10: Darken, DarkHeart

Chapter nineteen: Astraea

once outside the shop Oberon grabbed my arm and turned me to look at him, "what do you mean by our child not being the heir?" 

i could tell he was mad without even having to feel it. "if you are allowed to keep secrets, then so can i. plus, the throne of Drakaria is none of your concern, not when you plan to die soon anyways."

"Star...." he looked hurt, "what are you planning?"

i sighed. "after the pink moon, i will be stepping down as queen of Drakaria."

"why?" he asked me, "why would you do that?"

"my reasons are my own." i told him, "i will be returning the throne to who it belongs to, Alec Darken. but right now, that does not matter, can we just spend today together? please?"

he nodded, looking at the sky. "your list can wait for now, lets get some lunch."

I nodded as he guided me through the streets. We stumbled upon a quaint cafe, its stones painted in shades of pink and blue. Large windows adorned the front of the shop, and a pink sign on the door announced 'Candy Floss Cafe.' 

"I hear this is the most popular cafe in the city," Oberon informed me.

"It's cute," I remarked as we entered the cafe and chose a seat by one of the windows. The table was round and pink, matching the cafe's vibrant and colorful interior. The counter and display were brimming with an assortment of sweets and cakes.

A petite lady approached our table and presented us with menus. "Let me know when you're ready to order, dears," she said, then walked away.

i looked at the menu, there was so much to choose from. 

"may i suggest an assortment." Oberon pointed at the bottom of my menu, "that way there is both sweets and sandwiches."

"honestly," i chuckled. "i kind of really want some strawberries. there a strawberry poundcake on here that looks to die for." 

"you are not normally one for sweets." he reminded me. 

"i know," i smiled at him, rubbing my stomach. "but i guess that the baby is. oh and a chamomile tea would go nicely with it."

"As you wish," he said with a smile, gesturing for the server to return. "Could we have a slice of the strawberry pound cake? If possible, with extra strawberries — my wife is expecting and has a craving for them. We'd also like two cups of chamomile tea, and I'll have a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich, please."

i glared at my husband. 

"ill get that right up for you." the server said as she gathered out menus and ran off. 

"bacon? really?" i raised an eyebrow. "didn't we just have this conversation this morning?"

"cant blame a man for trying?" he shrugged. 

"if you eat that, that will ruin this who date you know, itll just make you cranky." i crossed my arms.

"date?" he asked with a smile. "i thought we were just running errands."

"i...i, um." i couldnt find the words, my face going red. 

luckily i was saved by the server placing out food and tea in front of us. i smiled at her with a nod. 

i looked at the cake, strawberries loaded on the top, cream dripping down the side. i picked up my fork and took a bite. i couldnt help but smile, it tasted so good. 

i looked at Oberon, he was about to take a bite of his sandwich when i reached out and pulled the bacon out of it and shoved it in my mouth.

"now that is just mean." Oberon said with a smile. 

"oh come on, you cant get mad at a pregnant girl," i laughed. 

he reached his hand over the table and wiped the side of my face, i saw some cream on his thumb now as he put it in his mouth, "there, now its a fair trade."

i could feel my face going red again as i quickly finished my cake and tea and he finished his sandwich. 

once done he paid the bill and met me outside. 

"where to next dear?" he asked. 

i looked at my list. "the book store. theres a few books i would like to read." 

"very well." he smiled as we walked through the streets. 

we stopped at a stall selling different jewelries. i spotted a decorative comb made of bronze, elegant leaves around it. along some of the leaves were purple, blue and green gems, the color of mine and Oberon's eyes. 

"do you want it?" he asked me. 

"its lovely, but not something someone like me would wear." i said, remembering how lucky i was being able to wear more rich metals. 

"you can wear whatever you want." he pulled out some gold and handed it to the vendor. "consider it another gift, so you can always remember today." he took the comb and placed it in my hair. he smiled at me, his green eyes shining. "beautiful."

my face went warm again, "we have a couple more stops to make, book shop is this way." i then led the way, him following me closely. 

we reached the book shop, the sign simply saying 'book shop.'  as we walked into the shop a bell chimed above us. the smell of old books filled my nose. the walls lined with books and scrolls. 

With no shopkeeper in sight, I browsed the shelves, selecting a few books on dragon and elf pregnancies. then i came across what i was looking for, 'myths and legends of the pink full moon'. 

it was up higher, i looked around for a ladder before Oberon reached above me and pulled it down for me. he looked at the title before handing it to me, "you still plan on trying to stop me?"

i did not say anything, i could not lie to him. 

"your silence says it all." he handed me his coin purse, "ill wait for your outside." 

"Robin...." i tried to stop him before he left, but he would not stop. 

i sighed and went back to looking at books, pulling a couple more, one on fairy law and one was a romance novel. 

"what is a pretty think like you doing here on your own?" i turned to see what looked like the shop keep standing behind his counter.

"im not alone." i told him as i approached, setting the books down. "my husband is waiting for me outside."

"too bad." he chuckled. "if he werent with you, you would be some fun."

"how much do i owe you?" i asked, ignoring his piercing gaze.

"twenty-three gold." he answered. i pulled the gold and set it on the counter and picked the pile of books back up. 

"thank you," i muttered before rushing out of the shop, feeling his eyes on me the whole time. 

i looked around for Oberon and could not see him. i could feel my heart pounding, i was scared.... that shop keep scared me.

"is everything okay dear?" i turned to see my husband and fell to the ground. he knelt down and placed a hand on my shoulder. "what happened?" 

"i dont exactly know." i answered, looking up at Oberon. "the shop keep, he... i think he scared me."

"so i dont scare you, but a shop keep does?" he asked, looking worried. "let me go talk to him."

i grabbed his arm, "please dont leave me."

he helped me to my feet, taking the books and herbs from me, "i am sorry for leaving you alone in there. we really should talk about the pink moon though."

"no." i shook my head. "theres no point. we are both stubborn as hell, neither of us will back down, even if we heard eachother out."

"whats the next stop on your list?" he asked me. 

"id like to get some new paints and some canvas." i told him, "its been a long time since i have painted."

"this way dear." he led me through the streets, i got the strange feeling that we were being followed.