Enchanting Winter
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“My love.”

“Lady Willow.”

“Willow.”

Cassius growls as Willow ignores him. She has made conversation with Anna, Jonathan, Luke, Nicholas and even Blair instead of even so much as glancing in Cassius’s direction. The Duke had dragged Cassius into his office the second they returned. Desperate to discuss the confrontation with Shadow Pack and Cassius’s inherited coven.

His Coven. Cassius sighs.

“Please Willow, we need to talk.”

Silence.

“You can’t keep talking to me, you are my mate, we have much to discuss.”

Frustrating isn’t it? Willow thinks looking up from her book. The two had moved to the library after dinner.

“Are you being smart?”

Are you being snarky?

“Are you ready to talk?”

“Where were you?” Willow asks out aloud.

“I was called by the coven.”

“Coven?”

“It is a collection of vampires. When we took my father out every in the coven felt it.”

“I noticed they stopped fighting.”

“Being the heir I began to hear their cries for help. They fell back to their kingdom deep within the forest and I felt the urge to go to them to help.”

“What about Nicholas? He is your brother, he needed you more than a stupid pack of vampires-”

“Coven-”

“-they were our enemies no more than five minutes before.”

“They are my responsibility now Willow.”

“What about me? You go on about me being your mate and you just left me.”

Cassius travels the six metres between them instantly and drops down onto his knees in front of Willow.

“You, Willow Winter, are my mate, my love and my Queen.”

Willow rolls her eyes.

“Cass…”

“I’m serious Willow. My Queen, that is what I need to talk to you about. My coven needs a Queen.”

“What?”

“My coven needs a-”

“I heard you.” Willow stands suddenly. “I’m going to bed.”

“Willow?”

She rushes passed him and upstairs to her bedroom. Annabelle is waiting for her when she opens the door.

“Lady Willow, may I assist with your dress?”

“Thank you Anna.” Willow says and Anna begins unlacing the back of Willow’s corset. “He said I’m his Queen.” Willow blurts out.

“I’m sorry m’lady?”

“He said I’m his Queen.”

“Lord Black?”

“Yes. Is he meaning it metaphorically? Like that is how much he loves me?”

“I’m unsure m’lady.”

Willow’s dress drops and she moves to her closet pulling her extra large Rolling Stones t-shirt on as pyjamas.

“Annabelle, I know you know what is going, probably an awful lot better than what I do.”

“There are rumours m’lady.”

“I knew it.” Willow sits crossed legged on her bed and pulls Anna down to sit with her. “Spill.”

“Well the ladies in the kitchen were saying they heard from the stable hands that Lord Black is the new vampire king.”

“What?”

“Apparently the role fell to him the moment his father was defeated. He and Duke Winter have come to an agreement that the coven may stay as long as it follows certain rules.”

“But Cassius is half witch. Why would the coven accept him?”

“Well vampires are big on blood.”

“Is that a joke Anna.”

Anna offers Willow a smile.

“Not exactly m’lady, I mean that the blood that runs through his veins is that of their last one hundred kings.”

“So when he said ‘you are my Queen’ there is a good chance he was talking literally.”

“Yes m’lady.”

…

“Willow!” Jessica calls out as soon as she walks into the classroom. The atmosphere in the room shifts. Every single person eyes her as Willow drops down next to Jessica.

“I thought people would have gotten over it by now.” Willow groans.

“Are you kidding? You fought vampires, the legendary Shadow Pack and are the new Vampire Queen of Winter Grove.”

“Except I’m not a vampire, Cassius and I are not talking and it wasn’t the whole Shadow Pack just two wolves who I once thought were my best friends.”

“Drama.”

“Exactly.”

Blair nods at Willow as she takes her own seat and Jessica laughs out loud.

“I’m sorry did Miss I-have-a-stick-up-my-ass-Carson just acknowledge you?”

“We talked this weekend.”

“You talked?”

“Apparently Blair respects her sister and the fact that Quinn likes me and has no hard feelings over Cassius breaking off their engagement is slowly rubbing off on Blair.”

“Well hallelujah.”

“Alright everyone settle down and take their seats.” Professor Jones walks into the classroom slamming the door behind him which narrowly misses a late Lord Joshua Mills. Joshua was part of the vampire fight and is still sporting a few scars on his face as war wounds.

“So, why aren’t you and Lord Black talking?” Jessica asks ignoring the fact that the teacher has just walked in.

“I’m making him sweat.” Willow responds. “He is used to getting his own way, claiming my without my permission, strutting around like he owns the place.”

“Careful my love.”

“He can be a right pompous ass.”

“I think you are describing every magic realm guy.”

Jessica and Willow laughs and Professor Jones glares at them.

“Would you ladies like to tell the whole class what is so funny?”

“No.” the two say in unison.

“Lady Willow I understand you actually used your magic for once. Care to show us what it looks like?”

The class murmurs and Willow hears the words, Queen, Vampire and Ice.

“No.”

“Are we not good enough for you your highness?” Professor Jones snips.

“Leave him m’lady. The old man is simply jealous of you.”

So he should be.

“Were you not man enough to join the fight Professor?” Willow snips back and a collective gasps is heard in the classroom.

“Having magic doesn’t mean flaunting it Miss Winter.”

“No, just showing off in a high school classroom. After all they say those who can’t do teach. How does it feel to be teaching so many who fought the battle for you?” Willow makes eye contact with several of her classmates who she recognises from the fight, they are all sporting reminders of their bravery, just like Joshua.

“And yet you are still unable to demonstrate your magic.”

“No demonstration is needed Professor.” Joshua stands. “Most of us have seen Willow’s abilities.” She offers him a smile which he returns.

“Most, not all.”

Willow growls in her head.

“Calm yourself love. He really isn’t worth it.”

He is a dick.

“A Queen rises above it Willow.”

Not this Queen.

Instantly Willow’s hand whips out and Professor Jones in encased in a block of ice. He is trapped unmoving except for his beady eyes darting around panicked.

“Impressed?” Willow asks as the class cheers. The classroom door swings open and you could hear a pin drop as Cassius enters. Black suit, black shirt, black vest, black tie - as intimidating as ever.

He strides towards Willow. Willow stares up at him as he pushes her blonde hair from her neck revealing his mark. He places a kiss there before taking Willow in his arms and kissing her.

“Are you done ignoring me?” Cassius asks, his voice a whisper in her ear as he once again kisses her mark.

“Mmmm…I think so.”

“You test me Willow Winter.”

“It is my life’s purpose Cassius Black.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive.”

Willow hadn’t planned to stay. She hadn’t planned to fall in love. She hadn’t planned to make friends. Winter Grove proved to be the best adventure of Willow’s life and with one year of high school left it certainly isn’t over.

“I have one question.”

“Name it.”

“Do Vampire Queen’s get a crown?”