Willow POV
The road is long from my tribe to the vampire community. I try to sleep. I hear Lazarus speaking. I pretend not to listen. I think he is speaking with his mother, but I am not sure. He speaks so kindly it has to be the family he is speaking with.
"Willow, can we talk? I know you are awake," he says.
I open my eyes and look at him.
"Sure," I say.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" he asks.
"Lazarus, there is one thing. Would you provide my father with a better home?" I ask.
Lazarus looks puzzled. "You mean you are going to ask for something for your father but not yourself?" he asks.
"Yes, I would do anything to have my father and siblings in a better home," I say.
"Anything really?" he asks.
"Yes," I say.
"Come here closer and let me drink from your neck and I will give your father a mansion," he says.
He knows it is against tribal law for a fairy to allow a vampire to drink from them unless they are married. We are not married yet. I move closer to him. I pull my hair back and expose my neck to him.
"Drink," I say.
Lazarus touches my neck with his hand. He leans in and kisses my neck.
"A woman of her word. I like that. I will not drink from you as we are not married. I will make sure your family is well taken care of for the rest of their lives," he says.
"Thank you," I say.
"I can take you shopping when we get home, or you can go alone. I know this is not the arrangement you wanted. I will try to make it pleasant for you. But know that we will be married, and I expect you to be a wife," he says.
"I fully understand," I say.
"Do you have experience?" he asks.
He looks at me when he asks this. I know he is wondering if I am pure or not.
"I have never been with a man if that is what you are asking me," I answer.
"We will not rush into anything. We have a long life and plenty of time. First, we need to make you presentable," he says.
I look down at my dirty clothes. My hair is greasy. My skin is oily. I look entirely out of place sitting here next to Lazarus. I am sure I probably smell bad to him. Let him try taking a bath in cold water.
"Driver stop at a spa. Just find one along the way," he says.
"Laz, I mean Lazarus, I am filthy. Are you really going to take me into a spa?" I ask.
"Laz, I like that. No one has ever called me Laz. No worries. We will get you all cleaned up. I will have one of the men fetch you some clothes while we get pampered. Is that okay with you?" he asks.
"Yes, sir," I say.
"You can call me Laz but never, sir. I am not your superior. I am well, at least I will be soon your husband. We are equals," he says.
"Equals?" I ask.
"Yes. They did not tell you, did they?" he asks.
"Tell me what?" I ask boldly.
"You will be the new fairy vampire queen," he says.
I wish I could see whatever facial expression I have right now. I am sure it is dumbfounded. I do not want to be the queen of the fairies or vampires. I do not want to be the queen of anything. I just want to be Willow.
"I am so confused," I tell him.
"We will sort it all out later. For now, we need to make you look like a queen," he says.
How in the hell did I end up the queen of the damn fairies and the damn vampires? Somebody will have to explain all of this to me.
"Do not let yourself worry about all of this right now. I will help you. We have fairies coming to help you. Everything will be fine. My mother will be a great help as well. She was a farm girl turned into a vampire that married my father. She can relate to your delicate situation," he says.
"I would like that. I have never had a woman in my life. My mother hates me," I say.
"Tell me what is in that bag. The one she insisted you leave behind? Why is it so important to you?" he asks.
I fumble with my hands. What a horrible memory to have to bring up right this minute.
"It is my sister's ashes and her wings," I say.
"Brooklyn, the sister that was killed," he asks.
"Yes, I do not want to talk about it right now, but I like to keep her close to me," I say.
"Why is she in a bag and not an urn or something more stable?" he asks.
"Not something we could afford to buy," I say.
"I will change that. Your sister should have a proper urn not a bag," he says.
He takes his hand and lifts my face by my chin. "I will take care of you," he says.
I want to believe that. I would love to believe someone wanted to care for me. My father was terrified to say no to him. If a fairy is that afraid of you, there must be a reason. Why did no one tell me I was set to be the fairy vampire queen? Why so many secrets? None of this makes sense.
"I found a spa that caters to vampires and fairies’ boss. We will be there in fifteen minutes," the driver says.
"Good. Thanks," Lazarus says.
"I have never been in a spa. I honestly do not think I have ever even had much hot water," I say.
Lazarus pats my hand. "Well, I can promise you that you will have a lot of hot water at your new home," he says.
"I know that seems stupid to you," I say.
"No, it does not. I told you my mother came from a very humble life. She raised us humbly. We have everything you can imagine, but she made sure we were grateful. You will love her," he says.
I nod my head. This morning my life was in shambles, and at this moment, I almost feel as if it might be okay.
The car stops. The driver comes around to open my door.
"Listen, remember this, you are the future queen. You are marrying me. You are royalty. Do not let anyone treat you any less. Be kind but do not allow anyone to talk down to you. You are special," he says.
"I got it," I say.
Lazarus exits the car. He follows along behind me as we walk toward the spa. I am terrified. I hold my head high. I am the future queen.
As we walk into the spa, I can smell myself. I do not belong here. I hold my head up as I feel the glare of the women in the spa.
"Ma'am, I think you are in the wrong place," she says.
She walks past me and straight to Lazarus.
"Your Highness, how can I help you," she says.
Lazarus glares down at her." Well, you can start by apologizing to my future wife and the future fairy vampire queen. We have traveled a long way for your services. Do we need to go somewhere else?" he demands.
The woman shrunk in size, obviously embarrassed. She looked back at me.
"I am so sorry. I was wrong," she says.
"Apology accepted," I say.
"Now, take care of her. She is needs everything. Can you do that?" Lazarus says sternly.
"Yes, your highness. Again, I am sorry," she says.
The young woman comes and takes me by the hand. "Come with me. I will make you look like the queen you are," she says.
"No, Lazarus. That girl over there. The one with the blue eyes. I want her," I say.
"She is new and very inexperienced for the level of service you need," the woman says.
"Laz?" I say again.
"Give her the girl she wants," he says.
The young girl with blue eyes gets up and joins me.
"Why me?" she asks.
"Because you are the only one in this room that didn't gasp when I came in," I say.
She leads me to the back to begin my transformation.