by T. S. Ryder
"That feels good," Sofia blurted, wanting to stay connected to sanity somehow... a shudder rocked her body. "Aaron!"
A chuckle answered her. He trailed his kisses up her bare body, his fingers taking over the work his mouth had been doing. Sofia clung to him, whimpering as everything tightened inside of her. Aaron's fangs skimmed over her throat.
"Drink from me," she gasped. "Please! Do it now!"
"Give me a moment," Aaron murmured into her skin.
Sofia moaned in impatience, then cried out in protest as he moved away from her. She reached for him, trying to follow, but he put his hand on her sternum and pushed her back down firmly. Kneeling on the bed, he removed his trousers. Sofia admired his body for a moment, her eyes tracing the contours of his muscle, his firm abs, and that delicious V that made her pulse quick every time she saw it when they were swimming.
The king laid over her, nudging her thighs further apart with his knees, and grinned. "Are you ready for me?"
"Yes."
His lips caressed her throat. "Good."
He entered the same time as his fangs sunk into her throat. There was a sharp sting from both points, and then nothing but pleasure. The tightness that was already on the point of snapping burst into flame, sending floods of fire throughout her body. Every inch of her shuddered, her limbs moving on their own accord, her head flailing this way and that. She pushed her body against his, grabbed handfuls of his hair, pulled him closer to her, arched her back, and screamed.
Sofia didn't know how long it lasted. She ran out of breath and lay there, gulping in deep, deep gasps, hardly aware that Aaron was withdrawing. She blinked and brushed some hair from her eyes and mouth.
"Was it good for you?" she blurted.
Aaron cuddled her, his fingers trailing up and down her spine. The gentle touch had her body, wound tight with the pleasure she had experienced, turning to putty. "It was amazing, Sofia. I've never felt this way about a woman before. I've tried. I tried so hard."
Sofia's eyes fluttered closed as she hummed. Her vampire king had told her about his past affairs, all right, but she had long since stopped being jealous of the women that would never have him again. He was hers, and that was all she cared about. It was ridiculous to think that a vampire as old as him wouldn't have had many loves before her.
"And what about you? Was it good for you?" Aaron asked.
"It was better than I imagined. Even though I think I missed most of it. I didn't even realize you were actually moving." She giggled, a little embarrassed, but snuggled closer and kissed his jaw. "So I guess you're just going to have to show me what you did again…"
Aaron grinned, his eyes twinkling. "I'd like that."
***
Five Months Later
Sofia trailed her hands over her swelling belly, grinning as she waited for Aaron to join her. Even now she could hardly believe that Gloria's potion had worked. She was pregnant. The child that she and Aaron had longed for was growing inside of her, and she couldn't be happier.
Actually, that wasn't true.
The smile faded from her face when Aaron entered the room. He smiled wanly at her. The stress of the radical witches' increased attacks on humans and vampires alike was getting to him. He wasn't sleeping at night. His already pale skin was translucent. The sparkle was gone from his eyes, and he needed to drink several pints of blood every day. If he wasn't a vampire and immune from disease, she would have suspected that he was sick.
"Are you feeling okay?" she asked him worriedly, moving to her husband and gripping his hands. "The announcement can wait."
Aaron shook his head firmly. "I'm fine. And we need to make our announcement before I start attacking all those tabloids that claim to have insider knowledge that you've cheated on me. We will tell the world what the truth is, and then… Then maybe I'll take the rest of the day off and go have a nap."
Sofia's brow furrowed, not liking the way Aaron's eyes slid in and out of focus. She reached for him. "Aaron, I don't think you're well."
"Nonsense." He grinned.
And collapsed.
Chapter Five – Aaron
Aaron rubbed his eyes, hating how weak he felt. He had been noticing that he wasn't as steady as he normally was, his thoughts a little more scattered, with a deep thirst that couldn't be quenched, for several weeks now, but he had just assumed that it was just stress. The radical witches had stepped up their ante, going from sneaking around in the shadows to causing havoc in the streets. The anti-magic hysteria was reaching new heights as well. It was a lot to deal with.
