The Midnight Flower Series: Ari Constantine

Fang walks me to the throne room to see my father and I'm not objecting because I planned to see him anyway. I have to tell him about finding my other mate and how it's the boy who's been training me the past three years.

I am puzzled though, we trained for those three years together, but not once did he mention anything to me about being his mate. And the moment he leaves the castle walls and I follow him, he calls me his mate.

He's seventeen and I'm ten yet we both look the same age due to the rapid aging.

He's beautiful, but I don't want anything to do with him. I don't feel a pull to him now that I think about it; how am I his mate then?

I harden my emotions and I reluctantly follow Fang in tense, yet awkward, silence.

As we reach the doors, Fang abruptly turns around and I brace myself for him to yell at me.

He looks at me contemplatively and his raven black hair slowly starts turning navy blue and his orange eyes glow a little.

"Midnight, you wont remember a thing about that werewolf." He says hypnotically.

I widened my eyes and started to back away from him knowing that he was going to wipe my memories but I didn't get far, my body refused to cooperate with me as I stared up into his eyes with awe.

White is my other mate besides him and Shadow.

I mentally chant in my head.

"Acenté nos piosefkth!" He said in a snake like voice as his eyes continued to glow a brighter fire-orange.

"Fang I don't-" I start panicked but my brain fogs up and I can't remember what I was doing. I shake my head a little and look up and see Fang.

I'm met with his tender gaze; confused, I draw in my brows while searching his beautiful fire orange eyes. He gently puts both his palms to the sides of my face as he slowly leans in. He stops a moment to look into my eyes for permission and I feel my heart stutter and I suck in a breath and hold it as he places a gentle chaste kiss to my slightly parted lips.

My eyelids flutter, I tilt my head up as I lean into his body to deepen the kiss.

He slowly backs me up to the closest wall pressing himself into me and deepens the kiss, I let out a whimper and claw at him to come closer. I can feel his body vibrate with laughter and I feel his smile against my lips but he pulls away.

Breathless, I open my eyes to look at him and I feel my cheeks flush.

"Let's go." He huskily says at my ear causing a shiver to run its course over my body.

I nod submissively as he flashes me a mischievous grin; we enter the room to meet my father and as soon as I'm comfortable, Fang dismisses himself from the room leaving me with my father.

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I sit with my back straight like a rod as I stare at my father.

I'm not sure I heard him correctly.

Engagement? To some werewolf prince?

My chin wobbles at the prospect of being married off to some guy I don't know.

"You can't do this! I refuse to marry him!" I cry out.

"It's not up for discussion Midnight." With a heavy sigh my dad reflexively answers as if he knew how I would react; his hand at his temple.

"But I've already decided to marry Fang! What does mom have to say about this?! Does she know that you're trying to marry me off -"

I'm cut off with his harsh yell.

"I am your father and I am the king. You will do as I tell you." He says slamming his fist on the table causing me to flinch.

Father rarely gets upset and mother has all but checked out mentally after my rape three years ago. Since then, dad has been raising me and dealing with me the best he can but I've also been a pain in the ass for the past year and a half with my rebelling.

I stand up defiantly and stare at him trying to hold back the wobble to my lips and the tears that want to fall from my baby blue eyes.

"You will be going to the werewolf kingdom for a year to get to know him and have your wedding. Prince Romeo will not be accompanying you and has been called back home for the time being. I expect the marriage to take place on your next birthday. Do I make myself clear!" He says in a harsh whisper; his steel blue eyes boring into mine.

I don't answer him. I turn around and run out of the room, green flames trail behind me and start to scorch my surroundings.

Married?! I don't want to be married.

And to who? I don't even know the guy!

I let out a frustrated cry and run up the four flights of stairs to my bedroom.

By this point, the entire staff at the castle are used to my fire outbursts so the staff who can manipulate water and wind are already on it.

I burst into my room that was enchanted to be fireproof when I turned seven and I ran across the bedroom and jumped onto my bed.

"Fangie!" I cry out knowing he'll hear me as I burrow my way under the covers.

His weight dips the bed and he slowly starts pulling the blanket down from my face.

"I don't want to get married!" I sob uncontrollably as he pulls me up and holds me to him.

