Defender's Blood Alex's Destiny (An Urban Fantasy)

by A. K. Michaels

  Alexina then said something that turned Zach’s heart cold, she had always wanted kids. Shit. Vampires couldn’t have kids. He would have to tell her – now – before this got any further, so that she could walk away, if she wanted to find someone who could give her what she wanted.

  *****

  Alex noticed Zach had gone very quiet and hadn’t responded to the last few things she had said. She was confused. What was wrong?

  “Zach, are you okay?” she asked him quietly.

  “Alexina, I’m sorry, I’m just trying to figure out how to tell you something and it’s hard for me.” Alex was worried. Had he decided he didn’t want her? Had she said something to upset him? She couldn’t think, and her heart was hammering in her chest, she could barely breathe.

  Zach spoke again, “Little one, try and relax. I can hear your heart, is it trying to get out of your chest? Right, I am just going to have to say this – Alexina, I love you, I will do anything for you. I would die protecting you, but Alexina, my little one, I can’t give you children. Vampires cannot sire children. I’m sorry, I know how much you want kids, and if you want to go and find someone who can give you them, well, I won’t stand in your way.” He was trying to gauge her reaction when she flung herself on him.

  She all but screamed at him. “Do not do that to me ever again! I was scared shitless you didn’t want me. Yes, I have wanted kids, but that was in the life of working in a bank with hubby and house in Glasgow. That wasn’t to be, and here I am with the most perfect male in the history of males, who loves me and who I love, very much. Zach, I want you and only you. Kids are not in our future – so what? We have each other, don’t we?” She asked the last part timidly. She couldn’t lose him.

  “Well, meine Kleine, I see another lesson is due. I’m sure that will let you know just how much you mean to me. By the way – I was lying – I know I told you I would never lie to you, but I was. I would never let you go and certainly not into the arms of another man!” So lesson four began.

  *****

  Amelia watched the scene in front of her. She was livid, how dare that plain human come and take her man! She would make sure she would pay. How or when she wasn’t sure, but hell, she would pay.

  She turned away sickened at the thought of watching them make love. She wouldn’t stand here and put herself through that, so she retraced her steps and went back to work. If anyone saw her coming, they would soon get out of her way. She was seething, and her face was contorted into a terrible mask of hate.

  *****

  At that same moment Tatiana stopped talking with Thadius, and she put her head to the side, as if trying to hear something. “What’s wrong, Tatiana?” Thadius was anxious. Tatiana looked worried, very worried.

  Tatiana replied, “It is something which I knew would have to come to pass, my dear Thadius. I am just not sure when or where, but I am keeping my eye on things. I may need your help in this matter, but I will let you know when the time comes,” she chirped.

  Thadius loved her voice. It was a sing song voice that made him feel happy every time he heard it. He hoped Tatiana would stay on here in their town, he would truly miss her, if she left. “You know you only have to ask, my dear, I would do anything to help you.”

  He smiled down at her tiny features as she replied, “I know you would, I know.” And she gave him the most radiant smile he had ever seen, and he felt it deep inside. This fairy was perfect, he thought.

  *****

  The next few days went by in a blur for Alexina. Her and Zach were, of course, inseparable, and they really got to know one another. Zach ‘taught’ her many lessons and fed off of her at least twice a day, sometimes more.

  They had dinner at Vlad and Irina’s house, and she fell in love with Irina’s excitable persona. She seemed like a naughty puppy – well, according to Zach, that’s what she was.

  Zach had explained how they met Irina. Vlad had helped Zach track a very bad Wolf who was terrorizing a small community in the mountains, and they managed to track him and kill him.

  However, he had kidnapped Irina and held her in a small cabin in the back of beyond. He had bitten her, as he wanted her as a Wolf, mainly because she would be strong and able to take more of his atrocious behaviour He had raped her repeatedly and beaten her.

