55: To the bitter end, Princess

I led Demetri outside towards the balcony that overlooked the gardens and courtyard below us. I leaned against the barrier of the balcony and sighed, staring up at the sky, at the warm glow of twilight.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" I asked as Demetri stood next to me.
"What is?" He questioned.
"The sky."
Demetri stayed silent for a moment and glanced up at the sky, before sighing and nodding. "I suppose it is."
And then the both of us fell into a state of silence for a moment, before Demetri cleared his throat and spoke again. "I'm sorry about earlier... about ruining your wedding in the chapel."
I laughed at his apology and then placed my hand on his as an act of reassurance. But the second our skin touched, sparks began to emit from the contact and Diana immediately gasped and retracted her hand.
"We really *are* mates... how interesting," I uttered softly as I stared at my hand and then his. Demetri looked just about mortified, as though he'd just defiled me.
"Oh Goddess, what is the meaning of that look? You don't have to feel bad. I just wanted to reassure you that you did no wrong in the chapel. The fault lies with me. I should have said something sooner. But it's over now. Besides, you made the bland ceremony a little more interesting."
Demetri's face then contorted into a look of relief and he sighed again before giving a little chuckle. "You really have an interesting way of looking at things, Princess."
"It's just Diana." I said with a smile.
Demetri shook his head and then said, "No. I don't mean it in the way others do. You are *my* Princess."
"And you have a way with words, sir. What is your name, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Demetri Forbes."
Immediately my eyes widened, and I gasped before saying, "The guardian of the wolves?"
Demetri scratched the back of his neck bashfully, "Is that what you all are calling me now?"
"Of course. You're the link between wolves and the Moon Goddess. You are her favourite creation."
Demetri chuckled at this and shook his head. "Judging by the fact that my mate is not only a hybrid but taken as well, I'd say I was her least favourite."
I placed my hands on my hips and raised a brow before saying, rather pointedly, "Is there something wrong with me being a hybrid?"
Demetri then realised what he'd said and immediately a look of regret appeared on his face. "Oh Goddess no. Sorry, I just meant that you being a hybrid led to you having two mates as well."
"I was just teasing you," I then paused and sighed before saying, "I think the Moon Goddess knew exactly what she was doing when she paired you up with me."
"How so?" He asked.
I couldn't deny that I was also extremely interested in what Diana had to say. "Well from what I've heard, you haven't been looking for love these past few years. You have more than enough on your plate from dealing with pack wars, to keeping the peace between the werewolves and vampires. And so, the Moon Goddess paired you up with someone capable of offering something you do need. Companionship. I won't ask you for much, nor will I expect too much from you. I can’t really, I’m already married to someone I truly love. But it works out perfectly, don't you think?"
By the time I was finished, I gazed up at Demetri and was caught off-guard by the intense look he held on his face.
"You are truly something. But after listening to you, I'm afraid I have no choice but to disagree with you."
"How so?"
He leaned in, making me gulp involuntarily, and then tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "She's taunting me. Giving me someone I can't have. She said there would be a consequence to coming back, to living forever. I suppose you are that consequence. But perhaps in another lifetime I'll be able to call you my own..."
I smirked and tilted my head, "Perhaps. But such things only happen in fairytales..." But as I said this, my hand absently wandered to the Vita necklace around my neck. I chuckled internally. If only Diana had known that Demetri was right all along.
"Demetri? Would you be interested in becoming my friend?" I asked suddenly. He raised a brow at my proposal, I did too.
"Friends? Will your husband approve of such a proposal?" He questioned.
I shrugged and then said, "Sebastian has hardly ever been able to tell me what to do. I can make my own choices, and right now, I choose to begin this friendship with you, the Moon Goddess' favourite."
Demetri took a moment or so to answer, and as Diana and I waited, I took the opportunity to analyse what she'd just said. All Sebastian seemed to know was how to tell me what to do. I wondered how Diana had seemed to get it right, and what I was doing wrong.
When Demetri finally answered, he did so by clearing his throat and giving a curt nod. "I will accept your proposal, Princess."
I felt myself smile and then I extended an outstretched hand towards him. "Good. Then from this day forward you will be one of my closest friends, Demetri Forbes. No matter what, I will be by your side, and in turn, I expect you to be at mine. When you need me, I will be there, and when I need you, I will expect you to be there for me right to the bitter end."
"To the bitter end, Princess!" He uttered, taking my hand in his and shaking it slowly.
But the sweet moment was cut short by Sebastian's mother who yelled at the top of her lungs, "You ungrateful little whore!"
Immediately Diana's hand fell from Demetri's in utter shock. Diana had been done wrong, but the way the Queen looked at me made me feel as though I'd completely betrayed Sebastian, when all I'd done was become friends with the man I was also mated to.
I tried calling out after her, but as I did, the world before me began to flake and turn to small particles of dust which floated into the air and then further, into nothingness. Eventually, Demetri disappeared as well, and as the darkness began creeping in, I could make out a figure appearing a few steps in front of me. It was Diana. She smiled softly towards me and held a hand out for me to take. I reached for it and took it gently in mine. As soon as I did, I felt my head ache slightly, as though the act had begun joining and sealing all these memories I'd experienced so far, into my mind. Finally, they were becoming a part of me. Finally, Diana was becoming part of me all, I assumed, as a result of Demetri’s mark on me, in addition to Sebastian’s.
"We're almost there Phoenix..." Diana whispered before disappearing as well, leaving me alone in the darkness with nothing but the very memory of her. And I wondered then, how much longer it would take before all of her memories were restored in my mind.
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Stay safe! Stay healthy! Sending my love!