by T. S. Ryder
"It's not too late," Wava said suddenly, wrapping a measuring tape around the shorter woman's hips. "To change your mind, I mean."
Found smiled at her. "Why would I want to change my mind? Alexandru is going to give me a life of wealth and luxury."
"Or he might kill you in your wedding bed."
Found shrugged. "I don't think he will."
Wava frowned. "There is a reason why there are so few vampire children, you know. They are strong creatures that can crush your skull, and the bloodlust… ah, well. Alexandru drinks regularly, but the desire for your blood may be too strong for him when you are body to body."
"If I die, then I die." Found had already considered the possibility and she wasn't afraid. It wasn't as though she had much of a life to miss. This was worth the risk.
Wava clucked her tongue. "I can't decide whether you are brave or stupid. O-negative is the only blood type that can carry vampire children to term, but it's also the most tempting to vampires. Think rich, creamy Belgian chocolate compared to something like a Mars Bar."
"I've never had Belgian chocolate."
Wava looked even more horrified than she did at the thought of making a dress in one day. "You poor, poor creature! Well, I'll get you some before the wedding. If you die in the mating, you can't go to your grave without having a taste of Belgian chocolate."
"Yes," Found said, rolling her eyes. "Because that is what's important."
"If you find yourself dead tonight, I think you will miss what you never had."
Found shrugged. "Maybe. But this is the best chance for me to get everything I want from life. I'm not giving it up."
Wava hummed. "Then it seems you and Alexandru have something in common. Neither of you are looking for love."
"Love?" Found shook her head. "No, I don't need or want love."
Chapter Two
Alexandru stared down at his sleeping wife. His wife. His body still tingled with the aftereffects of consummating their marriage, but she didn't have a single bruise on her beautiful body.
There was a sense of triumph in him, being beside the fragile human that was his mate and knowing he was strong enough to be gentle with her. He had been afraid when orgasm took him that he would accidently break her, but she had expressed only pleasure–the best she'd ever had–before she fell asleep.
The dress she wore to marry him in was hanging on his closet door, next to the tuxedo that Wava insisted he wear, rather than the jeans and sweatshirt he had been planning on. He smiled fondly, remembering his sister's look of horror when he had told her what he planned to wear.
His stomach growled. Even though he had drunk his fill before the wedding and filled his nostrils with a pungent mixture of herbs, her smell still made his mouth water. He scented his own blood in her, having decided the transfusion to strengthen her must come from his own veins. But the human smell was so delicious he forced himself out of bed. Best not tempt fate.
Alexandru threw on some old clothes and slipped out of his suite, locking the door after him for Found's safety. Wava had had so many transfusions over the years that his vampires no longer scented her as human, but this delicious, O-negative beauty could prove too much temptation for some of them. He wasn't going to take that risk.
He went to his private office, where he opened his store of blood. Dozens of blood bank bags hung in the freezer. He selected a particularly succulent O-negative to satisfy his hunger.
"I hear congratulations are in order, brother."
Alexandru tensed as he turned on his heel. His younger half-brother, Vlad, leaned against the windowsill on the other side of the room. The Vampire General felt his hands clenching and tried to relax. Vlad liked nothing better than to provoke him. He had ever since the Empress had declared that Vlad was not worthy to rule humans and gave his lands to Alexandru.
Since then, Vlad had been a wanderer. He went from brother to brother, who felt obligated to take care of him until he annoyed them so much that they kicked him out.
"Congratulations?" Alexandru asked calmly. He made a mental note to track the route Vlad had taken to get here and flog all the guards that had let him past.
"On your marriage, of course." Vlad's nostrils flared. "I don't scent blood on you, so you must have had a successful mating. Interesting…" Another deep inhale. "She smells delicious."
A deep growl rumbled through Alexandru's chest. He advanced on his brother, pulling his head higher and narrowing his eyes. Vlad was quite a bit smaller than he was and never pushed things to a fight for fear that he'd end up without a head. That didn't mean he wasn't damn annoying.