  When Zach and Vlad had found her, she was chained, with silver, lying in filth in a hole underneath the cabin. If it hadn’t been for Zach’s extremely vast powers, she would have died because nobody knew she was even there. He had felt her pain and they had found her just in time.

  She was brought back here and taught some of the ways of the Wolf from one of Vlad’s guards, a very capable female, though Irina wasn’t very happy when she was with the woman for some reason. She was terrified for months and always tried to stay close to either Zach or Vlad. As Zach worked away a lot, it fell to Vlad to watch over her.

  One thing led to another and before either of them knew it they had fallen in love. Zach said no one was as surprised as Vlad himself.

  Irina was still very, very young, as she had only been twenty when the rogue had turned her and that had been five years ago. So she was young both in human and Wolf years. Zach said saying she was like a naughty puppy was spot on.

  Alex was glad she had met them both and had spent time getting to know them. Watching Irina play with Vlad’s dog was funny. It would do anything for her, but ignored Vlad repeatedly, which would result in a scowl on his handsome face.

  She could see her and Irina becoming close friends. Alex was also glad it wasn’t just her and Zach that couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Vlad was constantly touching Irina, and she would rub herself against him, just like a dog would do. She found it refreshing that even after a few years together, they were still all touchy-feely and obviously in love.

  Every day they did something that nobody knew. Zach was training Alex in self-defence He knew she didn’t stand a chance against a strong Demon, but they had human cohorts, and he wanted to make sure she could handle those.

  Zach had a fairly well equipped gym in his basement and they would go there every day to train. It would also give her a sense of control back. If she got strong and felt she could look after herself, then she wouldn’t feel so scared. Self-confidence was a huge boost to her because with all that was happening, and had happened, had made her doubt herself. Doubt that she could do what was being asked. He was going to make sure she had no self-doubt – none – he was going to make her strong.

  Zach had also tried to inform Alex about the Supers, as he called them. The fact that as they lived a very long time, they had to be sure when it came to a mate (she was still to question him on the use of that word). As they would be together for a very, very long time, if it wasn’t true love but perhaps infatuation, then things could get tricky.

  Divorce as such was unheard of in their people and until what he called recently, i.e. in the last hundred years or so, inter-marriages between the races of Supers was frowned upon. Now it wasn’t such a rare thing, though pairings with a Vampire and a Wolf had quite a few obstacles.

  The main one being that Wolves were pack animals and liked large families and, as she now knew, Vampires couldn’t have kids with Wolves or any other species. It was easier on Irina, as she had never been a part of a Wolf Pack, so she didn’t have that obstacle. Zach told her that Irina said she loved kids and because her and Vlad wouldn’t have any, that was why she worked in the nursery. She had her kids every day to look after.

  Alex had tears in her eyes, when he told her this. It was sad and joyful at the same time. She could clearly see how much Vlad and Irina loved each other, and she looked forward to spending more time with them.

  She loved getting to know more about the different Supers, and she didn’t have a problem with any of them. That is apart from Witches, for some reason she didn’t trust them. Now, whether this was because of Amelia or something else, she wasn’t sure, but she had her misgivi
ngs about them.

  Zach said they kept to themselves, mostly, and as with any other species, there were good and bad. She supposed she would just have to wait and see how she felt, after she got to know some more. Zach thought it was a good idea for her to meet some, and as there was a dance coming up on Saturday, a couple of days away, he said they should go. That is unless they were called regarding the ritual.

  She was quite excited and then worried about what she would wear. She hadn’t brought anything she thought suitable for a dance. She phoned and asked Irina what the dress code was. Irina said some went smart casual and some went the very smart way, so she would definitely have to get something.

  “Where?” she asked Zach, and he said there were a couple of shops that sold clothes and a grocery store, hardware store, a couple of diners, a bar – where the dance was going to be held – and a library. There was also a laundry, which Zach said he used a lot. With him being away a lot working, he just didn’t have the time to do his own, even though he had a washer and dryer in the utility room. She had no idea that these things were on site and begged him to take her. Of course he did, he didn’t think he could say no to her, ever.

