The Housekeeper (Ruby Rose/Terra Juana fanfic)

EPILOGUE 5 (TERRA POV)

"It was a good idea to leave Venice finally and come here to spend the rest of the summer..." Marcus whispers watching Ruby cutting some roses in the garden while the sun sets and we share a glass of wine and a bowl of nuts sitting on the porch. "I think it was good for her."

"Yes, she looks calmer... Thanks for buying this gorgeous house near Verona and thanks for your help, I wouldn't have been able to do it without you. This last month was crazy..."

"We all needed to rest and get away from the city, even Aren is having fun going hunting instead of sailing for a change. Have you stopped holding Ruby's mind?" I nod slowly but keeping my eyes on my princess, monitoring her movements carefully.

"Yes, I'm aware that she needs to go through a mourning period alone, she must cry for her baby as much as she needs to feel fine again, I'll be there to support her but I can't save her sorrow and grief, that wouldn't be healthy... I would've liked to wait a little longer before turning her into a vampire but she insisted a lot: she didn't want to go back to her palazzo, lying to her parents and friends while sneaking out to meet me or putting up with the frivolous conversations of her former suitors the day of the funeral with a fake grin plastered on her face... She wanted me to stay by her side every minute like she feared I was going to vanish from her life too. She firmly believes fate has brought us together."

"I guess it's normal, lot of things have happened in a short period of time and she probably felt overwhelmed but the bond that binds you together is real and powerful, something stable to hold onto while the world falls apart around her and is rebuilt again. It was hard to control all those minds to make them believe you were the chosen suitor and that's why you were by her side in the church and held her hand during the funeral and the dinner at her parents' house but now they're satisfied because they believe she's in good hands. And she is, Ruby will be happy and she'll have everything she wants, she'll travel and learn new things... That will lessen her sorrow, she'll never stop crying for her little baby but will learn how to live with it."

"I don't know, I still think we rushed things a little and I should've prepared her better for these changes... I can't say no to Ruby if she asks me pouting but I should've been firmer, it wasn't the best moment to turn into a vampire: she was depressed, everything was changing around her too fast and she had to adjust to her new powers while still crying for her daughter... I don't know, dad, I get the impression something's wrong..."

"What are you talking about? You look great together, you're so obviously in love and your mate looks for your support instinctively when she feels sad or scared, her smiles are real, she's happy living here... As happy as she can be given the circumstances... You've changed too... Excuse me for saying so but you're less grumpy than these past years."

"I know, I'm not talking about that," I answer rolling my eyes hard. "The bond is strong, that's for sure, the most powerful thing I've ever felt, and her blood in my body every time I take a sip tastes like liquid fire. But it seems unstable, I don't know how to explain it... I feel like it's interrupted from time to time, I'm able to feel Ruby but in the distance and I have to make an effort to get closer to her... It's weird but it feels like something's wrong."

"Well, this is new to me too so I don't know what to say. I've met other vampires with partners but no one as close to me as you, a member of my family... Maybe you're right and this has moved too fast, the bond is new and you aren't used to have a mate. I bet everything will go better as time goes by... You need to be patient, Terra. By the way, your brother John has written me and will visit Venice next Christmas. Isn't it wonderful? We'll celebrate it as a family with Ruby for the first time..."

"Seriously? That's great," I whisper pretending to be excited. The truth is that I don't get along with my older brother, I think he's an unbearable stuck-up, but fortunately he travels a lot and we see him a handful of times every decade. I wonder what he'll think about Ruby...