"Perhaps they fear demonstrations against supranatural kind. The Matri of Clan Corvus may only be thinking about protecting her Clan."
"The old fears certainly have been stirred up by Exclusionist extremists. It might be more politic for off-world vampires to stay away from Terra until the citizens of the Empire have gotten more used to the idea of what you've done."
What you've done.
Zoe didn't like the disapproval inherent in his choice of words. Her parents were personally supportive of her marital choice, but personal support and political expediency could be very different things.
"Everything was so much easier when Matthias and I first met."
"Except for you being in prison and fearing for your life. And my expending a great deal of the Empire's resources in the effort to find you."
"For which I thank you by bringing home--"
"Theodora Zoe Anastasia Maria Ora Pappas!"
It was usually her mother who pulled that. Zoe silently added Raven to the long list of names.
"You are the finest diplomat this family has ever produced. You are a responsible, sensible adult. Why are you whining?"
"Because I want a life!" Zoe shouted back. She hadn't known how chained she felt until the words came out.
"Well, you can't have one."
She was glad the Emperor didn't sugarcoat the truth.
"I know. I only needed to say it."
"You and your bondmate will manage somehow," he assured her. "I do understand what bonding means. Your souls are one. They cannot be torn apart."
Torn, no, but certainly stretched.
"But it would be nice if things were easier." She considered options for a moment. "What if...?"
"Yes?"
"What if I had some of the enhancement implants removed? I wouldn't seem like so much of a cyborg to Doc's--"
"Prejudice against any lifeform is not permissible in this Empire," The Byzant Emperor replied sternly. "Whether that lifeform is naturally or artificially enhanced with superpowers. Am I understood, Theodora Zoe?"
It used to be only her great aunt who inflicted her official name on her. Zoe thoroughly disliked her father's invoking this way of showing displeasure.
"Yes, daddy," she answered. "But it would be easier if I could be a bit less--"
"Very few people have easy lives," he said. "Certainly not us. Despite opinions to the contrary, the Imperial Family is not paid to have easy lives."
"The price of ruling the Empire is ruling," Zoe quoted the family saying. She gave in to a moment of yearning for an uncomplicated life with her bondmate. Moment over, she bowed. "We both have duties. I won't keep you any longer, sire."
Colonel Amberon looked up from her seat behind the med station as Matthias entered the ward. She grinned, a wide smile that showed several rows of very sharp teeth. "Hey, don't they have Marine hospitals on Terra?"
"They have yellow light on Terra," Doc answered. "I like that space stations are shielded from that sort of thing." Zoe was busy, he might as well get some work in.
Most of his career had been spent as a physician aboard active duty warships. He'd risen to the rank of general which added fleet administration duties to his work as a healer. Then the ship he'd been on had been captured by the enemy. He'd ended up the senior officer of a POW camp. Zoe had also ended up in the camp - and now his career was in a bit of flux.
"Oh, I quite agree. Yellow light gives me a rash."
"It sets me on fire," Doc said.
Amberon was not of Terran ancestry, although she'd been born in a Kayare enclave on a Byzant world and held dual citizenship. Which was how she'd ended up a Marine. Her species, the Kayare, and humans were very similar. Like him, she was a specialist in human medicine even if she didn't need it herself.
The Kayare were allied to the Byzant Empire. There'd been talk and negotiations between the Byzants and various allied species about forming a confederacy of some sort for a long time. With an inter-species war going on - The Hajim were trying to conquer as large a chunk of the galaxy as they could - the alliance talks were finally getting serious. This was his diplomat bondmate's specialty as the Empire's chief diplomat. He was very proud of her work.
Doc went about his own work. He did rounds of the wards and spent time seeing individual patients. It was good to anonymously go about his work. Almost anonymously.
One patient recognized him but didn't make a fuss. All the Marine said was, "I was in Camp Three. Thanks General Raven." Doc nodded in acknowledgement.