"You stay away from her. She's mine," he commanded, the words sounded good, so Alexandru repeated them. "Mine. My wife, my mate. If you so much as touch her, I will feed your body to the pigs."
Vlad clucked his tongue and shook his head. "Dear, dear brother. Mother would not be pleased to hear you speak to poor little Vlad with such hostility, when all he did was come to congratulate you."
"The Empress knows exactly what you are. That's why you have no lands and no title."
The reminder made Vlad clench his fists and flash his fangs in a snarl. He quickly regained control, however, and laughed.
"Careful, brother. You know what happens to men who fall in love? They lose everything, even their own wills."
Alexandru snorted. "The mortal is my woman. That's all. There is no danger of me falling in love with her."
Vlad's eyes gleamed. "So you say now. I wonder what you will say in a year or two… Assuming you can continue to mate with her and not crush her fragile human bones. Tell me, does plugging your nose really help to avoid the bloodlust? That's my downfall… every time I try to rut with a woman, I end up draining her. It makes my orgasm that much more powerful, but I doubt they much like it."
He laughed and Alexandru had to fight the urge to rip off his head right then. He did not have the authority to kill Vlad and he would be executed himself if he did. "Get out of my home."
"Tut, tut, so touchy."
"Out!" Alexandru roared, advancing, but before he could reach Vlad, his brother had slipped out the window and out of sight.
Alexandru rushed to the window, looking down. There was no sign of Vlad. He scowled. Vlad was like that, the slippery devil. Their brothers had often complained of the same thing. He was able to slip in and out of even the most heavily fortified palace, leaving hardly any trace behind. Some thought he dabbled in witchcraft, or could turn into a bat as some humans believed vampires could.
Both were ridiculous notions, but Vlad did have some sort of skill that the rest of them didn't. Alexandru suspected that was the reason the Empress put up with him.
When I rule the vampires, Alexandru thought, returning to his blood supply, the worm will be locked away in the dungeons until I get every last one of his secrets out of him.
The thought was comforting.
***
Found was alone in bed when she woke. Disappointment coursed through her. She'd hoped they could go for another round of mating, but when she started to move, she changed her mind. She felt like she had run a marathon, uphill, while wearing a backpack of camping gear. Every joint ached and her muscles were stiff. She'd need some time to adjust to this.
It was worth it, though. She grinned widely, thinking of the powerful pleasure that had coursed through her the last night. It was so much better than anything she had felt before.
Wava bustled in shortly after, as if she knew that Found was awake and smiled cheerfully.
"Good morning! Let me open these windows for you. It's a beautiful day outside."
Found blinked in the bright light, shielding her eyes and pulling the blankets up to her chin, having just realized she was naked.
"I've brought you breakfast as well as a new wardrobe. I'm afraid I haven't had time to do all the alterations I'd like, but you need some clothes for while you're here." Wava put a silver platter on Found's knee and hung a silk robe on the post beside her hea
d.
"Thank you," Found said.
"You eat and get dressed in that while I run you a bath. Oh, it's so exciting to have a woman around here! Well, I mean a woman I can dote on. We have plenty of servants, but they all dote on me. Dear Sandru. As much as I love him, I'm afraid he can be a little stodgy at times."
Found nearly choked. She hadn't thought much about it when Wava referred to 'Sandru' the previous day, but there was definite affection in her voice. A wave of jealousy crashed over Found. What was this woman to her husband?
"You mean Alexandru?"
"Yes, I—Oh!" Wava's eyes widened as Found's narrowed. "He's my brother. I'm sorry, I thought you knew."
Found relaxed. "Oh. He didn't tell me he had a sister. So you're a daughter of the Empress?"
"No."
Found's brow furrowed. "But he's one of her sons."
"It's a little complicated… you see, after a certain time taking vampire seed into your womb, the transfer of blood will change your body and you'll become infertile."
Found gasped. She hadn't known that.
