After what seemed like an eternity, they stopped next to me and we turned to face the queen.
“Who gives away this woman today for the Joining?” she asked.
“I, Adam Castillo, have been chosen by the bride to give her hand to the warrior Dragus.” Adam leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her cheek and then took his seat in the front row. Charity and I turned toward the queen.
“Master Dragus and Lady Charity please hold out your right hands,” she announced. We both held out our hands as requested. The queen removed a red sash from her cloak pocket and wrapped our hands together before she continued.
“We have come together in support for the Joining of two bonded mates. The Joining is a ceremony to link two hearts as one. These two before you have pledged their lives to one another and have asked me to bless their union. I, Queen Elizabeth, approve your Joining and bless each one of you with my blood.” The queen then reached for a dagger that lay beside her on a table. She held our joined hands up and placed the dagger between our wrists. With one quick jerk of the blade, she sliced our skin simultaneously. Very quickly she reached for the goblet and held it under the stream of blood flowing from our veins. Once the wounds healed she dropped our hands and with the dagger, so broke the skin on the end of her finger. It was then that she squeezed two drops of her own blood into the mix.
The queen handed the goblet to Charity, “It is custom for the female to always take the first drink.” Charity raised the goblet to her lips and drank half of the blood.
“Out of respect for the female, the male is to take what remains.” She handed me the goblet. I emptied the cup and returned it to the queen. After she turned around, she released the sash holding us together.
We walked forward to a podium that had been installed earlier in the week. Its gas flame would burn day and night, until one of us passed away. The queen lit a single white candle and turned toward us, “The eternal flame signifies the combination of these two as one. Love lasts for eternity in our world and this flame will burn until one of them ceases to exist.” Together, we held the candle over the podium and watched as the gas caught and a small flame blazed to life.
“Now, the exchanging of vows and the securing of the rings,” she smiled at us both. The queen turned to my beautiful bride and nodded.
Charity drew in a shaky breath and spoke her vows, “My warrior Dragus. Today I surrender my heart and body to you. I promise to respect you, grow with you, and love you for eternity. Place me like a seal over your heart and know that I will forever be yours. On this day, I give myself to you in the presence of our Queen.” Charity placed a golden band with three rubies on my left hand.
The queen turned and nodded for me to speak my vows, “My beloved Charity. Today I pledge myself to you. I promise to honor you, protect you, and love you until this world removes me from its existence. I promise to walk with you, hand-in-hand through our journey together. On this day, I give myself to you in the presence of our Queen.” It was then that I placed the ring on her left hand where it would remain forever.
Queen Elizabeth turned us to face the crowd and spoke the words I have waited over six hundred years to hear, “I give you Master Dragus and the Lady of the Krieger, Charity.”
The crowd stood up and cheered. I then cupped my bride’s face with my hands and place a delicate kiss on her beautiful lips. “I love you, mi amado. Mi amor, mi vida”
“You better,” she laughed.
“I just got started loving you, my lady.” I wrapped my arms around her waist and refused to let her go. Nothing could take her away from me now. Finally, my dreams had come true.
Chapter 15
Charity
The reception flowed out into the backyard of the estate. A white tent was set up with tables and a temporary wooden dance floor in the center. Champagne was served after the best man, Ashby, made a toast to the bride and groom. Dragus and I had finished our customary first dance when Adam interrupted, “May I have your permission to dance with the Lady.” He smirked at Dragus.
“Only one dance,” he laughed. “I don’t want to start talk.” Dragus handed me off to my dual natured friend. He looked mighty handsome in his tux. I’ve gotten really close to him the past few months. He reminds me of my brother Luke.
“Thank you for giving me away.” Adam placed a hand lightly on my waist and with the other he took my hand. He danced cautiously while Dragus watched from the edge of the tent.
“He’s very protective,” Adam announced.
“As are you,” I snapped.
“I can’t help it. I owe you. Plus, that guy at the hospital kept his eyes on your body way to long for my liking.” Adam had become more of a big brother than a friend since his being cured of the Lycanthrope poison. During the times I worked at the hospital with him and Kai, Adam watched over me like an overzealous body guard. Of course, the fact that Brilliam shadowed my every move made me feel like a caged animal sometimes.
Don’t get me started on the nights I worked at the club I owned. Dragus and I had fought tooth and nail over my job. He wanted me to turn the club over to Lydia. He felt I had no business in that environment being a Lady of the Krieger. Well, I won that argument. So I thought. Basically, I have two warriors and Adam with me at all times. Unlike the other First Ladies who usually had one bodyguard.
Dragus was now at ease to go into work without constant worry on my part. I wasn’t fooled. He checked on me through our bond a hundred times a day.
“You didn’t tell Dragus about that did you,” I gasped.
“No,” he laughed. “I took care of him myself.”
“Oh great,” I sighed. I don’t want to even imagine what Adam had done to the poor guy at the hospital. I thought back trying to remember if there had been any dead bodies found over the past few days and I came up with nothing.
