Page 111 of His True Beloved

“Sebastian.” The calming aura entered the room, along with a fierce one. Queen Clara, holding her daughter Evelyn, smiled brightly, and her mate, King Kane, stared me down fiercely.

Eh, didn’t miss him.

“I told you he’d come!” she said brightly. “And he has a mate! I’m Clara. It’s so nice to meet you!” She rushed forward, holding out her hand, and Christine clutched it tightly.

“Oh, you both will be perfect. The perfect vampire couple to take over. Taliyah will be thrilled!”

Christine smiled back, her blonde hair bouncing with her excitement. Things couldn’t get any better. To help rebuild a kingdom, along with my mate, was something I never thought I would ever be blessed with. Now here I am, with my beloved, and a new future to come.

Epilogue

Under the Moon

“It’sstunning.”Sebastian’sshoescould be heard coming down the hallway. Christine could hear him a mile away with those god-awful shoes. She would never get used to the clothing here. The heavy, dark clothing was almost dreary, but Sebastian was right. It was needed.

Whether it be by eating, crying, or snagging one of her claws over her skin, there was always blood to be shed. She cut herself several times when she was first learning how to control the claws that could form out of her fingers. Now she could do it on command without a blink of an eye.

“You sure it looks all right?” Christine questioned, not daring to look away from the oil painting. Christine had put her college degree to good use, despite thinking she would never be of any help. She was not only the reigning queen, but also the palace artist. Her work was beyond anything Vermillion had seen in decades, and her work had been busy since the day she and Sebastian were crowned.

Christine painted murals on the walls and the grand vaulted ceilings. Bringing the Vermillion palace back to its once glamorous glory. She had an eye for detail, and her love for art was admired by many. The palace was certainly brighter than the previous palace. Christine made sure of that. Bringing in elements of the old palace versus the new gave it a beautiful modern twist.

She and Sebastian were both crowned just three days after arriving in Bergarian at the Crimson Shadow’s pack. The elder vampires were thrilled to see a vampire pair take over the throne, under the pretense that the first-born son of Taliyah and Jasper would return the power to Taliyah’s line if he was indeed a vampire.

Christine finally had time to paint the portrait of their coronation after redoing the previous royal lines. Queen Clara had Christine borrow the Cerulean Moon Kingdom’s history books to replicate the old portraits. Their picture would now be hung in the hall of royals. Even if they would have a short time of ruling compared to the hundreds of years other kings and queens have ruled, Taliyah felt it was only fair that they should have their standing in the sacred room. Sebastian and Christine now earned the title of high nobles of the court once they descended from the crown, and Sebastian’s side job was to help train the rightful heir of the throne when it came time.

“It’s beautiful.” Sebastian wiped away a dollop of paint from Christine’s cheek. She could stand for hours as she painted, looking at the small glimpses of pictures from their coronation day. Even though cameras were technically banned from Bergarian, Clara might have bent the rules to have their special day remembered.

The coronation was small because of the lack of funds in the Vermillion Kingdom, but Clara made it gorgeous with fairy lights and hanging sheer fabric of Vermillion’s colors, black and red on the trees in the background. Candelabras decorated the altar, and Cyrene made it simple and elegant as red and black rose petals fell around the crowd.

Christine had worn a black lace gown molded to her body. The dark swirls of crimson decorated the bodice with tiny diamonds that traced her collarbone down her arms and the sheer lace of the dress. It was luxurious and dark. That reminded her of a wedding dress, only donned in black. Her blonde hair was a bright contrast, but Sebastian only noticed his beloved’s eyes, sparkling with red and blue.

Sebastian was dressed in the same colors. Wearing a traditional three-piece suit with a deep red vest. A red rose so deep one would be thought it would be black adorned his lapel. Steel-colored crowns dressed their heads, rubies, and diamonds, decorating them accordingly.

“The detail is astounding.” Sebastian pulled her close to him. He was proud of his beloved. She did everything she could to help Sebastian rule a land that was nothing but desolate wastelands. Now the surrounding forest was thriving, the deep green grass with red tips whipped in the wind, the crops had taken root, and the trees now held wildlife they never thought would return to just a place.

Species of animals only thought to live in the southern kingdom that were extinct returned, and Sebastian took it as the gods' way of blessing the land. The crops thrived, and the economy grew. Year by year, the forests grew more luscious and deeper. The crops yielded enough so they could barter with other kingdoms for fine silk, gold, and other treasures.

All the children of the kingdom were fed, no one went hungry. The Black Raven coven taking it upon themselves to establish a blood donation drive on Earth. Frequent blood bags were brought to the kingdom. Just enough for those who had yet to find their beloveds to eat freely without becoming hungry.

With Taliyah’s guidance, Sebastian and Christine appeared to be the country's saving grace, but that filled Sebastian with guilt. He knew very well that without Taliyah and Jasper ruling from afar, through them, this nation would not be what it was today.

“Think you could make another for our bedchambers?” Sebastian asked her. Christine smiled and laid the paintbrush down.

“I can do even better. Taliyah said when she visits, she can cast a copy spell she’s learned. It will give us the same painting, so I don’t have to work so hard.” Christine fake swooned, and fell into Sebastian’s arms.

Twenty years had passed to the day since they had become king and queen, and the day that they would renounce the crown and give it to the proper heir was quickly approaching. They had hoped to renounce the crowns when they had ruled for twenty-five years.

“Your siblings will be here soon,” Sebastian murmured in her ear. “Best not get me riled up before dinner.” Christine squealed, feeling a swat on her ass. The thin dresses she wore when she painted gave Sebastian ample ass slapping, and boy, did he have an arm on him.

Christine had dressed in a red and black Victorian-style ballroom dress. Her crown was placed neatly on her head. Five more years until she no longer had to wear the heavy thing, and she was grateful for that. The times she had alone with Sebastian were short and far between. Both had their own duties, and the only time they had together was when they slept. Even then, that was short.

It didn’t stop them from having their first child, a son. “Killian, will you snap my dress up, please?” Killian stalked up behind his mother. He was tall, ever the handsome young noble he would be. Unfortunately, that wasn’t what he craved. He had become deeply interested in the Death Flock, an assassin organization that turned secret guard to the true royals that should have the crown.

They had pledged their allegiance to Sebastian and Christine, as well as Taliyah and Jasper, who hid themselves in the northern part of the Cerulean Moon Kingdom when not invited to Sunday dinners at the palace. “Thank you.” Christine turned to see her son. He was well taller than her, almost taller than his father, at nineteen years old.

“Are grandmother and grandfather coming?” he said stoically. Her son had the most formal tone, and she couldn’t help but blame herself for letting the tutors of Vermillion had such a large hand in his upbringing. That was the reason they were waiting to have another child, fearing she didn’t cuddle her only son enough.

“They are, and your aunt and uncle.” She smiled. For a moment, Killian’s eyes widened, and his lips twitched. His aunt’s beloved would be there. It was the perfect time to ask the dire question he wanted answered.

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