Detrand

After Adelade left the water, her tears having all spent, she went to the house ignoring my presence. I put my clothes with hers on the shore, uncaring if the tide took them off and cleaned myself as best as possible.

It would be a couple of hours yet before the sun rose but I hadn’t completely healed and I retired to my bed to sleep, for it would help in the healing process. There was nothing we could do for Lula now. Except wait.

I was in the space between wakefulness and sleep when I heard my door opening. I sat up and a low growl sounded in my throat. Adelade was in my room. She shouldn’t come to me, it would only make things harder in the end.

It had also been some time since I’d seen the fae Raisa, and I was wounded and weak. Her blood called to me and held me like a dream, her smell so sweet, that it made my heart beat loudly in my chest. I turned to her and she stood before me in her nightgown. She silently stared at me as her hands gripped the bottom of it, and then she began to pull it upwards. My eyes followed the cloth as it slipped higher revealing her nakedness, and a warmth spread through my body.

“Adelade.” My voice was meant to be a warning but it came out a whisper that floated through the air caressing her ears.

“I need you to know,” was all she said as she slid into my bed and straddled me. Then she bent over and gripped my jaw, kissing me softly. Feeling reckless and heartbroken, I gave in to the moment. I rose up and pushed my hands through her coiled hair, loving the way her soft lips stroked mine. As I ran my hands down the length of her hair, she kissed the peaks of my cheeks, the length of my jawline and the tip of my nose. And then, her mouth was on mine again, moist and urgent, and I wrapped my arms around her tightly as the intensity of her kiss urged me on.

Her hands gripped my night shirt and I moved so that she could whip it over my head. Pulling myself up so that I was kneeling face-to-face with her, my hands roamed the sides of her curvy body as my lips lowered to her neck. My fangs slid out but I refused to give into my strigoi; if I poisoned her now she would never leave.

I softly kissed the scar at her neck, and the memory of how she saved me became a haze over my mind. My hands traveled down over her breasts and I moved the tips of my fingers over them, feeling the way they curved over her body, causing gooseflesh to run up her arms.

Her hands pressed into my back and moved lower to grasp at my backside as she pulled me closer, kissing my neck. I groaned, wanting to touch her but needing to do so gently so that she wouldn’t break.

Flicking the pebbled tips of her breasts, she mewled and the sound tore through my body. Her venerability towards me burrowed deep into my heart and the desire to protect her became instinctual until it flowed through my blood and became a very part of my being.

I turned her so that I was behind her and began to suck at the edge of her neck while my hands roamed her tight stomach. I pushed her to the mattress and she gasped as my tongue slowly licked down her back, exploring her in tenderness and want. My hands caressed the side of her breasts while I kissed and licked every inch of her smooth back.

Then I turned and pulled one of her feet towards me, and raked my teeth down the bottom of it. She cried out in pleasure, and I did it again before I moved up her leg, kissing and scraping my teeth up her inner calf.

Her mouth was pressed into the bed, and she began to pant as my lips moved higher up her inner thigh. They turned into moans as I drew closer to her secret place, and I nipped her bottom playfully as I rolled her over, unsure if I should go any further.

Eyes glazed over, she stared at me with lust and a mixture of what could be more. Unable to stand the thought that she could feel something for me beyond the pleasure that I could offer her, I groaned in agony. She shouldn’t grow to love me. My life would only bring her pain and suffering, and I meant to cut her from it. My face grew red with my shame, the shame that I’d allowed her into my bed even though I knew I would chase her from it tomorrow.

She reached for me and I fell into her arms. The feel of her soft naked body under me warmed me to the core. She stroked my back softly, her voice a caress in my ear as she comforted me, and I wanted to cry at her tenderness because I deserved no such kindness.

Then she moved so that she was on top of me, kissing my eyes, attempting to wash away my pain. Her lips traveled to my neck and I groaned with the need to touch her, to feel myself inside her. I gripped the edge of the bed, pulling the covers into my fists, refusing to make her mine.

When her lips kissed lower to my chest and lightly right over my heart, she knew there was goodness inside and she loved me for the smallness of that goodness.

It was now beating wildly for it had been such a long time that someone had loved me so unconditionally and I stared at her in wonder.

She returned my stare so intently, so intentionally that I knew in that moment that she was daring me to reject her. She would love me for what I was, and it was her choice to make.

Then her eyes raked my body which still held open wounds from the fight. She leaned over to kiss them gently and I felt awash with her love. She sat back up, allowing me to bask in the glory of her perfection. She ran her hands up her naked body, over her flat stomach and perfect breasts until they stopped at her collar. Then she leaned her head back and offered her neck.

Angry, I turned away. “No, Adelade.”