"Don't worry, it'll be a hundred or so years, far more than the average human lifespan." Wava smiled brightly at her. "But when the Empress reached that age, her husband took other mortal women to give him children. Sandru and I were both born out of one of those unions. Our mother raised us, but Sandru is still considered a son of the Empress because he is the Emperor's son."
"Oh," Found muttered. Her brow furrowed as Wava talked. The other woman had slightly elongated canines, but not fangs. Perhaps, like with many species, men simply had more sizable weapons.
Her stomach rumbled and she started on her breakfast while Wava bustled to the bathroom. The sound of running water made Found smile. She loved baths, but rarely had a chance to indulge herself in one.
The bath helped with her aches tremendously. Found lounged in the water for hours, until it was too cold to stand anymore and she got out. It was noon by then and her stomach rumbled again. Wava was still in the room, putting away clothing and answered the door when there was a knock.
A man handed Wava a silver tray. No, not a man. Found saw fangs flash when he spoke to Wava.
Suddenly the vampire stiffened. His head whipped around and his black eyes delved into hers. Fear flooded her and she stumbled backwards, unable to break eye contact with the vampire. He stepped forward.
Then a deep, threatening growl reverberated from the hallway. The vampire jumped, backing away from the door. He looked fearfully over his shoulder and in a moment Alexandru strode into view. The other vampire dropped to his knees, exposing the back of his neck. Something silver flashed in Alexandru's hand and blood spurted into the air.
Found gasped. Wava wrapped her arms around her, comforting her. "Shhh. He's not going to hurt you now."
"But he'll die!" Found's voice rose. She'd never seen a person die before.
The vampire sent her a puzzled glance, but a growl from Alexandru made him look at the floor again.
"He'll heal. I'm afraid young Ivan here has not had many interactions with humans before. He lost his head a moment." Wava's voice was perfectly calm. "Alexandru is re-establishing dominance. Bloodletting is necessary. Vampire blood is very potent, more potent than human. By washing himself in it, he's erasing your scent. Sandru won't let him up until it's completely safe for you."
Found's heart beat hard in her chest. It seemed to take forever, but eventually Alexandru pulled Ivan to his feet and whispered into his ear. The other vampire was ashen, but nodded and stumbled away.
Alexandru stepped into the room and shut the door. He stared at Found for a long time, nostrils flaring. For a wild moment she thought he was angry at her, but eventually his shoulders relaxed.
"I apologize. Your scent is very powerful. It's difficult to resist."
Found nodded, her heart rate returning to normal. She knew Alexandru wasn't going to hurt her.
"Wava, you must not leave Found's side," Alexandru said, eyes not moving from Found's face. "She carries my child and will be irresistible to the inexperienced young ones."
Found gasped. "What do you mean, I carry your child? I surely cannot be pregnant already!"
Wava squeezed her shoulders. "Congratulations!" she trilled.
Alexandru nodded stiffly. "I… am very pleased."
Found nodded, finding that there was a bubble of joy blossoming in her as she pressed her hands to her stomach. "So am I... I think."
"Good."
Found glanced at Alexandru. He didn't look happy.
"Sandru, your wife and you have just shared some wonderful news. The least you can do is kiss her," Wava urged him on.
Alexandru held his breath as he moved to Found's side, pressing a kiss to her cheek before retreating. "It will take time for me to adjust to your scent."
Found nodded, not knowing how to reply.
"I'll start on the baby's wardrobe right away," Wava clapped. "What luck, you getting pregnant so soon."
Chapter Three
It was hard to concentrate on his lieutenant's words as he stared at the large map that showed his territory. Alexandru's mind was consumed by the beautiful mortal woman who carried his child.
Some vampires could scent a pregnancy almost from the moment it happened, Alexandru was one of them. If he hadn't had the herbs in his nose on their wedding night, he would have been able to scent the pregnancy then.
He had to admit, he had not expected for her to accept his seed so quickly. The flood of hormones into her bloodstream resulting from pregnancy created a near-irresistible cocktail. Her scent had become more powerful over the past three months since their wedding and it was dangerous to be near her.
