Page 8 of The Dark War

My Taliyah had to serve under Darius for so long. She had to keep her head low, doing his bidding until now. Now, her back was straight, her head held tall like the real queen she was meant to be. The noble vampires bowed to her, muttering their agreements to turn to me. Several eyed me from head to toe, giving darkening glances.

There was no secret. The Parliament knew that I almost gave up Taliyah for another. Those in her inner circle found it repulsive, which is why we had not solidified our bond yet, along with the never-ending lists that Taliyah had made to help repair a broken country.

“Jasper,” she said breathlessly, ignoring the vampires now walking to the door. “I’m so glad you are here.” Taliyah’s arms held open wide, and she wrapped her arms around my back.

“I’m never far.” I pecked her cheek. “Are you ready for our date? Or would you rather rest?” Taliyah shook her head excitedly.

“No, I’m ready. Our first proper date, huh?” She ran up the stairs halfway before turning around to meet my eyes in the foyer. “How should I dress?” I wiggled my eyebrows as she began to laugh.

“No, seriously! Are we going to a pub in the forest? Heading to the Cerulean Moon Kingdom?” she continued to ramble. I leaned my arm on the banister with a large lion opening its mouth. My mate looked adorable when she was excited. Her eyebrow would cock to the side when she thought about something difficult, yet the other would remain impassive. When she was excited, hopeful or maybe shaking in pleasure I would give her, they would both raise, giving me the perfect look inside her beautiful red eyes.

“Outside, my sweet,” I joked. “We will be outside. Now hurry.” Squealing, she ran up the stairs to change while I arranged the carriage.

I had the drapes closed. I didn’t want her to see where we were going. We wouldn’t be leaving Vermillion, just staying right on the outskirts near the fields of dried wheat and grass. It wasn’t much to look at. Just a few months ago, it was nothing but black dirt and tan stalks of dead vegetation. The carriage went slow, going around the palace perimeter a few times before it actually reached our destination. The area I had prepared would surprise her for sure, especially since she thought that the soil was no longer useful.

Taliyah continued to pour out her ideas of what it could be. I only laughed, licking my bottom lip and biting it slightly as her own mouth moved. I thought she would be at least tired from her long meeting this morning, but she was anything but.

My wolf pranced in my head, excited we would spend the entire afternoon and evening with her, the first time since I pleaded for her to keep me as her mate. Taliyah had given me a second chance, and I would not waste it. After four months of proving myself, I was close, if the previous night was any sign. Soon my mate would bear my mark, and all would be right with the world from my view.

“Are we there yet?” her voice squeaked. Small bits of electricity tingled her fingers, lighting up the dark carriage. Chucking, I pulled her close, her head already nuzzling into my neck.

“Yes, we are close. Here.” I pulled out a black silk blindfold. Her eyes widened as I wrapped it around her head. “Don’t get any crazy ideas,” I whispered huskily in her ear. Feeling her body shudder had my cock springing to life.

Down, boy.

Her rear moved, causing fantastic friction in my pants. Holding her waist down, her hands gripped my shirt. “None of that, not unless you want to get marked right now, in the open.” She bit her lip, her red lipstick staining her teeth. Shaking her head, I laughed, kissing her until her stains were gone.

Once the carriage stopped, the driver took extra precautions to let her out. “You can head back. She’ll ride on my wolf when we return.” The driver graciously bowed, thanking both of us. Watching as the driver whipped the horses, I found Taliyah wiggling her fingers.

Taliyah had her hands out, adorably trying to reach or touch something that would give her a clue. “Taliyah, what are you doing?” I pulled on her hand, pulling her into my embrace. “You won’t figure it out like that.” She pouted, my lips tasting hers again.

“Can I see now?” she whispered. I bit my own lip, rolling my tongue across the bottom.

“I guess so.” I sighed. I kind of liked her blindfolded, with me to take care of her. She could perfectly take care of herself, but it would be nice if she would finally let go of the leadership pressure and let me do the work.

On her, that is.

We stood outside the large circle of trees, hiding the real present. It was a small forest inside the large, dead field. It was its own little oasis inside the darkened world of the Vermillion nation. Without the glamour spell to hide it, it stuck out like a sore thumb. Right now, we could only see the sway of the trees that held the small garden inside. Taliyah gasped, her hands covering her mouth.

“You got trees to grow here?” Lacing my fingers into hers, I kissed the back of her hand. “They are transplants from other territories, and the soil is rich, so the trees took to it well. This is only the beginning, though.” Taliyah’s eyes widened, touching the bark of the healthy tree.

It took many months to plan this. The ashes of burned homes, dead carcasses of animals, and the bloody tears of vampires all dissolved in the soil, ground together so new life would emerge. If the people worked together, the entire nation would hold the beautiful, darkened trees and exotic flowers it once had. With past death, new life would arise.

Pulling her through the thickness of the rows of trees, we walked into a paradise. A small pond lay in the middle, and rows of Blue Moon flowers, similar to tulips of Earth, lined the path to a small table in the middle. Deep red bushes, budding with abundant white flowers called to the whisps that drank their nectar. The dark crows that ran the land of Vermillion, scouting for scraps of food witches left behind, were now pecking the rich soil for worms.

Black rabbits nibbled at the growing garden in one area of the oasis. It was a testing spot for me, trying to understand what vegetables and fruits could grow here the best. I laughed, watching several rabbits nipping at each other’s heels while trying to grab a carrot from another.

Taliyah touched each bush and small tree while walking on each steppingstone, afraid to step in the meticulously trimmed grasses. Pixies from the north had noticed the new small paradise in a land in which it should be dead. Their laughter rang through the wind, walking into a new home they made in a nearby tree, slamming it shut, making Taliyah laugh. “Jasper, how?”

“I had help.” I dared not take the credit. Hoping she wouldn’t have asked who had helped me, but of course, she did. I bit my cheek, saying the name I didn’t want to bring up.

“Clara did,” I whispered. Taliyah only nodded, bending down to pick one lone deep red rose, accidentally pricking her finger.

“She will make a wonderful queen,” she whispered to herself. The back of my index finger brushed her pale cheek, her long lashes looking through to meet mine.

“You already make a wonderful queen.” Before Taliyah could argue with me, my fingers slipped around her waist, playing with the light blue cardigan that complimented her skin. My head tilted, meeting her lips, her gasping at the sudden forcefulness of my embrace.

Taliyah

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