I was oddly nervous.

Or maybe the nervousness wasn't mine, but my father's.

He took in a small deep breath, with his arms around my shoulders, "Here we go... We're finally home."

His eyes were taking in the sight that was right in front of us - the kingdom which was once prosperous now looked like it had been deserted and was in ruins. It was still beautiful, and the structures, right down to the planning of the kingdom was were enough for anyone to deduce that the kingdom belonged to really smart people.

My father inhaled and shivered slightly.

I smiled at him, "You're nervous." I stated.

"Yes, I am." He sighed, his eyes not leaving the sight, "It's not easy, seeing the Kingdom that was standing here in all its glory just some decades ago look so ruined. Now this place looks like it has been haunted, devoid of its life and glory - I never thought I would ever have to see a day like this."

My mother, who was standing at his other side, rubbed his shoulders comfortingly. He continued, "I had worked so hard for the Kingdom to always remain as prosperous as it could, but seeing everything gone - my people, my Kingdom. Sometimes I think that if you hadn't saved us, this kingdom would have died, vanished."

"Vashisht," my mom's voice was soothing, "All is not lost. You still have your people, you have your kingdom and you have us, me and our daughter." she smiled up at him, and I swear she looked more beautiful than anyone else I had ever seen, "We will have to work harder, but it will all be fine."

"I love you." My father whispered and then his hands were no longer on my shoulder.

And then they were kissing.

Okay...

I averted my eyes and let them have a go their moment while they could for now, because, well, I couldn't stop them, right?

It had been embarrassing enough to hear all those sounds at night back when we were in my human home, when they were in a very amorous mood. If I was honest, this mood of theirs lasted the entire day, and I had become used to ignoring the heated glances and the not-as-discreet-as-they-think groping.

I gave a small smile to the twenty something people walking at some distance behind us. They all smiled back and then continued forward, letting their King and Queen have some privacy.

It was a reunion, with tears of joy in the eyes of the people who were finally home - even though home wasn't the same anymore. I saw a few shed tears for their lost friends. There were a few people who had no one left - no families, no mates, no children and were crying for the loss of their loved ones.

My heart went out to them.

I decided to leave my parents for a while, till my mother could comfort Papa, and toured the place my father had dedicated his life to.

I looked around for a while, careful not to go near the people who were trying to see if their house was just the same as it looked from the outside.

The Kingdom was standing just as it was, the houses still managed to look beautiful and magnificent. Only now the Kingdom was devoid of people and was full of weeds and creepers here and there.

A little farther ahead, I could see a large house - a mansion - but it didn't look like a castle to me. It did have an ancient feel to it from the outside - the architecture and everything was beautiful but I had little knowledge to be able to describe it accurately. This mansion towered over every other house in the Kingdom and I reached to the conclusion that this was my father's house - or perhaps the house in which the Kingdom elders had lived.

I started walking towards it, careful not to step on the belongings that seemed to be left here on the streets. They were toys, children's toys, mostly, and it seemed like most of the males and females here went in the war and those who were left behind were taken away by the vampires.

I couldn't imagine how they could be so heartless to the children.

I reached the mansion gates within a few moments and pushed the large gates open, finding some weapons on the ground that must have belonged to the guards.

I took my time walking step by step inside; supernatural speed wouldn't let me stand still and observe things.

There was a long driveway, and in the middle of it was a very cliched fountain which was not working. I walked further towards the mansion's entrance, finding the garage on my way and saw that there were cars parked inside.

When I didn't see cobwebs on the door, I internally thanked the Moon Goddess that there were no spiders here. I hated those creatures back on the other side of the MoonLine.

I opened the doors and coughed at the amount of dust that flew suddenly when a gust of wind entered the house.

And then I was in awe.

The mansion was humongous - it was evident to anyone who saw it from outside, and on the inside, it was so much more beautiful.

"You liked the house, kiddo?" Papa entered behind me, his arm around Mom's waist.

I nodded at him.

"I'll give you a tour of the house when it's clean. And do you know who has to clean the house?" My father asked, pulling mom along with him.

"Us!" I said, faking excitement. "I can't wait, Papa."I clapped my hands, "Oh, this is going to be such a family bonding time!"

"You don't have to exaggerate." He rolled his eyes and grinned, "I already know how excited you are." He winked.

And that was actually what we did for the rest of the day. We cleaned the entire mansion - it was not that difficult because we were stronger and faster. Obviously, we left a few rooms untouched because there was no need to clean them.

While I was doing the cleaning, I realised that a lot of families lived in this mansion, and went ahead to ask Papa about it.

"The Elders and high-ranking PureBlood families stayed in this house before the war."

We had resumed our cleaning after that.

While I worked mechanically in one of the rooms, I started thinking about how I was going to meet Liana in a while. She had mind-linked me some time ago that she was going to show up and bring some food and help with her.

