Fidelis couldn't keep the grin off his face. Sera was his girlfriend. He had been afraid she would refuse him. She shocked him by agreeing not only to dating him but also to a kiss. He tapped his lips remembering the kiss. He could taste her innocence in that kiss. He would take it slow. He didn't want to spook her. He prayed to Autem that Sera would be accepting of his true nature. He shook his head.
"One thing at a time," he muttered to himself.
He grabbed his bag from his locker and headed to the car. Blainel and Sodalitas gave him expectant looks and he laughed.
"She said yes."
They both grinned and applauded. He smiled, happy that his friends got to share this moment with him.
"Alright, let's go and you can give us all the details."
Fidelis nodded. Sodalitas was right. He would give them all the details. He slid into the driver's seat and started the car. He explained everything that happened starting with lunch and ending with his proposal under the tree.
"You are such a romantic," teased Sodalitas.
"And proud of it," Fidelis retorted with a laugh.
"I am happy for you, Your Highness."
"Thanks, Blainel. I'm a little worried about Al's behavior toward Sera. He grabbed her today and kept interfering every time I tried to get close to Sera. That's why I got Liz and Penelope to help me at lunch. It was nice talking to Sera without Al hovering around."
"I know she said they don't have a romantic relationship, but he acted like a jealous boyfriend today," Sodalitas pointed out.
"I agree," said Blainel. "I also think they both are hiding something."
Fidelis frowned. He trusted Blainel's instincts as much as his own. He, too, had felt like something was off with Al and Sera today.
"Keep an eye on Al. If he continues to act weird, we'll make a move."
"As you command, Your Highness."
They spent the rest of the drive discussing their plans for the homecoming game in two weeks. Fidelis was happy to learn that both had secured dates to the dance. He had felt bad about them going solo.
He sought out his father to tell him the good news and found him outside in the gardens out back.
"Father!"
His father turned and waved. Fidelis hurried to his side. He chuckled when he saw the spade in his father's hand. His dad had taken up gardening when his mother passed away. He said it reminded him of Fidelis's mother.
The flowers his father grew were special. They were imbued with magic.
"So, how did it go?" His father pointed to the watering can.
Fidelis handed him the can. "It went well."
"And?"
Deciding not to keep playing coy he blurted out, "She said yes!"
His father's happy expression made him smile.
"Congratulations, my son."
"We will be going to the homecoming dance and I'm going to make sure she comes to the game so you can meet her."
"You have a solid plan. I look forward to meeting your fated one. She seems intriguing."
"I promise, you'll like her."
His father gently smacked his shoulder. "I trust your judgment, my son. Now, go do your homework. I have some weeding to finish."
"Yes, Father. I'll see you at dinner."
Fidelis headed for his room. He had a hard time focusing on his homework. His thoughts kept straying to Sera. He hadn't mentioned to his father about the pain he felt through the fated mark. He wouldn't say anything until he was sure that someone was hurting Sera. He hadn't seen any marks but that didn't mean anything. She was covered from head to toe. That wasn't her usual style.
He couldn't discount her reaction when he had kept her from falling. Even though she gave an excuse for her hurt cry, he didn't believe it. He hadn't wanted to upset her, so he said nothing at the time. He would wait until they were closer. Then he could get answers. If someone was hurting her, he would save her. He wouldn't allow anyone to harm her.
Two hours into doing his homework, his fated mark suddenly burned, and a surge of emotions hit him. He felt rage, embarrassment, and sadness. He rubbed his mark and frowned. Something was happening to Sera. Should he call her? He discarded that thought. She might find it suspicious that he was calling out of the blue, especially after an emotional outburst.
He waited and almost an hour later, sadness and a hint of anger, flared through the mark. He reached for his phone. To hell with it. He was going to text her. He had to know what was going on.
He unlocked his phone and went to his messages. Before he could send one, his phone rang, startling him. He saw Sera's name and hastily answered it.
"Hey, Sera? What's up?" He made sure to give nothing away in his tone.
"I needed to hear your voice."
He heard the emotion in her voice. She was upset and needed to vent. He could do that for her.
"I'm happy to hear your voice, too. You okay?"
She sucked in a breath, and he was afraid he had pushed too hard.
"No," she whispered.
She sounded like she was about to cry. He would come undone if he heard her crying especially since he couldn't be there in person to comfort her.
"I wish I was there to hold you."
"Me, too."
Her sniffling came through loud and clear and hit him hard. "Sera, what do you need me to do for you?"
"Tell me about your family, please."
"Sure. Let's see. I live with my dad, my stepmoms, my two younger brothers, and my maternal grandmother."
"Stepmoms?"
"Yep. My dad is in a poly relationship."
"Umm, do you plan to do that?"
Fidelis noted the concern and uncertainty in her voice. Sera needed reassurance. That he could give her all day long.
"No. I'm a one-woman kind of guy. I think poly relationships are interesting, just not for me. They take a lot of work, and I don't know if I would be able to handle something like that."
Her sigh of relief was audible. She gasped when she realized what she'd done. Wisely, Fidelis didn't say anything about it.
"What about your mother?"
"My mom died when I was a kid. My younger brothers belong to my stepmothers."
"Do you get along with them?"
"Yes, my curious lady, I do. They are both younger than me, so my dad expects me to set a good example for them."
"Must be nice," she murmured.
Fidelis didn't respond to it. The loneliness and longing in her voice tugged at his heart. He vowed to give Sera the love and happiness she wasn't getting from her family.
"It can be. Question for you."
"Yes?"
"Have you gone to a lot of places since you woke up?"
"No, not really. My father doesn't like me to go out."
"That sucks. Will he keep you from going to the homecoming game and dance?"
"No. I already got permission for it since you first told me about it and that it was important to high school life."
"Okay, good. You going dress shopping for it?"
"I don't know if I can."
"Would you be willing to go if Liz and Penelope went with you?"
"Sure, that would be fun."
"Okay, I'll ask them and, if it's okay with you, I'll give them your number so you guys can hash out the details."
"I'd like that. Thanks, Romeo."
"No problem, Sera."
"I have to go now. I have to finish my homework."
"Same here. Glad we got to talk, Sera."
"Me, too. Night, Romeo."
He sat staring at his phone for fifteen minutes, mentally reviewing his conversation with Sera. He frowned and texted Liz and Penelope the idea for dress shopping. They both agreed immediately. He laughed at their enthusiasm. He didn't understand why they loved to shop so much.
He shrugged. To each their own. Happy with his plans, he returned to his homework.