by T. S. Ryder
"Is that your way of telling me you love me?"
His hand still gripped Ariel's, and Tindra pressed hers to the other side as if with their grip, they were receiving her blessing on this strange relationship between them. Was it disrespectful to do so in her presence? Or was it the only place where it could be done?
"I don't know what love is." Rollon swallowed the lie back down. "No. That's not true. I know exactly what love is. I love Thor. I love the kingdom. And in an entirely different way . . . I love you."
"A different way?" Tindra teased.
"With fire and lust and a desire to protect you from everything." Rollon glanced at Ariel. "The way I didn't protect her. And maybe that is why I've been holding back. Not because she ended up like this, but because until she was like this I didn't . . . I didn't see her. I didn't appreciate her."
Tindra squeezed his hand. "Thank you for sharing. And thank you," she whispered towards Ariel. "I promise I'll look after him. I love him, too. More than I thought I could love anybody. And I'm sorry that you never got your happy ending."
She wiped her face and stepped away before giving Rollon a soft smile. He wasn't sure what to say. Apparently, he didn't need to. Tindra traced her fingers over his lips for a moment.
"When you're ready, I'll be in my apartment."
She slipped from the room, leaving him alone with Ariel. He stroked the brittle hair from her pale face, remembering how beautiful she looked that first day he saw her. There had been no question in his mind that she might not want him, and he was right. From the moment he opened his mouth, he saw her falling in love with him. He hadn't been cruel to her, but she had given him everything and he had returned only a fraction of himself back to her.
"I'm sorry, my darling," he whispered. "I'm sorry for everything. I wish I could make it up to you. I know that I can't, but I promise from this day forward I'm a changed man. I won't let myself be blinded again." Thor entered the room. He took up a spot beside Rollon and the king gripped his shoulder. "You'd be proud of our son. He's brave, strong, intelligent . . . and he picked up your knack for causing trouble."
"I certainly did." Thor laughed. "You know, Dad would still be wallowing if I hadn't brought Tindra into our lives. I practically had to launch her at him to get him to do anything about it.'
Rollon chuckled. For a moment they stood there in silence, each lost in memories of the past. Eventually, Thor stirred. He kissed his mother's forehead, tears glimmering in his eyes.
"It's time to let go. Mom." His voice shook as he smoothed her hair. "We'll be alright, I promise. And I will never forget you."
"Neither will I." Rollon brushed a kiss against Ariel's forehead. "Goodbye."
For a moment, he thought he saw the old mischievous smirk she would give him. Then, as if she had been waiting for this moment, the beating of her heart stilled. Tears burned his eye as Thor squeezed his mother's hand. He smiled briefly, then collapsed into sobs. Rollon wrapped his arms around his son, rocking him gently like he did when he was a child. Thor clung to him. Tears rolled down Rollon's face.
"She loved you," Rollon whispered. "She loved you more than anything."
"I know."
The doctors rushed into the room, but Rollon merely had them turn off the machinery and leave again. It was time to let go of the past, and wherever Ariel was now, he hoped that she was happy.
Chapter Fifteen – Tindra
A week passed without incident. Hilda was quiet and withdrawn, but that was only to be expected. Despite the upset in the palace, everything else fell into a normal rhythm. Tindra attended birthing classes and she had doctor's appointments regularly. Rollon told her that Ariel had only been pregnant with Thor for seven months, but he had been born fully formed with no problems in the early days of life. He had been conceived during hard times, too, and Tindra was hopeful that the half-vampire baby she was carrying would be strong and hardy.
She sat in Rollon's bed one night after putting Hilda to bed, running her hands over her stomach. It was still as flat as it ever was. How soon would that oval, egg shape start pushing out? How soon before she felt the first flutters of movement? She never got to experience that with her first pregnancy. She had hardly been pregnant at all before she wasn't again.
The pure scent of manly man drifted into her nostrils and she looked up eagerly in anticipation. Her senses had become much more sensitive since she had gotten pregnant, and most times she knew when her lord was approaching before he reached her.
