by T. S. Ryder
"Rosa! Stay with me. Stay with me."
Rosa's normally glowing skin was rapidly losing its color. Angelus held her tighter with one arm, reaching for the fallen knife with the other. There was only one way to save her, but would it take hold in time? A human body could bleed out in sixty seconds. One minute. That was all it took. How long had it already been?
"Angelus." Her voice was weak. "Save our baby. Please. Save her."
"I will," Angelus gasped as he laid her down on the floor. "I'll save both of you. I love you. I love you!"
"I love you."
He stabbed himself in the wrist, dragging it through his flesh. His red-black blood oozed from the wound. He needed to stab deeper, get more blood. Ignoring the pain, he pushed the blade deeper. More blood now. It would have to do. Rosa's eyes were rolling, her lids fluttering. Her heartbeat was slowing.
Angelus bent over her, sinking his teeth into her already wounded neck. The taste of her blood was euphoria, like the decade he had spent with a heroin needle in his arm, only this high was pure joy and the feeling of utter belonging. It was so exquisite he almost forgot to put his wrist to Rosa's mouth. Still gently lapping at the blood pouring from her, he massaged his arm, forcing his blood through her lips.
Her heart stopped and Angelus knew it had failed. But as he withdrew, a howl of pain on his lips, it started again. The beating was stronger. Her scent was changing, the new blood still coming from her wound tinged with death. A Vampire's blood. A Vampire's heartbeat.
Angelus kissed her mouth, tasting his own blood on her lips, then turned his attention to their child. If Rosa's body changed before the baby was out, she would not be born. She would stay inside her mother forever, not alive, not dead. There was only one way to give their daughter a fighting chance.
The King grabbed the knife again and lifted Rosa's shirt. Her belly pulsed and contorted, the baby fighting against her rapidly changing environment. Rosa gasped, the sound of air filling new lungs. He had only seconds before it would be too late.
Angelus whispered a quiet prayer to all the gods he had ever known and made the first cut.
Chapter Ten - Rosa
A gloriously familiar scent curled around her nostrils. It smelled rich and earthy, like a fresh-tilled field after the spring thaw. It was full of life and promise but remained still with the death of winter as an undeniable undercurrent. Rosa pulled in a deep breath, sighing as the scent intensified. She knew it as if from a dream, and her lips curled into a smile.
"Angelus."
She could hear his heartbeat, slow, but present. The mattress she lay upon sagged as he sat beside her. His hand touched her face, not ice-cold, as before, but as warm as sunshine. Her eyes flickered open. Angelus beamed at her, more handsome than she had ever seen him.
"You're awake. I was afraid… the process doesn't always take." His fingers brushed through her hair. "How do you feel?"
"I feel…"
Memories came rushing back and Rosa tensed. Her hand flew to her throat as she gasped. Her skin was smooth under her fingers, but she remembered how the gash had felt. She choked on the memories, her whole body going rigid. Angelus gathered her into his arms, rocking her back and forth. Rosa clung to him, struggling to breathe. She should be dead.
"It's okay, it's okay," Angelus murmured. "You're okay. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Sorry for what? Rosa stared past his shoulder as she held him. His scent was so powerful. His heartbeat. All of her senses were far more finely tuned than they had ever been before. She shivered. The knife cutting her throat. Her blood between her fingers. Knowing she was going to die. That had all happened, but somehow…
"I'm a Vampire," she whispered. "You turned me into a Vampire."
"It was the only way to save you." Angelus pulled back, cupping her face in his hands. "I'm sorry. I only had seconds to act, I didn't know what you would want. I only knew I couldn't live without you."
Rosa pressed her fingers against his lips. "I didn't want to die. Don't be sorry for saving me, Angelus."
He let out a shaky breath and kissed her gently. The contact sparked heat deep inside Rosa and she moaned into his mouth, throwing herself forward—they were suddenly on the far side of the room in a tangled heap. Rosa yelped in surprise, but Angelus laughed. He kissed her neck and pulled her into his embrace.
"It'll take some time to get used to your new strength. I look forward to helping you."
His eyes twinkled, causing Rosa's ardor to reignite, but as she straddled him, bringing her mouth to his, she remembered something else. Something far more important than sex. She was on her feet in an instant, her hands probing her soft stomach.
"The baby!"
Angelus got to his feet, smiling and shaking his head as he pulled her into his arms again. "She's fine."
"Where is she? How long have I been unconscious?"
"Calm down. Calm down. Lucilia has her right now. We've found that she needs a little blood mixed in with her infant formula. But now that you're awake, I'm sure we can find a way to get her to breastfeed. It's supposed to be hard for them to take the nipple after having a bottle but—"
"How long have I been unconscious?" Rosa repeated. Was she going to meet her baby to find her three months old? A year? Her heart didn't hammer like it would have when she was still human, but she was very aware of it beating in her chest.
"A day."
"A day." Rosa let out a relieved sigh. Her baby was still a baby.
Angelus squeezed her hand. "Let's go see her. She's beautiful, just like you. She has your dark eyes and hair."