She shook her head and stared at me with those trusting eyes. “It’s too late, Detrand. My blood is in you and your blood is in me. We are bound to each other now, and you need to heal.”

My eyes grew wide at the temptation. “It will hurt.” I refused to use my fangs with her. “What if I kill you?”

She sighed. “Then it will be the sweetest dream I could ever have.” I shook my head and she leaned over, pushing down until her tight body was pressed against mine and my hand automatically moved over her smooth skin, loving the way it felt.

“You are not so desperate now; you will control your strigoi this time.”

I gripped her, fighting with need and want and desire. She began to wiggle her hips, trying to tempt me, and the heat traveled to my core as my body cried out for her.

I wanted her so badly if only to erase for a moment the guilt from Lula and absolve my sins. The smell of her blood was so strong that my strigoi begged for release.

I kissed her softly, tenderly, knowing that this would be the last time I would have the opportunity to taste her sweet lips. She kissed me back with a desperate urgency, as if she knew what I was going to do but trying to beg me with her lips to keep her.

And then she pulled back slightly and gripped my hand. She ran it up over her perfect breast to her neck. “Please, Detrand. I need you to do it.”

At her plea I gave in and, gripping her jaw, I bit into her neck and pulled the sweetest blood I’ve ever tasted into my mouth.

* * *

The thrill of her blood was incredible and I imagined for a moment that I was human again and we were walking in the sun. Her hand was in mine and we were free from the darkness that the strigoi brought. As the sun rose, I fell asleep with her naked body next to mine, my arm thrown over her protectively and when I awoke the next evening I was completely healed.

She still slept beside me and I stared at her beauty in wonder. For a moment I bathed in the lightness that her blood brought me but it was also foreboding and a stark reminder of the life that Adelade could live. Free from the worries of the beasts of the night, she could live a life in the light.

I slipped from her and, after dressing quietly, I left my room. I went to the back door and opened it, and then stared in astonishment. The sun hung low in the sky and its soft rays lit up my face.

I should have reacted more quickly and fled from the scene but I stood there in shock. Not only had I awoken earlier than I had ever awoken before, but also that I was unaffected by the sun. My instincts hadn’t alerted me that the sun was even up.

I stared out over the landscape in complete and utter astonishment.

And then I had the realization that the reason for my current miracle was because of Adelade’s blood and I knew that if any other strigoi came to this knowledge, they would enslave her immediately. She would become the most sought after prize to the dark underworld. I furrowed my brows in thought and the instinct to protect her ran through my veins, washing over my body. No other strigoi would know of her existence. From henceforth, I determined to push her from me and to make her identity unknown to those to my world.

* * *

I waited in the cellar until darkness had completely descended and then left to visit Lula. I needed to ensure that her body had been left undisturbed. I strode to the grave and kneeled next to it. The dirt was untouched.

Searching around me, I saw no sign of life except for the crow, my familiar, studying me with curiosity on a branch high above me; he’d been visiting me more often recently. I put my hand on the dirt and ran my fingers through it, my thoughts churning. Lula would be cursed now, to live out the days of her life in lust and lechery. She would never taste the sun again or the delicacy of a cherry on her lips. She would never know the joys of children and their innocence that could bring a tear to your eye.

I squeezed my hand, mashing the dirt through my fist and considered the temptation to leave this place and go to the underground kingdom of Romania, where the living were only used for food and the strigoi reigned supreme. I wouldn’t worry of good or evil but live a life of the lusts of the flesh, and bring Lula with me.

Sighing, I spoke to her. “I hope that you never wish to kill me, because I would allow it.”

Then the sound of the back door closing caused me to still and my heart beat faster as I recognized Adelade’s steps in the garden. At each footfall that drew her closer, I built the wall around my heart. Step by step, brick by brick, I protected her from the devil. From me.

* * *

Her face was bright, hopeful, despite the circumstances. She was beautiful, with wisps of her alluring hair blowing about her face. She wore an elegant dress and I couldn’t help but note the way her body filled it. I hungered to take her, to mark her as mine and to make her the mistress of my home and my bed for the rest of my long life.

I clamped down on my thoughts and frowned as she approached.

“Will she rise tonight?” Her face was expectant although her steps were weary.

“No.” I turned my face from her to stare at the mound of dirt before me.

“Oh.” She came to stand by me, then she touched my shoulder, but, I moved and her hand fell. “How long will she need?” She wrapped her arms around her waist.

I stood up to look in her eyes. “You will be allowed to stay in my home until you know that she is well, and then you will leave my house.”

Her face betrayed her shock and anger and it took her a moment to react to my words. “Your house?”

“You will return to live in your own home and I will provide the stipend that I owed your Father.”

She sputtered, in complete and utter shock at my words, which were completely unexpected. “You lie. You owed my father nothing.” She spoke viciously through the edge tinged with desperation.