  They were due to go first thing in the morning, however, a lesson or two got in the way. It was nearly lunchtime before they managed to get out of the bedroom. She wasn’t complaining, her lessons always left her feeling amazing, and she thought her face would burst from the size of her smile. She was still sure that anyone who saw them would know just what they had been getting up to.

  Zach didn’t tell her that both Vampires and Wolves had a very good sense of smell and, yes, they probably did know exactly what they had been getting up to. He kept telling himself that he wasn’t lying to Alexina. He just was not telling her something. He wanted her to feel totally at ease here before he told her. She would probably not go outside, if she knew.

  As it was a lot later than they had originally decided to go out, Zach said they could go for lunch in the diner before going shopping. Alex thought this was a great idea, she was starving, all that exercise meant she had to keep her strength up.

  On the drive there she took the opportunity to ask Zach about something. “Zach, will I always have marks? You know, where you bite me? The one on my neck is quite big now, and I was wondering if it would always be there?”

  Zach looked over and wondered how to put it into words. She didn’t know their ways, so he would have to try.

  “Well, no, not always. In fact, if you don’t like it, I can make sure it’s not marked again. It’s just something that we do, when we bond. At first the mark is there to ensure everyone else knows, so no other Vampire or Wolf would approach you in that way. Once everyone is aware that you are mine, then I would make sure you were not marked.”

  Alex thought on what he had said. “So, it’s sorta like an engagement ring in the human world?”

  Zach’s tone was serious as he replied, “No, Alexina, not an engagement ring. The mark denotes a wedding ring.”

  Alex’s stomach did the butterflies’ thing again as she thought on his answer. She was happy, ecstatically so, and she replied in a tone that showed her feelings. “Oh, well….uhm, in that case, you can keep marking me. Though, don’t think that’s going to get you out of buying me a proper ring, Mr Vampire!”

  He smiled over at her and decided he’d better start looking for a ring.

  As they went into the diner she looked around, it was lovely. It actually looked like a little café that would be on the waterfront of a myriad of holiday destinations. It also had tables and chairs outside for anyone wishing to have their lunch in the sun. They decided to eat inside and once Alexina had a good look around, Zach took her hand and led her to a booth in the back.

  As they were walking past one booth Alex stopped, there was Thadius and Tatiana having lunch together. They looked extremely relaxed and at ease with each other. Hmm, they look good together, she thought.

  Tatiana finally realized that Alex was standing there and smiled. “Hello, honey, how are you? I hope Zach is not tiring you out?” The fairy said this with a very large smirk on her face and Alex blushed scarlet. Tatiana laughed and Zach was chuckling behind her.

  She couldn’t understand the blasé way these people insinuated about things such as sex. “No, of course he isn’t, he is the perfect gentleman,” Alex retorted – and at that, Thadius, Tatiana, and Zach burst out laughing.

  “If that’s what you want people to believe, then you better start wearing a scarf,” Tatiana stage-whispered. Alex was mortified and swept away, dragging Zach behind her.

  “You really do have to loosen up a little regarding sex, you know,” Zach whispered into her ear, just before she sat down.

  “I can’t! I mean, it’s not done you know, talking about sex in front of people. It’s private,” she whined.

  “Alexina, sex is the oldest activity in history, what do you think people did to keep warm at night, or before television was invented? Sex – that’s what. Everyone does it, well maybe not everyone, but just about everyone. In our races, it’s something to be proud of. We use it to show how much we love someone, well, most of the time, sometimes it’s just a bit of fun, but mostly it’s between two people who are in love.” He was smiling at her, but she was still bright red.

  “Well, I don’t! What you and I do together is absolutely nobody else’s business. It’s ours and ours alone.” He could obviously see she wasn’t going to change her mind any time soon, so just smiled and asked her what she wanted for lunch.