When his shift was over Doc stopped by a food center to have coffee with Amberon. Real coffee, not caf tablets. One of the best things about Terra, was that coffee from the home world was plentiful and affordable. It was also touted as the best in the Empire, and he couldn't disagree with that. Even though the same genetic descendants of Terran coffee beans were grown all over the Empire. Maybe it was something to do with the sunlight.
"Better than blood," he said after his first sip. "Not really. Especially -- " He gave a quick look around. No one was seated near their table. Not that there weren't listening devices trained on him - Zoe had taught him to be paranoid - and not that he wasn't privacy shielded.
"You look more relaxed than when you showed up on the station, Dr. General Raven," Amberon said.
"It's good being me without being stared at."
"I'm staring at you."
"Either because you think I'm pretty, or delicious."
She touched the front row of her teeth. "They are kind of fun to frighten patients with. Do you ever show your fangs or let your eyes glow while you're working?"
He shook his head. "We Primes only vamp out to fight or make love. Besides, I have always tried to keep a low profile. Even more so now."
"But you're a hero! You should be the darling of the media, the poster holo for the Marines!"
"Because I married the Porphrygia?" Doc was on the verge of being outraged. He'd known Amberon for a long time. He didn't expect to hear nonsense from her.
He'd heard it from media experts who worked for the Imperial family. They were paid to shovel that sort of you need to control your image crap.
"Hells of five layer, no!" she answered. "You're the person who led the escape from Camp Five! You got everyone out alive from behind enemy lines. You rescued the heir. Never mind that you married her, you saved her! And then you went on to rescue everyone at all the other POW camps. You do recall doing that stuff, right?"
"I'm a Marine. I did my duty."
"Oh, for--!" She bared all her rows of teeth, a show of frustration. "Don't you see you have to do something? Instead of letting a tiny minority make too much noise over your being a vampire, the whole Empire has to love you for who you are."
"Zoe's love is enough!"
"Not for her sake it isn't!"
"Let's go dancing," Zoe said.
They were spending the evening sitting on the balcony of her suite. Doc's arm was around her shoulders, her head rested on his shoulder. They were watching a pre-holiday fireworks display in the distance. From this vantage they could see not only the bright blooms of fire in the sky, but also its reflection mirrored in the Bosporus. As nice as this was, she was too aware that they were both tense, of the worry beneath their contentment.
"Where shall we go?" he asked.
They smiled at each other, and said "Santorini," at the same time.
This was no evidence of telepathy, but memories of the shared pleasures they had on this small island in the Mediterranean Sea. Their friend Maria's family owned a hotel on the cliff overlooking the bay there, and that was where they went this evening. In fact, the Thera House Hotel kept a room permanently reserved for them.
Tonight when they arrived, Zoe and Doc went straight to the outdoor restaurant, where three musicians played live music for couples occupying the small red-tiled dance floor. The place was full of people who were full of good food, wine, and the spirit of Sunflower Day. They slipped easily into the happy crowd on the
dance floor.
One of the nice things about going out with a vampire was that there was no need for any other security detail. No fuss or fanfare accompanied them. Also, Zoe had learned as a child prone to running away from the palace that if you showed up somewhere no one would expect you to be and acted like a normal person, the chances of being recognized were fairly low. Hiding in plain sight disguised as a navy lieutenant had worked for her while trapped in Camp Five, and simply being herself worked tonight. No tiara, no bodyguards, no grand attitude, just being a woman with the man she loved was enough.
Not that she hadn't made slip-ups while trapped in Camp Five, but on a night out with Doc, with nothing to do but have a good time, there was no chance of being recognized.
They danced under the stars for a long time, hip to hip, arms around each other, as close as close could be. The music and the night wrapped around them, soothing away worldly stress. They slow danced even when the music was fast. Eventually the other dancers began to genially tease them.
"Obviously newlyweds," an elderly man called from a table next to the dance floor. He was holding hands with his equally elderly wife.
