Render Me Starless

♛ | Chapter 21 - "roses entangled with shadows"

"My birthday is coming up. Maybe I should ask Stick Man to get me a puppy."
I ignore Gray as I throw the stick away from me and watch as my new puppy runs after it with her little tail wagging. "Help me figure out a name," I say instead. It has been a solid five hours since my mate had gifted me the precious magic animal and I had yet to come up with a name. Gray flops onto my bed with a sigh. "Call her Black Beauty," he suggests.
I grin as said puppy hands me back the stick. I study the intelligent puppy. "No, that doesn't sound right."

I had quickly found out that she wasn't any ordinary puppy. Of course I wasn't surprised considering my mate made her. It was obvious she understood the english language beyond sit, jump and roll over. "Do you like that name, puppy?" I ask her and watch as she shakes her head no. "Yeah, she doesn't like your name choice either," I tell Gray.

This name game has been going on for ages now and I was seriously debating on just calling her puppy. "You know," Gray starts and I turn my attention back to him as she comes to rest her head on my leg. I was sitting on the floor cross legged, on the extravagant carpet in my room. "Stella means star in latin," Gray finishes and I perk up. "Stella is such a cute name," I say, a grin forming on my face. I peer down at my puppy and gentle scratch her head to get her attention. "How do you like the name Stella?" I ask her and she stands up at this, her tail wagging. She lets out a small yip, her tongue lolling out. I share a grin with Gray. "I'm going to take that as a yes," I smile.
"I'm a sexy genius, I know," he says and I chuckle, giving the mage a high five. I was actually impressed with my best friend.

"What time is it?" Gray asks me and I check the time on my phone.
"Five past six," I tell him and scratch Stella behind the ear. He groans, sitting up. "I have to go welcome the new trainee," he mutters as he stands. I perk up at this. "Rose?" I ask.
Gray shakes his head. "No, her name is Magda," he tells me and offers me a hand. I grab it and let him pull me off the floor. "They're the same person," I inform him. "Rose is just her middle name."
He only waves me off and starts to walk out. "Wait, can I come?" I ask, hating the thought of being stuck in my room any longer. He looks back at me over his shoulder and thinks it over. "Sure, why not?" He grins and I return it.

"Ready for a little adventure?" I coo down to Stella and she nods her head once, her tail wagging. We both follow after the mage and he leads us through the main entrance till we're outside. The sun was starting to set which meant the people were waking up.

I can't help but let out a little smile. The Throne was so much better at night with the path lighting up and flowers lining it vibrant. There was that beauty within the darkness only some could see and I was privileged to see it.

A convertible quickly pulls up to the foot of the stairs and I'm not surprised to see striking red hair poking out. Gray lets out a low whistle from beside me. "That's a nice car," he murmurs, more to himself than me. I can't help but silently agree with him. I knew close to nothing about cars but anyone would be able to tell that this thing was worth a lot. We watch as Rose steps out of the car and circles the front of it to make her way towards us. She wears modern day attire; black ripped jeans and a tank top. Her necklace, the family heirloom, sparkles under the late sun.

I frown. The mage looked good even in this casual attire but did she not feel the cold?

The Lyra mage looks up and I catch her gaze instantly. She smiles but before I can return it, her eyes move onto the man stood next to me. I roll my eyes, not at all surprised that she would quickly move her attention onto my very male best friend. "Stars," Gray gasps. I mentally shrug. Rose was a scorching beauty. "She's my mate," he says and it takes me a second for his words to register. I turn to face him, my mouth dropping open. "My mate," he murmurs and yet his strides are confident as he meets her half way. My heart leaps, my mouth forming into a giddy grin.

Not even a second later, the seductress of a mage is throwing herself at Gray. I'm not surprised at this, knowing her confident self wasn't going to hold back. I reach down and gently pick up Stella. "Uncle Gray found his mate," I squeal quietly, not wanting to ruin their moment or blow my puppy's ears off.

"We have to go tell your dad," I say to her and she yips in agreement. I eye the embracing couple. Deciding not to interrupt their life changing moment, I head back inside to find my own mate. My grin never wavers as I walk down hall after hall, greeting whoever I see. It doesn't even waver when I realise that I'm completely lost. Stella starts to wiggle in my arms and I quickly put her down, not wanting her to be uncomfortable. She struts off as soon as she's on the ground.

"Do you know where you're going, Stella?" I ask her. She lets out a small bark and I take this as a yes. I shrug and quickly follow after her. She was a magical puppy after all. We pass the library and go up some stairs, although I had to carry Stella because she was way too small to climb up the stairs alone. Soon, I recognise where I am and don't need Stella's guide. Finding the doors to his office, I knock twice and the doors open on their own almost instantly.

"I'm surprised you didn't come earlier," Orion says as I walk in, not bothering to look up from his papers. I don't even bother responding to his remark. "Guess what?" I say instead, still grinning. At this, my mate looks up, glancing at Stella before meeting my eyes.
He puts his papers down. "What?"
"Gray and Rose are mates," I all but squeal and Stella jumps around my feet, sharing my excitement. His perfectly manicured eyebrows rise at this and I nod my head at this, letting him know that I'm just as surprised. "I'm so happy for them," I tell him. "We should celebrate."

"They've just met. They'll want to spend as much time together as possible," Orion says and I nod. "They can spend time together during a party that we throw," I insist. Good food. Music.
"Alone, Astraea. They would want to spend time alone," he says.
I sigh, accepting defeat. "We should have thrown a party for us."
"We will have to after we complete The Ritual of the Pure. Our mating needs to be announced to the people."

I nod, "I keep forgetting you're a prince who's going to be the future King," I admit, flopping down onto one of the couches. I peer around the room. It reminded me of the first day I had arrived at the Throne. That seemed like such a long time ago.
"And you're going to be the future queen."
I groan, "Don't remind me."
"You will have to take some lessons too," he informs me.

"I just graduated high school man," I whine.
"First lesson; whining is not a royal etiquette," Orion deadpans. Before I can come up with a witty remark, my eyes are drawn to my puppy. Or what was left of my puppy. She was now a bunch of shadows which quickly disappears, only to reappear on Orion's desk. It only takes her a second to become a solid puppy again. "I never knew she could do that," I say and watch as Stella yips happily to Orion. He gives her head a little ruffle which does not fail to melt my heart. "Did you name her?" he asks and I nod.

"I named our child Stella Night," I say proudly. He raises an eyebrow but chooses not to comment on the 'our child' part. "Latin for stars," he says instead.
I nod. "Gray actually came up with it," I tell him as Stella decides to jump on his lap. He doesn't hesitate to pat the shadow puppy and I can't help but smile, letting out a small sigh.

Just put a baby in me already.