Darkness, Love, Magic

Chapter 3

"Legacy's POV"

My father and I were ushered into a magnificent room with a beautiful throne. An empty throne. Where was Queen Yuuki? A woman enters and says, "Her Royal Majesty, is currently occupied at the moment but she will be with you as soon as she can." and with that, she leaves. Occupied? How can she be occupied when we had an appointment? Suddenly, a beautiful woman wearing a beautiful royal blue dress walks into the room with her head down covered by a towel and rubbing it. I smelled a strong smell of soap and shampoo and realize that she was in the shower. Her smell was intoxicating and my wolf was purring in my head. Then she lifts her head and I look into the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen. Her eyes are hazel with flecks of red and gold in them and a hazy blue ring around her iris. Suddenly, my wolf cries out in my head, "Mate!" but I remain quiet. My father introduces me to her and I see emotions flash in her eyes so fast that I am unable to say what they are. Finally, I can keep quiet no longer. I open my mouth and cried, "Mate!" The look in my mate's eyes is one of relief and I know that she feels the bond as well. I've known for many years that my mate was a vampire. I don't really care though because it has never made me love her any less. In fact, it has only made me love her more. Suddenly, I hear my father say something about my delicate health and that I can't travel too much in one day. He asks if I could stay here until the preparations for my coronation are complete. She agrees and my father bids me farewell. I bid my father farewell and then look back at my mate. My beautiful, breathtaking mate. My head is still reeling from the fact that the woman I have been in love with for so many years is my mate!! I am overjoyed at this fact, however, she acts so cold to me. Does she not want to be my mate? Does she not want me? She takes me to her room where I will be staying and she takes out her computer and ignores me. After a while of trying to get her to talk, I decide to say what is on my mind. "Your Majesty, do you want to reject me?" Her head snaps to me from her computer and a look of pain is in her eyes. "No, Legacy, why would you think that?" she asks with a voice filled with hurt. " Because you are ignoring me. It's like my being here is a bother to you. If that's the case then I'll just reject you myself to save us both from the heartache." I say as yet another flash of pain appears in her eyes but I ignore it. " I, Legacy, Princess of Valencia, Future Queen of Valencia and Future Alpha of the Dark Moon Pack, reject you, Queen Yuuki, as my ma...." "No!!! Stop!!!" a voice filled with pain says. I look at Yuuki and see tear running down her face. "Please, stop. If you reject me, it will kill us both. I'm not trying to ignore you, Legacy. It's just that it'll take some time for me to let go." She says. " Let go? Of what?" I ask, feeling a pain in my chest. " As you probably know, you are not my first mate. My first mate, Hitomi, died in a carriage accident less than a year ago and I am still grieving. It's not that I don't want you or accept you. I just need to to let go of my past mate. You are my second-chance mate. Before I met you, I thought that I was destined to live alone for the rest of my life. I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that the Gods would bless me with happiness again. I just need time, Legacy. I accept you as my mate however, I need time to let go of Hitomi before we can mate and become one. Hitomi's one year anniversary of her death is coming up. On that day, I shall give you an answer as to how long it will take for me to let her go. Is that acceptable to you, Legacy?" She finishes. I am shocked at what I had just heard. My mate is in pain and all I am doing is trying to force my feelings onto her. I simply nod my head and leave. I walk the halls until I come upon a door marked 'Memorial garden'. I enter it only to find not a garden but a giant room filled with portraits. I walk over to a large portrait on a central alcove. I recognize her as Yuuki's mother. I light a candle for her and then wander around the room until I come upon a portrait of a beautiful young woman with hazel eyes and long raven black hair. I read the plate below it that says 'Hitomi, Queen of Paladia. Wife to Queen Yuuki. Mother to Ameila, Mitsuki, and Mamoru and Sasuke. May the Gods Rest Her Beloved Soul'. I can see why Yuuki loved her so much. I realize that I will never stand a chance against this woman. She is by far more beautiful than I will ever be. My coronation falls on the same day as her death anniversary. Tomorrow. Tomorrow will be the day that I lose the only woman I have ever loved. The only person I have ever loved. I know that she said that she accepted me as her mate however, she will never love me. Never. I would be stuck in a loveless mating. I didn't want that. Not if it meant hurting Yuuki. I would rather die that hurt her.