But none of that explained this. He was a vampire. Stress or no stress, he couldn't get sick. And yet he felt feverish, his skin was clammy to the touch, and there was a pounding headache shooting through his head to his spine.
His physician clucked her tongue as her hands hovered over his body. A green glow surrounded them. Sofia sat beside him, resting her hand on his arm. Her expression was anxious, eyes wide, chewing on her lower lip.
"What's wrong with him?" she eventually asked, apparently tired of listening to the witch's clucking.
"I'm not sure. I've never seen anything like this before. I'd like to take some tissue samples to run some spells on. Have you been drinking your wife's blood, sir?"
Aaron shook his head. "Not since you confirmed she was pregnant. We didn't want to do anything that would risk the baby."
"Hmmm. What have you been drinking?"
"Bagged blood. The same supply our soldiers get. None of them are exhibiting any of these signs, though."
The physician dropped her hands. The green glow faded from them. The witch shook her head, brow puckering. "The only thing I can think is that they're getting blood from other sources as well. It could be that the blood bags are missing some essential nutrient."
"They have been tasting a little off," Aaron admitted. "But we test our sources thoroughly."
"Well, I'll get a few samples to test again, just to be sure. But in the meantime, sir, you should get some extra rest. It is possible that this is a case of sympathetic pregnancy."
Aaron's head shot up. "Excuse me? What did you just say?"
The physician smiled calmly. "It's not uncommon for men to experience some of the same pregnancy symptoms that their wives go through. She's tired, you're tired. She can't sleep, you can't sleep. She's hungry, you're hungry. I have never heard of it happening quite this way, but it is something to consider."
Aaron scowled. So the physician thought it was all in his head? That was pretty insulting in his opinion. "Don't assume that's what it is," he snapped. "I want you to exhaust every possible physical cause for this. If you find anything, I'll be in my chambers with my wife."
"Of course."
His knees had the consistency of jelly as he stood but somehow managed to keep himself upright. Sofia slid her hand into his as they left the witch's medical rooms. He could feel the worry rolling off his wife, but for her sake, he still smiled.
"I guess that official announcement of your pregnancy will have to wait," he said. "Although the nap is coming a little faster than anticipated."
She didn't even smile. "I'm worried about you."
"I know. But I'll be fine. Promise."
Sofia leaned against him, wrapping her arm around his waist. He tried not to put too much of his weight on her, but it was hard to not to. His eyes hung heavy, and all he wanted to do was just lie down and sleep.
When they got to their apartment, Sofia suddenly stopped. Aaron stumbled. He looked up and tensed. Just outside their door were half a dozen vampires. They were wealthy men, all single, and all political rivals. His eyes narrowed. Sharks scenting blood in the water? Had news of his collapse traveled so quickly?
"Get out of here," he said shortly, not wanting to deal with them right now. "My wife and I were about to go make love."
"Your wife is why we are here," one of them, Anvier, said. "The rumors are true, aren't they? She carries a child."
"My child," Aaron g
rowled. "She did not betray me."
Anvier eyed Sofia's belly with a gleam in his eye. "I didn't think she did. But this is an amazing thing, that a human can conceive a vampire's child. We all want children. If your wife can conceive with vampires, then it is your duty to share her with the others who may benefit from her unique capabilities."
Share her? With a roar, Aaron threw himself forward. "How dare you?"
Before he reached Anvier, he stumbled. The other vampires stared at him as his arms windmilled, fighting to keep himself balanced. Sofia rushed forward, catching him. He sagged against her, fighting the black spots that danced before his eyes. His stomach churned.
"We used magic so that I could conceive," Sofia said. "I'm not unique. And if you want to have children, then I can make you the same potion to use with your women."
Anvier frowned at her. "I didn't know you were a witch."
"I'm not. But my grandmother was, and she taught me a few things and it's an easy potion to make. Now if you'll excuse us, we'll be going."