Sure enough, Rollon came into the room moments later. He smiled at her before stripping off his tie and joining her on the bed. Since their visit to Ariel, he had become much more affectionate, actually letting her close to him. He kissed her and then her belly, making her giggle. He stretched out beside her.
"Long day?" she asked.
Rollon nodded. "The defense lawyer for Ingrid's trial was asking a lot of questions. Pestering to get at Hilda. How's she holding up?"
"I don't know. She's buried herself in her hobbies and studies. She's not refusing to eat or anything. I think you need to hire her a therapist. This is a lot of trauma for a little girl to go through."
Rollon nodded. "I've already started looking into therapists. I should never have kept the truth about what Eva did from her."
"You wanted to protect her."
"And we only hurt her more." Rollon sighed as he rubbed Tindra's stomach. "Is that Ingrid's phone on the nightstand?"
Tindra glanced over. "Yeah. Hilda was playing games on it instead of going to sleep, so I took it away. I'm still not sure what sort of mom I'm going to end up being."
"You'll be fine. The fear is normal." Rollon smiled encouragingly. "I've done it once before but the thought of raising another child is terrifying. I got lucky with Thor, but what if this new baby and I don't get along? What if I have nothing in common with them?"
"I'm sure you'll do fine. As long as we love this baby and let them be who they are, then we'll be fine. We'll be fine," she repeated.
She undid the tie in Rollon's hair, allowing it to fall like a curtain over his face. He pressed another kiss to her stomach, then moved up to her chest, kissing between her breasts before settling at her neck, sucking at her skin in a way that sent tingles running down her spine. It didn't take much these days to excite her, and the familiar tightening of her core started even before Rollon's hands got in on the action.
"I want to taste you," she blurted. Ever since that night when she learned she was pregnant, she kept thinking of blood and feeling a mix of desire and disgust. She knew it wasn't normal and she shouldn’t want it, but she couldn’t help herself. "I want to taste your blood."
"Ariel craved blood when she was pregnant, too." Rollon tore off his shirt and threw it to the floor. "She even grew these tiny little fangs that came and went. Let's see." He pushed her lip up and made a humming noise. "Sometimes they didn't grow until we had sex."
Instantly heat pooled in every part of her. "What are we waiting for, then?"
Rollon grasped her thighs and pushed them apart. He kissed between her breasts again, this time moving down while he pushed her nightgown up to her waist. There was a sharp tug and a tearing noise, and he threw away the lacy panties she had chosen to wear that night. God, if that didn't turn her on even more. With a sassy grin up at her, he dipped his head between her legs and kissed her thigh.
His beautiful fangs scrapped at her thigh, and then his warm breath wafted across her. Already tight with anticipation, Tindra held her breath as she watched him. His tongue flicked out with enough pressure that her head fell back. Her fingers twisted in his hair as she pressed him tighter against her, rolling her hips to increase the pressure. He kept his hands on her thighs, preventing her from moving too much.
She made satisfied grunts, and when Tindra looked up, so did he. He flashed her a smile, then turned to his side. He tore off his pants and, using one arm to anchor her, began to pleasure himself while pleasuring her. The sight made fire tr
avel to every inch of her. Fireworks exploded left and right in her brain. Everything was so sensitive that she wasn't sure how long she could last.
"Rollon," she blurted.
He looked up again, letting one of his fingers take up the work that his tongue had been doing. She clutched his hair tighter, lost in the piercing stare of his eyes. How had she been so lucky to get here? She was just the immature geek girl who didn't have a life outside of her comics. And now, she was here with the most handsome man imaginable looking at her with that look in his eyes.
If it had been any more beautiful, she would have had to cry.
"I love you," she whispered.
He smiled. "Want to cuddle instead?"
"Hell no!"
The king burst out laughing. His head dropped to her thigh, still working her with his fingers. His movements became harder, more targeted. She dropped to the bed, releasing her hold on his hair so she didn't accidentally hurt him. He returned to his work, almost frantic. Her legs began to tremble and she clenched tight, holding off her impending orgasm.