"True, sir," Doc said.
"Get a room," someone said.
"We already have one," Zoe said. "But we're enjoying the party."
"You noticed there was a party?" someone asked.
Zoe and Doc laughed along with the crowd.
"Well, it is our honeymoon," Zoe said. "Sort of. Big boy, here is in the Marines and I'm in the diplomatic corps and we keep getting pulled off on separate assignments. Every minute together is important."
Doc gave her a warning hug. She gave him a dazzling smile, and a telepathic, We're good.
Big boy? was his amused response.
She loved having that ripple of joy in her head. There was so much about bonding that was absolutely wonderful, and impossible to explain.
Telling as much truth as possible was also important for being in disguise. That way you didn't have to remember to keep your lies straight. Every word Zoe said was true. Embellishment would not be forthcoming.
"We know how that is," a young woman said. Her dance partner, as broad and as bald as Doc, nodded.
When the band took a break, Zoe and Doc accepted this couple's invitation to join them for a drink. They were named Edvard and Manda. They all ended up at a crowded table with two other couples, drinking cold beer and sharing platters of seafood and pita. Edvard was a space Marine, Manda was Navy. They were currently assigned to the same ship.
"That could change at any time," Edvard said. He had his arm possessively around Manda's waist.
"It's similar with us," Doc said. His arm was just as possessively around Zoe. "We're both on Terra right now, but..." He shrugged.
The uncertainty in that gesture put Zoe close to tears.
One of the other couples, Jan and Charl, worked on a freighter and the third pair, Carl and Amber, had crewed on a passenger ship, but were currently looking to settle on Terra.
"What with the war and all," Carl said.
They all nodded, and grumbled about the dangerous disruption of the space lanes, and the cat-like enemy Hajim.
"I'm not sure settling here is such a good idea," Amber said.
"It is expensive to live here," Zoe said.
"That's not it. She's afraid of vampires," Carl said.
"Have you ever met a vampire?" Edvard asked. "My CO's a vamp. He's not a bad guy, for an officer."
"There are a lot of suprahumans in the services," Zoe said. "Vampires look very good in uniform. Vain creatures. Or so I'm told."
"Not that many vampires live on Terra anymore," Doc said. "They founded their own colonies around red star worlds centuries ago. So you don't have to worry about meeting any." He took a long drink of beer. "Probably."
"Oh, yes, they have their own colonies," Amber said. "Where they keep humans as blood slaves. And they're in the services because they're protecting their food source - real humans - from other aliens."
"Suprahumans aren't aliens," Edvard said. "They're as human as we are."
"With a few additions," Doc said.
Amber shuddered visibly. "There will be a vampire on the throne soon," she warned. "Then they'll show what they really are."
"The emperor is perfectly healthy," Zoe said. "And I'm going to be offended if you say something about a vampire lurking in the shadows manipulating the Imperial family."
"He's probably not manipulating anyone," Manda said. "Except maybe his wife - and her him, I suppose." She shot a teasing look at Edvard.
He blushed, and grinned. "I like it when you manipulate me."
"What'd I'd like would be to see the guy," Charl said. "Jan and I have tickets for seats close to the Imperial reviewing stand."
"It was his Sunflower gift to me," Manda said. She hugged Edvard. "It cost a fortune."
"It'd be nice if the Porphyrgia's husband was standing next to her on Sunflower Day," Jan said.
"I wonder what he'll give her as a present?" Manda asked. "They ought to show that as part of the media coverage."
"His keeping such a low profile isn't good for the Marines," Edvard said.
"What does being bondmates mean, anyway?" Jan asked. "They should let us citizens know, don't you think?"
"It means he's made her his sex slave." Amber said.
Oh, yes! Zoe thought. She almost said it out loud.
Let's go to bed, slave, Doc thought back.
She giggled, and was looked at strangely by the others around the table.