"No." Aaron pulled himself up again, clenching his hands. He choked back his weakness and glared at his rivals. If he didn't settle this now, it wasn't going to end. It was a risk fighting in his current condition, but what choice did he have? By being weak in front of these vampires, he was putting his rule and his wife in danger. "You insulted my wife, you will pay the consequences."
Anvier's brow furrowed. The other vampire shook his head. "You really want to fight me, Aaron? In your condition, a stiff breeze could knock you down."
"Then that's what we fight for," Aaron snarled back at him. "The first one on his back loses."
Anvier considered him for another moment, then shrugged. "If that is what you want. But I don't think we should fight here. Certainly not when your lovely wife will be in the way. After all, once I defeat you, the rest of the vampire nation will see I'm the stronger man and make me king. I think I'll claim her as my queen… keep her in luxury and comfort when I banish you to the swamp or maybe some sort of pit where you'll never see the sunlight—"
Aaron took advantage of his opponent's monologue. He jumped forward, swinging a punch at Anvier's face. The other vampire stepped back, making Aaron stumble. But as he fell, he wrapped his arms around the other vampire's waist. With a growl, the king picked him up and threw him back, using his own weight to bring the vampire crashing down. Anvier fell flat on his back, Aaron half on him.
"Yet I still win," the king grunting, grinning. The grin didn't last long as everything around him swayed.
"Don't you dare touch him!" Sofia's voice rang out sharply.
Aaron pushed himself to his knees. His wife wrapped her arms around him, tugging uselessly to hoist him up. Though part of his mind said that he couldn’t accept help, couldn't look weak in front of the others, he already knew that he looked weak. If the fight with Anvier had lasted a second longer, he would have lost.
"You're all disgusting brutes," Sofia snarled. "I wouldn't have any of you if you put a gun to my head! Now get out of here. These apartments belong to the king and his wife. None of you are the king and you certainly aren't his wives. Now go before I call the guards and have you physically escorted away!"
Sofia didn't let the other vampires protest. The king couldn't help but smile at her forcefulness, and let her tug him into their apartment. She took him to the couch and eased him down. Once he was sitting, he dropped his chin to his chest and closed his eyes. His head felt a little lighter, but he was so, so thirsty!
"Get me some blood," he mumbled.
"Wait," a familiar voice called.
The physician-witch hurried into the apartment. Aaron found it was a little difficult to concentrate on her as she raced over to where they were. The other vampires still hadn't left and were staring in at the three of them curiously. When Aaron snarled at them, one of them shut the door. The loud complaints that followed told him they weren't going anywhere.
"Here." The witch pressed a glass into Aaron's hand. "Drink this."
He frowned at the clear liquid but drank anyway. It didn't taste how he'd expect a medicine to taste. It was… cleaner. Fresh. Sweet, almost. He gulped it down, emptying the glass quickly.
"Do you feel better?" The physician-witch peered into his eyes.
"I do, thank you." Aaron straightened, surprised when his head stopped spinning. He frowned. "You know what is wrong with me? What medicine was that?"
"It's not medicine, although I do believe I know what's wrong." The witch's shoulders slumped. "I don't know how this is possible. But it appears… Sir, you are turning back into a human."
Chapter Six – Sofia
Lucy opened the door for Sofia while Vivian scouted the area. Sofia couldn't help but feel annoyed with their paranoia today. Her nerves were a huge jumbled mess, and it felt like she had been on the verge of breaking down ever since they had found out what exactly was wrong with Aaron.
He was turning human. And it wasn't just some random magical attack that had managed to get through the walls, it was the potion. The one she had used to get herself pregnant. Had Gloria known? She had been angry with Sofia when she first announced that she was going to marry the vampire king... Could Gloria have taken that anger too far?
Sofia marched up to her friend's house and knocked rapidly. She didn't stop until Gloria answered, looking put out.
"Did you know?"
Gloria blinked. "What?"
"Did you know?"
Lucy put a hand on Sofia's elbow. "Not in the street."
