My Vampire Prince by T. Skye Sutton Page A

remember everyone ’ s names but I know we are sitting across from Lliam ’ s brothers; Peter and Paul. The queen and king are next to each other at the far end of the table. Everyone is talking quietly amongst themselves. I am still to nervous to say much, and I am glad that I am only asked an occasional, easy to answer question. One question however, asked my Lliam ’ s dad, surprised the shit out of me. “ So, Victoria, what do you have planned for your future? ”
                  Well of course I plan to marry his son, but do I still get to continue with my original plans? I figure that I will just tell him what I had planned before Lliam and than change them if necessary. Everybody is staring out me now, waiting for me to respond. “ Well, as you all know, ” I start timidly. “ I plan to marry Lliam. After that, I guess I will continue working my shop in hopes to one day own it, or one just like it. ” Lliam smiles at his father like he is speaking to him with his mind. “ Oh Vicky deaf, it is ok if I call you that right? ” I nod my head. My close family calls me that all the time, so he may as well do it to. “ That is a wonderful goal for your future. You seem very intelligent. What about children? Have you thought about that? ”
                  The queen is staring at me quizzically. Everyone else at the table is still silent. I don ’ t like all of this attention, everyone looking at me as if I am a contestant on a game show, or a criminal on the stand in a court room. I haven ’ t really thought about children. I mean, I have always known that eventually I want kids, but I hadn ’ t thought of when. I try to keep my answer short. “ Oh. Yes. I love children. ” . The queen is still staring at me. “ Victoria, if I may steal you for a little while, we need to talk. Excuse us please. ” I stand and follow the queen out of the formal dining hall.
                  We continue walking down the hall in silence. I have to say something, this is becoming awkward. “ Ummm … mum? ” It feels weird calling her that. She looks at me, so I continue. “ Ummm … thank you … for the shoes. That was very thoughtful, and I love them. ” That ’ s all I could think of to say, but it was honest. “ Oh honey, I want you to be very comfortable here, and I know how sentimental you can be, Lliam told me. I thought that you would like them and you did. I am so very glad. Come now, we haven ’ t got much time before Lliam sends out a search party. ” We laugh and hurry down the hall.
     
                 
     
    Chapter 17: My office and my dream house
     
                  We walk down the hall for what seems like an eternity. It is lined with portraits of the ancient royal family. Some of the pictures were dated hundreds of years ago. One picture stands out to me more than the others. Jeremiah Mackey. His portraits say he was born in 1602 and died in the year 1812. He was more than 200 years old, and was very attractive. Lliam looks a lot like him. His red hair, red beard, and blue eyes, and they have the same nose and smile as well. I am admiring the picture until the queen says, “ Come Victoria. ” I take a few more steps so that I am now standing in front of a pink door with her. “ Victoria, I designed this office for you long before I knew who you were. Of course, it will be your office away from home as you won ’ t be living here. Please come in, and if you don ’ t like it, we can redecorate one day. ” She opens the door and I follow her in.
                  In the corner of the room sit ’ s a large solid oak desk, a black filing cabinet on either side, a laptop in the center set up for wireless, and an IPOD dock. Across from the doorway is a huge bay window with a pink bench in front of it. Very spacious, very pink. It could grow on me, I think to myself. Actually, I sort of like it, maybe we won ’ t redecorate after all.