The song ended and I heard the sound of someone taping a metal object against a glass. I looked up and found Dragus standing by the main table.
“May I have your attention please,” he cleared his throat. Once the crowd settled, he continued. “First of all, I thank you all for coming. Second of all, I have an announcement. It’s not very often someone is asked to join the Krieger. As you all know, Krieger are only made from humans, using Krieger blood. I have requested an exception from the queen to give honorary Krieger status to Adam Castillo and the queen has approved that request.”
I looked at Adam and his eyes were just about popping out of his head. I gave him a push up to the table where Dragus and Queen Elizabeth were waiting for him. Dragus held a badge and a custom Krieger shirt, embroidered with his name across the chest.
“Do you, Adam Castillo, accept the membership into the Krieger of Port Royal?” Queen Elizabeth stepped forward to face him.
“Yes, my queen,” he bowed fist over heart. It was then she placed her hand over the right side of his neck. Adam stiffened and hissed as if he was in pain. I gasped when she pulled her hand away. She had branded him with the mark of the Krieger, a black dragon on the side of his neck.
The other Krieger congratulated and welcomed Adam openly. He was so elated to finally find his place in this world. Dragus had told me last week that he was going to ask the queen for her permission to induct him into the Krieger and I was happy she approved.
The party continued well into the night. I think I had danced with everyone and my feet were killing me. Dragus and I took the dance floor one last time before we left for our honeymoon in Hawaii. Thankfully Dragus had taken care of all the arrangements. We would be using a chartered plane that kept our bodies from being roasted at thirty thousand feet. When we opened our eyes tomorrow, we’d be in paradise.
I noticed that Lydia and Ashby spent most of the night sitting at a table in the corner of the tent. I knew she was flirting hard with him because she would toss her hair to the side and laugh every so often at something he would say. She enjoyed spending time with him whenever they had time to talk, but she was so worried
he didn’t like her. I rolled my eyes every time she mentioned it.
Dragus noticed my assessment and laughed, “I wonder when he is going to tell her.”
“Tell her what?” I asked confused.
“That she is his destiny,” he smiled.
“What?” I gasped. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Oh no!” he bellowed. “It is not my place or yours, love.”
“I know, I know! I promise not to say anything.” Man it would kill me to keep my mouth shut, but I know better than to mess with fate.
With nothing more than a soft kiss, we finished the dance. Our friends, who were more like family, hugged us and sent us on our way to our honeymoon. I promised Lydia I would call her when we returned. She was in charge at the club and Adam was to continue working with Kai on the potions. I’m fairly sure he would be busy over the next few months, learning his new job as Krieger. Brock and William were given a well-deserved week’s paid vacation while we were gone.
Dragus pulled me up into his arms and whispered, “I love you, mi amor,”
“Mi amor, mi vida.” I whispered. We joined hands and left for the darkened beaches in Maui to begin our new life as one.
Epilogue
June 25th
It was eight o’clock when we left the mansion. Tonight was going to be the second worst night of my existence. I was on my way to give my testimony about the night I died. Dragus had convinced the judge to allow me to be videotaped. Thankfully, the other four women had also pressed the judge for the same request. The last thing I wanted was to be in the same room as my attacker.
The terror of his attack may never pass from my mind. Richard Somers’ face was forever burned into my memories. I found a little strength from the other women he had attacked. We had met a few times over the past couple of months, to talk about what had happened to us. Three of us had been found and converted before we were pronounced dead. The other two were still human, and by some miracle, survived his attack.
Sabin Lockhart had been attacked in 1899, in Philadelphia. A male vampire had heard her screams and saved her from being completely drained by Richard. The other vampire, Christa Wolff, was attacked in 1949. She lived in Houston and was saved by a female vampire. One human, Lucia La Croix, had been attacked by him one night after Mardi Gras in New Orleans in 1999. The other human, Lizzie Marquis, lived in Las Vegas when she was attacked in 2003. Both of the humans had spent weeks in the hospital recovering from their wounds. Poor Lizzie, she wore a constant scarf around her neck to cover the scars from her attack.
It surprised me that they would trust vampires, after what had happened to them. Unfortunately, they were now afraid of all men, in general.
My regular team of bodyguards, Brilliam and Adam, escorted me to the courthouse this evening. Now that I was a Lady of the Krieger, my protection was enforced. I was no longer allowed to take off by myself. No more trips to the mall for me and Lydia. It’s just too embarrassing to have three Krieger hover around me while I was shopping for skimpy lingerie. I now used the internet to order most of what I needed.
Dragus was to meet us at the courthouse in about half an hour. I asked my guards and my mate not to go inside the judge’s office with me. The humans wouldn’t react well to the warriors. Dragus, of course, refused. God forbid the judge might stake me when I was alone in the office. I had to roll my eyes at his overbearingly obsessive behavior. Because I threw such a fit, Brilliam and Adam were to remain in the hall, but Dragus demanded (and I mean flat out insisted) that he be inside with me.