"Ready for me?" he breathed.
"Yes," she moaned. One of these days, she was going to have to get to him before he could get to her. But for now, she clung to him and gasped as he entered.
He fit even better than he had the first time. He began to thrust and Tindra wrapped her legs around him, encouraging him to go deeper. Her fingers dug into his back as she cried out, desperate for something to anchor her. Her mind was quickly fading away into the pleasure and the desire to bite into his beautiful skin grew stronger. She grunted with the effort to hold him as he moved faster, harder.
"I'm going to—" She buried her face in his shoulder. "I'm going to—"
"Yes," he grunted. A hand cupped the back of her head and guided her towards his neck.
She didn't even know that her fangs had grown until she clamped down on him. She felt the sharp points break through his skin. He stiffened, then his head fell back with a roar. He thrust madly like he was possessed by a demon. The tang of his blood hit her tongue and she was filled with galaxies and stars. Every inch of her body tightened and exploded. They grappled with each other, rolling over and over. There was a thud at some point but Tindra kept drinking, her world narrowed down to that one moment.
When she eventually tore away from him, she found herself upright, Rollon pressing her into the wall as he still thrust madly. He wasn't even inside her anymore, the evidence of his climax spread over their stomachs and thighs. With a loud groan, he stilled. His arms banded around her tight and Tindra panted, trying to catch her breath.
"Wow," she managed. "Could have warned me how you'd react."
"Didn't know." He carried her back to the bed and laid her down gently before collapsing. "It was never like that before."
"Never?" Tindra giggled, so high on sex and happiness that she couldn't stop herself. "Oh. Well."
He carried her back to the bed, where they laid down. Both of them moaned and groaned, and Tindra found herself giggling again. It was so explosive that she was certain she was going to be riding high all night. Within a few minutes, though, her muscles were relaxing and she had to stifle a yawn. Rollon kissed her head.
"Sleep. I'll take tomorrow off . . . We'll make a marathon of it."
"That sounds good." Tindra yawned again. Her eyes drifted shut and before she knew it, she was sound asleep.
***
The phone was ringing. Tindra rolled over and reached for it, patting the nightstand. Her fingers brushed Ingrid's before they landed on hers. She groggily answered. Rollon rolled over and put an arm around her waist.
"Hello?"
Her voice was high-pitched from sleep, and she cleared her throat. The phone felt odd in her hand somehow. When she glanced at it, she saw why. It wasn't her phone at all. Ingrid's phone. Hers was lying on the nightstand still.
"Hey, sweetie," a familiar voice said on the other side. "Can we talk?"
Rollon's head snapped up. He seized the device and hurled it across the room, where it shattered. Tindra jumped, her jaw hanging slack. When her eyes met Rollon's, she could only see alarm and despair in them. And she remembered where she had heard that voice before. In a corridor under the castle with a knife to her throat.
"Eva," she whispered. "Hilda has been talking to Eva."
Chapter Sixteen – Rollon
A secondary look at the phone records as compared to Ingrid's lists of duties showed one incident where a call to Eva could not have happened on her behalf. Only one, but it was enough.
After Ingrid's initial arrest, she had stopped protesting that she was innocent. He had taken it as a sign of guilt, but now he knew the truth. She was protecting her little sister.
The guard opened the door to Ingrid's cell. She looked up from where she sat on the bed, then jumped to her feet. Her eyes were wide, her hands shook, but she stood straight.
"I am ready to confess, my lord."
Rollon shook his head as he surveyed her. "So you've figured out that it was Hilda, too."
Ingrid shook her head so wildly that her hair flew into her face. "No. It was me. I've been calling Eva and plotting against you. I still love her and when she explained to me why she turned me into a vampire, how could I not go back to her? The incursion was so that I could play dumb and still feed her information."
"It was Hilda."
"No. It wasn't. My sister is a good girl."
"A good girl who only knew that you haven't been happy since Eva left. She is a good girl, Ingrid. I don’t believe that she knew what she was doing. She just wanted to see you happy again."
