Betrothed to Darkness: The Vampire Prince's Wife

Chapter Seven

* * *

Rowan

The bell rang as we entered.

A young looking vampire rounded the corner “Ah Prince Rowan, Prince Ivan, I'm so glad you could make it!” she outstretched her arms in celebration as she came to greet us with a fanged grin. “Where is she?” 

I moved aside and gestured to Violet. 

She faltered slightly, recoiling her arms to her chest and placing a claw like nail to her red stained lips.

“A human?” Her eyes met mine, then Ivans, then Silos’, “Alright then.” she shrugged at the lack of response. “Come in come in.”

The boutique was lined with dresses and suits of all colours and sizes, Violet walked slowly taking in the array of clothes displayed before her the three of us lingered behind allowing her to have a brief look at her options. 

“Here's the dressing room…” She began, pulling out a clothing rack and moving it aside, “Violet, take whatever you like and you can hang it on here. If you would like any suggestions or can't find a dress or suit in a particular colour, shape, whatever, I'm here to help. We also do custom pieces and-”

“Thank you, Vanessa, we won't be needing any of those.” I stopped her mid speech, I wasn't planning to drain my account here. 

She smiled, nodded and turned away to leave.

“What are we doing here? My possessions will be arriving in a few weeks.”

“Well we can't have you stuck walking around and sleeping in my clothes, Rowan gets jealous.” He whispered the last part, covering his mouth with the back of his hand as he spoke. Violet's face heated and she turned to me.

I landed a hard smack on the back of his head, causing both him and Silos to burst into laughter, “Piss off.” even Violet let out a small laugh, “go pick out some stuff.” I waved her away and with that she took to the clothes. 

We had been here for only ten minutes and Silos was already lifting clothes off the display racks. 

“What are you doing?” Ivan peered over him, looking towards the dress in his hand.

“Picking out stuff, like Rowan said.” 

“Didn't realise you became a cross-dresser in our time apart, congrats Silos.”

“Shut up Rowan.” He rolled his eyes, " Look at her, she doesn't know what she's doing.” 

He wasn't wrong. Violet aimlessly looked between the dresses, every few minutes picking one that interested her and pressing it against her before putting it back on the rack.

She was clueless.

“Ok, let's hurry this up.”

* * *

One dress at a time the rack became increasingly full.

“Has she still not picked one?” 

I shook my head and took my bottom lip between my teeth, “What's her problem? Are all women like this?”

“Maybe she doesn't like dresses.” Ivan countered.

Rolling my eyes I called, “Violet, here.” 

She flinched and turned to us holding a simple but cute white dress. Her hesitation was clear. She wasn't sure if she wanted this dress either. Making her way to the rack her eyes widened in disbelief.

“What are these for?” 

“You.” Silos intervened, taking a seat in the cushioned chair provided, “Try them on.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she looked over our choices, but not willing to argue, she took to the changing room with the dress she picked in her hand.

Taking longer than what was necessary, Violet slowly emerged from behind the curtain revealing a simple yet elegant dress. The straps over her shoulders formed a bow at the peak of each shoulder, the inbuilt corset accentuated the shape of her waist and soft curves, ruffled white fabric covered her left leg leaving her right to be exposed by the sheer fabric. She truly was a sight in white.

Shying away from our view she drew her hands to her chest and picked at her nails. Picking at her skin seemed to be a form of comfort.. Or maybe a distraction. She only seems to do it when she's nervous..

“Next dress.” Ivan cleared his throat, regaining my attention, “Keep that one to the side.”

Going back behind the curtain with one of Silos’ choices, she returned in a glittering silver mermaid tail dress. The fabric loosely hung from her creating beautiful folds to accumulate along her torso, some travelled over her waist and splayed into the skirt of the dress that pooled around her feet.

“Beautiful.” I leaned forward in my seat, resting on my palm while pressing my fingers over my lips. Taken back from the comment she rushed to the next dress, hiding the blush that crept up from her neck to her ears. 

Now one of Ivans choices came into view. Black fabric folded over her bust creating a wide V neck that exposed her untouched neck and collarbone, the whole dress was glued to her skin showing every bump and curve on her small figure. The black heavily contrasted her pale complexion and made her glow, resembling snow on a winter's night.  

Ivan nudged my side, grinning like a child who just received a lollipop, I swatted him away with my hand keeping my focus toward Violet who was growing increasingly embarrassed by our little fashion show.

“One more.” I stated, leading to a small huff of protests from the two who sat beside me. 

The final dress she picked was one of mine. As she disappeared behind the curtain my body grew tense, my hands collected in my lap, my fingers intertwining with each other as my tongue ran over my teeth.

Finally, Violet emerged. I rose to my feet and a breath I didn't realise I was holding was let out as I took in the small -but noticeable- smile on her face.

She liked it.

I loved it.

I studied the deep-red silk that cascaded down her curves, perfectly lining her figure and exposing her left leg. Similar to the other dress her neck and collarbone were fully exposed by the loose off shoulder sleeves.

Perfect.

Ivans and Silos opinions and praise were far more vocal than mine.

All I could do was look.

Taking Violet's hand, I led her towards the checkout while ignoring her stupid protests about ‘getting changed’ and ‘being able to walk by herself’. She was walking home like this.