Even though Dragus had seen, through my thoughts, what had happened, we had never talked about it openly. He tried on many occasions to get me to talk to him about it, but I refused. My inner feelings were to stay my inner feelings about the whole incident. Tonight I was only here to give a statement of fact. The judge had already given us instructions not to say how we dealt mentally with his assault, but to only tell the timeline.
“How are you holding up, my lady?” Adam asked about halfway into the drive into town.
I looked at him and whispered, “I’m fine.”
I felt ridiculous sitting here in the middle of the backseat of one of the Krieger Hummer’s. Brock on my left and Adam on my right; William was driving. Oh, did I mention that Dragus had this one decked out with bullet proof glass? Yeah, can you say Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
We arrived at the courthouse about five minutes till eight. William pulled up along the curb so that Brock, Adam, and I could get out in front of the building. Adam exited first, pausing for a moment to check our surroundings. I followed, flanked by Brock. William drove off to find a parking spot and was to meet us inside shortly. After we made it through security (Adam and Brock were allowed through with weapons, because they are Krieger), we headed for the elevator. Judge Mackenzie’s office was on the second floor.
When the doors opened, Dragus was busy pacing the floor. I could tell he was worried. As soon as he saw us, he checked his watch and narrowed his eyes on Adam, “You’re almost late,” he barked.
“We’re right on time Krieger,” I laughed. “Quit worrying.”
Dragus pulled me in for a quick kiss. We joined hands and walked over to the door labeled with the judge’s name. Brock and Adam took the chairs in the hallway.
I took a second to calm myself. Dragus turned toward me and frowned, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I snapped. “I just want to get this over with.”
He started to say something, but I reached around him and grabbed the handle for the door. It opened into a lobby, somewhat like a doctor’s office. There were matching blue padded chairs lined up on the walls, with an occasional end table separating them, holding magazines. I approached the desk and gave my name to the receptionist.
Dragus sat next to me, silently watching our surroundings. It was ludicrous. We were the only ones in the room, until the door opened and in walked Sabin. She was alone and looked terrified. I smiled when our eyes made contact. She spoke to the receptionist then took the seat next to me.
“How long have you been here?” she asked.
“Just a few minutes,” I whispered. Dragus was still holding one of my hands; he gave me a gentle squeeze.
We sat in silence for a few more minutes before the lady at the counter came around asking me to follow her back to see the judge. Dragus followed behind, still silent as he was in the waiting room.
Judge Mackenzie’s office was elegant. Dark cherry wood furniture adorned most of the room. Bookcases filled with all kinds of law books towered behind his desk. In the corner was a single chair that matched those in the waiting room. In front of it was a small video camera sitting on top of a tripod. My hands became wet as panic sat in. I couldn’t put it off any longer. After a heavy sigh, I took my seat in front of the camera. I had to remind myself of the request…facts only, no feelings.
“Are you ready, my lady?” the judge asked. I nodded and did my best to relive the night that has haunted me for almost three centuries.
I walked out of his office knowing it was over. I did everything I could to hopefully get this monster off of the streets. Dragus still had not spoken. Because of our bond, I knew that he was beyond angry. Hearing the words directly from my mouth, instead of seeing it in my head, had Dragus even angrier than the night he found out about my past.
Once we made it to the waiting room, Sabin, Christa, Lizzie, and Lucia were waiting for their turn to go in. Lucia wrapped her arms around her stomach the instant Dragus stepped through the door. I sent him a mental message. I want to talk to them for a minute. Can you go outside? Lizzie is still spooked by men.
Dragus nodded and excused himself to go out into the hallway. I sat down in one of the chairs across from the others.
“It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” I admitted. They looked at me and smiled. I think it relieved some of the anxiety they were having about giving their statements.
“Thank you, my lady,” Sabin
whispered.
“Would you all like to meet one night this week?” I asked. Our weekly meetings seemed to help each and every one of us with the healing. Talking to others was not something I would have done a year ago; now I look forward to our talks.
“Yes, that would be great,” Lucia sighed. “We will call you tomorrow.”
“Very well,” I hugged each of them before walking out into the hallway to meet Dragus and the others. Brilliam and Adam did not say anything as we walked to the elevators. I could still sense Dragus’ anger rolling off his body.
I wrapped myself around his bulky arm and leaned my head on his bicep. He reached over and stroked my hair. I looked into his beautiful golden eyes and smiled, “It’s finally over.”
About Theresa Hissong:
Theresa is a mother of two and the wife of a retired Air Force Master Sergeant. After seventeen years traveling the country, moving from base to base, the family has settle their roots back in Theresa’s home town of Olive Branch, MS., where she enjoys her time with old friends and family.
After almost three years of managing a retail bookstore, Theresa has gone behind the scenes to write romantic stories with flare. A romance lover through and through, Theresa daydreams of the perfect love affair and takes those ideas to paper.
Look for other exciting reads…coming very soon!
Blood & Roses: Warriors of the Krieger Page 25