It was why he could not trust himself to go to Found, even though he wanted more than anything to see her, to hold her in his arms. He hardened at the thought of her tight walls, her succulent breasts, the smell of her arousal. Just thinking of her and knowing he couldn't touch her, was torture.
His lieutenant, Marcus, must have scented Alexandru's arousal but continued speaking.
"The Bears have brought in Wolves from the Americas," he said. "They're testing the strength of our borders. Sir, it is my belief that we must do something quickly, before they grow even bolder."
Alexandru nodded, trying to push Found from his thoughts. It wasn't easy. His fingers twitched, aching to reach for his cell phone and call her, just to hear her voice. Though he had seen her just two hours earlier.
Wava is taking good care of her, he reminded himself. "I agree, Marcus. I want you to increase the patrols on the borders. My brother, Dmitri, lost half of his territory because he could not defend it against the Shifters."
"As you wish." Marcus bowed and turned to leave.
"Wait." Alexandru's brow furrowed. If he was going to someday take the crown, he needed more than just to defend his lands. He had many brothers that were hundreds, even thousands, of years older than him. He was just a child to them, his possessions just a spit of land. He needed to expand if he wanted to be taken seriously. "Send a message to the Bear Matriarch. I wish to engage in battle for territory."
Marcus bowed again and slipped from the war room. Alexandru groaned, thoughts of Found instantly invading his mind. He was fighting a battle on two fronts—one at his borders and one in his mind. How was the little female so pervasive?
He knew he would need to drink from her, to mark her as his own, but now that she was pregnant, he didn't want to risk it. He should have drunk from her before the wedding night. He knew that now. But what was done could not be changed.
Laughter brought him out of his half-stupor. Vlad's scent curled around his nose and his head jerked up.
His half-brother sat in the large, comfortable office chair behind Alexandru's desk, fingers touched together, eyes gleaming. "You have a wife, do you not, brother? Can't she take care of that?"
He gestured vaguely and Alexandru pulled down his suit jacket, though he knew it wouldn't go low enough to hide t
he bulge in his pants. "How did you get in here?"
"I'm a ghost. I flit through the walls. I wanted to see how your marriage was coming along, but you don't seem to be enjoying your wife… Do you mind if I take a quick go at her?"
Alexandru roared, lunging forward. Rage burned through him at the thought of Vlad's eyes on his mate, his breath on her skin. He would never let that happen! But Vlad slipped from his fingers like an eel and danced around the room, his lithe frame quick and nimble.
"Come on, brother, certainly you can do better than that?"
Alexandru pulled up short, hands clenched. He had to remain in control of the situation, something he was clearly failing at.
"You are not welcome here. Go before I decide to kill you."
"You can't kill a ghost," Vlad laughed. "Besides, the Empress would be furious with you. But back to your female—does she taste good? I could scent her ovulation on you the last time I was here… does she smell better now that she's with child?"
He knew? The vampire general tensed.
"I can't smell her on you," Vlad continued, inhaling deeply. "Are you afraid you'll kill her if you mark her as your own? You know those human marriages you are obsessed with, mean nothing… if you don't drink from her, she's not yours… Maybe I will claim her, if you're too afraid..."
A red haze filled Alexandru's vision. He rushed to his brother, but Vlad easily sidestepped him and bolted for the corridor, laughing as he went. Alexandru chased after him. Forget the consequences, he was going to throw the boy in the dungeons and keep him there until the Empress herself sent for him.
Vlad was quicker than he was and by the time Alexandru was in the corridor, he had already turned the corner. The general followed, feet pounding the carpets. Vlad's scent hung heavy in the air.
He reached a window and the scent cut out, as though Vlad really was a ghost that had disappeared. Alexandru snarled, kicking the wall. How did he do it?
"If you can hear me, Vlad, know that someday I am going to remove your head from your shoulders," he roared.