"And why wouldn't she tell the truth when you arrested me?" Ingrid's voice had an edge of hysteria to it.
"Because she saw you getting dragged away in handcuffs. She's a child, Ingrid. She was scared." He put a hand on her shoulders as tears started to drop from her eyes. "Like I said, I don't believe she had any sort of malicious intent. I want you to be with me when I talk to her about it."
Ingrid stared at him for a long moment. "Then you aren't going to arrest her, too?"
The king flinched. "She'll have to be watched, but I'm not going to arrest her. She didn't know. And . . . " Here his grip tightened. "Please forgive me for thinking the worst of you."
Ingrid bowed her head for a moment before she looked up and managed a small smile. "You were doing what you thought you needed to do. For the kingdom. I understand, my lord."
He took her hand and squeezed it before leading her out of the jail cell. Together they went to Tindra, who said that Hilda had faked being sick (vampires didn't get sick) and went back to bed. When they knocked on the door, however, there was no answer. Ingrid opened it.
"Hilda, honey? It's me."
The room was utterly empty. Rollon pulled his phone out in a flash. It could be merely a situation in which Hilda had wandered off, but there could be something more sinister in the works, too. As he keyed in his code, though, the screen changed. Zander.
"I need a palace-wide search for Hilda," he barked into the phone. "Right—"
"My lord, there is a pack of shifters attacking the outer city. They've set fire to a warehouse and are carrying citizens off into the woods. Human police forces are on route but—"
"Ready the troops. I'll be there right away." He flicked off the phone. Ingrid stared at him with wide eyes as he grasped her arm and pulled her back to Tindra. "You two are in charge until we get back. Find Hilda."
Tindra blinked in surprised. "Get back from where?"
"I heard what Zander said. I'll explain," Ingrid promised.
Rollon nodded his thanks and rushed off. Hilda had gone missing and now this attack? What was Eva up to?
***
He arrived on the scene to find a blazing fire and a line of police firing desperately at the group of shifters crawling over the firetrucks that had arrived on the scene. A bear methodically tore the equipment apart. On the other side, some naked shifters splashed gasoline on an apartm
ent building. Rollon shouted a few orders as he charged into the fray. Beside him, Thor held his sword high.
A group of lions jumped over the tops of the firetrucks, flinging themselves into the oncoming vampires. Rollon threw himself to one side, stabbing at one of their necks. His sword tangled in its thick mane, and the shifter twisted with lightning speed and slammed both paws into his abdomen. The blow knocked him off his feet and the shifter dove with its mouth wide open. He rolled to one side and extracted his sword. The beast was too close for him to wield the blade, so he snatched a knife from his belt and swiped it over the lion's face.
A howl of pain followed as the lion pulled back. Rollon curled his legs into his chest and kicked his hard boots into the shifter's wound, then jumped to his feet. The lion swiped at him again. He leaped to one side and slashed his sword over the lion's ribs. It howled again and stumbled away.
A bear charged at him. He dropped to one knee and braced his sword as the bear flung itself on him. The sword pierced deep into its chest and he rolled under its paws, avoiding the long, sharp claws as he pulled his sword free. As soon as he got to his feet, another shifter rammed into his back. He dropped the sword to reach behind him, but as he tried to grab its head, it slipped through his grasp. Teeth sunk into his arm and it shook him left then right.
Bone snapped. Pain shot through him, causing a cry to burst out.
It flung him away. Rollon tumbled over the pavement, grunting. His face plowed into the asphalt, a fang chipping against the hard surface. Clearly, he had not been training hard enough these past few months. First his injuries at the palace, and now this? He should not be getting the crap kicked out of him like this! He rolled to his back, grabbing the sword with his good arm. The shifter that had attacked him was a large white leopard. It sprung at him again.
Thor dashed in front of him. He swung his sword hard; it impacted the leopard, sending it flying, right into the burning mess of warehouse. With a loud screech, it dove out of the flames. Blood spilled on the pavement as smoke rose from its fur. It rolled wildly while the rest of the shifters rushed back into the woods.