Chapter 46 Mates
Chapter 46 Mates
The following night, Lucy spent the first half with Bethias going over the wedding ceremony, and the second half looking at wedding samples.
The ceremony seemed similar to the way humans conducted theirs: vows and a commitment.
Her dress would do, but there was a difference in the type of flowers to be used, as they held a different importance to the vampires. Other small details would require attention, but they had begun to formulate a plan.
Setting the book aside, she had been reading. She got up from her desk and walked through the library's shelves.
The library's layout was becoming familiar to her after her days in it. The wall-to-ceiling shelves of books were imposing. On the bindings were different words in different languages—some she recognized, some she didn’t, many fading with age.
She walked over to where the book she had been reading came from and found another one in even older bindings. The leather cover was aged.
Carefully, she removed it, afraid it would fall apart on her at the touch. With gentle hands, she placed it on the desk and began scanning its contents, but it made no sense to her. It was not about weddings. The pages were discolored and the edges rough.
“What is a mate?” Lucy asked Bethias as she looked at a drawing of what she assumed vampires looked like.
The pages spoke of bites and blood, and it seemed the vampires did this to one another. Could it be the ritual sacrifice so many humans had come to fear from the beings of the night?
“It is hard to explain.” Bethias straightened, and Lucy knew what came next would be vital for her to listen to.
“This book speaks of a mating ceremony.” She said, turning the book around to face the vampire. There was blood on the drawing's necks, but Lucy could not comprehend most of it as there was another language interwoven with the common tongue.
“A mate is similar to a spouse, but much deeper. It is as if a vampire has found their other half.” Bethias explained. Lucy looked back at the blood, still confused.
“How do they know who their mate is?” Lucy was curious now, since most marriages were arranged, and she had assumed the vampires had similar customs, especially since they placed the marriage between herself and the king.
Her lips pursed as she collected her thoughts, “It's a tug on the soul.”
“Does every vampire have a mate?” It was a term that she had not heard used, but perhaps it was synonymous with spouse.
“No, that is why most marry, since very few have mates.” Lucy thought of Lord Garrick; perhaps he was waiting for his mate. She knew he was centuries old, and the thought of him waiting for the one was romantic and sad at the same time.
Lucy wanted to ask Bethias if her husband was her mate, but she held herself back. The vampire seemed to sense her unasked question. “My husband is also my mate.”
That seemed to make Lucy happy, but she was not sure why.
“What is this?” Lucy said, pointing to the drawing.
“Something you need not concern yourself with now, we can revisit it after the wedding.” Bethias dismissed the question.
“This is not part of the wedding?” Lucy asked, raising an eyebrow.
“No, dear,” Bethias smiled as if it were a silly question.
They finished in the library and made their way towards the kitchens for the first round of samples.
Regisus had gone out of his way to prepare a tasting menu for the ladies. Instead of eating the second meal with the others, they ate the samples instead.
They noted their favorites and tried everything that was put in front of them.
Bethias did note that the dishes seemed to have a theme, “It is a heavy venison menu. Is there a reason for that?”
“The king has supplied us with a surplus of venison.” The chef explained. “We can change it if you prefer something else?”
“It’s perfect as it is,” Lucy said, not wanting the chef to change a thing.
Regisus showed them the menu he had prepared, opting for more fish this time. Lucy found it odd, since the vampires seemed to favor red meat over leaner cuts. A few dishes would be served with wild game, but not many.
After the left, Lucy asked Bethias in a hushed tone, “Why has the king provided meat for the kitchen? Is there not someone in charge of that?”
“It means he’s been hunting.” She responded, not breaking her stride.
Lucy looked at her, still confused.
Bethias clarified, “For the blood.”
After seeing him handle the rovers, she could not imagine a stag standing much of a chance.
They had discussed different types of blood, but never how it was obtained.
Was he drinking the blood of many stags or perhaps sharing with others? She did not know the ins and outs of how vampires drank blood, and she had the feeling she did not wish to know.
“And the fish?” She asked, surely it was odd.
“The king has had enough blood.” The vampire answered.
Lucy did not know what that meant, and since Bethias had not elaborated, she did not ask.
Next, they stopped by Jetsun to go over the table settings and floral arrangements. Lucy was more shrewd with him, pointing out things she did not like. However, it was hard to do as the vampire was meticulous and had composed several exquisite samples.
He seemed to keep with the vampires' customs. She looked to see if he tried to trick her, but Bethias would give approving nods from time to time.
“Jetsun,” Lucy said his name, causing the butler to look at her shrewdly before putting on a mask of indifference. In Bethias’s presence, she felt brave, but she knew one day she would have to deal with him on her own and did not wish to anger him too much.
“Yes, my lady?” His words held no emotion.
“I need the seating chart for this evening,” Lucy said, looking him straight in the eye. He towered over her, but she would not shrink away.
He was in no hurry as he left to retrieve it. When he returned, he held it out to her on her silver tray. “The king has made some adjustments; those are in red. Every other spot may be altered.”
Lucy opened the paper and saw that the red names were hers and his, seated next to each other. A smile threatened to occupy her lips, so she fought it. Instead, she made some trivial adjustments, moving unknown lords around the table before handing it back.
If they were upset, it did not matter to her, as she would be sitting next to the king, and no one discussed their displeasure in front of him. But she feared something was brewing beneath the surface.