car as we make our way to it. Laz stands to the side of the door for me to get into the car first. I slide in and wait for him to enter. A man walks up and hands him something. I hear Laz say thank you. He gets into the car and gives me a white rose.

"The little girl across the street sent that to you," he says.

I turn to look and the small child standing across the street. I wave at her and blow her a kiss. I mouth thank you to her.

"This is a lot for me to take in, Laz," I say.

"You are doing fine. You know not everyone will be happy about our union. The fairies, well, most of them are. The vampires are concerned. Everything will work out in the end," he says.

"Why are the vampires concerned?" I ask.

"We will get into all of that later. We have plenty of time, right," he says.

I settle in for the ride to my new home. I wish my father could see me. He will see me soon enough when Laz and I marry. He can see his daughter beautiful.

I watch the roads as we drive. I want to take in all the scenery. I have never been anywhere other than a few places with my father for council meetings. I have to wonder as we ride why my family is being threatened over this union. Why did my father feel he had no choice? There are so many unanswered things happening today.

The ride seemed to take forever. I did enjoy the trip. I was ready to settle myself into my new home. As the driver pulled into the driveway, I felt a sudden rush of nerves.

Laz must have been aware of how nervous I was. He reached his hand out and patted my leg. "There is nothing to be nervous about. This is your new home," he says.

"I know, but I have never been in such a big house. What if I get lost?" I say to him.

Lazarus laughs out loud at the thought of me getting lost.

"If you get lost, you can call me, and I will come to find you," he says.

"Well, I do not have a phone," I say.

"I am sure I can get you one," he says.

I take in the sight of the house. The colossal stone walls surrounding the house. The house is like a fortress. There are beautiful fences and flowers. I scan every inch of the yard. It is unbelievable. I wonder if my father's house will be this nice.

The car stops, and Laz gets out. As I slide across to exit the vehicle on his side, I see a beautiful woman coming out to meet us. Laz kisses her on the cheek. They chat for a second. As I come out of the car, she grabs me and hugs me.

"I am Prissy, at least that is what everyone calls me. I am Lazarus's mother. I am so happy you are here," she says.

"You're not a vampire?" I question.

I hope she does not think of me as rude. I remember Laz telling me she was turned. I am so confused.

"Not exactly. I am, but I am also a fairy just like you," she says.

"That makes this so much better," I say without even thinking how it might sound. As soon as it came out of my mouth, I was worried it would hurt Lazarus's feelings. Of course, it is no secret I had a screaming fit this morning not wanting to leave my home.

"You will be fine here," she says.

Lazarus reaches for my hand. "Come, I will show you our room," he says.

"Our room, we are not married yet," I say.

"We will be soon," he says.

I follow him into the house. It is breathtaking. I follow Lazarus through the house and up the stairs. He takes me to our room first.

"Are you going to show me the rest of the house?" I ask.

"Yes, but first we need to discuss some things privately," he says.

"Okay," I say.

"First, I want you to know you are safe here. However, I would prefer you to be accompanied when going anywhere without me. I will give you a good life. I will be a good husband. We know nothing of each other, and I hope we grow to care for one another. There are dangers for us both. As my parents are the King and Queen of the vampires, so shall we be the King and Queen of the Fairies," he says.

"Laz, I do not understand. I am not royalty," I say.

"Your father was to be a king. When the war happened, a lot of the fairies went underground. Your father and his family were hidden. Are you following?" he asks.

"My father was a prince?" I ask.

"Yes, I am not that familiar with everything that happened; that is something my mother would have to tell you,” he says.

"But you are a vampire. So, by marrying me, you become the king of the fairies," I ask.

"Yes, and when my parents pass the crown, we, me and you, will rule both the fairies and vampires. Our children will bring peace amongst our kind. This union is beyond me and you," he says.

"Who threatened my family if I did not comply?" I ask

"The council made it clear if the union is not made, there would be consequences. That was not my family or me. We have only been tasked with carrying out the union," he says.

"Who is not happy about this? You said there are dangers?" I ask.

"There are vampires who do not want this union because the children of vampires and fairies are mighty. We will produce hybrid children. Our children will create a new species of vampires and fairies. We are very important. I want us to have a long, happy life together. I will not push you to jump right into my bed. I will not force you to do anything you do not want. We both have to make the sacrifice to try to make this work," he says.

Lazarus kneels in front of me. He kisses my bare knee. "Know this Willow, you are very special, and you will be loved here by not only me but every single person in this house," he says.

As I begin to cry happy tears for this special moment with Lazarus. There is a commotion in the hall outside our room. Someone starts pounding on the door. Prissy burst through the door.

"Lazarus, son, we have a huge problem," she says.

She looks at me and then looks at Laz. "They took her father," she says.

"Who took him?" I scream.

"It was Lester. He is trying to stop the wedding," she says.

Lazarus rushes out the door. As he gets out of the door, he turns back and stops. "Stay with her. I will take care of this," he says.

Prissy sits with me. "Do not worry, sweetheart. If anyone can fix this, it is my sweet Lazarus," she says.