Rosa smiled happily and headed for the door but stopped abruptly. A new fear filled her and she yanked her hand from her Vampire King and retreated back into the room. "No. No, I can't. I'm a newly-turned Vampire. I have to deal with bloodlust and… and what if I attack her? What if I drink her blood?"
Angelus shook his head again, taking her hands in his. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I know there is a lot that you still have to learn. We never really talked about what it means to be a Vampire. I'll be with you every step of the way. But, about blood..."
Rosa shuddered.
"You'll have the desire to drink it, and you'll need to drink it. Yet, the trouble of being a new Vampire is getting used to having to drink fresh blood. You're the same person you were before you were changed, Rosa. Your personality, your morals, they're all the same. Would you hurt a baby before the change?"
"No." Rosa was horrified at the idea. "Never."
"Then you won't have the desire to hurt our baby now."
Angelus kissed her again and led her from the room. Nerves still churned in Rosa's stomach, but she trusted her Vampire King. Everything seemed brighter and more beautiful as they walked through the corridors. She saw details that she had never noticed before. Soon she heard a gentle thrum, and before Angelus told her it was a heartbeat, she knew it was their daughter.
She was perfect, just like Angelus had said. Helena had paler features than Rosa, but the shape and color of her eyes were all like her mother’s. Those eyes blinked sleepily when Lucilia passed the baby to Rosa. The instant the baby was in her arms, a well of love overwhelmed her. She was perfect. She had beautiful, delicate features and felt so very fragile.
"You're crying," Angelus whispered.
"She's just so beautiful. Take her, please." Rosa sniffed. "I don't know my own strength, I don't want to hurt her."
"You won't hurt her."
"I just don't want to have an accident."
Angelus nodded and took the baby. He settled in the chair that Lucilia had abandoned, and Rosa pulled a second chair close, marveling at how easy the heavy thing was to move. She settled down, gazing lovingly at her daughter and the love of her life, so happy and content that she began crying again. Embarrassed by her tears, she wiped them away.
"I didn't know Vampires could cry," she laughed.
"Vampire can do anything humans can do. Except… a Vampire man and woman c
an't have children together." A look of sorrow came over Angelus' face. "Rosa, I'm sorry… we can't have more children."
Rosa shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I never wanted more than one child, anyway. When Helena is a little older, we may decide we want another one and adopt. It's what we would have done anyway," she added, trying to lighten the mood. "No way in hell was I going to go through another nine months feeling like my stomach was turning inside out."
"You are such an amazing woman." Angelus leaned forward to kiss her, but Rosa stopped him.
"If I attack you like I did the last time, Helena could be hurt."
Angelus nodded and withdrew. A moment of peaceful silence descended until Rosa felt calm enough to ask for her daughter back. She held the baby on her lap, gazing in amazement at the tiny person. She was so wrapped up in her baby that Angelus' sigh actually startled her.
"Rosa, I'm sorry."
"I already said I didn't want to die."
"Not about turning you. About before." Angelus dragged a hand through his hair. "About dismissing your reaction to the violence of Freya's punishment. I drove you away by not seeing what you were afraid of. I didn’t take it seriously even after you told me about your stepfather. Everything that happened was my fault."
Rosa shook her head. "I shouldn't have expected you to have my morals, but I appreciate your apology."
"I'm going to do better, I promise. I have reviewed our laws and changed them. Now, instead of just punishment, there will be rehabilitation programs and imprisonment rather than just a harsh corporal punishment–even release. I've hired a group of psychologists, too, to help create the best, most effective law system possible. I'm starting with Freya. She had no idea that her Vampire worshipers had attacked you, but she still has committed numerous crimes against humanity that cannot go unpunished. Yet, I am looking for better punishments."
Talking about this made her think of her stepfather and Rosa shuddered. "The Vampire that handed me over to Michael said he was working for Freya."
"I interrogated them both. I very much doubt that Freya was actually involved in any of this. It was just a man blindly in love with her."
"What happened to Michael? Did you kill him?"
"No." Angelus sounded proud of himself. "I didn't kill a single human while rescuing you. There were deaths, but that was them killing each other. I damaged some pretty bad… but not so bad that they would die–not even the gorilla when I crushed his windpipe. I thought he was going to die for certain, but… You don't want to hear about that."
He really had changed. He listened to her worries and changed his way of thinking. If she wasn't still holding Helena, Rosa would have thrown him to the ground and made the most passionate love to him that she could. She settled for a kiss, long and deep, her heart full to overflowing.
"Thank you," she whispered. "I love you so much. Thank you. Thank you."
"I love you, too." Angelus kissed her again. "Regina cor meum. I love you."
"Regina what?"
"It means Queen of my heart. Which you are."
Rosa closed her eyes, leaning against him, her baby in her arms and she, herself, in her lover's arms. Finally, for the first time in her life, she knew she was safe and loved. The homeless girl had finally found her home.
*****
THE END
The Vampire Prince's Prey
Description
A curvy pickpocket looking for her next target PLUS a possessive billionaire vampire in search of a mate PLUS a bad choice that may cause them to lose everything!
Beau is a wealthy, possessive and seductive young vampire prince. With the Choosing Ceremony just weeks away, Beau must decide whether to partake in the sexist tradition he has always found obsolete, or go against family tradition and find a mate on his own terms.