“I owed your father more than what he let on and now that he is gone, it is yours. It will be enough for you to live out your days in whatsoever way you wish.”

Her face was hard now and she stared at me as if she wanted to murder me.

“I will send Landon to live with you. He will make sure that you are protected.”

“Landon?” Now she was incredulous. “He would have no wish to live with me and I have no wish to entreat him into my bed either. He cares for…” Her voice faded, yet her eyes drifted to the dirt before me.

I felt a pressure in my chest when I thought of her bedding Landon and yet, maybe that is why I chose him. I knew that he felt no affection towards her. I also knew that he could protect her.

“Landon will move in with you because he is Stefano’s, and Stefano will do whatever I require.”

“I won’t allow it.”

“You will.” I stared at her intently so that she would know I was serious. Her ferocity was so beautiful, so wonderful that I wanted to clasp my arm around her and hold her so tightly to me and never let her go. But this time I wouldn’t let my softness for her overcome my desire to protect her. She was too precious, too valuable and my desires too selfish. I would protect her at all costs.

“Lula will rise in three days. That will give you plenty of time to pack your things. You can have as many men as needed to carry anything to your home. And when you are assured that she is well, you will move back into your home.”

With these words, I turned my back on her and began to walk towards the house. “Now, I will go to Sophie and give her the news regarding Lula.”

* * *

She did not follow me and I moved inside, pushing down the burning agony that threatened to spill from my stomach into my head and heart. Even though Adelade was one of the most stubborn women I knew, I had to make her leave and knew exactly how to do it.

I hesitated outside of Sophie’s door, then pushed it open. “Sophie, it is time for you to rise. To put off this childish tantrum and to greet your Master.”

Sophie was standing by the window in her room. Years ago I’d entreated her to wall it up to ensure that the sun never touched her while she slept, but she’d refused. Now she stared out across the water and the moonlight lit up her face.

She didn’t turn to me as I entered, and I shut the door behind me.

“I have news for you.” I hesitated, and my heart felt heavy. “Lula died yesterday.” I paused for a moment and the air was pregnant with my news. “But before she did, she requested to turn.”

Sophie gasped and spun towards me. I noted the burn marks from the house fire that were still on her side and clicked my tongue. She was refusing blood from her thralls, or she would’ve healed by now.

“What happened?”

“The shifters. She was also bitten.”

Sophie’s hand went to her mouth in horror. “No.”

I went to stand beside her and looked out the window. There was a small rowboat on the river, paddled by a strong young man. A young woman huddled by his side and they looked at each other with deep admiration. Sophie and I watched them as they made their way into deeper waters.

“She will need you now. You must heal yourself to prepare for her fever. I am relying on you to care for her after she awakes.”

Sophie nodded and turned to call for one of her thralls but I held my finger to her lips. “She will need your thralls healthy and willing when she awakes. I will heal you.” Her eyebrows furrowed but I could feel the passion stir within her. I moved my hand to her face and her eyes softened. “It is time for you to take your place; it is you and me now.”

Then my hand slid down from her neck to her waist. I cupped the back of her neck with my other hand and bit into her neck. She moaned as my poison entered her body, filling her with lust and passion. I took a sip of her blood, renewing her bond to me and then I began to undress her slowly and moved her towards the bed.

She grasped at my clothing, her appetite ignited, and pulled off my shirt. I thought of Adelade, the way her body moved as she fought, the determination in her eyes, the feel of her skin under my fingers…

Sophie ran her hands up my chest and her fangs slid out. I took off my pants and slid into her as my hands moved over her delicious body. I blocked all emotion, all thoughts and guilt for Adelade, and thought only of the passion that I once felt for Sophie, my former wife and partner.

Her black hair stood in stark contrast to the white sheets under her and her green eyes found mine as we made love. My hands moved lower and I opened my senses to her, flooding her with warmth and love. She groaned and arched her back, giving herself completely to me as my fingers gave her the physical pleasure that she desired.

Then I leaned over, offering my neck and she bit into it, pulling my blood into her. She moaned as she fed, alight with the fervor that my blood gave her and her body began to heal. When she had taken everything, I fell still into her arms as tears sprang from my eyes. She held me still as I cried silently, not understanding the horror that I felt for my betrayal to my Firewitch but still willing to comfort me as always. When I was spent, I kissed her on the forehead softly and dressed, allowing her to rest.

As I opened the door to leave, I saw Adelade sitting across from it on the floor looking absolutely crushed. Her cheeks were wet with tears, her hair undone and spilling out across her shoulders. Her legs were tight to her chest and her dress was now rumpled from sitting on the floor.

I turned away from her, unwilling to look her in the eyes, and went towards my room and shut the door softly behind me.