  Just as they were finishing this conversation, Amelia walked in. As soon as Alex saw her, her stomach flipped. She really didn’t like this woman.

  Amelia made a beeline for them and totally ignored the “Hello Amelia,” that Thadius said as she had passed them.

  “Well, what do we have here? Our little Defender seems to have a mark on her neck, Zach? Does that mean what I think it does?”

  Amelia snarled at them, and Zach was a bit taken aback by the tone. “If you think it means Alexina and I are together, then you would be right, Amelia. I have bonded with her and she is mine.”

  Amelia caught on to something that Zach had said. “Oh, so you have bonded with her? But has she not bonded with you? What? Alexina, do you not think Zach here is worthy of you? That you would let him mark you and begin the bond, but you would not afford him the same?” Amelia was staring at Alexina with a look that could only be described as loathing.

  The power emanating from this woman scared her. What had she ever done to Amelia to make her hate her so? “Uh, well...” and that was all Alex got out of her mouth.

  Zach had jumped up and was right in Amelia’s face. “Don’t you dare talk to her like that! Do you know who you are fucking with, Amelia? Do you? You do not want to cross me, Witch!” Zach was so angry his fangs were out and something that Alexina had never seen happen, his eyes turned red.

  Before it got any further Thadius was there pulling Amelia away. “Amelia, what the hell do you think you are doing? Firstly, this is none of your business and secondly, Alexina is too important to us. She can’t bond in that way with Zach yet. We don’t know what effect it would have on her blood – not that this is anything you should be concerned with! Get out, go home, and calm down. If I hear of any more of this nonsense from you, I am afraid you will be asked to leave! The offices in Canada might be a good move for you.”

  Thadius turned to sit back down and Tatiana was closely following Amelia with her eyes. “I think now is the time to discuss that problem I need your assistance with,” she said. Tatiana got up and went to see if Alex was okay.

  Oh my God! What the hell just happened and what the blazes is happening to Zach? His eyes are bright red.

  Alex tried to calm her breathing and stared at Zach. He was trying his best not to look at her, but she reached over and moved his head up. “Yup, thought they were red.”

  “I’m sorry, Alexina. If I get angry, tha
t is, very angry, my eyes turn red. Sort of like they glow at other times,” he said sheepishly.

  Alex smiled at him and spoke softly, “Zach, don’t apologize for who you are. I must admit, it scared me a teeny bit when they first changed, but hey, now they look kinda cool.”

  Zach looked at her, and as he looked into her face he became calm again, his eyes returning to their silvery grey. Zach took a deep calming breath before speaking, “You didn’t see them like this when that Demon attacked, because I was in front of you, and when it was over, you were on the floor with your eyes closed. They were back to normal by the time you opened them.”

  She smiled at him and retorted, “Yeah, yeah, your eyes just turned fiery red, but you have to remind me what a coward I was when Mr Demon-man appeared.” She lifted an eyebrow at him.

  Zach gasped, “No, no, Alexina, that’s not what I meant.”

  She laughed. “You are really gonna have to figure out when I’m joking.” She smirked at him, again with a raised eyebrow.

  Tatiana appeared at their booth. “Are you okay, Alex? She is going to get her comeuppance, that one!” Her nostrils were flaring and even though she no longer looked like her aunt, Alex recognized the signs of her anger.

  Alex replied wanting to let Tatiana know she was all right, “I’m fine, my Vampire here rallied to my defence, although I was just ready to give her a Glasgow Kiss. But I would have had to stand on my seat to do it.”

  Tatiana laughed loudly, more at Zach’s confused look than at what Alex had said. “I think that’s something you are going to have to explain to this one here.” The fairy nodded in Zach’s direction.

  Alex looked over at his face and joined Tatiana in laughing. “Well, it’s not exactly ladylike, so I think he can google it.”

  Tatiana returned to Thadius and took his hand, saying they had to go back to the office to “sort some things out,” and Alex looked on as they left, hand in hand. “Did you see that?” she asked Zach.