They excused themselves and walked away. Behind them the conversation about a vampire in the Imperial family went on. Zoe did not try to pick up anything with her artificially enhanced hearing, though she was sure Doc couldn't help but hear with his naturally enhanced hearing.
Enhancement. Was it wrong? Could her high-powered implants hurt Doc somehow? Were her natural empathic gifts enough, or even best, for their psychic bond?
"What are you worried about?" Doc asked when they were alone.
The bed invited, but the night was getting on. First Zoe made sure the light shields as well as the curtains were securely in place on the room's tall, arched windows. Doc watched her, with his arms crossed over his wide chest.
Doc had his own worries, and didn't push Zoe to share. She came into his arms. Their kiss was deep and needy. It reminded him that in the end all that mattered was them being together. And her life-giving, soul-fulfilling taste.
"My dearest blood slave," he said just before his fangs pierced the side of her throat.
Her laugh turned to a gasp, and an orgasm swept through her body and mind. Her pleasure penetrated him. He picked her up and they settled on the bed.
"You are the most perfect woman in all the worlds," he told her.
She pulled his head down, telling him, You are all I want in all the worlds.
They made love, sharing their bodies and their blood. They grew closer with every touch and taste.
"Wonderful," Zoe said when they were lying side by side, sated and exhausted.
"Sleep, sweetheart," he said.
She did.
Until she woke up in a gasping, sweating panic. It took Zoe a moment to realize she was already safely in Matthias Raven's protective embrace.
"I thought you'd left me," she said.
He gently caressed her face. "I know. I absorbed the dream. Woke you up, too."
She relaxed, her body draped across his. She tucked her head against his shoulder. She absorbed his scent, his warmth, his solid presence. "Thanks."
"You aren't the bad dream type," he said. "Unless your brain's trying to tell you something. Like the beauty and the beast dream you had back at Camp Five."
She remembered that dream had been a warning that Doc's life was in danger. The warning had helped her find a way to help him.
"Bad dreams have their uses."
"I think the dream you just had was caused by your gobbling up all that calamari."
She hoped he was right. "But it was very good calamari."
"The sun's up," he said. He was aware of light in his blood and bone, no matter where he was, what star he was under. "Where do you have to be, Zoe?"
She sighed. "Lots of places." She snuggled by his side. "Comm implants are switched off. I'm not doing business right now."
"Your security people aren't going to burst in with weapons at ready?" he asked.
"No. Not that a team isn't sitting in the bar at the moment drinking retsina and trying to be inconspicuous."
"Hope they get good and drunk while waiting." He rolled on his side to face her. Instead of caressing her, Doc said, "There's business I want to discuss with the Porphrygia."
Zoe swore. But if he was using her title, he was serious.
"Yes, General Raven? What can I do for you?"
"Give me a fleet. One ship will do to begin with."
"What sort of ship?"
"You know what sort of ship I want. But bigger."
She touched his arm, tracing the caduceus tattoo on his muscular shoulder. His other shoulder now sported two stars instead of the one he'd had when they first met, since he was now a two star general.
Her Marine doctor wanted a hospital ship.
"Fleet," he said. "Eventually."
She rested her fingers on his temple. "Explain."
"If it is such a brilliant idea why isn't Matthias here to explain it himself?" the Emperor asked.
Zoe and her father were seated in his private office. No staff were present, and they were surrounded by privacy fields. Zoe was still more aware than ever of living her life in public. She wanted to smash and claw at invisible walls. She'd been less of a prisoner in Camp Five.
"Matthias has meetings involving suprahuman medical issues. He's at the Michael Pappas Memorial Hospital on Mars."
Her father chuckled at the irony. Suprahumans - vampires, werefolk, and others - had long ago helped an asteroid miner named Michael Pappas become the first ruler of what became the Byzant Empire. They'd named the suprahumans Sol System medical center after him.
By Sun and Candlelight Page 2