Despite telling her that she really didn't need to do all of that, she just brushed me off.

"Hey!"

I jumped at least a foot above the ground when I heard Liana's voice behind me all of a sudden.

Take the name of the devil and the devil is here.

"Hey! I heard that!" She said, faking offence.

"That was just my intention. You scared me!" I rushed forward to hug her.

"Oh yeah? It's not my fault that you were daydreaming about your Alpha King, who, I warn, is right downstairs." She smirked at me.

"What?" I squeaked.

I tried to see through her mind, to check if she was lying to me, but I couldn't have access to her mind at all.

"I'm not lying, he really is here. It's customary for the Kings and Queens of the other Kingdoms to greet your father. Except for Josh and Kia, both Vampires and Werewolves are here." She told me.

"There's still nothing from the Wiccans?" I asked her.

She shook her head.

My father's voice echoed in my head, "Stay wherever you are, kiddo. I hope Liana is with you. You are not coming down stairs, alright?"

I panicked slightly, "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, I just don't want Adrian and you to meet right now. You will meet only when he decides to court you." There was a hint of protectiveness in his voice.

I rolled my eyes. "As you say, Papa."

I turned to Liana, "So, I am ordered to stick to this room until a certain King goes back to his Kingdom. Till then, we can entertain each other." I told her.

"Why are you not allowed to see each other?"

"Didn't I tell you? Papa wants him to court me in the PureBlood ways. I don't even know what that means. Whatever, we can't see each other till then." I shrugged.

"Seriously?" Liana laughed, "It's going to be fun watching the two of you wait till the entire courting thing allows you to well... be together properly."

"You know about PureBlood courtship?" Of course, she did. She had been around for a long time - and she was like a pool of knowledge. She knew almost everything. "Tell me about it."

"It's fun for those watching and chaperoning, but not for those going through the courtship. It's basically a cultural practice so that both the mates don't take each other for granted, learn to be patient, bla bla bla. It's torture and we're lucky we don't practice it in the Werewolf Kingdom."

"Well Adrian and I aren't that lucky even though we do belong to the Werewolf Kingdom, too." I muttered.

"Moon?" It was Adrian's voice. I was right about to respond when I heard my father's voice again.

"You are not going to respond to him, kid."

I huffed. He really didn't have to be so strict.

"Your dad is not letting him talk to you." She chuckled. "He's always been an overprotective man - Vashisht."

"You tell me about the courtship, please. No one else is telling me about it."

"Oh yes. So basically, this courtship lasts for an entire year - "

"An entire year!" I shrieked.

She started in a bored tone, "Yes, an entire year. It's divided into three parts - 4 months each. In the first four months, first the guy has to talk to the girl's father and tell his true intentions, mate or not. The father decides if he's worthy of his daughter - well he always says yes because they're mates and all; it's just a formality. Then for all the four months, the man and the woman can only meet where the woman lives, and their meeting will be chaperoned. There has to be one other person at all times."

Wow. This is so not necessary.

"The second part is where both go on dates, unchaperoned, and here the man and woman are expected to tell what they have to offer to each other. It's like our normal dates. And in the third phase, there comes the living relationship. Here the true nature of your mate is revealed. Consummating the mate bond is not allowed in PureBlood Courtship, but I think there will be an exception in your case since you are already mated and marked."

This sounded like a long, long process.

"I don't think I can wait for that long, Liana." I murmur, "I guess I'll have to beg my father for some exception and changes in the courtship rules. Three months might be fine, but an entire year?"

***********************

"No."

"Papa, please!"

"I said: No."

"Papa!"

"Further discussions on this topic will be held when Adrian actually comes to propose. Is he here?" He asked, barely looking at me.

"But he will come sooner or later! I don't want to wait that long after that!" I whined.

"You already waited for so long, sweetie, one year won't harm any of you. Now tell me, are you planning on going and proposing to him."

"I just might, now."

He finally placed the file back and glared at me.

"No."

"What?" I sputtered.

"No, you are not going to propose first and you will have to have to honour the one year long Courtship. It's a part of PureBlood culture. You don't want to disrespect your culture now, do you?"

"Don't tease the girl now, Vashisht." Mom came from behind me and smiled at me, "It's already been long enough for the both of them."

"Exactly what I mean," my father started, "They need to ease into the relationship, understand each other's responsibilities and where they lie in the list of each other's priorities. They not only have each other to think of, but also the Kingdom. I won't have them come together in a relationship like immature children and mating all the time, forgetting to respect each other and talking about the problems at hand."

"But one year is really such a long time. And if we really talk about it," a mischievous glint entered in Mom's eyes, "You never really courted me."

My father paled a little and it was funny to watch him struggle for words for a moment.

"We were imprisoned for twenty years and we had a lot of time to talk about us. And I'm never going to take you for granted."

