by T. S. Ryder
He circled her, feeling uncomfortable like he was inspecting a prize horse rather than the woman who would be his wife. She had good, wide hips that would be perfect for birthing. Her breasts were the size of a grapefruit and would provide his children plenty of milk. She was a good, stout girl—thick and strong, not like the wives his brothers kept choosing.
"If you come with me, you will never return," he told her, stopping to stare down at her. She had to crane her neck to meet his eyes.
"That's why I sent in my blood. I want nothing more than to get away from this place."
The orphanage mistress gasped. "Do you think so cruelly of me?"
"I think nothing of you at all," the girl replied, not moving her eyes from the Vampire General. "I was born for better things than a lifetime in an orphanage."
"If you go with him, you were born for death!"
"Perhaps I was, then."
Alexandru's brow rose. Odd… she did not scent of depression. He didn't think she was as willing to die as she made herself believe. He put an arm around her, breathing deeply of her scent. O-negative. It was the only blood type that could bear vampire young, although the reasons for this were unknown. He lifted her effortlessly and carried her out to his motorcycle.
"My things," she protested.
"You have no need of them any longer." Alexandru deposited her onto the bike and climbed on himself. "We will be wed before sundown tomorrow and you will have everything you could want at your fingertips."
The girl nodded. "What should I call you?"
"Alexandru. It's my name. And you?"
"Found," she said, her arms tightened around his middle. "Found Burlap."
***
When Found woke the next morning, she had the briefest moment of panic. Her, marrying a vampire general? There was nothing special about her, nothing that warranted Alexandru coming to rescue her from that orphanage where day in and day out she thought she might shrivel up and die from boredom. She should have been released long ago, being a legal adult for almost three years now, but with nowhere else to go, she had stayed.
She sat up in bed gazing around the room she had been given. It was more luxurious than anything she had ever experienced. Not only did her bed have a feather mattress, but it also boasted curtains that fell gracefully at each of its four ebony pillars. Fluffy pillows surrounded her.
A vintage chaise lounge sat beside a bookshelf full of expensive-looking crystal figurines. Next to this was a vanity dresser with diamond jewelry sitting on top of it. Found felt like a princess. Well, she sort of was now. At least she would be once she married Alexandru.
A silk Persian carpet caressed her calloused toes when she swung out of the canopy bed. No sooner had she done so than a tall, willowy woman bustled in, bringing with her a wheeled cart.
The woman clucked her tongue. "How am I meant to make a wedding dress for you by sundown? I ask you how?"
Found smiled, reminded of the old grumpy hen that she used to gather eggs from. "Hello."
"Why, yes, hello," the woman said, distracted. "I am Wava. I ask you again, am I a miracle worker? A wedding dress in one day! It shall be hideous and I shall die of shame. Very well, if Sandru wants to be a laughing stock, I'll have to refashion one instead of making it from scratch. What's your name?"
"Found Burlap."
Wava's dark brows disappeared under her bangs. "What sort of the name is that?"
"The one the orphanage mistress gave me when I was found on her doorstep wrapped in a burlap sack."
She still had the sack–or at least she had, until last night. It had been left behind at the orphanage with the rest of her things. Well, that was for the best. This was a new life. Being tied to the past wouldn't help her anyway.
"Found Burlap. Well, I suppose it's better than no name at all." Wava put her hands on her hips. "Are you a virgin?"
Found expected the question, but she still felt her face grow warm. She took a deep breath, heart beginning to quiver nervously. What if Alexandru no longer wanted her when he knew the truth? The call for blood from candidates hadn't specified she had to be one.
Would she be expected to outline her sexual history? There hadn't been much else to do at the orphanage and more than once she had slept with a man, hoping he would take her away. They never had, but she didn't much care now.
Wava stared at her, awaiting an answer. Found raised her chin. If Alexandru wanted a virgin, he should have said so. "No."
"Good. Then I don't have to explain sex to you. You do know why Sandru wanted a mortal wife, yes?"
Found nodded. It was all explained in the letter asking for a drop of her blood. Vampires ruled the lands, protected them from the dangers of Shifters, witches and demons. In order for Alexandru to one day be Emperor, he needed a human wife to bear him an heir of his own. Found didn't know why. But now that Alexandru had chosen her for his wife, she would give him as many children as her body was able.
"Good, good," Wava continued. "Let's measure you quick. You'll need your blood transfusion shortly and I want to get working on your dress. Your refashioned dress. I tell you—"
Found's brow creased. "Blood transfusion?"
"Vampire blood in your veins will make you stronger. Eventually you'll drink right from Alexandru, but a direct transfusion remains the quickest way to get it into you, especially since you have your wedding night tonight."
Wedding night. Found ducked her head and a tight feeling squeezed her insides. She had hardly been able to believe her eyes when she first saw her husband-to-be.
He was tall, much taller than she was, with olive skin tones only a few shades lighter than hers. Wide shoulders and narrow hips revealed a powerful body, ropes of muscles straining against his shirt. When he spoke, she saw the fangs that should have sent her running in fear. Instead she wanted to know what it would feel like to have those two sharp points pierce her skin. He was certainly more attractive than any of the other men she'd had in the past.
"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 bruis
e 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 head.
"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!"