Sofia glared at her bodyguard but pushed past Gloria into the house. Her friend protested. Lucy and Vivian ignored her cries as they followed their queen in. Sofia took a deep breath, resting a hand on her swelling belly. She turned to face her friend with the calmest expression she could muster.
"Did you know what the side effects of that fertility potion were going to be?"
Gloria's eyes widened. She rushed forward and grabbed Sofia's hands. "What is it? Are you okay? You didn't do anything out of character, did you?"
Sofia pulled away. "It's not me. It's Aaron. The potion is turning him human."
For a long moment, Gloria just stared at her. Then suddenly she turned away and laughed. Sofia's hands clenched. How could Gloria think that this was funny? Didn't she realize just how terrible the situation was? They didn't know what would happen to Aaron because of it. Did he have an immune system left? Would the change kill him? There were no answers!
And it was all Sofia's fault. If she hadn't been so reckless, if she had just made sure to take the time to talk to her husband about this…
"That's funny," Gloria said. "You had me going for a minute there. But it's impossible for a vampire to be turned into a human."
"It's not impossible, that's what's happening."
Gloria turned back, the mirth dying from her face. "You're serious? He's really turning human?"
"Yes!"
"But… you were the one who was supposed to drink it, not him."
Sofia shook her head. "I did. But he drank from me right after, and it had already entered my bloodstream. Why didn't you tell me that this could happen?"
Gloria pulled her hair to its ends, a distressed look on her face. "We have to look at the recipe again. It didn't say anything about side effects! I'll go get it."
Sofia shook her head. "I want my grandmother's spell book."
"But I got the recipe from a friend, not your grandmother's book."
"We still might be able to find a similar recipe in it, and figure out more about what is happening to Aaron. Where is it?"
"In my kitchen. I'll get it."
Gloria had always had a knack for magic that Sofia didn't have. When Sofia's grandmother had passed, she had decided to give the spell book to her friend. It seemed like the right decision at the time since most of the spells and potions in it were too advanced for Sofia's training. Right now, though, Sofia wished that she had been able to dedicate more time to lessons with her grandmother
.
Sofia sagged onto the couch, resting her face in her hands while Lucy and Vivian both stood near windows, looking out. They had been with her as bodyguards from the start of her relationship with Aaron, although they only started accompanying her everywhere a month before the wedding.
Close to the beginning of her engagement to Aaron, a male vampire attempted to dance with her at a ball. It was then, when Aaron had had the man thrown from the hall, that Sofia realized that he had given her women as bodyguards because of his own possessive jealousy.
Their relationship had come so far since then. Aaron had realized that Sofia didn't see his actions as protective, but rather as a sign he didn't trust her, and had worked to overcome his issues. The incident before their wedding showed that it was still a work in progress, but he was getting better…
And now he might die because of me.
"Got it!" Gloria came back into the room, lugging a thick, age-stained book. She set it on the coffee table.
Sofia checked the table of contents, flipping to all fertility potions and anti-vampire protective wards. Her heart beat shallowly, eyes skimming over the ingredients lists. Eventually, she came to one that had the same recipe as the potion that she had made.
"Here it is. And here's the warnings. Side effects… vampires who drink a human's blood who has drunk this potion will become human. It doesn't say anything more than—" She gasped, her heart rising as she turned the page. "An antidote. A way to stop the transformation and turn Aaron back into a vampire."
Gloria frowned as she peered at the pages. "You'll have to make the potion yourself, it looks like."
"I can do it. Lucy, Vivian, we're going back to the palace." Sofia shut the massive tome and headed for the door. She stopped and turned back to her friend. "Thank you, Gloria. I'll let you know how it goes."
"Sure." Gloria gave her a wan smile. "And stop eating so much, you're getting fatter."
"I'm pregnant. Stop calling me fat," Sofia said shortly and left.
All the way back to the palace, she poured over the potion to fix Aaron again and again. There was a blood element to it that was unreadable, but other than that, it seemed straightforward enough. The final ingredient, black-capped toadstools, had to be added within five seconds of being picked under the light of a full moon, but it was the most complicated step to the brew.