His arms tighten around me and he whispers his apologies and sweet nothings to me.

"I would like to propose an alternative option to your father but I'm not quite sure he'll accept. Just stay here and I'll be back within the hour."

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It's been close to an hour but Fang hasn't returned yet. A few maids had come into my room and started to pack a few suitcases of my clothes, toiletries, and random stuff that they think would be necessary.

I had the first few maids running out of the room screaming on fire and new ones kept replacing the old. I mean don't get me wrong, I did my best to stop them but they just ignored me and sent my stuff down into carriages.

Where is Fang? He should be here by now!

'Fang where are you?'

'I'm sorry my flower...this conversation is taking a bit longer than necessary. I will be there as soon as I can.' 

I groan in frustration at the prospect of me having to leave but suck it up.

A knock at the door makes me jump but I'm startled when it opens up and a boy with blond hair and green eyes walks in and gently smiles at me.

"Lady Midnight, I've come to escort you to your father, please follow me." And with that he walks out and waits for me to follow him.

I steel my resolve, get up from my bed and I stalk out of my room head held up high and gracefully walk behind the servant.

He leads me down the four flights of stairs across the ballroom and outside instead of my fathers office and it only takes a moment for my brain to register that I'm being led to where the carriages are.

I stop walking and the boy stops to turn around and stare at me.

"Lady Midnight, let's not make this harder than it needs to be. Please follow willingly or face the consequences of your actions."

I widen my eyes appalled at his brazen attitude towards me but I slightly tilt my chin and set myself on fire.

My green flames engulf my body and my long curly black hair turns red, my baby blue eyes turn entirely royal blue and my ears point out accentuating my fae side.

The boy sighs and shifts into a massive grey wolf before lunging himself at me.

Caught off guard, he claws at my arm but I quickly recover as I throw fireballs at him; I will a sword into my hand and swing it at his side causing him to whimper out in pain.

He backs off and tries to assess the situation more carefully but a tingling sensation at my back makes me turn around and I swing my sword slicing clean through another wolf who falls down lifeless in half.

I turn back and face the wolf in front of me and throw another fireball at him. He growls and charges again trying to snap at me but I bring the sword down and the wolf's head rolls while the body falls to the side twitching.

Panting a bit, I will my sword away and walk past the wolf corpses.

"I don't like being tricked." I say aloud.

"And I sure as fuck don't like being ambushed either!" I say furiously looking at the werewolves.

Would my father be angry with me for striking them down? Did my father actually want that boy to bring me to him?

I blink and realize that I'm feeling dizzy and confused.

Something isn't right.

I set myself on fire to protect myself as I feel I'm getting weak at the knees and everything.

My eyes start to feel heavy like lead is weighing on them and I can feel myself collapsing onto the grass.

I swallow back bile as I see two sets of feet in my line of vision.

I hiss and growl out a warning in my faerie form and will my flames to burn as bright and hot as possible but the feet advance as if me being on fire isn't an issue.

I try to force my eyes to stay open but eventually they do close and I'm panting at the exertion of keeping my flames going.

"Just give her a little bit longer, then we can safely pick her up and travel her to your home." I hear my dad say.

"Of course, King Henry. If you don't mind me asking, why is she acting this way? I thought she was excited about my son and even went about saying she wanted to talk to you about him."

I hear my dad sigh heavily and with a sad voice that kind of breaks my heart, he responds.

"Her first mate, Prince of vampires Romeo Fang James, found her when she was born. He was hired to assassinate her at birth but found out she was his mate and didn't follow through with it. He has been following her around and protecting her since birth. He also has a bad habit of swiping her memories and manipulating her emotions. She's been molded and groomed by him and no matter what me and her mother does we can't do anything. Having her find another mate who's only seven years older is better than her getting together with his ancient ass."

I pass out and don't hear the rest of the conversation.

Father…why?

Why must you do this to me!

First you take Ari away from me and now you're taking me forcefully away from Fang!

I hate you father!

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(A/N)

Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year. Sorry for such a long wait for this chapter. I've been catching up on some well deserved rest after working non stop at my full time job. I'll do my best to continue with the updates.