"I know that, honey, but we were never really chaperoned, were we?" She smirked and I was dancing internally at the victory that was in store for us.

"We were chaperoned for twenty years in the prison, and when we weren't, I was in no state to touch you."

My mother blushed, and I scrunched up my face.

"Well, give the girl a break, Vashisht. She's already been through enough."

"Exactly my point - I'm not going to let anyone take my little girl for granted." He grumbled.

Aww, papa.

"He won't, Vashisht; both of them have already been through enough. He will court her the way you want to, just do something about the time." she urged.

Thank you, Mom.

"Alright, make it 9 months." He said.

"No!" I glared at him, "That's too much. Three months." I crossed my arms.

"Three months!" His eyes widened incredulously, "Six months, and that's final."

Why was he being so difficult and controlling? It wasn't as if I was going to jump straight into bed with him. We were going to give each other time, discuss our problems like adults should.

I was just about to argue again when my mother's eyes widened.

"We'll take six months. Right, love?"

It was Adrian.

Adrian Wolfe.

It was Adrian!

I thought I'd cry, but when my eyes fell on my father, he looked like he would kill him.

Adrian entered the room, his head held high and he was all alone. His eyes were on me and a shiver went up my spine and the thought that just ran across my mind.

His eyes darkened threateningly.

He came straight towards me, his eyes fixed on me with clear intent. He took long strides to reach me and I only had eyes for him in that moment. It was like meeting him for the first time all over again - it had been eight months since I had last touched him and I was almost dying to be in his arms again.

He never fails to make me feel desperate and needy.

He stopped right in front of me and stared at me for a moment.

Kiss me please.

His lips twitched but he just took my hand, sending tingles all over my body. It felt so good to feel his touch all over again, and I welcomed the sparks that ran down my nerves. My blood was singing in my body and I was sure my pupils were dilated. His mark on my chest tingled too and I felt both Celeste and Cynthia purring inside me.

If only I could kiss him and -

He kissed my knuckles one by one and then pressed a kiss to the inside of my wrist.

I felt like I was electrocuted.

"I think that's quite enough, young man. You need to keep a check on how you behave with my daughter when I'm around. I wouldn't mind chopping you up and feeding you to the Werebears."

That got our attention and Adrian gently released my hand.

My heart was thudding in my chest and my eyes couldn't stray further for him. But I had to regain my composure with my father all huffing and puffing with his face all red with anger. I was almost afraid he'd really do something to Adrian.

"Pardon me, Vashisht. I lost myself for a moment in your daughter's eyes." Alright, no need to be that sappy. Adrian had a small smirk on his face.

"See, this is why the two of them need the courtship. These kids don't know the meaning of patience."

"If being patient throughout the courtship makes my mate upset, I will lose it. I cannot stand seeing her unhappy - not when I have control of the situation."

"Don't try to act smart with me, young man. This is my daughter you are talking about and she deserves the best." My father harrumphed.

"I agree with you wholeheartedly. She is my Queen and will be treated like one. And even if I don't want to wait at all for her to be my Queen, I will court her because she deserves to be courted and it will put your mind to ease at the same time."

My father grumbled something under his breath and we couldn't actually decipher what it was.

"I agree to six months; I hope you're fine with it, love." He turned towards me, his midnight black eyes piercing through mine and I was suddenly tongue tied.

I just nodded.

"What do you say about that, Vashisht?" He asked.

"Alright, if six months is fine by both of you, then six months. But I expect the both of you to be married by the end of the year. Her coronation can wait till she fulfils the eligibility criteria."

Butterflies took over my stomach at the mention of marriage, and suddenly this all felt real. I had to remind myself to come to grips with what was happening around me.

Adrian's gaze met mine and he held it for a moment, letting his love for me flow through the bond. I had never seen him this carefree, this comfortable with himself. It made me feel good, watching his eyes twinkling like that.

"That reminds me, Vashisht," Adrian started, "Elise and you didn't have a marriage ceremony yet. I hope you are planning that, too."

My parent's eyes twinkled and it seemed like they loved the plan.

"We will see about that, Adrian, after all the Wiccans seem to be in trouble at the moment."

Adrian nodded, "Also, it was a very wise decision to keep all your people in the mansion, but you don't have security. I will send some guards here as soon as I can."

My mom frowned, "You didn't bring your guards with you?"

Adrian gave her a charming smile and I was sure going to melt, soon, "I am not here as the Alpha King, Elise. I am here as your daughter's mate, asking for her hand."

He then turned to me, his hands slipped around my waist, and before anyone could comprehend, he pressed a soft kiss to my mouth.

"It's time for me to take my leave. I'll see you tomorrow, beautiful."

And with that, he walked away, leaving me staring at his back in a daze.

"Wipe that look off your face, young lady!"

I broke out in a grin instead.