When he finally finds the one human female who might allow him to fall in love, he realizes what a pain in the ass she is. This human woman is sassy, sneaky, and pushes him to new limits.
Valery is a strong-willed, voluptuous young woman. She never had a family, nor had she ever really needed one. When a bad choice causes her to come face to face with a real-life vampire, Valery realizes she is in hot water.
In the end, both of them have to decide what matters most to them. Will Beau be able to hang on to this woman he so desires, or will she leave him with nothing?
Chapter One
Another successful morning, thought Valery, as she sat in the corner of a dark alley. Her morning pickpocketing had earned her a total of fifty dollars in cash, a pocket watch and a stick of gum. Feeling excited about her haul and the fact that she hadn’t been caught, Valery stood, slipped her stolen goods into her pocket and walked out of the alley.
The twenty-three-year-old voluptuous, curvy young woman had been on the streets of New York City for as long as she could remember, minus one or two foster homes, a series of arrests for theft and sleeping on a couple of park benches. Maybe one day she would have enough money saved up to go out West, buy a small house and get a respectable job. For now, her life consisted of being a street rat. She picked pockets, stole from unlocked cars and genuinely had a lack of respect for the law. What had it ever done for her?
As her stomach gave a loud rumble, Valery decided some of those fifty dollars she had just stolen would have to go towards food. Pulling her hood up, she tucked her head and ran through the rain.
***
Beau pondered over his family’s insistence that he take a human mate. The traditional Choosing Ceremony was approaching and he was scheduled to pick a female to breed with. Unfortunately for his family, Beau had never been interested in the Choosing Ceremony. In fact, he thought it was completely sexist and he had no desire to follow through with it.
He sat in the back seat of his uncle Xavier’s SUV, waiting for his uncle to return from the tuxedo shop. Beau watched out the window as the busy New York streets and sidewalks bustled. All these humans moving through their day to day lives, and here he was, about to pick one as his mate.
Finally getting annoyed with how long the trip into the city was taking, Beau decided to take a walk. His uncle would call his cell phone when it was time to go. He quickly stepped out of the vehicle, shut the door behind him and began walking down the crowded sidewalk.
The rain poured down on him, but he didn’t care. The smell of the rain wasn’t enough to erase the smell of blood that pulsed through all of these beings. The scent of human flesh was almost overpowering. He needed to get away from this crowded place. It wasn’t that he thought the luscious scent of so much blood would make him lose control, it was simply the fact that he had never cared for highly-populated areas. New York City was nothing but populated. He hated the city, but his uncle had desired the company.
Beau continued to walk until he finally came across the edge of the Central Park. He turned from the sidewalk, jumped the little barrier and started to walk into the park.
***
Having downed her burger, Valery decided it was time to get back to work. Central Park wasn’t overly crowded at the moment. It would be perfect for pickpocketing. There wouldn’t be as big of a risk of getting caught.
She jumped off the bench she’d been sitting on, tossed her garbage into the trash nearby and began walking. Valery gazed at the people as she walked. She generally chose to target the rich because they always had to flaunt their wealth.
The women always had giant rings, fancy coats, and immaculate hairdos. They carried large handbags, which were always the easiest to reach into and snatch a wallet or other valuables from. The snide bitches probably never even noticed they had lost anything, thought Valery, as she scanned the area.
Rich men were also generally easy to spot. Most of the time, they also had fancy jackets and large Rolex watches. They also tended to keep their wallets in their coat pockets which tended to be oversized and slippery, thanks to the silk linings. Valery had never found a wealthy man whose jacket pocket she couldn’t quickly slip he
r small, chubby hand into, producing a fat wallet full of cash.
As she wandered around, she couldn’t help but notice a young man, about her age, walking just ahead of her. He looked like he fit her type. His brown hair was trimmed short and he had it spiked in the front. He seemed to have a well-built frame, from what she could tell. Valery also noticed that he had shiny diamond studs in his ears and was sporting a bright gold watch around his wrist. The man’s coat was a little bit longer and from where she was walking, Valery could see the end of the man’s wallet peeking out at her. She decided he would be the perfect target.
Valery continued to follow the young man. She made sure to keep a slight distance from him so he wouldn’t catch on. Eventually, he turned into a section of the park that was almost completely empty. This would be a little challenging. If she didn’t grab it at just the right second, he would surely catch her. Not wanting to waste any time, she walked a little faster, yet made sure to walk on the thick grass to help silence her footsteps.
She rounded the corner, but he wasn’t there. What the-?, Valery thought to herself. Then suddenly, she was grabbed from behind.
***
Beau held the curvaceous young woman tightly by the elbows. He didn’t know why she had been following him, but he couldn’t believe it was for no reason at all. He could only assume that she had been attempting to pick his pockets.
“Let go of me!” the pretty, voluptuous, large-breasted woman shouted, as she struggled to get away from him.
“Oh no, I won’t!” Beau replied, holding on even tighter, “What do you think you’re doing, following me?”
“I wasn’t following you. I was just taking a walk through the park,” answered the woman, “Is that a crime?”